M2 Competition - Drive Modes

In this video I take a detailed look at the different drive modes in the BMW M" Competition. Drive modes allow you to select different settings for throttle sensitivity, steering weight, stability control & gear change "ferocity".
The car also allows you to have 2 pre-selected configurations which can be selected through the M1 and M2 switches on the steering wheel
I look at each of the different settings in detail, explain how my car is set up & give a demonstration of how the car drives in each of my M1/M2 configurations.
For more info about advanced & performance driving, please visit my website www.reglocal.com

[@maxtorque2277]

The big mode change between ECO and SPORT mode for this forced induction engine is not actually achieved by modifying the throttle plate positon vs acelerator pedal position (the pedal "mapping") but changes a setpoint for traget "pre throttle boost pressure". This is the air pressure in the intake system upstream of the throttle plate. Because the engine is turbocharged (and uses electronic wastegate actuators) the engine control system can command the turbo(s) to blow air against a closed throttle, increasing the pressure upstream of that throttle plate. This means, when you open that throttle, the engine responds much faster, ie flywheel torque increases more quickly as the throttle opens and because the turbo(s) is already doing work, it is spinning faster than it otherwise would, there is less turbo lag as well. The penalty is additional fuel consumption, because the turbo is doing work that is then lost across the throttle plate, so if that setting was the standard setting, on say a motorway cruise at part throttle, the turbo(s) would be working for no net gain in engine output and economy would be reduced. Hence in "eco" mode, pre-throttle boost is reduced to a minimum, bringing the additional lag and a less "crisp" response.

[@RegLocal]

And thanks again for a proper explanation! Very interesting.

[@michaelcox4344]

Hi Reg, brilliant video thank you. I've just taken delivery of my new M2 Competition (manual) and have only driven it back from the dealers. I have spent quite some time attempting to understand how the M1 & M2 buttons interact with the buttons mounted adjacent to the gear lever. However the more I read the relevant sections in the user manual the more confused I became. Thank goodness for your video as you've explained in great detail how the buttons function. Thank you from a very grateful M2 owner.

[@soccerholidays3338]

I traded in my 14 year old from new Focus RS mk2 for one of these beasts last week (2020 1 owner) and picked it up last Saturday. This video was exactly what I needed to fully clarify the drive mode settings. I had got about 70% of the way to understanding them. I'd already decided on my M1 setting which is a bit more middle ground to yours, with DSC on / Steering Sport / Throttle Sport / Gear change ferocity 2 in auto shift. Though I think I will also play around on this set-up between Throttle Sport Plus v Sport after seeing you having it in Sport Plus. I tend to only use the default softer settings at set off if in a city/suburb area or if traffic is heavy queuing/crawling through lights etc. Otherwise my M1 settings will be my own default position as I prefer to feel and hear a bit more than the softer default settings even if it does mean using up a bit more fuel. I won't be using it for commuting so not too heavy on mileage to worry about saving fuel costs. But I really hadn't decided yet on some more hardcore M2 settings to reserve mainly for the single lane no limit roads. MDM I now fully understand thanks to you and in my head before I even saw your own M2 settings I was thinking MDM / Steering Sport / Throttle Sport Plus / Gear change ferocity 3 in manual shift. Which is same as yours. On a separate point I'm really pleased about the ride being smoother than I had expected meaning it is handling the shocking Scottish road surfaces more comfortably than I expected. That was always my biggest criticism on the Focus RS mk2 that the ride was too harsh for the state of our modern roads and you felt every bump and felt like the car was damaging itself with the clatter it made riding those bumps. M2 Comp is defo much more GT cruiser to the Focus RS's hot hatch. In fact the M2 Comp feels like a muscle car in comparison.

[@andycunns4269]

Excellent video, pick up my M2C in a couple of weeks ... I know what to do now 😂

[@andyhall4532]

Hi my friend, I pick up my very first new M2 Competition tomorrow and this is very helpful, I will be back for more so I can understand my new car better, thank you

[@richiecruden1048]

These videos are so under appreciated! Great job got mine ordered today can't wait

[@DjNikGnashers]

I love the BMW drive modes, which is why I have owned many one after another. Most cars do not let you turn everything off, so having a RWD car which does allow you to turn everything off so that you can enjoy feeling the car moving around and learning how to balance those movements yourself, is brilliant. Edit : Fabulous road, I have only been to Lancashire a few times, to Gisburn Forest (I used to Mountain Bike a lot), so went from Lincolnshire where I live, to Skipton, to pick a mate up, then on to Gisburn, but don't recognise that particular road.

[@maxtorque2277]

MDM mode doesn't limit you to an "amount of yaw" ie a angle of slide before it steps in, what it does is to estimate if the car is in fact going when the driver is asking it too, irrespective of the yaw! So, if you put in the correct control inputs via the handwheel and pedals, then the DSC allows the car to yaw, as long as that yaw is commensurate with those inputs. What this means, is that skilled drivers can operate the car in the non linear region at high tyre slip values whilst still having the DSC provide additional yaw control should the situation change. Of course, once you are operating at those high slip conditions, the DSC safety net is somewhat reduced, because high slip means less grip and because of the intrinsic non linearity of control under these conditions.

