[Seattle135is]

So, I've read about folks b*tching about the limited color options; lack of Merino leather etc. - I could live with those - my gripe is the Gear Indicator on the cluster is so small - why isn't it prominent in the middle of the cluster? For a car that's probably going to be tracked, I think the Gear indicator and tachometer should be the most prominent dials/indicators on the cluster.
Anyway, just my 0.02c...

[omasou]

Originally Posted by Seattle335

So, I've read about folks b*tching about the limited color options; lack of Merino leather etc. - I could live with those - my gripe is the Gear Indicator on the cluster is so small - why isn't it prominent in the middle of the cluster? For a car that's probably going to be tracked, I think the Gear indicator and tachometer should be the most prominent dials/indicators on the cluster.
Anyway, just my 0.02c...

Sounds like you miss your Porsche or want a Mini.

Why is everyone staring at their dash? Even with music turned up, I can certainly tell if I'm in the wrong gear by the sound of the engine screaming shift, shift me now!

[Seattle135is]

Originally Posted by omasou

Sounds like you miss your Porsche or want a Mini.

Why is everyone staring at their dash? Even with music turned up, I can certainly tell if I'm in the wrong gear by the sound of the engine screaming shift, shift me now!

'Why is everyone staring at their dash?' - you got me on that one - lol

[M2 CSL]

I thought you were going to mention the artificially hard shifts in sport+.

That's my biggest gripe as BMW could have easily engineered it to shift as fast but more smoothly.

Funny enough when you drive with DSC off, it doesn't happen which is almost acknowledgment by BMW of how tacky it is.

[Aronis]

I agree, the display for the gear should be larger, and even when you turn on the Digital Speed display, the display is too small. There is a lot of screen real estate there to use but they don't make the most of it. Minor gripe.

Mike

[jayg80]

I wish hud w the tach built in came on the M2. Really helpful feature on the M3.

[McGary911]

Can you display the gear on that fancy $1800 sport steering wheel? Not big, but closer to line of sight.

Looks like it does show gear selection.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-3...splay/?pdk=AQE

[arwin]

For the most part, I don't think it's really necessary for a gear indicator.
Even when riding a bike, there are no gear indicators at all. The only thing that is there is a light to let you know when it's in neutral. When I first started riding, I considered picking up a gear indicator but soon realized that it wasn't really necessary

[Tag]

Originally Posted by M2 CSL

I thought you were going to mention the artificially hard shifts in sport+.

That's my biggest gripe as BMW could have easily engineered it to shift as fast but more smoothly.

Funny enough when you drive with DSC off, it doesn't happen which is almost acknowledgment by BMW of how tacky it is.

That's the Load-reversal dampening, it's smooth when DSC is partially disabled, because it defaults to comfort mode. If you turn DSC completely off the Load-reversal dampening gets set to Sport mode, more aggressive than comfort but less aggressive than Sport+. This table outlines the modes... http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1385679

[ZPrime]

Originally Posted by McGary911

Can you display the gear on that fancy $1800 sport steering wheel? Not big, but closer to line of sight.

Looks like it does show gear selection.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-3...splay/?pdk=AQE

Pisses me off that if you switch to one of the MPerf wheels you lose heated steering (assuming you had it from Exec package / etc). I'm greatly looking forward to heated steering wheel, but I like the blue stripe MPerf wheel a lot.

[McGary911]

Originally Posted by ZPrime

Pisses me off that if you switch to one of the MPerf wheels you lose heated steering (assuming you had it from Exec package / etc). I'm greatly looking forward to heated steering wheel, but I like the blue stripe MPerf wheel a lot.

Yeah, I saw that. And I really like that same one you do with the alcantara @ 3 and 9. I had the wheel on my E46 M3 wrapped like that a year ago by some guy in Germany. It turned out wonderful. I don't have a heated wheel so that's not a problem for me. I don't know if anyone is wrapping the M2 wheels yet. That may be a way around this for you, as long as they're good and you can live without a steering wheel on your car for a couple of weeks.

I DO like that one........ I just have to save a few more pennies before considering a new thousand dollar wheel.

$1800 for the digital one is a bit steep, but may help out the OP.

