Is city driving bad for turbo cars like the 1er?

romnation · 07-18-2017, 09:02 PM

I will be picking up a 135i soon and the majority of my driving will be city driving. Is this bad for the turbos in any way?

xQx · 07-18-2017, 09:06 PM

Nope, the car's built for it.

Don't flog it until it's up to temperature (takes about 15 minutes of driving) or right before you turn it off.

Modern oils and car designs mean most people can just get in and drive without worrying about warm-up or cool-down - but if you're a lead foot you still should.
... Especially considering what it costs to repair these little cars.

The Wind Breezes · 07-18-2017, 10:56 PM

No, it's not bad for your turbo(s). What made you ask? That's an unusual question.

Matticus91 · 07-20-2017, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

No, it's not bad for your turbo(s). What made you ask? That's an unusual question.

It's pretty commonly thought that city driving is inherently terrible for your car, so I could get why he'd think that.

But as long as you take it easy before the car is warmed up you'll be fine. I pretty much exclusively drive city miles.

Matt@EuroJerks · 07-20-2017, 10:43 AM

This thread brings up a question I have.

How long do you let your car idle before shutting it off? I know with different driving situations there are different time lengths so respond accordingly.

desertman123 · 07-20-2017, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks

This thread brings up a question I have.

How long do you let your car idle before shutting it off? I know with different driving situations there are different time lengths so respond accordingly.

If you hit full boost a few times then immediately pull over and stop, I'd give it like 10-20 seconds.

Otherwise none, the electric water pump will continue to cool the turbos after the car is shut down

Also OP, if you do a lot of city driving make sure you don't make too many trips per week where the car DOESN'T get to operating temp. If the oil never hits 100c/212f, the built up moisture will accumulate.

Lucky1 · 07-20-2017, 11:11 AM

Sure you don't want to move to the country and let your 1er roam free?

YearOneOne · 07-21-2017, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Sure you don't want to move to the country and let your 1er roam free?

Exactly back roads are its natural habitat. At least that's where I notice she comes alive

MightyMouseTech · 07-21-2017, 08:21 AM

Don't drive it hard until oil is fully up to temp, try to get the oil fully up to temp every drive.

Fuel mileage will be terrible, I use nearly 3x the amount of fuel in city driving compared to highway cruising.

NorthernDancer · 07-21-2017, 08:27 AM

MMT: since when is Calabogie a city?

MightyMouseTech · 07-21-2017, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

MMT: since when is Calabogie a city?

In that case, I use about 12x the amount of fuel in "city" driving.

doublevanosrc · 07-21-2017, 08:59 AM

Should be fine just make sure you keep up with preventative maintenance like regular oil changes and coolant flushes.

MightyMouseTech · 07-21-2017, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Should be fine just make sure you keep up with preventative maintenance like regular oil changes and coolant flushes.

Agreed. I would also not follow the factory oil change interval. Personally I do my oil changes every 6k. Short trips will dilute the oil with fuel.

doublevanosrc · 07-21-2017, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Agreed. I would also not follow the factory oil change interval. Personally I do my oil changes every 6k. Short trips will dilute the oil with fuel.

Yes, I do mines at 7500 way sooner than the service indicator states.

Havocsteve · 07-21-2017, 09:41 AM

I do mine @ 10K kms. Make me look bad you guys!

MightyMouseTech · 07-21-2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havocsteve

I do mine @ 10K kms. Make me look bad you guys!

I chose 6k, because when the PPK was installed, it changed my oil change interval to 18k from the original 24k. Was still under warranty so was getting free oil changes still, made it easy to do every 6k and every third oil change was free.

Havocsteve · 07-21-2017, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I chose 6k, because when the PPK was installed, it changed my oil change interval to 18k from the original 24k. Was still under warranty so was getting free oil changes still, made it easy to do every 6k and every third oil change was free.

