First proper 'Oh sh!t' moment in the M today

[mad4slalom]

my thoughts excatly ,sport button on is way too lairy to be able to control the throttle gently enough, i think you would need to do a lot of playing and practice to feel confident at slides or drifts to be able to keep sport on. i find it better at faster speeds but below about 30 or 40 its pretty hopeless

 

[pilchardthecat]

Sport mode is far too sensitive for throttle modulation in the corners

It's only real use is that it makes more pops and burbles on the overrun

 

[StevenH72]

Wow, quite a telling clip.

I think I'll be getting a few advanced driving courses in the ///M when I finally get one. I'd like to know the limit in a safe environment to avoid any mishaps on the road

 

[StevenH72]

This is a pretty crazy story!!

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

 

[buzyg]

This is a pretty crazy story!!

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

Lucky he bought a Coupe.

Would have been far worse, if he wrecked another Roadster

(Plus he might have died, but that's far less important)

 

[ChawenHalo]

You're not the first to discover this - Z8cookie was not so lucky ...

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=31651

There was an in-car video in the thread at the time but it looks like he's taken it off.

Wise words in the 3 points you make

After about 40K in a Z4M I thought I knew it like the back of my hand, so it just goes to show.

Have found the clip on facebook if you want to see it again.

https://www.facebook.com/video/embe...="640" height="480" frameborder="0"></iframe>

we've all bu%^*ed some car at one time or another... thing is grip good and the chassis pretty forgiving so you get used to take way too many liberties, until she bites you in the arse.

 

[JuniorJet]

One of the reasons I love the Z4 M so much is that it is unlike any other competitor in the way it does give you a fair bit of feedback when you are pushing it. As you get close to the edge I find the steering picks up ALL the contours of the road, as you swing it round a corner it feels quite front heavy, but you feel the weight drop to the back as the back end starts letting go (just before the traction light comes on).

It seems the worst mistake to make is feathering the throttle while in the turn, as the throttle response will be enough to remove any grip from the rear tyres - sending you sideways without knowing how much power you need to let off to regain traction without snapping back the other way.

Glad you and your M are still with us mate - long may that be the case! :roll:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I'd avoid the sport button, it's just a gimmick. I think someone on here did some testing on it and the throttle response is non linear in sport mode, which I don't think is ever a good thing.

As above, avoid the sport button you need to be smooth with your throttle inputs. The stock geometry makes the rear end snappy, I found it better with less camber and toe so that it lost traction more progressively at the rear.

no offence dude but Sports mode on and DSC off on a public road with 340 bhp on the rear wheels and a new vehicle for you= what were you thinking? You are a good sport in understanding and stating where you went wrong

We all "push" our cars at some point but the limits on the M are high so you can quickly end up in some serious trouble.

Its quite a short wheel base and whilst the car's suspension set up does mean understeer and is progressive, I frankly even after plenty of track time would not be cocky enough to say that I can drive it on the road "on the limit". It take a fair bit of practice to control a slide. Attempts normally and up in "saugaging" the car as the back end move rapidly sideways you countersteer and let go of the trottle at the same time.

Take some track time with an instructor, its well worth it and you'll learn to get closer to the limit safely.

The fact that the chassis is pretty good and the engine is so, powerfull does hinder progress somewhat to be fair, its not the easyest of cars to learn in colpared to say a Caterham.

my thoughts excatly ,sport button on is way too lairy to be able to control the throttle gently enough, i think you would need to do a lot of playing and practice to feel confident at slides or drifts to be able to keep sport on. i find it better at faster speeds but below about 30 or 40 its pretty hopeless

Sport mode is far too sensitive for throttle modulation in the corners

It's only real use is that it makes more pops and burbles on the overrun

Without sports mode engaged the initial travel of the throttle pedal offers no significant response from the engine. I find the artificial lag introduced by the 'fly by wire' throttle irritating and also reduces my ability to modulate the engine speed accurately. OP, once you're used to the sensitive nature of the throttle with sport engaged you'll find that throttle response is markedly more predictable and closer to the response of a throttle cable (which is also not linear). Sports mode also helps prevent the much-complained of 'bunny hopping' when attempting to pull away gently. I'm sure that this is largely as a result of gentle throttle pedal inputs not opening the throttle - not the case with sports mode engaged.
I would echo ChawenHalo. Learn the car before you drive with DSC off on the road. Also, try to finish braking before turning in and don't jump on the throttle after the apex of a bend. Instead, apply power gently and progressively as you straighten up (at least until you've learned the limits of the car).

 

[Lottie]

I can thoroughly recommend a car limits activity day http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?type=airfieldactivity

I have organised plenty of these with the Hondas and people are amazed what you learn and have fun at the same time, all for a very reasonable amount.

Review of one of the day's, http://www.hondas-on-track.com/forums/index.php?topic=2049.0 maybe worth sorting out for this club?