Sport Button - What does it *actually* do?

[alexman]

I tried searching for this in the forums but couldn't find an answer

What does this actually do in the Z4M and how does it do it mechanically?

[Rudd]

there are a few posts on here. from what i have seen it changes to a different setup on the ECU, changes the fuel air mixture, makes steering heavier, opens air intake quicker and increases throttle response.

i may have just made all of that up though!

[Z4//MMY]

On the M it doesnt do very much... it changes your perception of the performance more then anything.

The throttle is fly-by-wire.

There is a set relationship between the position of the throttle and the air intake.

Pressing the sport button changes this relationship so i takes less pedal travel to reach a more open intake position.

You can do the same without the sport button pressed by pressing the loud pedal further!

I believe on the non M cars it also tightens up the electric assisted power steering but as the M is hydraulically assisted it doesnt change the steering at all.

Before I bought my car a salesman at BMW (not the garage where I ended up buying from!) told me it changed the spray pattern from the fuel injector nozzle to increase performance.... the things salesmen will say hey?!

[AlanJ]

Quote from BMW:

'Activating sport mode makes the BMW Z4 Roadster feel even more dynamic. Just press the "Sport" button and the vehicle's electronic control units switch to sportier settings for the engine, steering and, on automatic models, the transmission. The engine responds more keenly, the steering's power assistance is reduced at low and medium revs for a more direct feel and the transmission adopts sportier shift characteristics.'

[dgm]

He's asking about a Z4M though. Throttle response is sharpened, nothing more and it's a waste of a button IMO.

[GAZA62]

Great on my Auto makes the car feel so much more alive but suprised they bothered on an M

[Rudd]

thats a bit of a shocker actually. whats the point in having it in that case, what a waste!

[TH3R4POR]

thats a bit of a shocker actually. whats the point in having it in that case, what a waste!

Some would argue it's a waste on any version, as the car should be like that all the time.

Why would you want a spongey throttle pedal on a roadster/coupe at all?

[chetalien]

Apart from throttle being sharper and of course more fuel consumption I cant see any difference. I always try to see the difference everytime I'm on the country roads. On motorways and city driving it doesnt make any difference.
Thats my opinion.
I only use it when i doing the twisties. I feels everything stiffens up and then more responsive. Dont know wheter its me or if it really happens.

[Aliv6]

i use it on the motorway and twisties. It's unusable in traffic/town.

[cj10jeeper]

This is an ///M thread and as such I agree it's largely a waste of time, since it just alters the throttle response which is easily replicated by pushing it further (and therefore actually with greater control and precision)

Where it is useful is on the auto non ///M where the biggest difference is the shift between gears and it holding onto any given gear for longer up the rev range. Coupled with less steering assistance the car does come alive.

[zeddy]

IT seems to do something to the clutch as well - a shorter engagement point. I was actually playing with it tonight.

[AlanJ]

Could this be the answer:

'A placebo is a sham medical intervention. In one common placebo procedure, a patient is given an inert sugar pill, told that it may improve his/her condition, but not told that it is in fact inert. Such an intervention may cause the patient to believe the treatment will change his/her condition; and this belief does indeed sometimes have a therapeutic effect, causing the patient's condition to improve. This phenomenon is known as the placebo effect.'

Just apply the principle to the Sport Mode Button.......

[Mr Whippy]

Sport mode is better for response I've found on the 3.0i, but the linearity sharpness makes it really poor in some conditions.

Not sure on the M though, but if it's making it more responsive that is good, but with 340bhp on tap, if it's making it more sharp, that wouldn't be nice imho.

Nothing worse than throttles that do nothing after 50% input... grrrr!

Dave

[sammyz]

I find it more usable since I fitted a straight through exhaust system. There seems a real difference in throttle response now. It's too sharp for town driving but on the twisties and when i want to get on a bit it's very good! I guess that's all the button was ever intended to do!