M Track Mode enabled on Z4MR
- Thread starter Meeko
- Start date
The great thing is that you don't lose full nanny mode, it just gives you a third option: all on, all off and M Track. 
I'm guessing if I've never had the TC light flash I'm just not pushing it hard enough!
Parents in law live in Bradford on Avon, as my folks used to, hence the interest.
However, genuinely wonder if I would require it, or is it wasted on me - only had the car a few months & mainly on the motorway commute. Strangely with the S2000 I was much less worried about losing traction, perhaps I'm just getting old!
If I understand correctly, M track lets me get some slip before reigning it all back in (within reason & physics allowing!), similar to the standard BMW 'half setting' but just a bit looser?
Parents in law live in Bradford on Avon, as my folks used to, hence the interest.
However, genuinely wonder if I would require it, or is it wasted on me - only had the car a few months & mainly on the motorway commute. Strangely with the S2000 I was much less worried about losing traction, perhaps I'm just getting old!
If I understand correctly, M track lets me get some slip before reigning it all back in (within reason & physics allowing!), similar to the standard BMW 'half setting' but just a bit looser?
raiets said:Anchefonk said:
Think I have 3.12.4 if that is of any use to you?
Enabled M-track mode (plus a few other things) successfully yesterday. Anyone in the Warwick area want a hand in doing it let me know
Hi there!
I manage my self to get the 2.53.3
Looks like your is much up to date. Will appreciate if you share them with me!
Cheers!
A
Anonymous
Guest
As a relative newbie to RWD and Z4Ms, can I just ask a few questions of the more experienced members?
I presume M Track Mode is similar to me turning off the ESP on my old S3, i.e. allows a certain amount of slip? It used to be part of my start up sequence in my old car, as the traction control would cut power at any sign of wheel spin, usually causing kangarooing when "launching".
I presume it would also help massively in the wet, as your foot is the deciding factor to power, rather than the electronics?
I presume M Track Mode is similar to me turning off the ESP on my old S3, i.e. allows a certain amount of slip? It used to be part of my start up sequence in my old car, as the traction control would cut power at any sign of wheel spin, usually causing kangarooing when "launching".
I presume it would also help massively in the wet, as your foot is the deciding factor to power, rather than the electronics?
A
Anonymous
Guest
exdos said:
Acutely aware of this, my friend, thank you - that's what I'm trying to avoid. I've so far not dared turn off DSC on the road - the first time I touched the button was this weekend in a field (aka mud bath) and quite enjoyed the freedom to feel the car move around. I wondered if this "50% mod" might allow more slip than I currently get, rather than flashing the light and cutting power...
JAD said:
Driving cars on wet grass is a great way of exploring the handling in safety. Are you wanting the Track Mode for genuine track use or just for on the public roads?
I've done more than 160 laps of The Ring in my Z4MC and I haven't found the DSC to be a problem or restrictive at all because the Z4M's differential is brilliant. I certainly don't feel the need for a "Track Mode" there or on public roads.
I've found the DSC light flashing and individual wheels being braked at certain points at the ring when I've thought I've had plenty of grip. Most of the time it's a minor annoyance, but sometimes it interferes with your delicate inputs at scary parts of the track (e.g. diving in to Fuchsrohre, or cresting Schwedenkreutz).exdos said:
mmm-five said:
From driving with the DSC of the Z3MC, which completely cuts the power when the DSC cuts in, I used it as a sort of teacher, where I analysed what I'd done to create the scenario to bring the DSC on. It was a very interesting exercise in car dynamics and from it, I completely modified my driving technique so that I anticipate the situations where the DSC might operate whilst I'm driving, and now I very rarely see any DSC intervention and no longer feel I'm applying conscious thought to my driving.
I had a downshift denial in the Z4MC as I was coming out of Fuchsrohre to take that left-hander at the top of the hill and I think I'd have gone straight on into the barrier
if I didn't use my present driving technique. It seems to me that avoiding creating yaw whilst applying power at the limits of grip is the key to preventing the DSC from intervening.mj2k said:
When changing down from, say, 4th gear to 3rd gear, you can't get the lever to go into 3rd gear position so you find yourself in neutral until you can engage a gear. I found it a real problem with my Z4MC at The Ring as described here: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=52981&hilit=denial
Going downhill at over 120mph into Fuchsrohre and then entering Adenaur Forst is my very favouriite bit of The Ring: it thrills me and scares me in equal measure! Fortunately, I'd driven it several hundred times before I experienced the shift denial problem with my Z4MC so I knew I could get round the sharp left turn in neutral. Fortunately, there wasn't another car on my tail otherwise we'd both have been in trouble. It was my lucky day.mj2k said:
Brilliant I will definitely be coding this in when I get a chance!
I'm safely back from my ring and Spa trip and gave all three modes (on, off, M Track) a good testing. My car is standard except for Eibachs with Conti Sport 3s all round, standard road tyre pressures, running more negative front camber.
I don't know the Nordschleife well having only ever visited half a dozen times and only ever complete one or two laps each time (there to enjoy the atmosphere and experience). I got in one lap only on Sunday evening before it started raining (delays at Dover stopped me getting out on Friday evenings TF session). I left the DSC on for the complete lap and it wasn't intrusive as I was driving well below the cars limits, mostly held up by a UK Hayabusa who was keen on taking the racing line at every corner, nearly tipping in to faster traffic before seeing them at the last minute!