[@RegLocal]

Thanks for the clarification Max - I was hoping you’d be along soon to give a proper technical explanation as opposed to my amateur ramblings! I’m a huge advocate of stability systems, but one of their failings in my experience is to intervene a little too early which can lead to a conflict between my corrective inputs & the system’s inputs. i.e. I’ll detect some movement at the rear axle & start to apply corrective lock, just as the system is cutting the throttle & applying the inside rear brake. The corrective lock then takes the car in the wrong direction & it all feels a bit ares-about-face. The MDM mode seems like a nice compromise for drivers with a little more skill under the right circumstances. You’re making these systems cleverer & cleverer!

[@cklam8722]

Very good on-road review with idea for various mode setting. Thank you.

[@DRZ12]

At 3 minutes you pressed the TC button and that short press engaged MDM (and it says MDM in the middle of the dash). You need to hold it down for a much longer press to actually turn it off. MDM absolutely will let you crash, it will let you get into a situation you need skill to get out of and if you don't have that skill... bang. I deliberately tried to spin my E92 M3 in MDM mode on an airfield and at 80mph it was trivial to push it beyond what it could control. With DSC fully on it was practically impossible to repeat. The Active M Differential in the newer cars is a lot sharper than the E92's so that will make a difference as to the control it offers. That said, I'd always treat MDM as if DSC was fully disabled and drive accordingly.

[@maxtorque2277]

^^ this is very true. in standard mode, the DSC is calibrated to attempt to stop the car ever getting into a situation where stability / directional control can be lost. To allow for sudden changes in yaw gain (bumps, crests, oil on the road, swerving around errant cats etc etc.....) it therefore prevents the vehicle ever crossing into the non-linear control region, ie it keeps tyre slip on the "left side" of the curve ( www.researchgate.net/figure/Friction-coefficient-versus-slip-ratio-curves-for-different-road-surfaces-at-linear-speed_fig2_220674889 ) broadly speakig below about 10 to 15% slip. MDM and TRACK modes allow tyre slips up to around 50% in order to allow the driver to have a larger influence on yaw, but that brings the penalty of leaving a both a significantly lower overall total control authority, and requiring that control to operate under higher energy conditions. As a result control can be lost under this mode. I should note, that control can actually be lost under normal DSC mode too! It is however as you have found, quite difficult to achieve, because the yaw rate required cannot (generally) be generated by a single driver input (because the system limits that gain), and the majority of LoC events are due to driver failing to appreciate the phase lag of their inputs, rather than due to the pure magnitude of their inputs.

[@markburton5170]

In my E92 M3 on one occasion at Bruntingthorpe (airfield) I lost control in MDM and spun at about 115 mph. On an Andy Walsh training day at North Wield he gets you to go round the same bend faster and faster until you lose control (and trying different things - 'see if you can get opposite lock on the lock stops' he said). I did it with the traction control fully off until I spun. I then tried it with the traction control on - and still spun. I have had that same experience at other off road facilities. In spite of being able to use the brakes individually the TC cannot defeat the laws of physics.

[@DRZ12]

@@markburton5170 I too have done a Walshy day. You *really* have to be going some to get it to really properly lose control with the TC fully on, or at least I did. Lots of TC-generated understeer to try and drive through before that point. As I said in my initial comment, MDM is trivial to overcome and I had plenty of fun generating clouds of smoke while going backwards.

[@jymloke]

Test driven one today... bloody awesome car..and the exhaust is loud (with windows down)

[@casey5519]

Cheers for this video. Don’t need to read the manual now 😊

[@johncoughlan5613]

Fantastic car reg, another great video, don't ever sell my friend, what on the road looks as good as this, (nothing) just brilliant bit of engineering, I vegot the original bmw m2, and love it, great roads by the way. Looking forward to the next installment of the mighty m2 competition.

[@andybliss6538]

Another great video Reg Have a VW Touareg as one of my cars and just discovered the sport mode last night by accident . Have flappy paddles (which seem so out of character with this car) and it’s nothing like as sophisticated as the system in your BM but good to see a demonstration of just how much engagement can be had from a modern auto box.

[@RegLocal]

Hi Andy, I have posted a more general video all about double clutch transmissions which may help with your DSG ‘box. It was flimed in another BMW, but most of the advice will cross over to your VW quite nicely. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4bHi6KLrdx6n6s

[@jamesoxenbold5543]

Very good explanation. Thank you!

[@markburton5170]

I have a manual M2 Comp. I played with all the settings when new and then settled to what I like. I always prefer the steering in Comfort - I don't find that adding artificial weight helps. My M1 setting is Efficient powertrain, Comfort steering. My M2 setting is Sport Plus powertrain, Comfort steering. I quite often turn the traction control fully off because that is the only way to disable the autoblip function. I have a manual car in order to get satisfaction from making decent gear changes - what's the point of a manual if the computer does the difficult bit? I have only used MDM on track and on the road don't normally sense the TC interfering although I thought I used a fair amount of performance!

