3.0SI - can SPORT Mode be Disabled?

[spearman]

It's relatively simple to disconnect the dtc button, but means disconnecting the roof buttons and heated seats. Remove the ash tray, unscrew a single screw, pop out the centre console, disconnect the wires. I've never turned the ignition on without this being connected - the computer may turn off all driver aids as a precaution and the kid will definitely write it off!

Personally, I wouldn't let a teenager anywhere near my zed. With or without the sport mode or traction control it's going to end in tears....or worse.

 

[Paza3]

I think it depends, how responsible is the kid and what defines a kid? Im 23 with a Z4Mc and think thats acceptable, but I bought the car and its on my own head if I end up crashing it. But I would say im in the minority of young people who drive sensibly with such caliber of vehicle.

Bloody hell Tom you had a tough paper round!!!! :lol: :lol: ... I am of course joking .. a little

 

[tomscott]

I think it depends, how responsible is the kid and what defines a kid? Im 23 with a Z4Mc and think thats acceptable, but I bought the car and its on my own head if I end up crashing it. But I would say im in the minority of young people who drive sensibly with such caliber of vehicle.

Bloody hell Tom you had a tough paper round!!!! :lol: :lol: ... I am of course joking .. a little

Hey man I work hard! Hence the reward!

 

[Mangozac]

I've never turned the ignition on without this being connected - the computer may turn off all driver aids as a precaution and the kid will definitely write it off!

That's very unlikely - in the event that the computer find problems it's going to take the safest settings as default, which means DSC on.

 

[spearman]

I've never turned the ignition on without this being connected - the computer may turn off all driver aids as a precaution and the kid will definitely write it off!

That's very unlikely - in the event that the computer find problems it's going to take the safest settings as default, which means DSC on.

I had a senor glitch in my drivers side front wheel. It turned off all driver aids.

If the computer recognises a problem, it turns everything off - so no traction.

 

[RCT_Z4Coupe]

He'll be find driving it once he's had a beer to boost his confidence...

 

[sp3ctre]

Sorry but the guy is stupid enough to let his kid drive the car, and even more stupid to diagnose he is not to be trusted and STILL let him drive it... As has been said before the stability aids are what his mates will tell him to turn off to "kick the back out" etc... chances are good that it will end in tears.

That said, you have established your mate is insane already, just send him this story and make him have a read and then he can make up his own mind, nothing more you can do:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3778005

 

[RCT_Z4Coupe]

Sorry but the guy is stupid enough to let his kid drive the car, and even more stupid to diagnose he is not to be trusted and STILL let him drive it... As has been said before the stability aids are what his mates will tell him to turn off to "kick the back out" etc... chances are good that it will end in tears.

That said, you have established your mate is insane already, just send him this story and make him have a read and then he can make up his own mind, nothing more you can do:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3778005

Blimey! Dent Magician would struggle with that.

 

[Bing]

Guy's got bad taste in hats too :|

 

[tomscott]

Sorry but the guy is stupid enough to let his kid drive the car, and even more stupid to diagnose he is not to be trusted and STILL let him drive it... As has been said before the stability aids are what his mates will tell him to turn off to "kick the back out" etc... chances are good that it will end in tears.

That said, you have established your mate is insane already, just send him this story and make him have a read and then he can make up his own mind, nothing more you can do:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3778005

Horrific story. With power comes responsibility. He was lucky to walk away from that.

I think it is wrong to place all young drivers into the category, but this guy was a douche end of. Couldn't be stupider to take the car to the limit in those conditions, serves him right and hope he has learned his lesson.

Like I've said in previous posts a few of my friends lost their lives in a crash just after they past their tests in a horrible accident to this day still haunts me. They were driving on a long sweeping right bend which was up hill but the corner is very wide, so going up the hill taking the racing line wide then touching the white lines, well not all people do that and an old man was coming down the hill, it is a blind corner because of a house on the edge but must be 250 yards edge to edge, so a lot of people take it wide when coming opposite direction. They had a head on collision it was a 3 door hatchback with 2 lads and 2 girls, all good friends. The car flipped and landed on its roof, the old man and the two boys in the front were killed instantly according to the report but the two girls in the back were not. There was a car following the older man which hit the car and t boned it while it was on its roof and the car exploded and the girls burned to death.