6k is a bit excessive no? I did that for my MS3 but they needed to be done every 8k. The synthetic oil we use is very good and could go to the 15k mark without degrading much. This oil also isn't very cheap lol. You using the Castrol stuff?

MightyMouseTech · 07-21-2017, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havocsteve

6k is a bit excessive no? I did that for my MS3 but they needed to be done every 8k. The synthetic oil we use is very good and could go to the 15k mark without degrading much. This oil also isn't very cheap lol. You using the Castrol stuff?

Yes, Castrol Edge 0W40. When it goes on sale it costs me about $40 to do an oil change. A lot cheaper than a $20k motor replacement.

Ric in RVA · 07-21-2017, 01:50 PM

And.....I am a big proponent of not lugging the engine....so don't over rev cold and don't lug. (Say get on the gas hard at 1500 rpm.... Get it spinning first and down shift!)

Mototrav22 · 07-22-2017, 10:12 PM

City driving isn't bad... Heat soaking is.

07-18-2017, 09:02 PM	#1
romnation Private 19 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Is city driving bad for turbo cars like the 1er? I will be picking up a 135i soon and the majority of my driving will be city driving. Is this bad for the turbos in any way?
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07-18-2017, 09:06 PM	#2
xQx General 903 Rep 1,004 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i (E88 N54 6AT) Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Sunshine Coast QLD Australia iTrader: (0)	Nope, the car's built for it. Don't flog it until it's up to temperature (takes about 15 minutes of driving) or right before you turn it off. Modern oils and car designs mean most people can just get in and drive without worrying about warm-up or cool-down - but if you're a lead foot you still should. ... Especially considering what it costs to repair these little cars.
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07-18-2017, 10:56 PM	#3
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 912 Rep 1,850 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	No, it's not bad for your turbo(s). What made you ask? That's an unusual question.
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07-20-2017, 10:43 AM	#5
Matt@EuroJerks Lieutenant 496 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	This thread brings up a question I have. How long do you let your car idle before shutting it off? I know with different driving situations there are different time lengths so respond accordingly.
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07-20-2017, 11:11 AM	#7
Lucky1 Colonel 650 Rep 2,051 Posts Drives: '08 128i Coupe SGM 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Porsche 911 Ca ... [0.00] 2008 128i Coupe [0.00] 2006 Z4 M Roadster [0.00]	Sure you don't want to move to the country and let your 1er roam free?
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07-21-2017, 08:21 AM	#9
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Don't drive it hard until oil is fully up to temp, try to get the oil fully up to temp every drive. Fuel mileage will be terrible, I use nearly 3x the amount of fuel in city driving compared to highway cruising.
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07-21-2017, 08:27 AM	#10
NorthernDancer Colonel 850 Rep 2,276 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	MMT: since when is Calabogie a city?
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07-21-2017, 08:59 AM	#12
doublevanosrc Loves his G20 265 Rep 2,507 Posts Drives: 2020 330ix M sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin. Tx iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW [0.00]	Should be fine just make sure you keep up with preventative maintenance like regular oil changes and coolant flushes. __________________ 2020 330ix-Msport Past- 2013 135i 2011 135i
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07-21-2017, 09:41 AM	#15
Havocsteve Second Lieutenant 82 Rep 276 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	I do mine @ 10K kms. Make me look bad you guys!
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07-21-2017, 01:50 PM	#19
Ric in RVA Bergspyder 1469 Rep 1,212 Posts Drives: '11 BMW 128i Sport 6mt Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (1)	And.....I am a big proponent of not lugging the engine....so don't over rev cold and don't lug. (Say get on the gas hard at 1500 rpm.... Get it spinning first and down shift!) __________________ Ric in RVA 2011 128i 6 MT Sport, 2009 Cayman 987.2, 2011 528i N52, 2018 F150 Platinum
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07-22-2017, 10:12 PM	#20
Mototrav22 New Member 14 Rep 28 Posts Drives: 2011 135i (DCT) Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	City driving isn't bad... Heat soaking is.
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