[jagi00]

I will take delivery of my 45e next week and wondering if there are any built in safeguards to avoid undue stresses when a cold engine kicks in when in hybrid mode.
If not, I’m thinking of starting off in sport to get some heat in the engine although that kind of defeats the purpose of a hybrid. What do you all do if anything?

[volodp]

I do nothing. I believe that there's indeed an internal safeguard not allowing heavy use of the ICE. There's an indicator of the ICE being too cold as well as rev limiter before it warms up. To me it's reassuring enough. The only thing I don't do, though, is rev the cold engine up deliberately. If it's really needed - so be it but otherwise I just let the car do its magic starting and stopping the engine as needed.

[PeterPuitG]

I drive a lot in electric mode so that is easy. If I know I will do a longer journey i use hybrid and sometimes I accelerate a bit harder deliberately so the ICE will kick in. In that case it will run for a few minutes to get up to a certain temperature before it can go back to using the electric motor.
But often I just ignore it and do the same as Volodp, just let the car decide.

[YuicyYumboYack]

Similar to others here, I don't even think about. I just let the car do its thing. Note, though, that I do tend to drive fairly conservatively, and haven't come across a situation where the kick down was engaged.

Per volodp my understanding is that there are some safeguards built in given the engine will be used differently than in a 40i.

[nZtiZia]

not entirely related to the original concern, but it's recommended to break-in the ICE. I admit getting excited about driving all electric when I took delivery that I did so exclusively for the first two months. because my daily commute is all-electric, I had to force ICE use (Sport mode) to break in

[allinon72]

It's really a non issue with modern day oils. I'm sure BMW would have addressed it if it were an engineering problem. There might even be a oil heater, who knows.

[Vadersithlord]

I read into this before I decided on the 45e. BMW stated no issue with cold engine switching between electric vs ICE. I took a trip and purposely used sport mode to break in the engine.

[Wait What?]

Agree with the other comments here: I remember reading some place (cannot recall source though nor can I vouch for accuracy) that the 45e ICE has been built with greater safeguards than regular ICE's in order to counteract stress from cold starts whenever they are required by the hybrid system rules, so I think it should not be an issue.

Having said that, personally I have pretty much settled to drive electric (I actually select the Hybrid mode, but keep an eye on the instrument cluster so as to avoid invoking the ICE) whenever I am in town or in the immediate vicinities and put it in Sport mode whenever I drive on the highway or for longer trips: this way I have basically eliminated the issue of cold starts.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Wait What?

Agree with the other comments here: I remember reading some place (cannot recall source though nor can I vouch for accuracy) that the 45e ICE has been built with greater safeguards than regular ICE's in order to counteract stress from cold starts whenever they are required by the hybrid system rules, so I think it should not be an issue.

Having said that, personally I have pretty much settled to drive electric (I actually select the Hybrid mode, but keep an eye on the instrument cluster so as to avoid invoking the ICE) whenever I am in town or in the immediate vicinities and put it in Sport mode whenever I drive on the highway or for longer trips: this way I have basically eliminated the issue of cold starts.

I can't remember where I read / saw this. It was either regarding BMW hybrids or Porsche hybrids. May have been a podcast for all I recall. I wish I could remember.

In any event, either a BMW or Porsche powertrain engineer was addressing this point. Their statement that this was actually BETTER for the engine, because having immediate load upon start (rather than starting, idlidng, and then driving slowly) meant heat got into the engine faster, which means the lubrication was more effective more quickly, and the engine was happier reaching operating temperature more quickly.

I wish I could remember where I saw / read / heard this. But I know I did. Seems to run counter to logic we all were taught, but does have some of it's own logic.

[Heavyd]

Somewhere in this review he tells he spoke with BMW engineers and they said some engine parts are made stronger and more durable.
Starts at 38:00

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

I can't remember where I read / saw this. It was either regarding BMW hybrids or Porsche hybrids. May have been a podcast for all I recall. I wish I could remember.

In any event, either a BMW or Porsche powertrain engineer was addressing this point. Their statement that this was actually BETTER for the engine, because having immediate load upon start (rather than starting, idlidng, and then driving slowly) meant heat got into the engine faster, which means the lubrication was more effective more quickly, and the engine was happier reaching operating temperature more quickly.

I wish I could remember where I saw / read / heard this. But I know I did. Seems to run counter to logic we all were taught, but does have some of it's own logic.

