Driving with Sport Mode

samosa · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:11:27 PM

Never, absolutely never. I used to once in a while when i first bought the car a few years ago, but then I realized it does nothing but make the pedal less predictable at the initial depressing which is simply not safe. Standard pedal mapping is linear and predictable, thus i use it. If you feel your car isn't being responsive enough, you need to downshift.

Jus sayin

skillz1318 · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:12:49 PM

Didn't expect this much input so quickly...guess I'm not the only one who browses the forums while they should be working

Surprised to see how many people use it all the time...I rarely use it Mon-Fri as car is daily driver to work, I have tried but in bumper to bumper traffic its way too jerky. It does get used on weekends when I'm on open roads, but I do often forget it's there...

m3freak86 · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:27:55 PM

Rarely. Once in a while during spirited drives, but I am driving with it off 98% of the time. Even if I do turn it on, it's on for maybe 2 minutes.

O'sM · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:31:12 PM

this is purely my weekend toy, rarely drive it during the week, so thats why i use the sport mode everytime i drive. Maybe i am just used to more sensitive throttle. I actuall prefer more narrow intervals in the clutch to get into correct gear. 95% of the time i can get a smooth shift with sport mode on. i remember the infiniti was very sensitive and very unforgiving so maybe i got used to that. Many veteran manual drivers had a hard time smoothly switching gears on the G35 b/c of the narrow clutch engagement points. also i am sure it does not help that i drove my buddy's RS4 for about 3 months before i got the M3. From your guys responses, i am getting a feeling that nothing is wrong with my car mechanically and it drives as it should, so that makes me feel a lot better. thanks

vndkshn · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:36:36 PM

Think I've pushed the button three times the nearly 5 years I've had the car. Most worthless and pointless feature on the car.

Oh, and this thread topic has NEVER been done before...

skillz1318 · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:40:29 PM

The last poll I found when I searched "Sport Mode Poll" was from 2004...didn't realize this topic was discussed that often

**Obioban** · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:53:03 PM

NEVER

///M3-=FiN=- · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 09:00:27 PM

I hate launching the car in sport mode and never use it unless I'm at the track. But even then, I usually don't press the sport button until I get moving. The throttle is way to sensitive and burning the clutch is no fun either.

**eas** · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 10:16:02 PM

I don't like driving with it on at all

J02 M3 · Wed, Apr-14-2010, 10:23:31 PM

The first thing I do when I start my car is push the sport button, I find the throttle way too lazy whitout it on.

View Poll Results: Do you drive with sport mode on?
Yes - All the time	46	17.23%
Yes - During spirited driving, not 24/7	131	49.06%
No - The M3 is responsive enough	85	31.84%
Other - Please explain	5	1.87%
Voters: 267. You may not vote on this poll

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:27:55 PM	#23
m3freak86 JERSEY STRONG Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 16,143 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0	Rarely. Once in a while during spirited drives, but I am driving with it off 98% of the time. Even if I do turn it on, it's on for maybe 2 minutes. __________________ 2004 Carbon Black ///M3 (Sold) Mods and Specs My Exhaust Obsession My Journal 2013 SWP Subaru WRX Hatch WRX Journal

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:36:36 PM	#25
vndkshn Goin' crazy... wanna come? Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8,811 Reputation: 0 Location: Parker	Think I've pushed the button three times the nearly 5 years I've had the car. Most worthless and pointless feature on the car. Oh, and this thread topic has NEVER been done before... __________________ 2005 Interlagos Blue M3 - Cinammon Interior - ZCP - 6MT - Premium - HK Sound Performance Mods: D/A Race Software, D/A VAC Lightweight UnderDrive Pulleys, Streamline Panel, Ceramic Coated Stainless headers, Race-cats, B&B Tri-Flow, Motons, Vorshlag plates, GC Adj. Rear Camber Arms, GC Race Hybrid FCAB, Powerflex RTABs, H-Sport Sways, GC adjustable endlinks, GSP Clutch Pedal, 40% Autosolutions SSK, Rogue Trans Mounts, PFC WC/GAC front brake kit, PFC-01s for the track. Click Here for nightmare ECS story. - LOL, it was deleted, guess it shows the sponsors can get away with anything here.

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:53:03 PM	#27
Obioban M3Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 23,444 In the garage: '95 BMW M3 '05 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: SE PA	NEVER __________________ Current Cars: 2005 IR/IR M3, 2003 TiAg M5, 1995 S50 B32 GT3 RS Green M3 Race Car _____Former Cars: 2004 TiAg/IR M3, 1996 TV/black M3, 1995 AW M3 shell Useful stuff: Objective suspension comparison, DIY suspension install VIDEOS (e36 version), Stick Driving Basics, e46 Climate Control, Better Fuel Economy 101, 10W-60 TWS Everything on the car: Mod List __________ HighRes M Wallpapers (Misc collected pics) <--- save target to desktop Selling: Suspensions, brakes, safety equipment, etc (ask away!) Renting: Valve shim adjustment kit, RTAB tool, Ball joint tool

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 10:16:02 PM	#29
eas M3Forum Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4,119 Reputation: 0 Location: SoCal	I don't like driving with it on at all __________________ Customer Service \| european auto source (eas) email: info@europeanautosource.com web: www.europeanautosource.com tel 866.669.0705 \| ca: 714.369.8524 \| fax: 714.908.1796 Blog \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Flickr

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:12:49 PM	#22
skillz1318 6MT User Join Date: Jan 2010 Age: 31 Posts: 2,785 Reputation: 0 Location: Fairfax	Didn't expect this much input so quickly...guess I'm not the only one who browses the forums while they should be working Surprised to see how many people use it all the time...I rarely use it Mon-Fri as car is daily driver to work, I have tried but in bumper to bumper traffic its way too jerky. It does get used on weekends when I'm on open roads, but I do often forget it's there...

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:31:12 PM	#24
O'sM Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 73 Reputation: 0 Location: North Jersey	this is purely my weekend toy, rarely drive it during the week, so thats why i use the sport mode everytime i drive. Maybe i am just used to more sensitive throttle. I actuall prefer more narrow intervals in the clutch to get into correct gear. 95% of the time i can get a smooth shift with sport mode on. i remember the infiniti was very sensitive and very unforgiving so maybe i got used to that. Many veteran manual drivers had a hard time smoothly switching gears on the G35 b/c of the narrow clutch engagement points. also i am sure it does not help that i drove my buddy's RS4 for about 3 months before i got the M3. From your guys responses, i am getting a feeling that nothing is wrong with my car mechanically and it drives as it should, so that makes me feel a lot better. thanks

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 08:40:29 PM	#26
skillz1318 6MT User Join Date: Jan 2010 Age: 31 Posts: 2,785 Reputation: 0 Location: Fairfax	The last poll I found when I searched "Sport Mode Poll" was from 2004...didn't realize this topic was discussed that often

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 09:00:27 PM	#28
///M3-=FiN=- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Age: 38 Posts: 275 Reputation: 0 Location: North SF Bay	I hate launching the car in sport mode and never use it unless I'm at the track. But even then, I usually don't press the sport button until I get moving. The throttle is way to sensitive and burning the clutch is no fun either.

Wed, Apr-14-2010, 10:23:31 PM	#30
J02 M3 1,2,6th Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 778 Reputation: 0 Location: Ontario	The first thing I do when I start my car is push the sport button, I find the throttle way too lazy whitout it on. __________________ 02 M, Gloss black side gills, Tein S-Tech's, DBA brakes, 245/35/19 & 275/30/19.

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