[M2 CSL]

Originally Posted by Tag

That's the Load-reversal dampening, it's smooth when DSC is partially disabled, because it defaults to comfort mode. If you turn DSC completely off the Load-reversal dampening gets set to Sport mode, more aggressive than comfort but less aggressive than Sport+. This table outlines the modes... http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1385679

I'm aware. I'm just saying BMW would have coded sport plus in with DSC off if they really thought it would contribute to better performance. That assuming the car is quickest around track with dsc off

Sport + is gimmicky show off mode imo

[MZWIE]

I disabled the gear indicator completely.

[DivideBYZero]

Originally Posted by MZWIE

I disabled the gear indicator completely.

Did you type that post on this keyboard?

[MZWIE]

^^ HUH?

[Tag]

Originally Posted by M2 CSL

I'm aware. I'm just saying BMW would have coded sport plus in with DSC off if they really thought it would contribute to better performance. That assuming the car is quickest around track with dsc off

Sport + is gimmicky show off mode imo

Or it could simply be a limitation of not having programmable M buttons. Every mode, including MDM and DSC OFF is a preset. My assumption is they didn't want to program the most aggressive settings for DSC Off as not to upset the chassis which could end disastrously on a track or worse yet, the street. That's just my guess. That said, all the tech docs of the M2/3/4 indicate the harder shifts are meant for performance as they don't only happen quicker, but dynamically at higher RPMs.

[M2 CSL]

Originally Posted by Tag

Or it could simply be a limitation of not having programmable M buttons. Every mode, including MDM and DSC OFF is a preset. My assumption is they didn't want to program the most aggressive settings for DSC Off as not to upset the chassis which could end disastrously on a track or worse yet, the street. That's just my guess. That said, all the tech docs of the M2/3/4 indicate the harder shifts are meant for performance as they don't only happen quicker, but dynamically at higher RPMs.

Potentially upsetting the chassis doesn't sound performance or speed enhancing to me.

Have you ever driven a non BMW DCT? Either BMW is using old tech and can't get quick smooth shifts or they are programming in the roughness to give it that affect.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by M2 CSL

Potentially upsetting the chassis doesn't sound performance or speed enhancing to me.

Have you ever driven a non BMW DCT? Either BMW is using old tech and can't get quick smooth shifts or they are programming in the roughness to give it that affect.

In sport the shifts are a lot smoother and seem reasonably fast.

[ajvdh]

Originally Posted by M2 CSL

I'm aware. I'm just saying BMW would have coded sport plus in with DSC off if they really thought it would contribute to better performance. That assuming the car is quickest around track with dsc off

Sport + is gimmicky show off mode imo

Ha! Someone else who gets it. Sport + gives you sizzle in the form of a overly sensitive throttle map, and unnecessarily rough shifts. Both of which make the car "feel" faster at first blush, but they actually make it harder to drive well. The throttle mapping in particular makes balancing the car mid-corner an exercise in frustration. Sadly, it feels exactly like what Subaru does in the current WRX - you get 80% of the throttle in the first 1/3 of pedal travel, and the remaining 2/3 of travel is almost superfluous. I instructed in one of those last weekend, and the gas pedal pissed me right off.

[ZPrime]

Originally Posted by ajvdh

Ha! Someone else who gets it. Sport + gives you sizzle in the form of a overly sensitive throttle map, and unnecessarily rough shifts. Both of which make the car "feel" faster at first blush, but they actually make it harder to drive well. The throttle mapping in particular makes balancing the car mid-corner an exercise in frustration. Sadly, it feels exactly like what Subaru does in the current WRX - you get 80% of the throttle in the first 1/3 of pedal travel, and the remaining 2/3 of travel is almost superfluous. I instructed in one of those last weekend, and the gas pedal pissed me right off.

You'd hate what my Audi does in "sport" mode too... but pressing that button is the only way to make the magride stiff for a nice track.

Thankfully, aftermarket tuners can correct the throttle mapping problem... not sure if that's the case for BMW?

[SeanWRT]

Seriously, don't you always have in mind which gear you're in when driving manual?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

Seriously, don't you always have in mind which gear you're in when driving manual?

Yes. Because you put the car in that gear.

This is Not the case with an automatic (DCTmatic) ... since the car is doing the shifting. Conceivably one could go around a track and not know what gear the car is in -- or care... and I've seen students do this.... enter a corner with the transmission in fifth and then they just yank the paddles and downshift to third having no clue what they just with regards to driving mechanics and the drivetrain, let alone the balance of the car mid corner.