M engine dynamics: Buick mode vs Sport mode?

Fiebrudo · 11-07-2008, 06:07 PM

Driving the car without the power button activated is a very disappointing experience. To the point I am tired of being outrun and passed all the time by every minivan in town!

Does everybody drive all the time with the Power button selected?

What is the point of not using the "Sport" power map? (mpg is dismal anyway!!!) increased engine longevity?

What about those M3s without the technology package and no power or M button, are these cars always in the sport power engine map-setting? or somewhere in between? How about "Sport plus"

Thanks,

(Fiebrudo, who is very disappointed with the Buick mode and tired of being manhandle by every octogenarian grandma and all US post office delivery truck in town when not driving in the sports power mode)

BMRLVR · 11-07-2008, 06:19 PM

Just press the gas pedal down further..... Sport mode does not give you more power, it just changes the throttle response.

Atny286 · 11-07-2008, 06:25 PM

I have the power button always ON...
Same experience with Power off/normal!

nullspace · 11-07-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Just press the gas pedal down further..... Sport mode does not give you more power, it just changes the throttle response.

+1
It's all in your head. Flooring it in any mode is exactly the same.

vinny84 · 11-07-2008, 07:14 PM

Stop being a pussy and learn how to drive your m3!

j/k of course

Sticky · 11-07-2008, 07:35 PM

The problem isn't with the M3 its with you.

mkoesel · 11-07-2008, 09:04 PM

Non-ZTP M3's still have the power button.

But, yes I do leave the power button depressed all the time. In fact, I've never turned it off before.

Instead of complaining about it, why not just leave it on?

valeram · 11-07-2008, 09:36 PM

Same power but different throttle response. Overtaken by a minivan?

MMMorish · 11-07-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullspace

+1
It's all in your head. Flooring it in any mode is exactly the same.

I'm not so sure about that. I definitely feel a difference in throttle response in power mode.

AZ-BMW · 11-07-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMMorish

I'm not so sure about that. I definitely feel a difference in throttle response in power mode.

+1

ILLCOMM · 11-07-2008, 10:46 PM

I am pretty sure the engine runs at 340hp when power is not depressed. What I am certain of is that if I press the button when I am traveling at a steady pace the car lurches forward because of the obvious boost in power.

SpacecakeM · 11-07-2008, 10:54 PM

You're a moron

DirtBag335 · 11-07-2008, 11:01 PM

The power button activates the hidden turbos in the trunk...

2008bimmerM3 · 11-07-2008, 11:21 PM

you guys need to man up if you are going to talk shizzle to someone who has an honest question

all bimmer's do feel very slow in 1st gear, i know what hes talking about...you just have to get to 2nd gear as fast as you can

MysticBlue · 11-07-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Just press the gas pedal down further..... Sport mode does not give you more power, it just changes the throttle response.

MysticBlue · 11-07-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticky

The problem isn't with the M3 its with you.

MysticBlue · 11-07-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpacecakeM

You're a moron

nullspace · 11-07-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMMorish

I'm not so sure about that. I definitely feel a difference in throttle response in power mode.

Many, many reviews have covered this. All the power button does is change the throttle mapping. In other words, it pretends you're holding the pedal down farther than you really are. What changes is that in "power" mode you don't have to press the pedal as far.

I'm not trying to sound harsh - just trying to be clear. The power button absolutely does not give you more power.

nullspace · 11-07-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLCOMM

I am pretty sure the engine runs at 340hp when power is not depressed. What I am certain of is that if I press the button when I am traveling at a steady pace the car lurches forward because of the obvious boost in power.

Sorry, the engine always makes full power. The reason the car lurches forward is because the power button makes the computer essentially pretend that you're holding the pedal down farther than you really are. That's the only thing the button does.

nullspace · 11-07-2008, 11:50 PM

For those who are still skeptical:

From Car & Driver (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ew+page-4.html):
"By the way, that power button you see next to the shifter doesn't have anything to do with power, as in the M5 and M6. It merely adjusts the throttle mapping between normal (which is plenty quick) and the over-the-top, bet-you-can't-drive-smooth sport setting. "

From Motor Trend - (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html):
"Unlike the M-button on the M5, the discreet button on the M3's center console doesn't give you full power-you have that all the time"

Fiebrudo · 11-08-2008, 12:01 AM

So in summary:

