[jestyaf]

i've had my 2016 M235i coupe for almost a month now. absolutely amazing car. i unknowingly had it in eco mode for the first 3 weeks when i thought it was in sport mode the whole time lol. i've never owned a car that has different modes like that so i assumed that since i turned sport mode on during the second half of my test drive that it just stayed in that mode. but i just figured out i was wrong only like 4 days ago. having been so used to driving it in eco mode this whole time, putting it in sport mode makes it like twice the car jesus christ i can't imagine wat driving an actual M2 would be like let alone in sport mode. since realizing you have to put it back in sport mode every time you turn the car on i have always done so but it kinda seems like i shouldn't have it in sport mode all the time bc it just seems to make me drive twice as fast and twice as aggressive (as i alrdy have been) not to mention the gas it eats up but it's just so fun. do you guys always have sport mode on or do you switch it up?

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by jestyaf

do you guys always have sport mode on or do you switch it up?

My car starts in Comfort Mode. I don't bother changing it.

[Lucky13]

I only drive in sport mode.

[Sportstick]

Always sport mode, unless my wife is aboard, then comfort mode, as it changes the MAdaptive suspension firmness in the Track Handling Package.

[zsalim240i]

Originally Posted by jestyaf

i've had my 2016 M235i coupe for almost a month now. absolutely amazing car. i unknowingly had it in eco mode for the first 3 weeks when i thought it was in sport mode the whole time lol. i've never owned a car that had different modes like that so i assumed that since i turned sport mode on during the second half of my test drive that it just stayed in that mode. but i just figured out i was wrong only like 4 days ago. having been so used to driving it in eco mode this whole time, putting it in sport mode makes it like twice the car jesus christ i can't imagine wat driving an actual M2 would be like let alone in sport mode. since realizing you have to put it back in sport mode every time you turn the car on i have always done so but it kinda seems like i shouldn't have it in sport mode all the time bc it just seems to make me drive twice as fast and twice as aggressive (as i alrdy have been) not to mention the gas it eats up but it's just so fun. do you guys always have sport mode on or do you switch it up?

That is too funny. I usually drive in comfort on my way to work unless it's steady traffic then I put it in eco pro. If I'm driving to get groceries or driving at night when there's not a lot of cars around, I'll put it in sport and if about to take a fast turn then sport plus.

[MassNerd]

Sport or Sport+ all the time except while the car is warming up.

[jestyaf]

woops... meant i was driving it comfort mode not eco mode

[helloelectro]

Full send. Sport + mode all day err'day. Lol.

Don't worry you'll get used to the more powerful modes and the addiction will begin! Enjoy!!

PS: it is good to get your car warmed up first though before getting on it. I typically stay in comfort while the car warms up. Then engage Ludicrous Mode and go full plaid.

[jestyaf]

is it ok to switch modes while driving? or better to be stopped?

[seansurfn2]

from what ive gathered so far eco pro mode can wear down one of the lobes on the valvetronic control and its a costly fix. apparently the stopping and starting the motor so often reduces its life.. its not common but i noticed most ppl who did have this used eco pro mode. the standby mode drives me nuts.. if i wanted an economy gas saver id buy a honda accord

[seansurfn2]

Originally Posted by helloelectro

Full send. Sport + mode all day err'day. Lol.

Don't worry you'll get used to the more powerful modes and the addiction will begin! Enjoy!!

PS: it is good to get your car warmed up first though before getting on it. I typically stay in comfort while the car warms up. Then engage Ludicrous Mode and go full plaid.

x2 revving any motor high before its to temp is not good. many people dont do this and you can get away with it short term but long term you might pay a hefty price

[jestyaf]

Originally Posted by seansurfn2

from what ive gathered so far eco pro mode can wear down one of the lobes on the valvetronic control and its a costly fix. apparently the stopping and starting the motor so often reduces its life.. its not common but i noticed most ppl who did have this used eco pro mode. the standby mode drives me nuts.. if i wanted an economy gas saver id buy a honda accord

is that when the engine turns off when you come to a stop then turns on again when you press on the gas again? i've had a 328 and X1 loaner cars in the past that did that i couldnt stand that shit

[seansurfn2]

Originally Posted by jestyaf

is that when the engine turns off when you come to a stop then turns on again when you press on the gas again? i've had a 328 and X1 loaner cars in the past that did that i couldnt stand that shit

yes. another page however also states that people who use aftermarket oil filters also
could cause this failure sooner..i just had an oil change done and will be checking the oil filter to make sure its genuine bmw. its because low oil pressure can be caused thus the lobes and rockers dont get good lubrication.

[CP911]

Originally Posted by dradernh

My car starts in Comfort Mode. I don't bother changing it.

