Wanted - Sport Button

GreySquirrel

GreySquirrel

Member
 Torquay
Hi,

I'm looking for a sport button part number 61316953942 for an E85

They are not overly expensive new, but wondered if anyone has one on a breaker that they would part with for sensible money?

It's for an experimental fit to a 2.2, so I don't want to throw loads of money at it if it won't work - although all the wiring is there, so I'm hoping!
 
bigwinn said:
@enuff_zed did this recently
Click to expand...
I did! It worked! Was it worth it? Hmmm, not much tbh.
Mine's a manual so no auto gearbox effect.
Doesn't seem to affect steering weight, so all it really does is change the throttle position map.
If I switch it on whilst holding my foot on the pedal I don't notice much change.
If I have it switched on and the revs above 4k then switch it off, I do notice a retardation.
Overall, I don't think the 2.2 has enough torque to really utilise it. I only notice much difference over 3.5k, and by then your foot is pretty far down in Comfort Mode anyway.
But........................ it takes half an hour or so to plug in and the switch was only a tenner, so why not.

What I did was pop out the gear lever gaiter and plug it in, then drive around for a while like that before I decided to cut the hole.
It was really 50:50, but I had the bits and some spare time, and it didn't make it any worse.
 
Did you have to flash the dme for it to work?

I have read threads that say it's plug and play and others that say unless the dme is flashed to the relevant firmware then it wont do anything
 
Joez4 said:
Did you have to flash the dme for it to work?

I have read threads that say it's plug and play and others that say unless the dme is flashed to the relevant firmware then it wont do anything
Click to expand...
I plugged it in, the light comes on and you can feel a difference, albeit slight. No flashing here! ;)
 
Joez4 said:
So the light stayed on thats interesting, I've read that it doesn't and eps and dme modules need to be coded.

Click to expand...
Well as I said, the EPS doesn't seem to change, but having had other cars with a Sport button I've never noticed it change on them either.
On my 04-plate 2.2i the DME seems to respond without further intervention. Maybe as it has all the loom in place, the DME is prepped too?

Tbh, by far the best use of a Sport button is in an Auto. Wifey's 2.5i Auto is like Jekyll and Hyde!
 
I'm no expert but from the research I've gathered the button will change the throttle response, but not the steering unless the switch remains illuminated once activated.

I guess it's possible early dme's came equipped with the correct firmware for a plug and play retrofit, I'll let you know once I also acquire a sport button for my 2.2
 
Well, thanks to a friendly forum member, my Sport Button arrived today! I took the car out and tested it with the switch hanging loose so I could see if it worked before drilling the dash. And I can confirm that it does!

The switch lights up and stays on, power steering becomes noticeably heavier (also noticeable if you press the button while going lock to lock), and the throttle response seems sharper and more aggressive. It's not night-and-day different, but it is certainly noticeable and does make the drive more engaging.

Most of the afternoon was spent carefully drilling the hole for the switch (the aluminium trim is surprisingly thick), and hoovering up the bits of metal and plastic before fitting. It's in now, working and looks great! Very happy!

IMG_5159.JPGIMG_5161.JPG
 
Maybe I’m just not sensitive enough to the steering? Never really notice it change much in any zed with sport
 
GreySquirrel said:
Well, thanks to a friendly forum member, my Sport Button arrived today! I took the car out and tested it with the switch hanging loose so I could see if it worked before drilling the dash. And I can confirm that it does!

The switch lights up and stays on, power steering becomes noticeably heavier (also noticeable if you press the button while going lock to lock), and the throttle response seems sharper and more aggressive. It's not night-and-day different, but it is certainly noticeable and does make the drive more engaging.

Most of the afternoon was spent carefully drilling the hole for the switch (the aluminium trim is surprisingly thick), and hoovering up the bits of metal and plastic before fitting. It's in now, working and looks great! Very happy!

View attachment 289901View attachment 289902
Click to expand...
Would you share what drill bits you used please?
 
enuff_zed said:
Well as I said, the EPS doesn't seem to change, but having had other cars with a Sport button I've never noticed it change on them either.
On my 04-plate 2.2i the DME seems to respond without further intervention. Maybe as it has all the loom in place, the DME is prepped too?

Tbh, by far the best use of a Sport button is in an Auto. Wifey's 2.5i Auto is like Jekyll and Hyde!
Click to expand...
Have to agree. In my 3.0 I have a sport button, can't tell much difference on the rare occasion I think to use it. I find the standard power is more than ample for my driving style.
In my 2.5 auto (172500 miles and goes like a train), the difference is night and day throttle wise. Can't say I've noticed much in the steering weight.

I get why folk suggest the manual is the drivers car but the auto feels faster. Probably because it knows it's limitations regarding rev range and gear change, whereas the limiting factor in a manual is the driver.
 
Cv6benplus said:
Would you share what drill bits you used please?
Click to expand...
Erm, yes. I measured the size of the sport button (24.9mm IIRC). It's a little bigger than a pound coin. So I used some masking tape over the area to protect it, worked out where I wanted the hole, drew around the pound coin with a pencil, and then...

I used a 4mm drill bit (HSS) and drilled LOTS of holes close to each other around (and just inside) the pencil marks, being careful not to slip. I then "wiggled" the drill to cut the holes and link them up. I followed this with a Dremel grinder and a handheld file to round off the edges. Being careful all the time not to slip or enlarge the hole too much, I kept checking the size until it was just right.

I was going to use a hole saw, but then I drilled the initial pilot hole and saw the thickness of the aluminium, I had to think again. That said, it would probably have worked, and saved a lot of time.
IMG_5158.JPG
Here is the final hole - I think it's quite neat really!
 
Nice job that, looks smart. Re the EPS I do notice a definite heavier weighting with the Sport engaged (2.5 auto). Overall with the change to throttle response and auto behaviour it makes the car much more enjoyable and less of a cruiser lol.
 
Quick update also thanks to a friendly forum member i now have a sport button, thanks @Wassup

I have just test fitted my sport button and can confirm it does indeed light up and stay lit And the throttle response does seem much improved hopefully this translates to a more sporty feeling drive.
 
Joez4 said:
@GreySquirrel did you remove the centre console trim or drill the hole in situ?
Click to expand...
I did mine in situ, using the same chain drilling technique.
Take it slowly to be sure the bit doesn't slip.
I also removed the gear lever surround first, so I could feel underneath to make sure there was nothing I could damage, and also as you can then feel the reduced thickness where the trim is marked out for the button.
I finished off with a rat-tail file to smooth all the edges. If you drill the hole slightly too small you can then carefully file a bit and keep trial fitting the button until it fits snugly, rather than run the risk of making the hole too big.
 
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