Do F10 M5 M Button Settings Alter Power??

[W8PMC]

I know i'm going to get shot down for this but bear with me. I know in the E60 the full 507ps was released when selected from the I-Drive & could be set against the single M Button. I'm not aware of this being the case in the F10 but am convinced something voodoo happens.

As you know, the car has 3 settings for Springs, Steering & Throttle response & these can be set at Comfort, Sport or Sport Plus & 3 Trans response settings under both Manual & Auto 1-3. It's also possible to select MDM or Traction fully off. Now i accept that Throttle response set to Sport or Sport Plus would offer a slight performance advantage over Comfort, but even on Sport the car feels around 100bhp more powerful.

This could be some kind of placebo effect but every time i select the M Button i have set to Soft Porn the car turns into an intergalactic rocket ship & feels considerably quicker than Comfort/Normal. Surely an increased throttle response would not provide such an effect?

My Soft Porn setting is Auto Trans 3 with Steering, Throttle & Springs set to Sport. Hardcore setting is Manual Trans 3, MDM & Throttle, Steering & Springs set to Sport Plus & i've yet to explore this but if it provides anything more than my Soft Porn setting then i'm already scared as that must be double bonkers.

[kippaxking]

There is no increase in actual available power in any M mode although I agree it can feel like that particularly if you switch from full 'comfort' to 'sport plus'.

The biggest difference seems to be changing the transmission speeds but you are already on '3' in your 'soft' mode!!!

With the traction control fully on, ie not in MDM, you will obviously lose some power as the systems try to put the power down smoothly.

This is definitely the best thing about the car, the way it can be set up in so many different ways that even 3 months in I'm still learning.

[W8PMC]

kippaxking said:

There is no increase in actual available power in any M mode although I agree it can feel like that particularly if you switch from full 'comfort' to 'sport plus'.

The biggest difference seems to be changing the transmission speeds but you are already on '3' in your 'soft' mode!!!

With the traction control fully on, ie not in MDM, you will obviously lose some power as the systems try to put the power down smoothly.

This is definitely the best thing about the car, the way it can be set up in so many different ways that even 3 months in I'm still learning.

Not really used full attack mode yet as can imagine that's insane. So in M1 it's only uplifted to Trans 3 (Auto) & Sport for everything else, MDM/Traction are set to nanny mode but still the performance uplift is nuts.

Can't wait to get her on track to try my track settings (Hardcore) as that must be a huuuge giggle.

[paulmc]

I read somewhere that boost is slightly higher and held longer in "max mode" but for the life of me i cant find that info again. Maybe need to buy some sort of live ecu data reader to prove this either way?

Anyone know a reader that will do this. Not looked much into the F10 yet

[Palmball]

I don't think the boost changes but I'm sure I read that the turbo wastegates stay open for longer, hence it also sounds more aggressive in Sport mode and above.

[JMRS4]

W8PMC said:

I know i'm going to get shot down for this but bear with me. I know in the E60 the full 507ps was released when selected from the I-Drive & could be set against the single M Button. I'm not aware of this being the case in the F10 but am convinced something voodoo happens.

As you know, the car has 3 settings for Springs, Steering & Throttle response & these can be set at Comfort, Sport or Sport Plus & 3 Trans response settings under both Manual & Auto 1-3. It's also possible to select MDM or Traction fully off. Now i accept that Throttle response set to Sport or Sport Plus would offer a slight performance advantage over Comfort, but even on Sport the car feels around 100bhp more powerful.

This could be some kind of placebo effect but every time i select the M Button i have set to Soft Porn the car turns into an intergalactic rocket ship & feels considerably quicker than Comfort/Normal. Surely an increased throttle response would not provide such an effect?

My Soft Porn setting is Auto Trans 3 with Steering, Throttle & Springs set to Sport. Hardcore setting is Manual Trans 3, MDM & Throttle, Steering & Springs set to Sport Plus & i've yet to explore this but if it provides anything more than my Soft Porn setting then i'm already scared as that must be double bonkers.

There is defiantly a feeling of more power in Sport and Sport+ because the wast gates (Boost) are held longer to improve turbo lag, this is why whilst driving and you then select Sport+ you get a surge of power and instant throttle response

Edited by JMRS4 on Monday 13th January 12:36

[M3greg]

I don't. Relieve so, no. It's like the E90 M3 - the M button didn't increase power, it changed throttle settings etc and made the engine/drive train respond more aggressively. As far as I'm aware it's much the same with yours.

