[Yobyot]

My MY12 335i ZSL car shuddered with the best of 'em whenever ASS was activated. But I like getting over 25mpg in the city, so I learned to live with it.

Recently, the FZD module needed to be replaced in my car to eliminate airbag inoperable warnings. This necessitated reprogramming the car with what I presume is updated software (I had to use PSDzData 50.3 to recode my options).

Now, shutdown is just a mild tremor -- and restart is imperceptible. I kid you not.

Run, don't walk, to the dealer with some kind of excuse that will make them reprogram the entire car with an updated level of software.

BMW has fixed ASS through programming. But unless you can convince the dealer to reprogram it for some other reason, you might never experience the real peace of ASS.

[JN1]

I find this hard to believe. Its annoying to me just the fact that the engine turns off in general. Its as if I have stalled out at every light which is why I had it coded to remember the last setting which is always 'off'.

[dL.]

Interesting... I got them to update the software because I had stalling issue with ASS. I will see if it's smoother. To be honest, I was never that bothered by the hesitation, but one thing for sure is I did not even realize I had ASS on... so perhaps it has improved.

I will report back in a few days.

dL

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

I've notice a huge difference between my previous '13 F30 328 M-Sport and current '14 F30 335 M-Sport's ASS but chalked it up to 4cyl vs 6cyl.

It was very rough and annoying in the 328 but smooth and almost imperceptible in the 335...

[drob23]

Originally Posted by DesertSmokeBBQ

I've notice a huge difference between my previous '13 F30 328 M-Sport and current '14 F30 335 M-Sport's ASS but chalked it up to 4cyl vs 6cyl.

It was very rough and annoying in the 328 but smooth and almost imperceptible in the 335...

Based purely on engine tech and that this is a Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) problem, this isn't surprising considering the inline 6 is one of the most naturally balanced engines you can have (1st and 2nd order harmonics). But a software update could also be the reason.

[joewalton]

ASS is dangerous. It's going to get someone killed some day.

[TrueBlue12]

The only situation ASS is useful is light traffic with lengthy stop lights. Any stop signs, moderate traffic, etc... and its going to be turning off at all the wrong times.

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

My MY12 335i ZSL car shuddered with the best of 'em whenever ASS was activated. But I like getting over 25mpg in the city, so I learned to live with it.

Recently, the FZD module needed to be replaced in my car to eliminate airbag inoperable warnings. This necessitated reprogramming the car with what I presume is updated software (I had to use PSDzData 50.3 to recode my options).

Now, shutdown is just a mild tremor -- and restart is imperceptible. I kid you not.

Run, don't walk, to the dealer with some kind of excuse that will make them reprogram the entire car with an updated level of software.

BMW has fixed ASS through programming. But unless you can convince the dealer to reprogram it for some other reason, you might never experience the real peace of ASS.

+10000

They actually have had a fix for this for quite some time. I took mine in for routine service in april I believe. They also did a software update (that took quite a while for whatever reason) and low and behold, my ASS problems were solved.

I had the annoying stop/start/error stall issue quite a few times. I could actually make the car do it if I wanted. After the update, that has changed. Passengers don't even notice it doing its thing unless it's absolutely silent in the car. You can't feel it unless you're paying attention, either in stop or start. With the exception of restart due to climate control (foot still on brake but car starts because it needs to cool down). There is more of a shudder there because you're holding the brake and absorbing everything.

All said, I have no issue with it since then. Sure it turns off sometimes when I'm only sitting for 1-2 seconds which isn't ideal, but how is the car supposed to know I stopped right as the light turned green...

As far as getting someone killed? With the fix where it doesn't 'stall', I don't see that happening, or at least not due to ASS. If you turn the wheel the car will start, if you let off the brake a fraction the car will start. If you're stopped, by the time you go from taking your foot off the brake to mashing the gas, the car will have already restarted and is ready to go before you ever touch the go pedal.

[dL.]

ASS does not engage unless your foot is depressed at a certain level on the brake. So you can actually control the ASS engaging or not depending on the condition of the light.

If you know it's going to turn green soon, then you can still stop the car completely by depressing it but not depress it very hard. There's a sweet spot that will stop the car completely but will not activate ASS.

dL

[milanoverde]

The others are right. I took my '13 328 i in for its first service last week. The service writer mentioned something about software updates. Anyway, I had been routinely shutting off this "feature" every time I started the car. Because I saw this post, I tried it out and he's right! Much better. Now, I expect I will use the ASS from now on.

Tony Brucia

[CHCCubs]

Originally Posted by milanoverde

The others are right. I took my '13 328 i in for its first service last week. The service writer mentioned something about software updates. Anyway, I had been routinely shutting off this "feature" every time I started the car. Because I saw this post, I tried it out and he's right! Much better. Now, I expect I will use the ASS from now on.

Tony Brucia

Thanks for the post. I was hoping a 328i owner would post back their results from this software update.

Like the OP I use the ASS daily on my commute and find it works well at saving fuel in spite of its at times abrupt and not seamless operation.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by JNLBC

I find this hard to believe. Its annoying to me just the fact that the engine turns off in general. Its as if I have stalled out at every light which is why I had it coded to remember the last setting which is always 'off'.

