Left engine on, locked the car and still running

bavarianboar · 02-05-2015, 12:55 PM

Hi all,

Havent posted here for a long long time...

One of my relatives drives a 2013 328i and left the car on in a rush. Perhaps the Auto Start stop caught them while they were leaving the car and then the car would have started on again after she left with luggage from work parking lot. She will not be back before the end of the day. The car is still running from what I know since 8 AM PST.

The other option is to call BMW Assist and unlock the car, and have a friend turn off the car and lock it again using the center console button.
She is in interviews and cannot make a call to BMW Assist and then ensure some friend can go and turn off the car.

Would leaving the engine on like that cause any near term damage? I am guessing overall the car might be left on like that for maybe 7-8 hours...

Any input is appreciated....thanks a lot guys!

Stupid things happen sometimes, the car has been in possession for almost 1.5 years.

fecurtis · 02-05-2015, 12:59 PM

Her car will be fine.

People leave their cars on that long for long road trips.

smithf80 · 02-05-2015, 12:59 PM

If she left in a rush then the car probably shut off the engine when she put it in park and then turned back on when she opened the door (but she didn't notice).

I don't think its going to do any permanent damage but it is always bad to run the fuel system completely dry. Shut it off if you can.

DrivenByE30 · 02-05-2015, 03:51 PM

Yes it is possible... no damage...

Would be the same thing if you had used your key double to lock your still-running 80'S car...

Golden Arrow · 02-09-2015, 11:51 AM

No damage, just a waste of gas.

:

USC2000 · 02-09-2015, 02:24 PM

Seems like it was just left on. When I have my car in park and the car is in ready mode from auto start stop, the car turns off when I open the door. And even then the car gives a nice audible warning telling me that the car was on.

Thumper333 · 02-09-2015, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USC2000

Seems like it was just left on. When I have my car in park and the car is in ready mode from auto start stop, the car turns off when I open the door. And even then the car gives a nice audible warning telling me that the car was on.

Yup. This just happened to me last week. Stopped at the mailbox, car went into start/stop, as soon as I opened the door it binged and the display said "Auto Start Stop" or something similar. When I got back in and tried to just set off the car was turned off, I had to press the start button and fire the engine back up.

02-05-2015, 12:55 PM	#1
bavarianboar Lieutenant Colonel 332 Rep 1,771 Posts Drives: 2020 540i, 2020 430i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Left engine on, locked the car and still running Hi all, Havent posted here for a long long time... One of my relatives drives a 2013 328i and left the car on in a rush. Perhaps the Auto Start stop caught them while they were leaving the car and then the car would have started on again after she left with luggage from work parking lot. She will not be back before the end of the day. The car is still running from what I know since 8 AM PST. The other option is to call BMW Assist and unlock the car, and have a friend turn off the car and lock it again using the center console button. She is in interviews and cannot make a call to BMW Assist and then ensure some friend can go and turn off the car. Would leaving the engine on like that cause any near term damage? I am guessing overall the car might be left on like that for maybe 7-8 hours... Any input is appreciated....thanks a lot guys! Stupid things happen sometimes, the car has been in possession for almost 1.5 years. __________________ Driving: 2020 540i M-Sport Carbon Black, Ivory Nappa - Dec 2019 BTO - Feb 2020 Delivery Returned: 2016 535i M-Sport Carbon Black, Ivory Nappa :: 2014 F30 335i M-Sport Min Grey, Coral Red :: 2011 E90 328i Deep Sea Blue, Oyster Dakota
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02-05-2015, 12:59 PM	#2
fecurtis Banned 3262 Rep 6,299 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	Her car will be fine. People leave their cars on that long for long road trips.
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02-05-2015, 12:59 PM	#3
smithf80 Major General 2809 Rep 5,316 Posts Drives: G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 G20 330i [9.00] 2018 F80 M3 [9.75]	If she left in a rush then the car probably shut off the engine when she put it in park and then turned back on when she opened the door (but she didn't notice). I don't think its going to do any permanent damage but it is always bad to run the fuel system completely dry. Shut it off if you can. __________________ Scott, Partner Insight Automotive Consulting Click HERE for all discounted BMW New Car Pricing Click HERE for all BMW In Stock Inventory Specials Call/Text: 516-416-5481 Email: scott@insightautoconsulting.com
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02-05-2015, 03:51 PM	#4
DrivenByE30 Brigadier General 592 Rep 3,870 Posts Drives: '12 F30 Lux 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: OC - SoCal iTrader: (0)	Yes it is possible... no damage... Would be the same thing if you had used your key double to lock your still-running 80'S car...
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02-09-2015, 11:51 AM	#5
Golden Arrow Lieutenant 195 Rep 522 Posts Drives: F36 430i GC Join Date: May 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	No damage, just a waste of gas. : __________________ 2017 430i GC 2013 335i 2004 330ci 2003 330xi (Forever in my heart )
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02-09-2015, 02:24 PM	#6
USC2000 Lieutenant Colonel 127 Rep 1,604 Posts Drives: F30 328i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: El Paso, TX iTrader: (10)	Seems like it was just left on. When I have my car in park and the car is in ready mode from auto start stop, the car turns off when I open the door. And even then the car gives a nice audible warning telling me that the car was on.
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