[Shaoxter]

The E90 M3 is naturally aspirated though... so it's probably not doing the same thing as an F10 M5.

[M3greg]

I know, I'm nowhere near technically minded enough to go into waste gate opening times, I was just answering the OP's question in my own simple way. Which, without being specific to NA vs blown, was correct all the same

[jrinns]

All I can say is in full on bonkers mode the car is so fast its unreal !

[W8PMC]

Thanks muchly

I was convinced something technical changed relative to out & out grunt as it was an obvious difference while driving so i'm glad this appears to be correct

[HoHoHo]

Isn't it a combination of the throttle being remapped and a louder noise?

I drive in M2 and the shift the gear stick to the right to get auto mad dog when I can't be bothered to use the paddles.

[JMRS4]

HoHoHo said:

Isn't it a combination of the throttle being remapped and a louder noise?

Nope, I drive in comfort till the engine Oil is up to Temp and then whilst driving switch to Sport+ Engine: Sport Steering: Sport Suspension and you can feel the "Surge".
Lag has gone, power instant, I always (unless in Town) drive this setting.
My exhaust has the Valves wired open, so same noise through out.

[slinky]

Palmball said:

I don't think the boost changes but I'm sure I read that the turbo wastegates stay open for longer, hence it also sounds more aggressive in Sport mode and above.

Waste gate being open = less boost..
Are you sure?

[Palmball]

No....I'm not sure! It's something I read and now I can't find what I read.

[HoHoHo]

JMRS4 said:

HoHoHo said:

Isn't it a combination of the throttle being remapped and a louder noise?

Nope, I drive in comfort till the engine Oil is up to Temp and then whilst driving switch to Sport+ Engine: Sport Steering: Sport Suspension and you can feel the "Surge".
Lag has gone, power instant, I always (unless in Town) drive this setting.
My exhaust has the Valves wired open, so same noise through out.

The instant better throttle response is the remap I was referring to.

In my case exhaust isn't wired open so I also get better noise.

The throttle in my 535 did exactly the same, far more sensitive when in sport and gave the impression of more power - it's not but feels like it has.

[amcdev]

W8PMC said:

Now i accept that Throttle response set to Sport or Sport Plus would offer a slight performance advantage over Comfort, but even on Sport the car feels around 100bhp more powerful.

This could be some kind of placebo effect but every time i select the M Button i have set to Soft Porn the car turns into an intergalactic rocket ship & feels considerably quicker than Comfort/Normal. Surely an increased throttle response would not provide such an effect?

There is no additional maximum power to be had with any of the modes. The reason for your perceptions is that the throttle Sport and Sport Plus not only increase throttle response, but also switch to a significantly progressive throttle characteristic. So the same movement of the pedal leads to more power in throttle Sport and Sport Plus mode. It's not only more perceived power, the power is actually there. It's just that the maximum power is never more than in throttle efficiency mode.

Personally, I wish I could turn the progressive characteristic off at least for throttle Sport mode. Mostly I just want the throttle response.

[HoHoHo]

amcdev said:

W8PMC said:

Now i accept that Throttle response set to Sport or Sport Plus would offer a slight performance advantage over Comfort, but even on Sport the car feels around 100bhp more powerful.

This could be some kind of placebo effect but every time i select the M Button i have set to Soft Porn the car turns into an intergalactic rocket ship & feels considerably quicker than Comfort/Normal. Surely an increased throttle response would not provide such an effect?

There is no additional maximum power to be had with any of the modes. The reason for your perceptions is that the throttle Sport and Sport Plus not only increase throttle response, but also switch to a significantly progressive throttle characteristic. So the same movement of the pedal leads to more power in throttle Sport and Sport Plus mode. It's not only more perceived power, the power is actually there. It's just that the maximum power is never more than in throttle efficiency mode.

Personally, I wish I could turn the progressive characteristic off at least for throttle Sport mode. Mostly I just want the throttle response.

So the throttle is remapped.......

[amcdev]

HoHoHo said:

So the throttle is remapped.......

Yes, and that's why the car feels more powerful. The increased throttle response however isn't due to that - that comes courtesy of maintaining turbo revs for longer at the expense of slightly increased fuel consumption. There's a more detailed explanation regarding the throttle response somewhere. I'll find it if people are interested.

The increased Active Sound cabin noise that has been mentioned is also true, btw. So we have three separate things that the throttle modes Sport and Sport Plus affect.

[paulmc]

Yeah but this is all just words. Someone needs to prove it either way. If I can find a ecu data reader I will and post the results.