Turn the Auto Start-Stop System On or Off

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Your BMW 5 Series (F10/F11/F18, 2010–2017) has BMW’s Auto Start-Stop, which switches the engine off when you come to a halt and restarts it as you pull away. It saves fuel, but many drivers prefer it off in traffic. This guide shows how to switch it off per drive, why it sometimes won’t engage, and how it can be made permanent.

How Auto Start-Stop Works on the F10

When you brake to a stop (automatic) or select neutral and release the clutch (manual), the engine shuts off. Lifting the brake or pressing the clutch restarts it. The system only operates once the engine is warm and the battery is healthy.

How to Switch It Off (Per Drive)

1. With the engine running, find the Auto Start-Stop button on the centre console (an “A” inside a circular arrow).
2. Press it once. The light in the button (or a dash message) confirms the system is off.
3. The engine now idles normally at a stop.

How to Switch It Back On

Press the button again, or simply restart the car — Auto Start-Stop defaults back to ON every time you switch the ignition off and on.

Making It Permanently Off

The dashboard button is per-drive only. To have the car remember “off”, the setting can be coded with an OBD app such as Bimmercode or Carly, or at a specialist. This is a popular modification on the F10 and is reversible.

Why It Sometimes Won’t Activate

• The engine is not yet up to temperature.
• The battery charge is low — common after a battery change or short trips; the management system blocks auto-stop to protect the battery.
• Cabin heating or demisting needs the engine running, or the climate setting is demanding.
• The steering is turned, or the car is on a slope.

If it stopped working entirely after a battery change, the new battery may need registering — see our F10 battery guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the F10 remember my start-stop setting?

Not from the button — it resets to ON each start. A permanent change needs coding (Bimmercode/Carly or a specialist).

Is it bad to keep using Auto Start-Stop?

No. The F10’s reinforced starter and AGM battery are built for it, and it skips stops when the battery is low to protect itself.

Why did it stop working after a new battery?

A new battery should be registered so the system trusts its charge state; until then (or until it charges) auto-stop may stay off.

Will coding it off cause problems?

No — it’s a reversible comfort setting many F10 owners apply. It doesn’t affect anything else.

If a warning light appeared alongside the fault, look up the code on autodtcs.com. To clear a service reminder, see our BMW 5 Series service indicator reset guide.