E46 Auto question

[Ciaran]

Afternoon gents

I have recently acquired an 330 Touring in auto form - please feel sorry for me! Anyway, I was talking to a friend and he said that when in sport mode the steering is "sharpened up", is this correct? I know the car changes gears later than normal but I thought that was the only difference.

Thanks

[oktapod]

I don't know - I've just bought a 330Ci M Sport auto and in Sport it does feel a bit different, though maybe that's because in Sport I drive it with my left arm on the arm-rest, ready to pop that lever fore and aft...

Very nice box too.

I can see auto boxes growing on me. Now, where did I put my pipe and slippers?

[LordGrover]

I've not had mine for long and I'm beginning to think the steering's not up to much whatever's going on. It feels fine, good even, in the corner, but turning in it feels sluggish, a little behind my initial turn in. Anyone else experience this?

[cjcor]

I don't think in an E46 the steering responses change with sport mode.

[Sticks2]

I think the steering only sharpens in sport mode on cars with electric power steering, like the Z4.

Steering on my E46 was a little vague around centre.

[paoloh]

Ciaran said:

Afternoon gents

I have recently acquired an 330 Touring in auto form - please feel sorry for me! Anyway, I was talking to a friend and he said that when in sport mode the steering is "sharpened up", is this correct? I know the car changes gears later than normal but I thought that was the only difference.

Thanks

NO

[obscene]

I don't know about sports mode or anything to do with that as mine is manual but if you press DSC once or hold it to turn it off it sharpens up the steering.

[paoloh]

obscene said:

I don't know about sports mode or anything to do with that as mine is manual but if you press DSC once or hold it to turn it off it sharpens up the steering.

Who told you this?

[mikey-r]

No, Sport mode does not effect the steering at all. It does make the brakes feel more responsive (harder pedal), hold the revs longer and provide a throttle blip when braking hard for roundabouts etc. Well, that's what it feels like on my two anyway.

[Ciaran]

Just as I thought, cheers.

The auto is very good alright, although I really miss my 330ci manual.

On a separate note I've averaging 21.7mpg - mostly town driving didn't think it would be as bad as that.

[oktapod]

I, too, am a litle bit surprised at my apparent fuel economy on mixed-ish driving (short commute of around 8 miles, some dual carriageway but mainly A roads, averaging perhaps 40-50 on the A roads and 65 on the dual carriageway).

I'm trying driving the car in M mode and basically poodling along in M4 or M5 to stop it downchanging on slight inclines when revs are low (as it seems to do).

Much as I really like the car so far, it's not by any shakes a flying machine (or, doesn't give the impression of being one - not as much torque as I'd expected) but it is a very comfortable and (cough) 'grown up' drive.

[LordGrover]

That's what the pukka Ms are for. We have comfy floaters.

And I like it.

[Ciaran]

LordGrover said:

That's what the pukka Ms are for. We have comfy floaters.

And I like it.

6 months until the M5!

[anonymous-user]

Same here... recently bought an 02 330i sport touring auto and have to say its not too bad. its a lot of car for little money. my first estate and it had to be an auto for the better half.

the steptronic is interesting; in normal "D" mode is suffers from all the traits normally associated with a torque converter box. in "S" mode i get a little more to play with in the rev range and in "M" mode i can even induce some minute amount of engine braking. all in all its ok.

on the steering side of things i feel it perpetually understeers (perhaps characteristic of longer wheelbase cars that are rear wheel drive?)

the economy has been ok too considering the weight of the thing. currently getting between 26-29mpg on a mixed but mainly urban cycle.

[DavidLScott]

Over the 6 years and 50k miles I have had my 330ci the computer shows around 28mpg in Drive and 27 in Sport so I only use Drive for motorway cruising as the consumption difference is negligible.

I don't get much motorway or dual carriageway use round here as there aren't many on the journeys I do so I am not unhappy for a 3 litre car.