[@TrustMeIKnowEverything]

It's not just banging the gear changes in D mode it hold the gear a lot longer. So when you have 3 bars clicked it will rev way higher before going up a gear

[@camdentaylor]

Was going to say the same thing. This setting definitely holds the gears longer.

[@momoxh]

i also have a m2c, i feel like in MDM mode the TC helps too much, doesn't want rear end slide at all, I either don't use the MDM or turn the traction completely off

[@stiggyness1976]

It's a potentiometer on the pedal and a steppermotor that controls the throttle plate in the manifold. The system is called "Drive by wire".

[@JonathanTyas]

Taken a step further on these engines, the throttle plate is wide open and regarded as an emergency measure only. The intake volume is controlled by a electric motor and worm drive that ultimately changes the inlet valve lift. Apparently having full atmospheric pressure or turbo pressure right to the back of the valve, not just the throttle plate makes them respond faster and reduces pumping losses. Although you would think that would be offset by the time needed to adjust the cam lift. They do sometimes fail is the only downside....

[@henryrolt3747]

The brake discs on your car are, according to Wikipedia, bigger than my car's wheel rims. I find this strangely amusing 😂.

[@TheMystro1971]

Amazing car.. Great job.

[@johncoppock3823]

Many thanks Reg for keeping making videos, we need to be reminded of all aspects of advanced driving whilst we are largely off the roads. This video obviously a bit different but interesting to me as an engineer (could never afford the car). The gearchange ferocity for upchanges must be how quickly it backs off the throttle before the cog swap, then IF you are accelerating how quickly it ramps back to the level of throttle you have selected. Test by driving at constant speed, perhaps very slight downhill, and see if then there is any difference between the ferocity levels. Perhaps do some refresher videos with lots of differnet aspects of advanced driving. For the BMW it must be M1 for open road and M2 for motorway. I wasn't at all keen on a car that changes mode until I watched this video, and I'm a slow sedate driver (I have passed the advanced test though). Enjoy, and please stay safe in all aspects.

[@michaelggriffiths]

Amazing car, It's really a driver's car. I mean that if your know how to drive (as you do) you can really get satisfaction and enjoyment from it. We're are never to old to enjoy our toys. When do you think you will be doing more bike videos?

[@RegLocal]

I’ve been sorting out some new camera mounts and a better mic, so I’ll do another bike video or two very soon once I’m happy with the set-up.

[@IKenexPSN]

Picked up the car today. I want the engine in the sportiest setting but the throttle is way to sensitive/responsive. Can you help me with a recommendation for my settings? Cheers, Lewia.

[@marlborom2c829]

Appreciate the video

[@mikenorris5378]

I only have one M button and it's an e92 m3 so it has a totally unnecessary 5 gear settings. I have M set to max the throttle, weight up the steering and switch the gear change into it's most aggressive mode but remain in auto. If I want manual I grab a paddle. If I want to return to auto I just press the M button again or use the gear lever. I avoid MDM mode unless its warm and due to my lack of driving talent.

[@antkouv]

Nice! Where is that rear camera secured?

[@RegLocal]

Home made mount Tony - a spring-loaded shower curtain rail & a bicycle handlebar mount!

[@michaelcox4344]

Hi Reg, just one last question please to fully clarify my understanding of the rationale behind the M1 & M2 buttons and the buttons adjacent to the gear lever. I think I understand how the protocol functions but for complete understanding could you please let me know if the following is correct. If I have sport plus configured against M1 for example and I configure sport mode using the gear lever buttons before starting off on a journey, having then travelled a few mile I then put the car into M1 mode for another few miles but then deactivate M1 after a few more miles will the car then use the "default setting" of economy or will it default to sport as that was the last parameter programmed using the gear lever button. Hope that make sense but I'm assuming having listened to your video that the parameters manually selected on the gear lever buttons are always overriden to the default settings as soon as either M1 or M2 are selected. Thanks again

[@RegLocal]

Michael, my understanding is that the M1/M2 buttons are just a quick, convenient way of selecting your favourite combinations of settings. If you switch in & out using the M1/M2 buttons, the car should default to the settings selected before you went into M1/M2. Remember that the car will always default to efficient/soft modes whenever the ignition is switched off.

[@michaelcox4344]

@@RegLocal O/K thanks Reg, I owned a M240i before my M2 which unfortunately didn't have any steering wheel controls, the only button being adjacent to the gear lever which wasn't ideal. The positioning of the M1 & M2 buttons are brilliant so I look forward to using them. The fact, as you state, that the car reverts to it's efficient/soft settings means that I've only experienced this setting as I wasn't brave enough to play around with any of the buttons on my careful drive home from the dealership. Watching your video has given me a taste of what's in store. Thanks again, much appreciated.