I always thought moving the shifter to the left meant it was in sport..

[ljkiter]

Boy was I wrong. First time actually pressing the sport button and the suspension and throttle changed dramatically.. even for a 2.5. Can't imagine what a 35is feels like with sport..

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by ljkiter

pressing the sport button and the suspension changed dramatically.. even for a 2.5.

P L A C E B O

[ljkiter]

After a few donuts and spirited driving through some winding roads.. the sport button makes a huge difference in handling. Feels like my car is a go-kart now with very little power steering and the throttle response is immediate. How did i not know this the past 5 years?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by XMetal

P L A C E B O

I totally agree....

Originally Posted by ljkiter

Boy was I wrong. First time actually pressing the sport button and the suspension and throttle changed dramatically.. even for a 2.5. Can't imagine what a 35is feels like with sport..

There's no difference in the suspension, so handling should be identical with just a little resistance in the electric steering, the shift points change and the throttle is more touchy, but no added power.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by ljkiter

After a few donuts and spirited driving through some winding roads.. the sport button makes a huge difference in handling. Feels like my car is a go-kart now with very little power steering and the throttle response is immediate. How did i not know this the past 5 years?

Pla. Ce. Bo.

The Matrix has you. What your mind perceive as "better" handling because you pushed some stupid button BMW marketed as "Sport" automatically makes you think the car "handles" better.

Because, otherwise, why would BMW put a button that says "Sport" if all it does is reduce steering wheel boost assist via the electronic Power Steering pump, hold the automatic transmission (if equipped) in gear longer, and artificially remap throttle input to make it look and feel like you're actually pressing the gas pedal harder than you really are?

[StickMon]

There is no spoon.

[Vanne]

Come on, we all feel like that sometimes.. like when we add ///M badges to the car, instantly it adds 30hp and increases grip by a pucker factor of 2. I for one say, push that button, push it and feel like your the king of the road.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Come on, we all feel like that sometimes.

Oh, I'm not saying we don't. That's exactly the same reason why I haven't taken off my track buddy's initials on the back of my M, despite it being over 7 years since his passing. Feels like with that sticker there on the back of my car, he's been watching over me whenever I hit the track...There are quite a few times where I did some VERY stupid sh*t driving near 10/10th that I should not have come back from, at least not in 1 piece...And miraculously caught what could have been a massive slide. I'd like to think it's all skill, but somewhere in the back of my head I swore he was watching over me.

Hence that sticker (as well as a patch on my shoulder to commemorate another great instructor friend that went way too early) have stayed on. I've contemplated taking the vinyl stickers off every time someone asks me what "SMW BMW" mean, but at this point, that (along with the track stickers) have been with the car for so long that it would feel weird and wrong to remove it.

Plus it totally adds another 5 HP. At least.

[ljkiter]

Oh no, I don't believe my car drives faster by any means. It just responds to throttle better and feels grippier. I'm in the market for a 3.0si now.. only 11k for a 66k mile.. and many $15k ~40k miles. Thank god I know I can maintain these myself. I don't think I want to maintain a 09 twin turbo just yet.