Same here. I like consistency and predictability. I only toggle Dynamic Traction on/off as needed, which retains the Comfort settings, but gives me some exhaust burbles and less DSC intervention i.e. more wheel spin for more "spirited" driving. I don't like the artificially sharp throttle response in Sport+, and then if I customize my Sport mode in iDrive to be Sport chassis + Comfort powertrain, this makes going back into Sport+ (to enable Dynamic Traction for more wheel spin) that much more unnatural feeling. I also just like to get in my car and drive without fiddling around with settings first. Having to toggle the Auto Start/Stop engine feature in my wife's Honda Pilot every time I drive it absolutely kills me. It's incredibly annoying when I forget to press it and the engine turns off at a stop when I least want it to. Same principle here.

Having preconfigured modes that can't be customized is dumb, really, since every mode has some form of compromise that makes it less than ideal for multiple driving scenarios. Want a linear throttle response, tighter steering and/or suspension settings, and Dynamic Traction enabled so DSC isn't ruining all the fun? Sorry, not possible with our cars. You'd have to go buy a M2 Competition with customizable driving mode memory buttons or a Porsche that allows you to toggle everything independently with a simple physical button. The least BMW could have done for our cars is to allow us to customize Sport+ mode in iDrive the same way we can already do with Sport. It would have cost them nothing and would have allowed for a linear throttle response combined with stiffer chassis settings and Dynamic Traction enabled. In other words, a perfect setting for the track. DTC mode is the best we have for that purpose...just without the stiffer suspension and steering.

[Kevinduma]

Sport mode all the time, at this point comfort feels underwhelming to me lol

[Ron Jeffries]

Sport mode usually, unless the road is particularly bumpy. Sometimes if I'm taking pity on my wife and driving sensibly, I'll put it in comfort. Never ECO, never never. Rarely DTC, don't see the point of it most days.

[XutvJet]

ECO mode makes me want to punch babies.

I like the comfort throttle (Comfort mode, Traction Mode, DSC Off, Sport without "Drivetrain") and its linear delivery BUT I really dislike the initial throttle tip-in in the first 1/4" of travel. It's quite dead. In an automatic, it might feel fine, but with a 6MT you're foot is expecting response with the pedal movement. On the highway and in a taller gear, tip-in throttle is pretty terrible. Unless I'm driving really hard (I use DSC Off) or on a slippery surface (Traction mode), I'm always in Sport+.

The Sport throttle setting (Sport with "Drivetrain" activated, Sport+) is snappy and really nice in a 6MT. BMW uses some wastegate manipulation to ramp up boost on tip-in which makes the car feel faster than it really is. However, once you add a catted downpipe, the throttle response starting around 2,000rpms increases quite a bit over stock. With a 6MT, it can make smooth shifts and part throttle acceleration a bit wonky because the boost response is elevated. It makes the car feel a bit too lively.

I really wish there was a throttle setting between Comfort and Sport because they're so different.

This is the problem with too many options and modding cars

[B58togo]

DSC off 90% of the time since installing the M Performance LSD. The other 10% is Sport Plus, and that’s when I’m about to hit some exit ramps pretty strong or on a winding road where I’m worried I may swap ends with DSC disabled. Never in Comfort or Eco.

[dsmclone]

Comfort mode 90% of the time. I find the higher RPM shifts to be a little obnoxious in daily driving.

[Chris_M235_GER]

Well I normally drive in Comfort. The fuel is bloody expensive in Germany...and in Sports Mode it feels like bottoms up.😜😂

[albertw]

For aggressive driving in the twisties I use Sport+ because I like how easy and predictable it is to induce and maintain oversteer with the open differential. (The nannies are too aggressive in Sport and I really don't like the eLSD.)

If I'm just using the car for transportation I use Comfort in urban areas.

On cruise on the highway I use Eco because I like the way the transmission disconnects and the revs drop to idle on long downhills. I know it's silly because I'll never wear out the engine and the amount of gas saved is very small (but not zero), but there's something about spinning an engine pointlessly that rubs me the wrong way.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by albertw

On cruise on the highway I use Eco because I like the way the transmission disconnects and the revs drop to idle on long downhills. I know it's silly because I'll never wear out the engine and the amount of gas saved is very small (but not zero), but there's something about spinning an engine pointlessly that rubs me the wrong way.

I find this feature rather odd because not a drop of fuel is being consumed when you're in gear and your foot is off the throttle (i.e., engine braking). Only when the rpms drop to around 1,200rpms and/or you go into neutral, is the idle engaged. At that point, the motor is consuming fuel. I suppose BMW thinks it's more fuel efficient in the long run to reduce all powertrain drag to coast longer at idle rather then engine brake and consume no fuel.

Doesn't the neutral coasting feature cause speed creep as you coast down a grade? That would be annoying if it does that.