2011 without Mdrive

z335is · 10-07-2011, 12:04 PM

Hey guys, I recently picked up a 2011 M3 on a great deal. However it is a 2011 instead of an 11.5 and therefore I dont have Mdrive. I have no complaints whatsoever about the car but have been wondering lately what I might be missing without the Mdrive.

Is this something I should dwell on or is it not that big of deal?

DesertEagle50 · 10-07-2011, 12:06 PM

M3 without an M drive button? Are you sure? Do you mean iDrive?

CT · 10-07-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3DriverE92

M3 without an M drive button? Are you sure? Do you mean iDrive?

He probably means M Dynamic Mode, or MDM, that comes with the Technology Package (or whatever they call it now).

checkmate · 10-07-2011, 12:53 PM

I think you mean Idrive/Navigation. Mdrive is standard on all 2011 cars regardless of whether you choose navigation or not.

z335is · 10-07-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by checkmate

I think you mean Idrive/Navigation. Mdrive is standard on all 2011 cars regardless of whether you choose navigation or not.

My apologies, I meant the "m-button" or MDM. My car is not a 2011.5 so it did not come standard.

Zba · 10-07-2011, 01:34 PM

I like the added heft of the steering wheel and the level of slip allowed before dsc kicks in. Small but noticeable changes at least for me. I honestly don't think you will miss it at all.

jphughan · 10-07-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by checkmate

I think you mean Idrive/Navigation. Mdrive is standard on all 2011 cars regardless of whether you choose navigation or not.

No it's not, it was made standard for 2011.5, i.e. September 2010 production onward.

OP the things you're missing are MDM, Servotronic Sport, Power Sport Plus, and of course having two programmable modes available for instant switching. I don't like Power Sport Plus, but MDM is pretty cool in that you can have fun without fear of getting into too much trouble, and I personally think Servotronic Sport is indispensable. I use the normal mode for cruising around town, but when I'm on the fantastic Hill Country twisties out here, Sport gives a much better feel IMHO. Still, if you've got a good deal and it has everything else you want, I'm not sure I'd call it a dealbreaker.

M4Now! · 10-07-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

No it's not, it was made standard for 2011.5, i.e. September 2010 production onward.

OP the things you're missing are MDM, Servotronic Sport, Power Sport Plus, and of course having two programmable modes available for instant switching. I don't like Power Sport Plus, but MDM is pretty cool in that you can have fun without fear of getting into too much trouble, and I personally think Servotronic Sport is indispensable. I use the normal mode for cruising around town, but when I'm on the fantastic Hill Country twisties out here, Sport gives a much better feel IMHO. Still, if you've got a good deal and it has everything else you want, I'm not sure I'd call it a dealbreaker.

Bullick Hollow Road?

jphughan · 10-07-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Now!

Bullick Hollow Road?

Hill Country Drive 1 and Hill Country Drive 2

Richbot · 10-07-2011, 03:50 PM

No, you're not missing much.

Zba · 10-07-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

Hill Country Drive 1 and Hill Country Drive 2

You would love this one!
Mountain Drive

M4Now! · 10-07-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

Hill Country Drive 1 and Hill Country Drive 2

Nice - saw the long one around Travis but haven't tried it yet. Will check out the Johnson City route

Cheers

geneatals · 10-07-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z335is

My apologies, I meant the "m-button" or MDM. My car is not a 2011.5 so it did not come standard.

more reason why it's good to sig list 2011, 2011.5 or 2011.75

(sorry, just had to say it....)

Zba · 10-07-2011, 07:51 PM

or 2011.685

aus · 10-07-2011, 08:31 PM

You're not missing much unless you're going to track it. That's the only time I have it on.