1. I am a moron

Thanks

2. Driving in the Sports mode all the time will not harm the engine (and perhaps should be called the "normal" mode)

3. Normal mode should perhaps be labeled "winter" or "low traction" mode or "when your wife takes the car" mode

armyav8tor · 11-08-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiebrudo

So in summary:

1. I am a moron

Thanks

11-07-2008, 06:07 PM	#1
Fiebrudo Private 7 Rep 52 Posts Drives: M3 Convertible Space Gray E93 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	M engine dynamics: Buick mode vs Sport mode? Driving the car without the power button activated is a very disappointing experience. To the point I am tired of being outrun and passed all the time by every minivan in town! Does everybody drive all the time with the Power button selected? What is the point of not using the "Sport" power map? (mpg is dismal anyway!!!) increased engine longevity? What about those M3s without the technology package and no power or M button, are these cars always in the sport power engine map-setting? or somewhere in between? How about "Sport plus" Thanks, (Fiebrudo, who is very disappointed with the Buick mode and tired of being manhandle by every octogenarian grandma and all US post office delivery truck in town when not driving in the sports power mode)
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11-07-2008, 06:19 PM	#2
BMRLVR Grease Monkey 295 Rep 2,646 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3,1994 Euro E36 M3/4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada iTrader: (3)	Just press the gas pedal down further..... Sport mode does not give you more power, it just changes the throttle response.
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11-07-2008, 06:25 PM	#3
Atny286 First Lieutenant 34 Rep 360 Posts Drives: M3/E90/SSII/19s Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Amsterdam iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 E90 [0.00]	I have the power button always ON... Same experience with Power off/normal! __________________ 2008 M3 E90/SSII/Black/6MT/19s/chip=456PS
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11-07-2008, 07:14 PM	#5
vinny84 Captain 292 Rep 742 Posts Drives: 2005 BMW X5 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA iTrader: (1)	Stop being a pussy and learn how to drive your m3! j/k of course
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11-07-2008, 07:35 PM	#6
Sticky Banned 78 Rep 2,244 Posts Drives: E92 Jerez DCT M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills / Malibu iTrader: (0)	The problem isn't with the M3 its with you.
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11-07-2008, 09:04 PM	#7
mkoesel Moderator 7515 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	Non-ZTP M3's still have the power button. But, yes I do leave the power button depressed all the time. In fact, I've never turned it off before. Instead of complaining about it, why not just leave it on?
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11-07-2008, 09:36 PM	#8
valeram Major 37 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 992 TTS, 991.2 GT3 T, F80 M3 C Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin, OH iTrader: (0)	Same power but different throttle response. Overtaken by a minivan?
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11-07-2008, 10:46 PM	#11
ILLCOMM Second Lieutenant 29 Rep 216 Posts Drives: GT2 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	I am pretty sure the engine runs at 340hp when power is not depressed. What I am certain of is that if I press the button when I am traveling at a steady pace the car lurches forward because of the obvious boost in power.
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11-07-2008, 10:54 PM	#12
SpacecakeM Private 8 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 997 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	You're a moron
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11-07-2008, 11:01 PM	#13
DirtBag335 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 283 Posts Drives: 07 Z4M Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: So Cal iTrader: (2)	The power button activates the hidden turbos in the trunk...
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11-07-2008, 11:21 PM	#14
2008bimmerM3 First Lieutenant 51 Rep 322 Posts Drives: JB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SO CAL iTrader: (0)	you guys need to man up if you are going to talk shizzle to someone who has an honest question all bimmer's do feel very slow in 1st gear, i know what hes talking about...you just have to get to 2nd gear as fast as you can
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11-07-2008, 11:50 PM	#20
nullspace Private First Class 42 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 m40i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle Area iTrader: (0)	For those who are still skeptical: From Car & Driver (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ew+page-4.html): "By the way, that power button you see next to the shifter doesn't have anything to do with power, as in the M5 and M6. It merely adjusts the throttle mapping between normal (which is plenty quick) and the over-the-top, bet-you-can't-drive-smooth sport setting. " From Motor Trend - (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html): "Unlike the M-button on the M5, the discreet button on the M3's center console doesn't give you full power-you have that all the time"
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11-08-2008, 12:01 AM	#21
Fiebrudo Private 7 Rep 52 Posts Drives: M3 Convertible Space Gray E93 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	So in summary: 1. I am a moron Thanks 2. Driving in the Sports mode all the time will not harm the engine (and perhaps should be called the "normal" mode) 3. Normal mode should perhaps be labeled "winter" or "low traction" mode or "when your wife takes the car" mode
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