M4 Competition pack kangaroos in manual
Discussion
I have had an M4 CP for about a month, I like it a lot, it’s a very accomplished car except!
When pulling away gently in Manual, with everything in sport plus, the car pulls away smoothly then kangaroos, sometimes so badly it does an impression of a learner driver on the first lesson, the only way to stop it is to change up, sometimes this isn’t enough and I have to change into third. Changing the gearbox setting makes no difference. I have noticed that when it does this the traction light flashes, yet it is extremely unlikely the wheels are spinning.
If I drive the car quickly it does not misbehave in any way, and the traction control works as expected.
The dealer has examined the car and says everything is normal, I asked them if there are any software updates and was told no.
Has anyone else had this issue? Was it resolved?
Any help would be very much appreciated, I’m sure this can’t be normal.
When pulling away gently in Manual, with everything in sport plus, the car pulls away smoothly then kangaroos, sometimes so badly it does an impression of a learner driver on the first lesson, the only way to stop it is to change up, sometimes this isn’t enough and I have to change into third. Changing the gearbox setting makes no difference. I have noticed that when it does this the traction light flashes, yet it is extremely unlikely the wheels are spinning.
If I drive the car quickly it does not misbehave in any way, and the traction control works as expected.
The dealer has examined the car and says everything is normal, I asked them if there are any software updates and was told no.
Has anyone else had this issue? Was it resolved?
Any help would be very much appreciated, I’m sure this can’t be normal.
Eddieslofart said:
For day to day driving, I have mine in comfort/comfort/efficiency. And gearbox on 1 bar. Sport+ for gentle driving doesn’t work. Probs a software fix somewhere. Have a look on cutters, some clever fellas over there.
hi, that is how I have mine set for day to day, I'm curious if you set yours to Sport plus and 3 bars on the gearbox if it miss behaves, if you could I would really appreciate it. Adrian W said:
Eddieslofart said:
For day to day driving, I have mine in comfort/comfort/efficiency. And gearbox on 1 bar. Sport+ for gentle driving doesn’t work. Probs a software fix somewhere. Have a look on cutters, some clever fellas over there.
hi, that is how I have mine set for day to day, I'm curious if you set yours to Sport plus and 3 bars on the gearbox if it miss behaves, if you could I would really appreciate it. Wills2 said:
Adjust your throttle technique I drive often in S3 with sp+ and you have to either be gentle or positive a half way house or worse stab and release will see you slapping the pedal hence the kangarooing.
The car is misbehaving with steady state throttle , when your car does it does the traction control light flash? I haven't driven an M4 before but have other cars that are considerably faster with very sensitive short throw pedals Adrian W said:
The car is misbehaving with steady state throttle , when your car does it does the traction control light flash? I haven't driven an M4 before but have other cars that are considerably faster with very sensitive short throw pedals
Mine has done it maybe 3 or 4 times over 73,000 miles, always due to a clumsy application of throttle in 1st which starts the jerking. I don't think your other faster cars are really relevant to your m4 issues.
Wills2 said:
Mine has done it maybe 3 or 4 times over 73,000 miles, always due to a clumsy application of throttle in 1st which starts the jerking.
I don't think your other faster cars are really relevant to your m4 issues.
Therefore as mine does it consistently it has a fault, thank youI don't think your other faster cars are really relevant to your m4 issues.
Brooking10 said:
Mine did this and yes it is very disconcerting.
Not a fault.
Need to,adapt driving style and not set off from cold in sports plus and manual.
Yep. They all do it (well the DCT ones anyway).Not a fault.
Need to,adapt driving style and not set off from cold in sports plus and manual.
I think what happens is, you try to be extremely gentle on the throttle to get it rolling but then the movement of the car affects your foot position by a tiny fraction, which causes a lurch, which causes another tiny movement of your foot, and so on.
That’s how it feels to me anyway. They really are very sensitive on the throttle in sport+.
I previously managed to lay 2 (short) black lines up the drive just trying to reverse mine into the garage from my (upward-sloping) drive when trying to set off backwards in sport+.
OP, see if you can get a drive in another one to see if it feels the same.
