Lots of stop and start driving - bad for 135i turbos?

[ladius]

Hello,

At least once I week, I drive about 150 miles in one day for my job. I make at least 10 stops where I turn off the car, make an inspection then get back in to go to the next stop.

I'm interested in the 135 and it would be my daily driver but am concerned about those days where I have to stop and start the car a lot. I'm not that knowledgable about turbos but I imagine it's not good for the turbos and such. Can anyone tell me what kind of effect it would have and if I'm better off getting an NA car (128)?

Thanks in advance.

[Ajumepke]

If you're interested in owning one and is concerned about long term maintenance prospects - 128 may be a better machine to weather those frequent start and stops.

[jibaholic101]

dont worry about it you are fine

[x5mad]

start stop will affect both NA and turbo. What matters most is whether the car engine oil has warmed up to operating temperatures. If at operating temp then start stop is ok. However if you do frequent start stop without letting the oil temp come into operating range then you are more likely to do long term damage.

[imoz]

I'm not sure if anyone produces a turbo timer for the 135, but that might be a good way to mitigate the risk.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by imoz

I'm not sure if anyone produces a turbo timer for the 135, but that might be a good way to mitigate the risk.

There's no need for a turbo time on the N54. The waterpump runs after the engine is turned off to cool the turbos down. Between that and quality synthetic oils, it's just not an issue like it used to be.

OP,

Obivously frequent starts and stops increase the wear on an engine, but I'd imagine that frequent warm starts aren't going to be any more of an issue for the turbo motor than they would be for the N/A ones. It wouldn't concern me too much honestly.

[JimD]

Reasons I think the 128i is a better choice:

1) Plenty of power for normal driving. If you ever watch "muscle car", you might note that a lot of early V8 muscle cars aren't faster than the 15 second 1/4 mile time of the 128. Is is slow compared to the 135i but not really slow.

2) No HPFP. I'm not exactly sure what it is but it seems to be a problem for a significant sized minority of 135 owners so not having one seems like a good thing.

3) slightly better gas mileage.

4) for a similar amount of money, you can get the convertible. Convertibles are fun, even going slow.

Early turbo motors used to cook the oil in the bearing of the turbo when you shut them down. Frequent start stop cycles would be worse. But I doubt most later model turbo motors do this and I would be especially confident in a bimmer not having such an inherent weakness in the design.

Jim

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by JimD

4) for a similar amount of money, you can get the convertible. Convertibles are fun, even going slow.
Jim

And (in the U.S.) the 128i 'vert is just as fast as the 135i vert (130 mph top speed). Of course, the 128i will take about one second longer to get from 0 to 60 mph, if that sort of thing is important to you.

Just make certain you include sunblock in your budget!

Tom

[ladius]

Thanks everybody. I guess modern engines have overcome previous issues with turbos and as long the oil is up to temp, thigns should be fine. This is a great, knowledgable place!

[HondaGoneRogue]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

And (in the U.S.) the 128i 'vert is just as fast as the 135i vert (130 mph top speed). Of course, the 128i will take about one second longer to get from 0 to 60 mph,

You sure about that?

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by ladius

Hello,

At least once I week, I drive about 150 miles in one day for my job. I make at least 10 stops where I turn off the car, make an inspection then get back in to go to the next stop.

I'm interested in the 135 and it would be my daily driver but am concerned about those days where I have to stop and start the car a lot. I'm not that knowledgable about turbos but I imagine it's not good for the turbos and such. Can anyone tell me what kind of effect it would have and if I'm better off getting an NA car (128)?

Thanks in advance.

There is nothing particularly more demanding in owning this modern turbo design, in comparison to a non turbo.
Using it the way you describe sends no red flags up as far as my experience with turbo cars. Older designs, like from the early 90's, usually liked to a "cool down" if you were running hard. Many people added "turbo timers" that aided in cooling the engine down after the engine was shut off and the turbos were hot.
Modern BMW and Audi designs actually have built in systems that continue to circulate oil and/or water across the turbo bearings to help them down and to avoid hot oil sitting on very hot metal bits.

I'd say the 135i will work great for your needs.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

You sure about that?

Well, he repeats that often enough that he's sure about it, but he knows the 135i smokes the 128i. For some reason I think it makes him feel better, about what, I don't know though.