I live in a small community and it hit everyone really hard.

Truly horrific, my dad also had a bad accident when he was younger which left him in a coma and a part face reconstruction. So I have always been taught and lectured to drive within limits and respect the road and vehicle. To this day still live by - with power comes responsibility, and trust no one on the road but yourself.

Im sure everyone has a story to tell, but when are you eligible to drive a powerful car? The only way is to drive one and get used to it. Or buy cars with a bit more power each time and don't take it to the limit unless you are in a place you can like a track.

 

[Dreamer]

You can just pull the plug out the back of the sport button. Pull out the leather gear surround and you can reach the back with your fingers.

Dont know why you would bother though, not like it does much apart from load up the steering stiffness and make the car a touch more jumpy on the throttle.

 

[Mafoo]

Agree with all the above. The sport button is a placebo when it comes to power and speed and - if anything - I feel more assured with it swtiched on.

DTC off can be a handful

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[Mangozac]

I've never turned the ignition on without this being connected - the computer may turn off all driver aids as a precaution and the kid will definitely write it off!

That's very unlikely - in the event that the computer find problems it's going to take the safest settings as default, which means DSC on.

I had a senor glitch in my drivers side front wheel. It turned off all driver aids.

If the computer recognises a problem, it turns everything off - so no traction.

Understandably, as the sensor is required for operation. Cockpit buttons aren't
Sorry, I should have been more specific

 

[Putter Whore]

I think it depends, how responsible is the kid and what defines a kid? Im 23 with a Z4Mc and think thats acceptable, but I bought the car and its on my own head if I end up crashing it. But I would say im in the minority of young people who drive sensibly with such caliber of vehicle.

That's all well & good Tom, but you really ought to learn how to park your car between the lines!

 

[cj_eds]

That ZPost link, the guy barely sounds like he acknowledges what he's done. You can tell that in youth even after nearly loosing his life he doesn't seem to have learnt a lesson :- blaming mud on the road (It's your job as a driver to spot the mud on the road!), or this statement: "...the car is responsible for doing this too me. Which is true in a way." making me think he's a idiot.
Most people make some type of mistake in the first year or two of driving - I had a small car park bump and a very scary moment fish-tailing an out of control Volvo 340. Fortunately for me it worked out well and I stayed between the verges! I never once tried to blame the car though, just acknowledged I was stupid and didn't do it again. This guy's son will more than likely make his own mistakes too, fingers crossed the Z4 will remain intact through out them. Usually it's the fact it's a small car/engine that saves us when we're still 17 year old immortal driving gods!

 

[agammon]

This guy would be stupid to let a kid have a go.

Just got my Z4 2.5i a week ago and learnt within 30 minutes not to turn the TC and press the Sport button when it's wet. Luckily I was on an empty roundabout and managed to catch it but I now know not to piss about.

The kid will crash if he's let loose with the Z4, I'm 27 and mature (ish) and still felt the need to press buttons to see what happens...

 

[Jembo]

Sport button? Meh. I'd be more worried about making sure the young lad doesn't discover the DTC button...

this is the one that made me laugh on reading this thread...

 

[Bing]

Not heard from the OP for a while - what do you think of the comments so far ?

 

[agammon]

Not heard from the OP for a while - what do you think of the comments so far ?

Rushed over to friends house to find the car being delivered back to the owners house on the back of a tow truck without a panel left unmarked..?

 

[Half Colin]

Well, from what I can see the OP should be taking away the following messages:

1. 100% of Z4 owners agree that it is a very bad idea to let "a young and inexperienced teenaged kid" drive a 265bhp, rear wheel drive sports car.
2. The Sport button really has little noticeable effect other than making the throttle more responsive.
3. The activation of DTC would have a greater potential impact on an inexperienced driver than activation of the Sport button.
4. Both DTC and Sport buttons could be disconnected at the buttons.

Great, consistent advice from those who drive these cars on a daily basis.