Is Eco-Pro mode the worst idea ever?

[SanDiego640]

For good measure, I made several attempts to use Eco-Pro mode on my 640 GC, mostly out of respect for our the engineers in Munich. Surely someone put a lot of effort into this, so I I felt it deserved a try.

My conclusion is that this is perhaps the worst feature ever.

- Throttle response is virtually eliminated.
- The mileage savings are minuscule.
- It switches the Auto Start-Stop "feature" on, although I thankfully coded it to default to off each time I start the car.

If the argument is Eco Pro is best used when on a long freeway drive, the system's "discouragement" of speeds over 60 negates that. Who does a long drive at just 60 MPH?

Further, on freeways at any time there can be a need to merge or get out of the way of something, making the non-existent acceleration in this mode a safety hazard.

In short, Eco Pro turns my 315 HP 640 GC into a 4,400 lb VW Polo.

Is there some benefit to this mode that I am unaware of? Am I missing something here?

Cheers!

[Qsilver7]

I'm sure there are owners out there that have chronic "granny-toe"...or those that honestly can't tell any difference when they use gas with an octane rating between 87-89 AKI vs 91-93 AKI, or those that are entrenched fully in the eco-first movement...probably use the Eco-Pro setting. But they probably are in the non-vocal majority camp on the forum (they read the threads but mostly never engage in the discourse).

[thebmw]

I have been looking at this issue scientifically. I have made multiple 300 mile trips on Comfort mode as well as Eco Pro mode. I have found that Eco Pro mode has given me absolutely no gains in average fuel economy. That was mostly highway driving.

I have found that in City driving I see very marginal gains with Eco Pro mode because the regenerative braking does not turn on. Therefore the car coasts much longer does reducing the need to apply the accelerator. So with a very light foot and with a hyper mileage driving strategy, I have been able to average 30 miles a gallon with suburban driving. But this is a very limited application and doesn't really justify the mode.

I will say that I love the blue lighting and that's probably the biggest reason to use Eco Pro!

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by SanDiego640

For good measure, I made several attempts to use Eco-Pro mode on my 640 GC, mostly out of respect for our the engineers in Munich. Surely someone put a lot of effort into this, so I I felt it deserved a try.

My conclusion is that this is perhaps the worst feature ever.

- Throttle response is virtually eliminated.
- The mileage savings are minuscule.
- It switches the Auto Start-Stop "feature" on, although I thankfully coded it to default to off each time I start the car.

If the argument is Eco Pro is best used when on a long freeway drive, the system's "discouragement" of speeds over 60 negates that. Who does a long drive at just 60 MPH?



Further, on freeways at any time there can be a need to merge or get out of the way of something, making the non-existent acceleration in this mode a safety hazard.

In short, Eco Pro turns my 315 HP 640 GC into a 4,400 lb VW Polo.



Is there some benefit to this mode that I am unaware of? Am I missing something here?

Cheers!

Well I’ve used it several times on long freeway trips and found that the throttle response was - uh - neutered. I got about 28 mpg at speeds between 80 and 90 mph. I’m going again on Tuesday and I’ll do it in comfort mode, and then check the mileage. We’ll see!

[Russbmw]

I concur, it's shit.

The dangerous lack of response is my main reason for not using it.

My main reason for using it, is because the dash changing colour to blue keeps me amused.

[Giggs11]

I used it ONCE when I bought the car and never again!!!!

[MichaelInChicago]

Eco-Pro in a 4,430 lb. BMW with a 4.4 L twin turbo V8.

That is the perfect definition of an oxymoron.

[e38740imd]

you can still haul ass in eco mode if you floor it and press the button below the pedal. works for me when you really need that power when in eco mode.

but i agree. i feel like it doesnt help. but do use it quite often.

[Frupal]

I used to like Eco-Pro mode for the blue and also I liked watching those bars light up and it made me feel environmentally more ‘woke’ to see the + mpg add up. Took me forever to figure out that the + miles reflected miles per gallon, not per tank. And it was really fun to watch the range increase even though I was burning gas. But guess what? You can see the range in comfort mode too. I recently took a trip to Palm Springs in comfort mode and got pretty much the same mileage as Eco-Pro without the frustration of that slow throttle response and the nanny shaking her digital finger at me every time I got over 80. Lol! I do like the blue...

[K7]

I've tried many times to use eco pro to see how many km I will get on a full tank of gas. I have not been successful in using eco pro for more than a day. It seems to me the fuel savings is not even worth the negative aspects of eco pro.

[itzjoker]

Is the + miles referring to total miles gained for earlier models? Surely it can't be +10 miles per gallon gained on the 650i.

[Taheemr]

it works far better in the diesels and make a notable difference to consumption, but agree its annoying

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by itzjoker

Is the + miles referring to total miles gained for earlier models? Surely it can't be +10 miles per gallon gained on the 650i.

It may well be! If you’d been driving hard in town and getting like 13 or 14, and then you went eco pro on the freeway you could def get an additional 10 mpg.

[ezmaass]

If I was concerned with getting slightly better gas mileage, I wouldn't have purchased the V8 - I would have gone for the I6.

That said, I tried it a few times on my previous 550xi and gave up on it after it proved to do little to nothing, and it required the engine stop/start to be engaged. I still can't believe it's the best idea to continually start and stop a bunch of moving parts - maybe your gas mileage improves a hair, but I have to believe it's less than ideal for the engine. Not to mention, that delay when the engine is restarting is disconcerting, especially when you're looking to pull out quickly.

[TON-III]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I still can't believe it's the best idea to continually start and stop a bunch of moving parts - maybe your gas mileage improves a hair, but I have to believe it's less than ideal for the engine. Not to mention, that delay when the engine is restarting is disconcerting, especially when you're looking to pull out quickly.

You're right, it's not good for the engine, expecially for high torque diesels. I'm not sure if I remember right but decades or two ago engines were build up to last 100 000 starts but nowadays when crankchaft bearings are lead free etc. it's far less.

I'm always having S/S of when driving my 640 diesel.

[JBF650]

So I gave in and tried eco mode too last week and indeed the blue dash is nice to look at but hell the blunted performance is awful..... and yes I’d say dangerous.... lord help you if you need to quickly out accelerate something ....
Errrmmmm I’ll not be using the pretty blue again....

[e38740imd]

So i used the eco pro for a weak. It actually works. You guys just wanna fly around. But normal driving it helps. With out eco mode i will have to say that im always at the gas station.

[TON-III]

There's at least one slight advantage I think, in my X-Drive is hydraulic power steering and even it's maybe having better feel than electric one when driving normally but in eco-mode it's even more when being 'slow' and not too sensible.

[jjasonSU]

Never tried it before until reading this thread.
Cool blue display and the "let off the pedal" sign is funny. Ha

Back to Sport i went after 10 mins

[pdubq]

I agree with everyone so far... in that buyers of a sport coupe/gc are typically not Prius-folk...oxymoron, sure...

I use my ‘15 650i xdrive GC year round in CO, and after a big snow dump, I use ecopro to be able to comfortably/effortlessly drive with less risk of slipping or overestimating my stopping ability.

I’ll be mb3-tuning it in a few days, so I think winter ecopro usage will get even more helpful once I get used to the tuned performance.