Eco Pro can be dangerous

[CLCX5]

When in Eco Pro mode, I was turning right at an intersection where right turning traffic doesn't stop or yield, but does have to merge with the flow of traffic very quickly after the turn. I was a several feet ahead of a car in the next lane so hit the accelerator to clear the car and merge. Only when I stepped on the accelerator, NOTHING HAPPENED. I glanced down to see what the heck was happening with the car (it felt like it was suddenly in neutral) and saw the blue foot/accelerator symbol. I had to slam on the brakes to not hit the other car and merge behind them, which clearly freaked them out because it was logical for me to merge in front given our positions and I'm sure it looked to them like I didn't know how to drive.

Am I nuts or is this a dangerous feature?! I can tell you the car not responding at all in an urgent situation scared the crap out of me. I'm all for fuel conservation, but if it means I can't quickly accelerate out of harm's way, why would I ever use this mode??

[opasha]

Ok, nevermind. This has nothing to do with Auto-Start/Stop. As @JDoc said below , if you're speaking about a true intersection with lights, you always have to yield or stop unless it's a right turn that is breaking off from the regular traffic with a sidewalk block in between allowing you to continue so you can merge...you would still have to slow down (common sense) since you're obviously going at a slower initial speed than the oncoming traffic. Also, for any sort of merge, why would you risk being in Eco Pro mode if you don't have a chip installed? There is SO MUCH throttle lag in Eco Pro to beginwith...not a good move in my opinion.

Also, what the is up with Bimmerpost's changes. It no longer allows us to quote members with an @ symbol and they got rid of the default quotations with a CHECK BOX now...Is there some official thread where they mention these changes?

[JDoc]

I cannot quite picture a merge where you are not supposed to stop or yield. Maybe it's just not around my neck of the woods but I think that would be quite dangerous.

[tnikolov]

You can hit the gearbox in Sport when in Eco Pro too. It will not make the car a bullet, but it would make it muuuch more responsive.

[justb]

I've found that around town, junctions etc where I need the car to be nippy and responsive, I'm constantly adjusting between normal and Sport mode, with the latter being smoother at accelerating for junctions, roundabouts, lights etc.

I only engage Eco mode on long runs as it's too restraining around town in those sorts of circumstances.

[midlifecrisis]

Isn't being in Eco-Pro mode while driving around town kind of the equivalent of lugging a manual transmission in 4th gear in the same situation? You can use it but it's not ideal. It's just not the correct gear for the situation - not the car's fault.

[Baunton]

+1 same here...Eco Pro mode is only a motor way thing for me.

[eyeloveteeth]

isn't the idea of EcoPro for long drives? or going from Home to local store? - if you're getting on anything remotely like a busy road, leave it in normal...or like most of the others...Sport+ all the time lol

[kip1]

I think he is speaking about coasting, in eco pro mode the engine doesn't brake and the car glides, it rolls really far and in slippery conditions can cause unexpected overspeed when arriving at intersection, then again again it saves fuel and I like the steering feel is more direct than comfort, so I use it a lot.

[opasha]

Originally Posted by kip1

I think he is speaking about coasting, in eco pro mode the engine doesn't brake and the car glides, it rolls really far and in slippery conditions can cause unexpected overspeed when arriving at intersection, then again again it saves fuel and I like the steering feel is more direct than comfort, so I use it a lot.

Yep, same here. It handles much better than Comfort mode while saving gas.

[eyeloveteeth]

ohhh you're talking about the engine decoupling. haha, ive never thought about that (also never driven in any car's eco mode other than Lexus RX)

damn that's scary

[pdawg]

opasha did you get the coasting feature to appear on your menu?

[opasha]

Originally Posted by pdawg

opasha did you get the coasting feature to appear on your menu?

Never thought I'd need it, so I never tried coding it. The idea of the car shifting into neutral every time sounds great in theory, but I irk at any change of gears shifting that frequently in a rolling car that often over time.

[Doanster]

This is just akin to shifting into neutral/depressing the clutch on a 6MT car. I do that daily when approaching red lights or when there's a long hill. Have never coded this (or will I) on the X5 as I don't use Eco Pro. I'm sure the ECU engages/disengages/rev matches the transmission just fine, but it is not the total control like I have on my DD 6MT.
There can def be too many "gadgets" and for me, Auto Start Stop and Sailing/Coast Mode fall into that category.

[opasha]

Originally Posted by Doanster

This is just akin to shifting into neutral/depressing the clutch on a 6MT car. I do that daily when approaching red lights or when there's a long hill. Have never coded this (or will I) on the X5 as I don't use Eco Pro. I'm sure the ECU engages/disengages/rev matches the transmission just fine, but it is not the total control like I have on my DD 6MT.
There can def be too many "gadgets" and for me, Auto Start Stop and Sailing/Coast Mode fall into that category.

Agreed. A good manual driver will always shift better in my opinion than a system that operates it. You never know what hiccups an electronic system will have long term. Just take a look at the Auto-Start/Stop issue one member on fest had where they got a Drivetrain malfunction in cold weather.

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by opasha

Just take a look at the Auto-Start/Stop issue one member on fest had where they got a Drivetrain malfunction in cold weather.

Yah, I remember that thread. Strange because when I test drove my car, I couldn't get the Start/Stop to engage. The salesman re-iterated that it won't engage in cold weather. This was low 40s mind you, not frigid east coast temps so I was surprised by the post on 'Fest.