The Lotus On Track Spa trackday on Monday was wet almost all day and immediately followed the 24 hour race, with plenty of fluids spillt at certain corners (La Source was awash with diesel until rain washed it away slowly). I've driven Spa plenty of times before, but not for 10 years. To begin with I left the DSC on with the occasional flashing dash light giving a helpful indication where there was a real lack of grip. Having never driven a car on track with any kind of safety system I wasn't about to rely on it, but I was impressed with how it gave piece of mind and confidence, particularly for my wife when she drove. As I got to know the car a little better I tentatively tried M Track mode, pushing on a little through the bus stop and La Source, where speeds are slow and risk of car to barrier contact are lower! It's brilliant, allowing just a little opposite lock and some wheel spin before a soft amount of electronic control is felt and you are off down the track again. I soon found this produced a better lap time (by seat of the pants feel). With DSC on the power was cutting for the first half of the start/finish straight, each time you crossed the painted grid lines; with M track on it just kept accelerating with no detectable wheelspin at the same place.
The pace of the Z4M was excellent in the wet, faster than many of the lighter Lotus, some of which I put down to confidence that you could drive that bit closer to the cars limits in the slippery conditions. Having driven and raced Caterham and Elise for the last 10 years I did feel sorry for them! With passengers I was happy to turn it all off and have a play on some of the corners, great fun, but not as fast of course. Having come across a badly damaged Elise at Raddillon and knowing that we wanted to bring the car back in one piece we kept Mtrack on for pretty much the rest of the day until the last hour when the surface dried. With the kerbs and white lines still slippery we drove with caution and avoided any spins. A continental Z4M Coupe owner was there (black, CSLs, tan interior) and didn't know you could add this software, droving the whole day with DSC on afaik, still he had a good day from what I could see.
So to sum up, M track is worth having IMO for both the road and track, particularly in the wet BUT I can see that it could become too easy to rely on it and become lazy, expecting the car to sort out your mistakes (which it seems capable of doing). I like the way M Track allows trail braking and a degree of turn in and exit angle, intruding softly if needed. So, I will likely keep it on whilst on the road or on a wet, high speed track but off when on a more forgiving circuit or almost anywhere in the dry. I'll save my other observations about the car one week into ownership on a separate thread.
Once I have some time next week I will attempt to show by video the differences between all three modes at the same piece of the track.
Cheers, Dave
I don't know the Nordschleife well having only ever visited half a dozen times and only ever complete one or two laps each time (there to enjoy the atmosphere and experience). I got in one lap only on Sunday evening before it started raining (delays at Dover stopped me getting out on Friday evenings TF session). I left the DSC on for the complete lap and it wasn't intrusive as I was driving well below the cars limits, mostly held up by a UK Hayabusa who was keen on taking the racing line at every corner, nearly tipping in to faster traffic before seeing them at the last minute!
The Lotus On Track Spa trackday on Monday was wet almost all day and immediately followed the 24 hour race, with plenty of fluids spillt at certain corners (La Source was awash with diesel until rain washed it away slowly). I've driven Spa plenty of times before, but not for 10 years. To begin with I left the DSC on with the occasional flashing dash light giving a helpful indication where there was a real lack of grip. Having never driven a car on track with any kind of safety system I wasn't about to rely on it, but I was impressed with how it gave piece of mind and confidence, particularly for my wife when she drove. As I got to know the car a little better I tentatively tried M Track mode, pushing on a little through the bus stop and La Source, where speeds are slow and risk of car to barrier contact are lower! It's brilliant, allowing just a little opposite lock and some wheel spin before a soft amount of electronic control is felt and you are off down the track again. I soon found this produced a better lap time (by seat of the pants feel). With DSC on the power was cutting for the first half of the start/finish straight, each time you crossed the painted grid lines; with M track on it just kept accelerating with no detectable wheelspin at the same place.
The pace of the Z4M was excellent in the wet, faster than many of the lighter Lotus, some of which I put down to confidence that you could drive that bit closer to the cars limits in the slippery conditions. Having driven and raced Caterham and Elise for the last 10 years I did feel sorry for them! With passengers I was happy to turn it all off and have a play on some of the corners, great fun, but not as fast of course. Having come across a badly damaged Elise at Raddillon and knowing that we wanted to bring the car back in one piece we kept Mtrack on for pretty much the rest of the day until the last hour when the surface dried. With the kerbs and white lines still slippery we drove with caution and avoided any spins. A continental Z4M Coupe owner was there (black, CSLs, tan interior) and didn't know you could add this software, droving the whole day with DSC on afaik, still he had a good day from what I could see.
So to sum up, M track is worth having IMO for both the road and track, particularly in the wet BUT I can see that it could become too easy to rely on it and become lazy, expecting the car to sort out your mistakes (which it seems capable of doing). I like the way M Track allows trail braking and a degree of turn in and exit angle, intruding softly if needed. So, I will likely keep it on whilst on the road or on a wet, high speed track but off when on a more forgiving circuit or almost anywhere in the dry. I'll save my other observations about the car one week into ownership on a separate thread.
Once I have some time next week I will attempt to show by video the differences between all three modes at the same piece of the track.
Cheers, Dave