ASS never once stalled on my car -- but it was very intrusive. As I hit about 10K miles, it got slightly better.

But you wouldn't believe the improvement with the updated programming.

As I said before, shutdown is significantly smoother. Restarts are amazingly smooth.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by DesertSmokeBBQ

I've notice a huge difference between my previous '13 F30 328 M-Sport and current '14 F30 335 M-Sport's ASS but chalked it up to 4cyl vs 6cyl.

It was very rough and annoying in the 328 but smooth and almost imperceptible in the 335...

While my car was in the shop waiting for the part, I had a MY13 base 328xi. I got it with 400 miles on it.

ASS was terrible. But I don't think this SA-made car had been updated.

You make a good point: I don't know if the 328i will benefit from the improvements. But the difference in my 335i is amazing.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by dL.

ASS does not engage unless your foot is depressed at a certain level on the brake. So you can actually control the ASS engaging or not depending on the condition of the light.

If you know it's going to turn green soon, then you can still stop the car completely by depressing it but not depress it very hard. There's a sweet spot that will stop the car completely but will not activate ASS.

dL

Correct.

There is a technical guide to the F30 somewhere on this site which goes into incredible detail about ASS and how it works. One of the things it discusses is the timing and brake pedal pressure necessary for ASS to engage.

Fascinating stuff. And also, come to think of it, the reason that the abruptness can be cured via software.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by joewalton

ASS is dangerous. It's going to get someone killed some day.

BMW has had the feature for a number of years in Europe with no issues. Other manufacturers have done so for well over a decade in both the States and Europe.

No deaths yet.

I would worry more about lightning strikes. People die from these every year. Talk about a design flaw.

[Kowboi]

Originally Posted by dL.

ASS does not engage unless your foot is depressed at a certain level on the brake. So you can actually control the ASS engaging or not depending on the condition of the light.

If you know it's going to turn green soon, then you can still stop the car completely by depressing it but not depress it very hard. There's a sweet spot that will stop the car completely but will not activate ASS.

dL

Or put the car into sport mode. This disables ASS. I do this by moving my gear selector to M/S (pull it to the left). It's a Canadian car.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by DesertSmokeBBQ

I've notice a huge difference between my previous '13 F30 328 M-Sport and current '14 F30 335 M-Sport's ASS but chalked it up to 4cyl vs 6cyl.

It was very rough and annoying in the 328 but smooth and almost imperceptible in the 335...

The ASS on my 2013 335 has always been smooth, but I just do not like it.

Dealer gave me a 328 loaner...it felt like an earthquake each time the car restarted.

[btbossman]

To be honest I kinda like the ASS...It has always been smooth for me from day one, and Ive just looked at it as a cool feature...it hasn't gotten in the way of anything while driving for me, but definitely took some getting used to at first. I mostly drive my car in manual, but I really dont mind the ASS especially now with my exhaust, it aids in scaring pedestrians.

[usher93]

On the 328 it is unusable for the most part. People come in my car and think something is wrong with it when it tarts back up. I can't believe BMW actually sells the 328 with this in it. I can't imagine it's good for the starter either even though I know it's a bigger stater.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by Kowboi

Or put the car into sport mode. This disables ASS. I do this by moving my gear selector to M/S (pull it to the left). It's a Canadian car.

Just to be clear, "sport mode" is when the Driving Experience switch is set to "Sport" or "Sport+." This is indicated by "Sport" appearing in the display outside of the gear indicator.

Moving the AT level to the left ("M/S") engages what BMW calls "sport program mode." This is indicated in the gear indication, usually "DS" or "Sx" where "x" is the gear selected when in "manual" mode.

The two modes can be combined.

What prevents ASS from shutting down the engine isn't "sport mode" set by the DES; it's "sport program mode" set by moving the AT selector to the M/S "sport program mode."

So, it's possible to have the car in Comfort -- even ECO PRO -- mode and move the AT selector to M/S as you stop to prevent ASS from shutting down the engine. This is better, IMO, than pushing the brake pedal or turning the wheel after you stop to re-start the engine.

My ASS is so smooth now, I don't bother with this anymore.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by OC40

The ASS on my 2013 335 has always been smooth, but I just do not like it.

Dealer gave me a 328 loaner...it felt like an earthquake each time the car restarted.

I agree that the 335i is smoother than the 328i, even before the recent updates.

But to really compare, you would have to compare a 328i to a 335i that had BOTH been reprogrammed to at least F020_13_07_505.

I had a 328i loaner with 400 miles on it while my car was in the shop for the repair that lead to this level being installed on the car. It was, as you say, earth-shaking. I forget the loaner's programming level, but it wasn't recent.

But I am not comparing the 328i to my 335i. Instead, my OP is about the difference between ASS in my car before and after the update.

You wouldn't believe the difference. The people who keep saying ASS is "un-BMW-like" are exactly correct. They just won't know it until they get updated.

What bothers me is I doubt BMW will issue some kind of general TSB or advisory that will allow F30 owners to get the update simply to smooth out their ASS.

[milanoverde]

I believe the update is going in when owners bring their cars in for routine service. I brought my car in for a battery problem. The service writer told me he would do the routine service which was almost due and mentioned there was a computer update. I hadn't mentioned ASS because I always was switching it off and had forgotten I had it.
TonyASS