[Tag]

Was sick of getting a headache and not fully understanding the original table. Decided to reorganize and make it more intelligible which really helped me understand the different modes better. If you believe something is not accurate please let me know and I’ll correct it. Also attached a .pdf of the table in case anyone would like a copy

[chillindrdude]

i have a few questions...

in dry and warm weather i usually drive in sport+

by default, MDM is enabled in sport+, correct?

if i press and hold dsc, i turn off all nannies, correct?

what happens if i just do a quick press of dsc (while in Sport+)? does it go to MDM on, but everything else comfort at specified?

[Artemis]

Tag, I added your table to the dedicated thread (with reference to you): http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...7#post19089487 ("DSC settings on the M2: what the Manual, Press Kit and Technical Training say").

[m34m]

Still isn't straight forward.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by m34m

Still isn't straight forward.

There are five columns, with the first three being Comfort, Sport and Sport+. So if you look at the Sport+ column you will see from top to bottom how steering, traction, engine speed etc. are affected when in that mode.

The last two columns just show what's affected when you disable DSC partially or fully.

[DoggieHowser]

Originally Posted by m34m

Still isn't straight forward.

It is if you have played around in iDrive settings and the traction mode buttons for a recent 1/2 Series or the M2.

There are 2 control buttons:
- a rocker switch for selecting drive mode (Comfort, Sport, Sport +)
- a traction control button DSC which allows you to switch from M Dynamic Mode (MDM) or turn it off fully (press and hold). In MDM or DSC Off mode, pressing the DSC button turns back DSC.

In iDrive, you can configure EACH mode (Comfort, Sport, Sport+) so the changes are for "Drivetrain and Chassis" or Drivetrain or Chassis only.

This table tells you what is changed for steering, accelerator, traction etc depending on which Drive mode you select (and how choosing Chassis/Drivetrain or both in iDrive) affects them.


This in no way negates the use of an M1/M2 button completely - like those found in the "real" M cars like M3/M4 but it sure gives you a bit more options to find the right sweet spot for you.

[M2Nebula]

Thanks, this helps somewhat. The only thing that still confuses me is when you tap the DSC button only and the dash light shows DSC OFF. This isn't really the case as DSC is only fully off when you hold down the button, no?

[CosmosMpower]

Originally Posted by M2Nebula

Thanks, this helps somewhat. The only thing that still confuses me is when you tap the DSC button only and the dash light shows DSC OFF. This isn't really the case as DSC is only fully off when you hold down the button, no?

Correct, DSC is only fully off if you hold it down. Tap it once and you get that traction mode which has limited intervention still. The sucky thing about that mode is the throttle feels sluggish.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by M2Nebula

Thanks, this helps somewhat. The only thing that still confuses me is when you tap the DSC button only and the dash light shows DSC OFF. This isn't really the case as DSC is only fully off when you hold down the button, no?

It's function is outlined in the table under the DSC/DTC columns on the right; DSC Short press = MDM, DSC Long press (approx ~10s) = DSC COMPLETELY OFF.

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Correct, DSC is only fully off if you hold it down. Tap it once and you get that traction mode which has limited intervention still. The sucky thing about that mode is the throttle feels sluggish.

If you reference the table you'll see the reason it feels sluggish when in MDM is because everything else gets set to Comfort.

[M2Dynamic]

Originally Posted by Tag

It's function is outlined in the table under the DSC/DTC columns on the right; DSC Short press = MDM, DSC Long press (approx ~10s) = DSC COMPLETELY OFF.

If you reference the table you'll see the reason it feels sluggish when in MDM is because everything else gets set to Comfort.

Which honestly makes no sense to me. I get it and it's pretty straight forward but isn't it kind of ass backwards to have MDM mode with everything else automatically being set to comfort? I know you're just outlining what's correct but I never understood why everything was set to comfort in MDM mode. Kind of backwards to me. Maybe someone has a good reason for it

[hshot_rooke]

Originally Posted by M2Dynamic

Which honestly makes no sense to me. I get it and it's pretty straight forward but isn't it kind of ass backwards to have MDM mode with everything else automatically being set to comfort? I know you're just outlining what's correct but I never understood why everything was set to comfort in MDM mode. Kind of backwards to me. Maybe someone has a good reason for it

There was an older youtube video of a review just on the m2 forum recently and it showed a red BMW (M3 I think), where the reviewer compared normal off the line acceleration and MDM mode off the line acceleration. It seemed like he made MDM out to be a performance mode.

But from our M2 manuals, MDM is explained:

M Dynamic Mode MDM
The concept
M Dynamic Mode makes it possible to drive on
a dry roadway with high longitudinal and transverse
acceleration but with limited driving stability.
Only in the absolute limit area does the system
intervene for stabilization by reducing the engine
power and by braking interventions on the
wheels. In this driving condition, additional
steering corrections may be necessary.