Yeah I think letting the car warm up by idling is a carry over from when carburetors were used. With cars now, there's no reason to let it idle, you're just wasting fuel. Better to start and drive.

In regards to the 45e specifically, I remember reading that the engine was shielded in a way that it retains heat much longer than a traditional engine. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a ton of information on it, but everything seems to point to the fact that BMW accounted for the engine constantly turning on and off.

[jad03060]

While the same displacement, the I6 engine in the 45e is detuned so it isn't under as much stress and the EV motor adding in its immediate torque helps to cushion things, too...

The recommended break-in takes into account more than just the engine...the entire drivetrain with rotating parts likes it better if you ease into it before beating on it until it's got everything better seated.

[evodz]

Modern ICE cars do not need a warmup period assuming its for normal driving so no need to worry.

[jad03060]

It's still not a great idea to demand full power until you start to get the engine at least a little warm...but good modern engines do that pretty quickly, too.

[jagi00]

Originally Posted by jad03060

While the same displacement, the I6 engine in the 45e is detuned so it isn't under as much stress and the EV motor adding in its immediate torque helps to cushion things, too...

The recommended break-in takes into account more than just the engine...the entire drivetrain with rotating parts likes it better if you ease into it before beating on it until it's got everything better seated.

I doubt that the engine is detuned. The B58 engine has the same 389 HP in my Z4 M40i as my about to arrive X5 45e.Brilliant engine! As far as I know BMW does not offer a higher HP version.

[volodp]

Doesn't 40i have 340 HP with the same engine?

[Hello_fellow_bimmers]

Originally Posted by jagi00

I doubt that the engine is detuned. The B58 engine has the same 286 HP in my Z4 M40i as my about to arrive X5 45e.Brilliant engine! As far as I know BMW does not offer a higher HP version.

I believe it is though. The 40i is a mild hybrid and considered tuned compared to a 45e. The HP and torque specs are less on just the ICE of the 45e, but combined with the electric motor combine to be more than the 40i…just based on my research

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by Hello_fellow_bimmers

I believe it is though. The 40i is a mild hybrid and considered tuned compared to a 45e. The HP and torque specs are less on just the ICE of the 45e, but combined with the electric motor combine to be more than the 40i…just based on my research

It's definitely detuned. About 280hp from the gas engine, and 111 from electric.

[evodz]

Originally Posted by jad03060

It's still not a great idea to demand full power until you start to get the engine at least a little warm...but good modern engines do that pretty quickly, too.

Yup exactly

[LogicalApex]

I wouldn't worry about it honestly as we're not given the exact details of how the two systems are working together, but unlike a lot of PHEVs for BMW the integration is very deep. So it isn't a binary choice when the ICE engine is on. Meaning there is no mode available to us where the car can be in ICE only mode. When the ICE is on the EV motor is there to assist and can be assisting more than we might think...

For instance, I notice if I am accelerating hard in my car to get on the highway or pass and the engine is cold (and the car has run out of HV battery juice to turn it on) I'm more likely to end up in "eBoost" than if I were doing this when the engine is warmer. Meaning the EV motor is assisting in this as the engine warms up a bit. I am sure the integrations are far more involved as well.

You can be assured that BMW has thought long and hard about this though. For the ICE version of the car the power train warranty from BMW is a simple 4y/50K miles in the US. For the PHEV it is up to 15y/150K miles in CARB states. So if they were to end up with insane stress on the engine that prevented it from lasting they'll be paying for a LOT of new engines. And for the majority of us owners the warranty coverage is longer than we plan to own the vehicle.

I get it that not every state is a CARB state, but CARB states are the #1 states where buyers are picking up PHEVs and EVs.

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

not entirely related to the original concern, but it's recommended to break-in the ICE. I admit getting excited about driving all electric when I took delivery that I did so exclusively for the first two months. because my daily commute is all-electric, I had to force ICE use (Sport mode) to break in

I took my 530e on a long road trip within a few weeks of buying it so I could exhaust the break-in period on the highway and not have to worry about it anymore

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I took my 530e on a long road trip within a few weeks of buying it so I could exhaust the break-in period on the highway and not have to worry about it anymore

Two months in and still not even close....

[jad03060]

Mine's a year old, and I just hit 3518-miles! With over 2K of those in the last month. Being retired, and close to most things I need on a daily basis helps. Only one more nephew to get married off, and no prospects imminent, no idea when or where that one will be!