The start / stop only work when the battery is at a certain level (more then 70% I pressume) in order to preserve the battery as you know drawing the battery too much does no good to a battery you want to keep it near 70% at most time.
I bet the start/stop would perform even worst in the summer with the heavy load on engine so no start/stop is fine for me.
As for the price of the F30, I think for a few "skin" more, you will know what to buy with the same amount of money unless you are a hardcore enthusiast. I think BMWHK will lower the price once those hardcore guys gotten their hands on the F30, then maybe they will "hit spring" afterwards