You may find it useful to briefly activate MDM under the following special circumstances:

- When driving in slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads.
- When freeing vehicle from deep snow or driving off from loose grounds.
- When driving with snow chains.

So MDM I guess is considered 'Traction' mode really....

[Tag]

Originally Posted by hshot_rooke

So MDM I guess is considered 'Traction' mode really....

MDM is basically Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) which is a subset of DSC. So when you disable Dynamic Stability Control you still retain Dynamic Traction Control. This actually allows the wheels to slip more before any nannies intervene. This helps when driving in snow as your wheels tend to slip quite a bit. Otherwise it's hard to drive, because the nannies would intervene every time a slip was detected making it difficult to maintain any momentum.

This is also why Sport+ uses MDM, it allows for more wheel spin without the nannies intervening. I'm sure you've run into this before, if full DSC is on and you go WOT you'll feel the car back off on power and even apply braking, because it senses slipping. Obviously not what you want for sporty driving.

[M2Nebula]

Very well said, you should have written the manual !

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Tag

MDM is basically Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) which is a subset of DSC. So when you disable Dynamic Stability Control you still retain Dynamic Traction Control. This actually allows the wheels to slip more before any nannies intervene. This helps when driving in snow as your wheels tend to slip quite a bit. Otherwise it's hard to drive, because the nannies would intervene every time a slip was detected making it difficult to maintain any momentum.

This is also why Sport+ uses MDM, it allows for more wheel spin without the nannies intervening. I'm sure you've run into this before, if full DSC is on and you go WOT you'll feel the car back off on power and even apply braking, because it senses slipping. Obviously not what you want for sporty driving.

Ah interesting, I have felt that on WOT.

[MagnusT]

Originally Posted by DoggieHowser

In iDrive, you can configure EACH mode (Comfort, Sport, Sport+) so the changes are for "Drivetrain and Chassis" or Drivetrain or Chassis only.

You can configure Sport mode only AFAIK.

[DoggieHowser]

Originally Posted by MagnusT

You can configure Sport mode only AFAIK.

Yeah my bad - I was incorrectly remembering the Golf 7 :P

[ZPrime]

People should really consider short-pressing the ESC button as a "snow traction" function rather than anything performance-related. That's effectively what the manual calls it as well.

If you're trying to have fun, you want Sport+ mode, which "presses the ESC button for you" but also puts everything else into sport mode. AFAIK, Sport+ is effectively the same as putting everything into Sport and then pressing ESC yourself, except the throttle gets even touchier and the "load reversal damping" (which I suspect might only be applicable to DCT?) is in a harsher mode.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Correct, DSC is only fully off if you hold it down. Tap it once and you get that traction mode which has limited intervention still. The sucky thing about that mode is the throttle feels sluggish.

The car isn't any slower with the comfort throttle you know. It just means that you have more room for error when driving without "nannies". No nannies and super sensitive throttle response isn't exactly ideal.

[andrettifan]

I’m not stupid (PhD, actually) but I’m a Luddite which is why I always drive my M2 in Sport + with those extra button things pushed to turn off all the “nannies”. I like to do my own rev-matching / and double-clutch when down-shifting and I don’t want a computer doing it for me. That said, I’m doing my first HPDE in a few weeks at Lime Rock and would like to know, (without a bunch of tech talk and acronyms please), which drive mode should I be using for the track and (if OK in Sport + which I’m used to) is it really going to be dangerous to turn off all the “nannies” my first time on track with this car? I have done track time before (40 years ago I had my SCCA competition license and raced a Renault Gordini), just not with this car.

Advice please?

[ZPrime]

TBH, I would start in Sport (no +). That way the nannies are still active in case you do something hairbrained. Also keeps the rev-match enabled, so you can focus more on proper braking pressures instead of having to worry about getting the rev-match right yourself.

After half a session or a full session, try again in Sport+. Should let you hang the tail out more. From there, turn DSC fully off if you like to live dangerously.

That's just my $0.25 as someone who wouldn't want to crumple a shiny new M2, but do whatever you want.

[andrettifan]

Originally Posted by ZPrime

TBH, I would start in Sport (no +). That way the nannies are still active in case you do something hairbrained. Also keeps the rev-match enabled, so you can focus more on proper braking pressures instead of having to worry about getting the rev-match right yourself.

After half a session or a full session, try again in Sport+. Should let you hang the tail out more. From there, turn DSC fully off if you like to live dangerously.

That's just my $0.25 as someone who wouldn't want to crumple a shiny new M2, but do whatever you want.

Great. That sounds sensible and I don't want to crumple my shiny new M2 either. So, in Sport+ it WILL allow me to hang the tail out a little without getting too bent out of shape?

Thanks again.

[McGary911]

I found the Drivelogic Mode interesting.

My E46 M3 has a button for this (more levels). I guess it exists in the M2 but not controlled by a button, but by different combinations of the settings described elsewhere in the chart?

Thanks OP for this, and for thinking to make a download.