Tell me your SMGII settings.....
Discussion
thegreengoblet said:
Had the car for a few weeks now and starting to get a feel for the best SMGII settings that suit me.
Normal driving:
Manual - set to 6 sport off.
Auto - set to 3 sport off.
Spirited driving:
set to 6 sport on.
Straight line - DSC off and set to 7 sport on.
Was wondering what everyone uses?
Had my SMG2 for many years and never managed to find a 7 sport mode!!Normal driving:
Manual - set to 6 sport off.
Auto - set to 3 sport off.
Spirited driving:
set to 6 sport on.
Straight line - DSC off and set to 7 sport on.
Was wondering what everyone uses?
Please don't drive too much with DSC off. Believe me, you will need to be an excellent driver not to have a pants problem with traction control off.
Mr Bimmer said:
Had my SMG2 for many years and never managed to find a 7 sport mode!!
Please don't drive too much with DSC off. Believe me, you will need to be an excellent driver not to have a pants problem with traction control off.
Sorry, I can't count!Please don't drive too much with DSC off. Believe me, you will need to be an excellent driver not to have a pants problem with traction control off.
Knock 1 off those top figures.
I've switched the DSC off twice on the straight, once to see what difference it made (acceleration and gear change) and once to show my mate the potential. If only I had the matching tackle
never drive it in auto but general setting for everyday driving are SMG set at 3.
If I'm out for a bit more of an enjoyable drive SMG set to 5, sport on, M-track on. Tend not to bother turning the traction off but was finding it slightly frustrating when it cuts it so might start to experiment soon.
If I'm out for a bit more of an enjoyable drive SMG set to 5, sport on, M-track on. Tend not to bother turning the traction off but was finding it slightly frustrating when it cuts it so might start to experiment soon.
Always manual 5, don't like the auto at all. Personally I will always use the quickest shift as you can control the smoothness with your right foot and revs, low revs and easing off before the change when the engines cold and when you're pushing on you just keep your foot planted.
Haven't experimented with DSC off and probably wouldn't on public roads and only really put sport on if on a spirited drive.
Haven't even tried with the M-Track yet, need to find some quiet roads for that!
Haven't experimented with DSC off and probably wouldn't on public roads and only really put sport on if on a spirited drive.
Haven't even tried with the M-Track yet, need to find some quiet roads for that!
I use S5 all 99.9% of the time. As someone else said, I control the smoothness of changes by varying the throttle and revs.
Sport mode is NEVER turned on in my car, I consider it to be the most pointless thing on the car.
DSC is turned off as an when I feel like it really. It's a little bit TOO intrusive for my liking sometimes, and I've often wondered what the M-Track setting on the CSL / CS is like.
Sport mode is NEVER turned on in my car, I consider it to be the most pointless thing on the car.
DSC is turned off as an when I feel like it really. It's a little bit TOO intrusive for my liking sometimes, and I've often wondered what the M-Track setting on the CSL / CS is like.
I drive my CSL in S5 pretty much all the time, switch it to S3 auto if i'm on motorways etc.
I struggle to tell the difference of DSC on and the M track mode. driving with DSC off and S6 when its dry is not not a problem the car is easy to control. In the wet it just makes it good fun
I struggle to tell the difference of DSC on and the M track mode. driving with DSC off and S6 when its dry is not not a problem the car is easy to control. In the wet it just makes it good fun
Paul_M3 said:
Sport mode is NEVER turned on in my car, I consider it to be the most pointless thing on the car.
Why do you say that?I read somewhere that the sport mode adjusts the throttle behaviour. When off, the throttle has an exponential curve, i.e. 50% travel gives say 30% throttle, but 100% travel still gives 100% throttle. Sport on gives a linear throttle i.e. 50% travel for 50% throttle. And mine definitely feels like this. However, it's too difficult to drive smoothly when its on and the motor's cold, regardless of the gearbox setting. I've started to put it on, only after the she's warmed up.
thegreengoblet said:
Why do you say that?
