What does the sport button on a 3.0si sport actually do?

A

andya1

Active member
Hi guys

I have just got my 3.0si Sport Z4 roadster and having only had it a week I haven't bothered even looking at the sport button

To me the car has so much performance as it is so I haven't pressed the button yet so can anyone tell me what it does and does it actually work and can you REALLY tell the difference or is it just a gimmick?

Cheers

Andy
 
On the manual, it makes the throttle more responsive. I always have the button on. Supposedly it also stiffens the steering, but I can't notice the difference. Big difference in steering with the sport button on my 5 series.

On auto, it also changes the gear selection - will hold the gear longer before changing.
 
Mine is a manual it's just that in a top gear I recently watched they said the sport button in a car they drove did nothing whatsoever I can't remember what car it was so it got me wondering.
 
It does make the steering heavier on non ///M's

On my old 2.5si i always had it on as i hated the steering feel with it off as it was too light.
 
On the auto it does hold the revs almost to the red . Unnerving at times as you think the box is never going to change up :cry:
On the Z it doesn't alter anything on the steering or suspension ( it did on previous 6 series)
In town driving i found my 3.0Si almost undriveable with Sport button down , it just wasn't good on the throttle at all .
On the open road's however it is worth it as it changes the whole tempo of the car :wink:
 
Definitely more throttle response. But I think it made the steering feel lighter to me.

TG did the Golf GTi Mk7 round their track, same time for sport and normal mode but marginally quicker in comfort mode. On the Golf though it also changes suspension settings in terms of soft / firm though
 
i would add that after having Sport button on previous car's with little effect on the Z it was more than noticeable :wink:
 
On any non ///M manual:

Stiffens the steering. Sharpens the throttle response. Won't actually make the car faster, but sharpens up the feel.

Auto - gives the car a more aggressive kick down, and red lines in each gear.

Engaging sport mode is part of my start up ritual. I only disengage sport mode if I get stuck in traffic around town...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There's a post on here somewhere that gives a curve showing the differences in available engine power between sport & normal depending on how far the loud pedal was pressed - with sport on, almost at any angle the engine was mapped to provide max output.

However, at full throttle it shows the engine provides the same power irrespective of whether it's on or not - hence why TG would have experienced the same lap times
 
As they say there are no power or engine mapping changes, so I only stick on for the twisty stuff as I prefer the steering feel, I actually find the throttle reacting more for less input a nuisance, sometimes messing with the judgement of quick gear changes if you have only just put it in to sport. Its a shame you can't have the steering effect without the throttle really.

Or can you? could it be coded?
 
Ewazix said:
Or can you? could it be coded?
Click to expand...
May not need coding, the steering and throttle are separate modules, just snip the wire from the sport button going to the module you do not want to alter? Looks like to disable throttle response, snip wire from pin 5, black/red/yellow (per the WDS). This would also disable shift suppression on autos, which IMO, is the only good reason for the sport button. This is really a manual only hack.

No idea if this would really work, it may break something, so when I say "snip", be sure what you actually do is reversible!

For those that like a touchy throttle and light steering, the wire to the steering module is from pin 3, black/green/yellow.
 
bcworkz said:
Ewazix said:
Or can you? could it be coded?
Click to expand...
May not need coding, the steering and throttle are separate modules, just snip the wire from the sport button going to the module you do not want to alter? Looks like to disable throttle response, snip wire from pin 5, black/red/yellow (per the WDS). This would also disable shift suppression on autos, which IMO, is the only good reason for the sport button. This is really a manual only hack.

No idea if this would really work, it may break something, so when I say "snip", be sure what you actually do is reversible!

For those that like a touchy throttle and light steering, the wire to the steering module is from pin 3, black/green/yellow.
Click to expand...

Sounds plausible with caution as you suggest, but I'm thinking it sounds like 'the gentleman's snip' and I'm not sure I want to try either at home really :cry:
 
it definitely has affect on the steering, as when my steering went wrong the other week it also took out the sport button. i had a link to a bmw manual that explained it all. ill try to find it again
 
I drive every where with it in sport. I just prefer the feel of the car that way more involving. More weight to the steering sharper throttle. Heal and toe is much easier with the button pressed.
 
Machine monkey said:
I drive every where with it in sport. I just prefer the feel of the car that way more involving. More weight to the steering sharper throttle. Heal and toe is much easier with the button pressed.
Click to expand...

Ok Monkey well I will give it a go then :) what are these exhaust tips you have?

Andy
 
Mines a 3.0 SMG and the sport button makes the throttle more sensitive and steering stiffer. In SMG 'auto' mode (though I hardly ever use it) the sport button also seems to hold a gear longer, takes it right to the red line!

I usually always drive with sport mode on, mostly because I find the steering way too light otherwise. For the life of me I can't figure out the point of electric steering. It is such a rubbish invention.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2
 
I always drive with the sport mode on, all year around. I've just got used to it, and when I accidentally forget to engage it, I often find myself almost stalling the car because of insufficient throttle input. True, the 'sport' throttle input is not linear, but it reminds me of the 'acceleration pulley' mod on older cars. Anyway, it's better than the standard mode, which keeps adjusting to my driving style and I keep readjusting to its changing characteristics... a vicious circle! Better the devil you know. It might be different on the wilder //M - I suppose that with that mighty engine and its proper hydraulic power steering it hardly needs a sport mode at all.
 
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