Barry45RPM

Folks with the 2015 Eco Engine Stop/Start feature... is it a PITA? Do you turn it off after the first time of the day it shuts down each trip... or is it a live-able condition?

Does it remember the switch position last selected each time you start it up like new BMW vehicles now do?

gircal

It reverts back to "Eco On" after every "ignition off". (Eco On is the default.)
And after one gets used to it, it becomes quite livable and I left alone more and
more until I now leave it "on" all the time ... unless I choose the Sport setting
which, of course, Eco is turned "off".

Barry45RPM

I'm in S.E. Florida... I have to imagine the A/C compressor stopping & dropping the fan speed to lowest at every traffic light won't be so thrilling.

MDMercedesGuy

I'd imagine Mercedes would have given something like that thought when they developed the system...

350MH83

Indeed they did. My car wont turn off if the AC is still needed. If the temperature is adequate, engine might turn off, and turn back on automatically when the temperature gets too high. I leave the ECO ON all the time, it takes a few trips to get used to, but now I am so used to it I am surprised when the engine doesnt stop at a red light.

MDMercedesGuy

I'm in a C300 right now with the system... have been since Friday. Now that I am used to it, it's not so bad. I actually find that it is making me change my driving style a bit so as to not trigger it on and off as much (like creeping in traffic).

Barry45RPM

How long can that starter last before wearing out from "exhaustion"? I can't remember the last time I ever had to replace a conventional starter motor... maybe 40 years ago? How long can the battery last doing 4 times the work...

gircal

This system was designed to promote efficiency and if that is not in your interest (gas mileage is the very least of my concerns ... or I wouldn't have purchased an ML63), then don't use it.
Merely turn it off every time or use sport. Re the above comments, they are all correct. It becomes a personal choice. (In heavy stop and go traffic I do turn it off.)

Barry45RPM

Took delivery of my 2015 Polar White ML-350 today.... I can find no trace of the Eco Start Stop System or button in my vehicle even though it is mentioned in the on line Owners Manual. Still have to live with the car for a while to absorb it all and read the printed manual shipped w/ the car.

Just drove it home 8 miles, and numb from delivery, so I'll look more thoroughly tomorrow.

GregGebhardt

I fear one day the car makers will no longer give us a choice and start-stop will be mandatory.

Wew got to reduce our emissions NOW while we give China till 2030 to "peak" out it's omissions. Sounds fair to me?

sheepdog

2015 ML350 Gas engine does not have Eco feature. MB changed their mind from their dealer ordering guide back in April/May which stated that all engine variants would have auto start/stop. Some of the dealers are even unaware of this change. the ML400 and the diesel do have the ECO option.

zeddie

Eco stop- start is the way to trick on low mpg in a busy city like HK .... I always manually turn in off to reduce the demand on ignition and battery during restart. The outcome is the mpg is abt 5-10% more gas consumed in particular in the middle of jam. In US, perhaps it's not that significant.

If there is way to permanently switch it off, pls share with me.

If you are happy to use start-stop, pls pay attention when you replace battery that has a special requirement on start-stop - AGM battery. I changed to silver AGM battery for w164 and c250 coupe, it does give extra power/ torque when the car starts from standing still even though I switch off start-stop ... I guess the higher volt delivery of AGM makes a difference.

Barry45RPM

BMW now builds Eco Start Stop equipped cars so that pressing the off button keeps it off until you manually turn it back on, even if you don't use the car for a few days or longer, it remembers your preference. BMW is allowing dealers to reprogram the feature on cars that were built the old way.

Its a feature that has to be really hard on starters and batteries.

zeddie

How comes MB always a step behind BMW? Anything to do with the emission control / law of each country/ city so not optional to switch them off permanently?

Barry45RPM

Not in the USA. but my brand new ML350 gas doesn't have the feature.

jtorrebl

The new starters and batteries were designed for this feature. Don't worry about putting extra strain on them it was designed to take this extra use. You guys don't have faith in MBZ do you?
Plus you will all have new cars in the later years when this system would need replacement parts anyway so who cares.