I read somewhere that the sport mode adjusts the throttle behaviour. When off, the throttle has an exponential curve, i.e. 50% travel gives say 30% throttle, but 100% travel still gives 100% throttle. Sport on gives a linear throttle i.e. 50% travel for 50% throttle. And mine definitely feels like this. However, it's too difficult to drive smoothly when its on and the motor's cold, regardless of the gearbox setting. I've started to put it on, only after the she's warmed up.
Unfortunately you're right in what it does, but you have the situation completely reversed.I read somewhere that the sport mode adjusts the throttle behaviour. When off, the throttle has an exponential curve, i.e. 50% travel gives say 30% throttle, but 100% travel still gives 100% throttle. Sport on gives a linear throttle i.e. 50% travel for 50% throttle. And mine definitely feels like this. However, it's too difficult to drive smoothly when its on and the motor's cold, regardless of the gearbox setting. I've started to put it on, only after the she's warmed up.
When it's off, the throttle position is virtually linear with pedal travel.
When you turn it on, you get the a massively increased throttle open for a small amount of pedal travel. Thus people get tricked into thinking the car is 'faster' in Sport mode.
In reality, they've got 50% throttle for 25% pedal travel.
Edit:
Here's a graph of the two throttle maps. You can clearly see the normal one is the more linear of the two.
Why anybody would want a non-linear throttle response on a high performance car is beyond me really. Hence me considering it a stupid BMW gimmick to fool people into making the car feel faster.
(Apart from the CSL, where the Sport button affects the point at which the intake flap opens)
Edited by Paul_M3 on Tuesday 5th April 20:22
Paul_M3 said:
Unfortunately you're right in what it does, but you have the situation completely reversed.
When it's off, the throttle position is virtually linear with pedal travel.
When you turn it on, you get the a massively increased throttle open for a small amount of pedal travel. Thus people get tricked into thinking the car is 'faster' in Sport mode.
In reality, they've got 50% throttle for 25% pedal travel.
Edit:
Here's a graph of the two throttle maps. You can clearly see the normal one is the more linear of the two.
Why anybody would want a non-linear throttle response on a high performance car is beyond me really. Hence me considering it a stupid BMW gimmick to fool people into making the car feel faster.
(Apart from the CSL, where the Sport button affects the point at which the intake flap opens)
Great Post Paul!When it's off, the throttle position is virtually linear with pedal travel.
When you turn it on, you get the a massively increased throttle open for a small amount of pedal travel. Thus people get tricked into thinking the car is 'faster' in Sport mode.
In reality, they've got 50% throttle for 25% pedal travel.
Edit:
Here's a graph of the two throttle maps. You can clearly see the normal one is the more linear of the two.
Why anybody would want a non-linear throttle response on a high performance car is beyond me really. Hence me considering it a stupid BMW gimmick to fool people into making the car feel faster.
(Apart from the CSL, where the Sport button affects the point at which the intake flap opens)
Edited by Paul_M3 on Tuesday 5th April 20:22
I bow to your superior knowledge
I have to say that linear is the way otherwise it messes with you brain when you're trying to apply the power progressively. Why I liked the TVR so much.
Does the sport button do any else on a standard M3?
Edited by thegreengoblet on Tuesday 5th April 20:34
Happy to help mate. The Sport button does seem to be very misunderstood on e46 M3's.
(I've seen people post on other forums that they turn Sport on JUST to overtake someone. They don't realise flooring the throttle in normal mode is EXACTLY the same!)
On an e46 M3 changing the pedal / throttle map is the only thing the button does. No changes to the actual engine map, steering, suspension etc.
(I've seen people post on other forums that they turn Sport on JUST to overtake someone. They don't realise flooring the throttle in normal mode is EXACTLY the same!)