PorkInsider said:
Yep. They all do it (well the DCT ones anyway).
I think what happens is, you try to be extremely gentle on the throttle to get it rolling but then the movement of the car affects your foot position by a tiny fraction, which causes a lurch, which causes another tiny movement of your foot, and so on.
That’s how it feels to me anyway. They really are very sensitive on the throttle in sport+.
I previously managed to lay 2 (short) black lines up the drive just trying to reverse mine into the garage from my (upward-sloping) drive when trying to set off backwards in sport+.
OP, see if you can get a drive in another one to see if it feels the same.
The dealer is trying to get another car to compare to, but they are thinking it is a fault with the traction control as every time it does it the TC light flashes.I think what happens is, you try to be extremely gentle on the throttle to get it rolling but then the movement of the car affects your foot position by a tiny fraction, which causes a lurch, which causes another tiny movement of your foot, and so on.
That’s how it feels to me anyway. They really are very sensitive on the throttle in sport+.
I previously managed to lay 2 (short) black lines up the drive just trying to reverse mine into the garage from my (upward-sloping) drive when trying to set off backwards in sport+.
OP, see if you can get a drive in another one to see if it feels the same.
Adrian W said:
The dealer is trying to get another car to compare to, but they are thinking it is a fault with the traction control as every time it does it the TC light flashes.
Never noticed the TC light flashing to be honest. I usually have it in MDM or sometimes completely off, though.I’m guessing you’ve tried it with the DSC completely off?
Just hold the button down until it shows that it’s fully disengaged on the dash (you probably know that anyway).
I’ll try to have a look at whether mine lights up when it kangaroos with DSC switched on, when I get back home this weekend.
cerb4.5lee said:
Or buy the three pedal version instead...so you don't have these complications! 
For the manual heros here, they still do it. I know. A mate has a 2014 M4 Manual. Until fully warm that thing can be brutal with kangarooing in 2nd, like leaving a junction onto a country lane. As in you go back and forth despite having the clutch fully engaged. It's happened to a mate, and it's even happened to me. That was at 2kRPM IIRC.It's not a high miler by any means either at 16k; it's a weekend toy.
I suspect a software update may be required for the OP
. But M cars aren't as refined as their Alpina/non-M cousins IME. For some that makes the experience a little more special 
.SebringMan said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Or buy the three pedal version instead...so you don't have these complications!
For the manual heros here, they still do it. I know. A mate has a 2014 M4 Manual. Until fully warm that thing can be brutal with kangarooing in 2nd, like leaving a junction onto a country lane. As in you go back and forth despite having the clutch fully engaged. It's happened to a mate, and it's even happened to me. That was at 2kRPM IIRC.It's not a high miler by any means either at 16k; it's a weekend toy.
I suspect a software update may be required for the OP
. But M cars aren't as refined as their Alpina/non-M cousins IME. For some that makes the experience a little more special .The three pedal manual in my Z4M was a complete turd, and the three pedal manual in my E92 M3 was slightly better but still poor. In many ways I wish I could enjoy/appreciate the DCT...but they just leave me flat annoyingly.
I don’t thing you lose much visceral enjoyment by going To a two pedal BMW but that’s a discussion for another thread.
The kangarooijg IMHO is down to a mapping issue; possibly too advanced timing for the RPM. But the choice is to either have tons of torque/power at the bottom or to have a dull throttle response.
On olde engines it can make them undriveable as you know.
The kangarooijg IMHO is down to a mapping issue; possibly too advanced timing for the RPM. But the choice is to either have tons of torque/power at the bottom or to have a dull throttle response.
On olde engines it can make them undriveable as you know
.Pioneer said:
One thing I've noticed in my wife's convertible M4 CP is that there are a lot of creaks/rattles. I know it's expected with how stiff the chassis is but it seems much worse than on the 2010 330d Convertible we had. Just due to harder suspension?
well know for creaks and rattles... dealer sorted some out on my old car but i have more success with some foam tape (something like https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/2050906/?g... ) and wedging it in various crevices. Sorted out the issue for me and you couldn't see the tape. Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff