[Feddersen]

I might consider a car with a mild hybrid system. In this case Mercedes GLC 300. However I am a bit afraid of the mild hybrid system. As I understand it turns the engine on/off even more often than the normal start/stop systems do. Isn’t that bad for the engine or is it designed in a different way so it doesn’t matter?

I am asking because both our BMWs have the auto start/stop disabled to protect the engine from all the start/stops.

[SteveinArizona]

If that is your concern, go for a phev (330e, 530e, etc.). My 530e doesn't do stop/start. It just defaults to the electric motor and creeps at red lights unless my foot stays on the brake...just the way cars always did.

[Feddersen]

But isn't the combustion engine turned off when you go electric? And then on again when you need more power? That's the exact situation I am worried about. That will increase my ons/offs compared to todays driving at least 10-20 times.

[Red Bread]

Why are you worried about the on off cycles? If it were occurring over a significant period of time and allowing coolant and oil temps to fluctuate, I could understand, but especially with 48v setups, this should amount to no or extremely small wear.

[Feddersen]

First of all cars are extremely expensive here in Denmark. The Mercedes GLC 300 starts at about 110.000 USD with no options. So I would like to keep it for 8-10 years or 120k-150k miles. I drive about 16 miles each way to and from work for about 200 days a year. My 335i N55 barely reaches optimal work temperature during those trips and the stop/start would normally be activated 15 times per trip. So I would basically have 15*2*200=6000 cold starts. Therefore I have disabled auto stop/start in my current car and that’s why I am worried about any system that turns off/on the combustion engine.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

First of all cars are extremely expensive here in Denmark. The Mercedes GLC 300 starts at about 110.000 USD with no options. So I would like to keep it for 8-10 years or 120k-150k miles. I drive about 16 miles each way to and from work for about 200 days a year. My 335i N55 barely reaches optimal work temperature during those trips and the stop/start would normally be activated 15 times per trip. So I would basically have 15*2*200=6000 cold starts. Therefore I have disabled auto stop/start in my current car and that's why I am worried about any system that turns off/on the combustion engine.

It won't activate until oil temp is fully up. So you're grossly over estimating the usage. They are also generally disabled below 0 degrees and over 32 degrees. Since they're starting a warm engine with plenty of oil circulating with warm coolant from an electric water pump. I think you're making a big deal out of nothing.

But you're also discussing a mild hybrid, where the 48v setup and battery capacity will make restarts much smoother and provide you with some EV range. However your climate will likely decrease the effectiveness of that setup greatly. Stick with a regular internal combustion engine and disable the auto start stop if you'd like, but it's really not a valid concern.

[clee1982]

I thought mild hybrid doesn't provide electric range?

or at least not yet

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by clee1982

I thought mild hybrid doesn't provide electric range?

or at least not yet

Terminology might be off, OP was discussing the GLC 300e, which is a plug in with 40km of EV range.

[Alfisti]

Anyone leaving stop/start on when they intend to keep the car (not leasing) is insane IMHO. it just CANNOT be good for the engine long term. I absolutely despite it and IMHO should be outlawed as it creates lag when turning across traffic.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Terminology might be off, OP was discussing the GLC 300e, which is a plug in with 40km of EV range.

I don't think so. Merc has gone to mild hybrids for most of its cars, not phevs. There is a C series phev merc but from the posting, I don't think that is what he is discussing.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Anyone leaving stop/start on when they intend to keep the car (not leasing) is insane IMHO. it just CANNOT be good for the engine long term. I absolutely despite it and IMHO should be outlawed as it creates lag when turning across traffic.

Are you using your E90 as the reference? A lot has changed in the last decade. I rarely even notice it in our car with it and actually wish my car had it. Oddly the DSG versions do, but not the manuals.

[Feddersen]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Terminology might be off, OP was discussing the GLC 300e, which is a plug in with 40km of EV range.

I am talking about the normal ICE with 48 volt technology where only the starter is applying a bit extra at startup. But as I have understood it also cuts off the engine while still driving but shortly before a full stop so auto off/on is sort of mandatory.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

I am talking about the normal ICE with 48 volt technology where only the starter is applying a bit extra at startup. But as I have understood it also cuts off the engine while still driving but shortly before a full stop so auto off/on is sort of mandatory.

Oops, sorry, I'd mistakenly added an e to the model. I forget that nearly all MB with the 9 speed transmission now have the 48v mild hybrid setup.

[Feddersen]

No problem. I might also look at the BMW X1 25e/28e so experience from PHEV is also appriciated :-)

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Feddersen

No problem. I might also look at the BMW X1 25e/28e so experience from PHEV is also appriciated :-)

As you can see from my signature, I have an "e' -- the 530e.

I love the way it drives. Recently I had an X3 as a loaner while getting maintenance done and it was amazing to me how much smoother the drive is with the hybrid. The X3 felt rough compared to my 530e.

As I said, no stop/start on the BMW phevs. I am not sure about other manufacturers.

I work mostly from home so I don't do a lot of long distance driving but when I do go to the office, it is a 20 mile drive and every week or so I have to do at leat one such ride whether to the office or a golf course. I have been getting betwwn 700 and 1000 miles on a tank of gas (12.4 gallon tank), usually closer to the 1000 mile mark. I do have a 240V charger at home and will often recharge during the day as well as at night.

If you get tired of the car trying to creep forward when you are stopped, you can always use the auto hold feature.

[Feddersen]

I tried the F30 330e and didn't like it. I also tried the i8 and loved it.

But that doesn't matter because I have a bad lower spine. This means that I have a lot of requirements regarding the seat and the size of the cabin. Fx the 5-series is simply too big and so is the new 3-series as well. F30 fits perfectly once I am in the car but sometimes it is painful to get in and/or out. So last weekend I visited some dealers and spent a lot of time just getting in and out of cars and adjusting seats.

The outcome was that I found two candidates. The BMW X1 and the Mercedes GLC. They had the correct step in height and I could upgrade the seats to have the needed adjustment possibilities. Somehow I would prefer the Merc but I am as stated worried about the mild-hybrid system. The X1 I would either buy as 25i/28i or as the upcoming PHEV.

[SteveinArizona]

My suggestion is buy the Merc. That seems to be your preference and if you buy the X1, ;you will spend the next number of years regretting it.

[rantarM3]

I have a 2020 GLE 450 with the 48v system. In comfort mode, the engine shuts off as you coast to a stop; when you let go of the gas pedal after the stop, the electric motor/starter helps turn the engine back on and provides additional power as the car accelerates (it's pretty quick for a large heavy land-boat). In Eco mode, the engine will turn off completely as you coast along while moving (quite an odd experience the first couple of times). When you get back on the gas, even slightly, the motor comes back on.

There is a button next to the ignition button that you can press to disable the auto start/stop, if you like. Depending on the traffic situation, I will turn it off to keep the engine from starting/stopping/starting/stopping as you edge along in traffic, such as for a right turn on red with some vehicles ahead.

The system is pretty seamless and a far cry from my E90 M3's start/stop (which was always turned off). You can still feel it slightly with very minimal lag (so minimal that it's a non-issue to me).