Sport Button

[alexpapas]

No-one at my dealership (Chapman Scottsdale AZ) has been able to explain exactly what the Sport button does. Anyone here know?

[bobafett]

As I understand it, in the Z8 the sport button allows for slightly larger throttle openings as opposed to it being off at the same amount of throttle pressure. WOT is just that, WOT.

--Dan

[macfly]

You only use about 65% of the pedal travel for 100% of the power in the Sport Mode. Thus same foot preesure / placement gives you a more 'instant power' feeling in Sport Mode. It is actually very nice indeed when activated, making fast driving much smoother, and heel-toe work much easier. (I hardly ever 'find the floor' using it, even at the track.)

[alexpapas]

Thanks for the explanation. It's simple and precise and I wonder why no-one ever trained the dealers to understand it. I have had a myriad of conflicting opinions and even had two BMW sales guys arguing over it.

[bobafett]

The only confusion I can imagine is that in the M5, sport mode also lessens the power steering to make it harder.

--Dan

[alexpapas]

Some of the answers I was given included altering suspension settings, changing steering ratios, altering the redline cutoff etc etc. Confusion is a mild word for the ignorance displayed by BMW professionals

[Carter Rise]

FYI - at the Z8 driving school in Spartanburg, SC the instructors told us that the sport button also changed the level of power steering assist.

[karlscheible]

OK here is what I heard on the Sport setting. The sport button changes the engine map via the ECU. The ECU controls the engine and the additional setting in the box adds fuel, advances timing, etc, etc.

This allows BMW to import the car with a better fuel rating, thus the lower expensive gas guzzler tax. If you want the extra HP and lower gas mileage, BMW leaves that up to you to decide. Also, the steering is controlled electronically by reducing the dependency on the Power Steering servo.

Karl

[macfly]

Karl, that is the most in depth review we have had of the button's actual actions, thanks so much.