On an e46 M3 changing the pedal / throttle map is the only thing the button does. No changes to the actual engine map, steering, suspension etc.
Paul_M3 said:
Happy to help mate. The Sport button does seem to be very misunderstood on e46 M3's.
(I've seen people post on other forums that they turn Sport on JUST to overtake someone. They don't realise flooring the throttle in normal mode is EXACTLY the same!)
On an e46 M3 changing the pedal / throttle map is the only thing the button does. No changes to the actual engine map, steering, suspension etc.
So the gearbox setting... does this just adjust the gear selection speed and how long it holds a gear when in auto mode?(I've seen people post on other forums that they turn Sport on JUST to overtake someone. They don't realise flooring the throttle in normal mode is EXACTLY the same!)
On an e46 M3 changing the pedal / throttle map is the only thing the button does. No changes to the actual engine map, steering, suspension etc.
Also, if you are in setting 5 and you boot it, you get a massive kick on the rear transmission when it changes up. The operating manual states that you don't have to lift the trottle, but is it really OK to leave you foot buried? Scares me that I may be shortening the life of some component like the transmission or the clutch. It's not second nature to me just yet to lift off the throttle slightly during the up change to make it smoother and reduce/eliminate the kick. Guess I need to get out there and do some more mileage!
thegreengoblet said:
So the gearbox setting... does this just adjust the gear selection speed and how long it holds a gear when in auto mode?
Also, if you are in setting 5 and you boot it, you get a massive kick on the rear transmission when it changes up. The operating manual states that you don't have to lift the trottle, but is it really OK to leave you foot buried? Scares me that I may be shortening the life of some component like the transmission or the clutch. It's not second nature to me just yet to lift off the throttle slightly during the up change to make it smoother and reduce/eliminate the kick. Guess I need to get out there and do some more mileage!
I've just had my diff recondition. The mechanic said that keeping your foot floored during gear changes is bound to have an effect on the longevity of the diff and leaks are common due to bearing wear/ play which subsequently causes seals to weap/leak. Also, if you are in setting 5 and you boot it, you get a massive kick on the rear transmission when it changes up. The operating manual states that you don't have to lift the trottle, but is it really OK to leave you foot buried? Scares me that I may be shortening the life of some component like the transmission or the clutch. It's not second nature to me just yet to lift off the throttle slightly during the up change to make it smoother and reduce/eliminate the kick. Guess I need to get out there and do some more mileage!
I recconend mechanical sympathy as u suggested, by lifting off just a little.
For my commute I use A2 and S3. In winter I used A1 (winter mode).
I've just had my service 2 done and my mechanic said he'd reset the gearbox's learnt behavior. So if ur new to the car and want it to learn your driving style, have it reset. I still have problems in 1st where it seems to rev quite high, even when I try to take off gently. Can make you look like a bit if a prick, so I change into 2nd manually.
Edited by MPETT on Tuesday 5th April 23:13
Normal driving:
Shift speed 3
Sport Off
Traction & Stability Off
Trackday, or really early morning country lane fun:
The full monty ...... Shift speed 6, Sport on, TC and Stability Off.
Tangent time: Is it possible to "flash the ECU", and have the TC off as the default setting so I don't have to press the button every time I get into it?
Shift speed 3
Sport Off
Traction & Stability Off
Trackday, or really early morning country lane fun:
The full monty ...... Shift speed 6, Sport on, TC and Stability Off.
Tangent time: Is it possible to "flash the ECU", and have the TC off as the default setting so I don't have to press the button every time I get into it?
mat205125 said:
Tangent time: Is it possible to "flash the ECU", and have the TC off as the default setting so I don't have to press the button every time I get into it?
I think it is mate. I asked Evolve (www.evo-s.co.uk) the very same question and they said that they could now do it. (They also mentioned having to sign a disclaimer due to todays stupid Health and Safety environment)
Might be worth an e-mail to them if this is something you fancy doing.
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