BMW 3 Series Start-Stop Recalibration Available

Drivers who find the engine start-stop feature new for the 2012 BMW 3 Series annoying can take their car to a dealership and have the default setting switched to “off” according to the company.

In an effort to save fuel, BMW downsized to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder in its entry-level 328i this year and added engine start-stop technology to all 3 Series models. But it that seems some drivers find the technology to be too obtrusive and prefer to turn it off. Unfortunately, doing so only means the feature is disabled during that drive. It defaults to being turned on fur the next trip, which some people find annoying.

Now, BMW is offering customers the option to bring their cars into the dealer for recalibration so the opposite is true, leaving the system switched off unless otherwise engaged. The option is called the “last user mode” and is standard on all BMW M models.

That mode offers a greater degree of freedom for the driver, who will now find the car remaining in whichever mode the car was left in during the previous trip. That means the start-stop function will be switched on if it was active when the driver turned the car off as well.

GALLERY: 2012 BMW 3 Series