J08M3 · 10-07-2011, 08:41 PM

you're missing nothing. I had a car without it, now I have it. Either you want traction control on, or off. the steering difference is stupid. Just makes the wheel a bit harder to turn. I guess some people think that makes it perform better. It barely allows any wheelspin. Traction control always kicks in for me anyway. I guess it's fun if you're afraid of your car. But MDM is kinda pointless. Just put DSC off if you want full potential.

bigjae1976 · 10-07-2011, 10:09 PM

I think M Mode is useful for the track. Otherwise you won't miss it.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-07-2011, 11:32 PM

I don't have it and I don't miss it at all

blinkme323 · 10-08-2011, 01:02 PM

If you had DSC, EDC, etc. I would say that you might be missing it a little bit (even that's negligible). But in your case, I don't think you are missing anything at all.

z335is · 10-08-2011, 05:38 PM

Thank you for the comments guys. For what it's worth, my car is a 6 MT, so I don't know if that would have a negative or positive bearing on my Mdrive situation.

llis · 10-08-2011, 06:33 PM

I've liked MDM when it's slick. It proved to strike the best balance between normal traction control and no traction control when on the ice skid pad. Plenty comfortable on a rainy track, yet won't nanny down your drive force like normal mode can. Otherwise I'm not sure there's much occasion to enjoy more than the other two options.

10-07-2011, 12:04 PM	#1
z335is Lieutenant 356 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newark iTrader: (0)	2011 without Mdrive - Am i missing much? Hey guys, I recently picked up a 2011 M3 on a great deal. However it is a 2011 instead of an 11.5 and therefore I dont have Mdrive. I have no complaints whatsoever about the car but have been wondering lately what I might be missing without the Mdrive. Is this something I should dwell on or is it not that big of deal?
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10-07-2011, 12:06 PM	#2
DesertEagle50 Admiral General 13 Rep 243 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 M5 FB Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: near Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2013 BMW M5 F10 [10.00] 2010 BMW M3 E92 [10.00]	M3 without an M drive button? Are you sure? Do you mean iDrive?
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10-07-2011, 12:53 PM	#4
checkmate Major 119 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: AW M3 E90 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bel Air, MD iTrader: (2)	I think you mean Idrive/Navigation. Mdrive is standard on all 2011 cars regardless of whether you choose navigation or not.
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10-07-2011, 01:34 PM	#6
Zba Lieutenant 16 Rep 557 Posts Drives: 2011.685 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011.5 M3 [9.74]	I like the added heft of the steering wheel and the level of slip allowed before dsc kicks in. Small but noticeable changes at least for me. I honestly don't think you will miss it at all.
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10-07-2011, 03:50 PM	#10
Richbot Major General 2760 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	No, you're not missing much. __________________
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10-07-2011, 07:51 PM	#14
Zba Lieutenant 16 Rep 557 Posts Drives: 2011.685 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011.5 M3 [9.74]	or 2011.685
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10-07-2011, 08:31 PM	#15
aus Major General 892 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	You're not missing much unless you're going to track it. That's the only time I have it on. __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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10-07-2011, 08:41 PM	#16
J08M3 Major General 285 Rep 6,007 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 COUPE Join Date: May 2008 Location: NEW YORK iTrader: (8)	you're missing nothing. I had a car without it, now I have it. Either you want traction control on, or off. the steering difference is stupid. Just makes the wheel a bit harder to turn. I guess some people think that makes it perform better. It barely allows any wheelspin. Traction control always kicks in for me anyway. I guess it's fun if you're afraid of your car. But MDM is kinda pointless. Just put DSC off if you want full potential. __________________
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10-07-2011, 10:09 PM	#17
bigjae1976 Major General 1571 Rep 8,076 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	I think M Mode is useful for the track. Otherwise you won't miss it. __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
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10-07-2011, 11:32 PM	#18
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 613 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	I don't have it and I don't miss it at all __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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10-08-2011, 01:02 PM	#19
blinkme323 Captain 504 Rep 788 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CS Join Date: May 2011 Location: Philly iTrader: (1)	If you had DSC, EDC, etc. I would say that you might be missing it a little bit (even that's negligible). But in your case, I don't think you are missing anything at all.
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10-08-2011, 05:38 PM	#20
z335is Lieutenant 356 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newark iTrader: (0)	Thank you for the comments guys. For what it's worth, my car is a 6 MT, so I don't know if that would have a negative or positive bearing on my Mdrive situation.
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10-08-2011, 06:33 PM	#21
llis octane chick 79 Rep 1,187 Posts Drives: ex-M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 ZCP [10.00] 2003 BMW M5 [0.00]	I've liked MDM when it's slick. It proved to strike the best balance between normal traction control and no traction control when on the ice skid pad. Plenty comfortable on a rainy track, yet won't nanny down your drive force like normal mode can. Otherwise I'm not sure there's much occasion to enjoy more than the other two options.
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