4WD to RWD

[pattern]

After a few days with my 09 E92 M3 all I can do is
This car is AMAZING !!! I have never in my life driven a car as perfect as this one. Coming from a 6 speed 07 S4 to the DCT M3 is a very large step and the one adjustment I am having the hardest time with is going from 4WD to RWD. For example, there has been a few times when coming around a corner that I normally accelerate through, the car's backend has come out. I realize the car is putting quite a bit of power to the rear wheels as opposed to 4 but it just didn't feel "right" ... maybe it is just me. I was not going fast so it made me a tad uncomfortable. I have tried this with stability on every setting and the car still slides. The rear tires definitely need to be replaced and I am sure this a huge variable but I figured I would open up the topic to hear others experience.

Again, the car is a gem ... I am VERY excited I purchased it. I just want to be able to drive the car as confident and responsible as possible and look forward to doing just that ( M school very soon).

Thanks

[Titanium Silver]

Be careful. RWD is much diff than AWD. Make sure you know what you're doing. It's equally capable in most circumstances, just know the differences.

Sounds crazy, but it helps if you oversteer with RWD to understand what happens when you hit a corner and accelerate too hard.

[pattern]

Indeed. It is juust going to take some time to get used to.

[FVM3]

07 b7 s4?

[pattern]

Audi S4

[popngear]

I think he's asking which chassis S4 you had. The latest generation S4 (and A4) is based on the B8 platform. The 07 is the B7.

[stefan]

Yes it's a change. Just remember, when coming out of turns, 1 degree of wheel rotation towards straight equals 1% throttle application. That is the maximum. Any more and you might get in trouble. To me that's the big difference between AWD and RWD in terms of practical everyday safety. You will learn these concepts in M school.. and you're going to have a blast! Have fun and congrats!

[cmk227]

Take it to the track. It definitely will help you understand your ///M. Also if you could do ///M school go for it.

[MonteCarloM3]

Same here, i came from an rs4 where i could pin it around a corner and keep it totally in control under dry/rain/snow. Not so with a rwd car it is much easier to get out of control. M school is a great idea to get to know the limits of the car.

[AngelinIsRich08]

I love when the rear of a car slides out a bit in a turn. It's so fun but you have to be sure there are no cars around and the weather permits.

[SchnellM3]

M school do it, such a blast and a great group of instructors

[pattern]

Thanks for all the feedback! Just need to pick a month and M school is a go.

[Jeff_DML]

awd hides a lot of bad driving habits, my guess you are giving too much gas or being to abrupt at it. Sign up for a BMWCCA HPDE at your local track to get some safe experience My previous car was a WRX.

[pattern]

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

awd hides a lot of bad driving habits, my guess you are giving too much gas or being to abrupt at it. Sign up for a BMWCCA HPDE at your local track to get some safe experience My previous car was a WRX.

This is very true. I am not familiar with BMWCCA HPDE or how I go about finding a date ( in socal) ... Do you have a link ?
Thanks

[saeedg48]

it's awesome

[Jeff_DML]

Originally Posted by pattern

This is very true. I am not familiar with BMWCCA HPDE or how I go about finding a date ( in socal) ... Do you have a link ?
Thanks

http://www.bmwclubla.org/

[Nine]

4WD 4WD is NOT AWD.

[kiwistu]

RWD is cool, you must be really pushing it for the back to step out with traction control on.

Go to to big car park in the wet/skid pan/airfield etc when no one is there do some spins and get a feel for it, DONT try on the street the m3 is way too sticky to learn to slide where there is anything to hit.

A blast once you learn to do it though!

BTW I was amazed the m3 beat the RS5 in the wet on top gear, so it an any slower!

Cheers
stu

[signes]

Where are you driving on the street that causes the back end to come around? If it is dry (even with worn tires), you are going way too fast for the street. The car has a lot of grip and even somebody intentionally trying to power slide or drift is going to have to make a serious effort to do it. The change from AWD to RWD on the street in everyday conditions is not some dramatic change.

[pattern]

Originally Posted by signes

Where are you driving on the street that causes the back end to come around? If it is dry (even with worn tires), you are going way too fast for the street. The car has a lot of grip and even somebody intentionally trying to power slide or drift is going to have to make a serious effort to do it. The change from AWD to RWD on the street in everyday conditions is not some dramatic change.

I assure you my speed was not at an excess at all, hence my confusion. On the first occasion it was a banked on ramp, the car's stability really hit in hard when I accelerated through the turn ( 70 MPH). The other instance was from a light to a 90 degree left turn and again I accelerated through the turn ( Minor minor drift) at about 30 ... maybe I was applying to much gas, not sure.

[Itgb]

Have you checked the condition of your tires?

Nevermind. Saw your rear tires need to be replaced. So I would address that issue before thinking traction is a problem in a RWD car.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by pattern

I have tried this with stability on every setting and the car still slides. The rear tires definitely need to be replaced and I am sure this a huge variable but I figured I would open up the topic to hear others experience.
Thanks

There is only 2 stability (DSC) settings, normal and M Dynamic Mode. 3 if you count "off", which you probably shouldn't do until you spend some time on the track. You probably know this, but it was kind of odd the way you worded it, so just making sure.
I've worn out a set of tires already and the rears wore way faster. I could definitely feel the difference when I got new tires on. As the rear tires got towards the end of their life, I kept noticing the DSC yellow indicator light blinking at me in situations where that was not the case before. New tires put the car back to expected behavior.