Question for anyone with a Automatic and a Sport Button.

[Chuck I]

This is a question for anyone who has both and automatic and sport button: When you turn on your Sport Button, do you get "SD" on you instrument cluster AND a light on your Sport Button? Or do you get one or the other? Thanks in advance... Chuck I

[golferboy2312]

I get both

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by golferboy2312

I get both

Thanks!

[SAVAGE]

Both indeed

[imz4n]

When in sport mode, you will not get high gear. FYI

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by imz4n

When in sport mode, you will not get high gear. FYI

Yup, I agree with that... One question for you though... How much difference do you see in the steering... I see a difference, but not a big difference... Thanks, Chuck

[imz4n]

Originally Posted by Chuck I

Yup, I agree with that... One question for you though... How much difference do you see in the steering... I see a difference, but not a big difference... Thanks, Chuck

I the steering , it becomes more damped and instead of turning the wheel 1/4 turn you onlt need to turn the wheel 1/9 turn. Perhaps not that much. but I think you know what I'm talking about. Bob

04/ 04 build 140k on the dial.

[GP20]

Originally Posted by imz4n

I the steering , it becomes more damped and instead of turning the wheel 1/4 turn you onlt need to turn the wheel 1/9 turn. Perhaps not that much. but I think you know what I'm talking about. Bob

04/ 04 build 140k on the dial.

The sport button doesn't change the steering ratio. It just adds more resistence (or lessens the power assist) to the steering and makes it feel heavier.

[imz4n]

Originally Posted by GP20

The sport button doesn't change the steering ratio. It just adds more resistence (or lessens the power assist) to the steering and makes it feel heavier.

It sure feels like it, I'm sure you are correct though.

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by GP20

The sport button doesn't change the steering ratio. It just adds more resistence (or lessens the power assist) to the steering and makes it feel heavier.

Hmm... I feel a weekend experiment coming on... I know it's supposed to "feel heavier" at the lower speeds.. I'm going to look around here at work and see if I can find a small spring scale.. and hook it up to the steering wheel. I'm not really looking for the amount of resistance, I want to see if it increases.. I'll let you know if this non-scientific/scientific experiment comes up with anything... Chuck I

btw.. the reason I'm trying this is to see if the EPS part of my DIY Sport Button is working...

[Incompatible]

Originally Posted by Chuck I

Hmm... I feel a weekend experiment coming on... I know it's supposed to "feel heavier" at the lower speeds..
btw.. the reason I'm trying this is to see if the EPS part of my DIY Sport Button is working...

I thought that when the sport button was engaged, the steering resistance was increased for the higher speeds....less likely to get into trouble at speed. Less resistance at lower speed where sudden vehicle direction changes are less of a hazard.

Good luck with the experiment and thanks for the detailed information.

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by Incompatible

I thought that when the sport button was engaged, the steering resistance was increased for the higher speeds....less likely to get into trouble at speed. Less resistance at lower speed where sudden vehicle direction changes are less of a hazard.

Good luck with the experiment and thanks for the detailed information.

Incompatible brings up a good point... For those of you (non-M) with the Sport Button, does the steering get stiffer (more resistance) as you speed up or slow down? Thanks, Chuck I

[Incompatible]

Chuck I, an additional thought on your experiment and current wiring. I'm wondering if somehow the steering resistance function is/could have been reversed?
On my car when I engage the sport button, the steering resistance does seem to increase, albeit minimally.

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by Incompatible

Chuck I, an additional thought on your experiment and current wiring. I'm wondering if somehow the steering resistance function is/could have been reversed?
On my car when I engage the sport button, the steering resistance does seem to increase, albeit minimally.

To be honest, I've only checked it at lower speeds. I feel it get a little stiffer at lower speeds. Tomorrow I will be more attentive at the higher speeds. Thanks for the feedback... Chuck I

[Chuck I]

I know you think I'm crazy, but here goes. I strapped a bar across my steering wheel. It extends past the wheel 5 inches. I have a scale that makes contact with the end of the bar. With the car in park and the Sport Button ON it takes 1100 grams to move the wheel. With the car in park and the Sport Button OFF it takes 1100 grams to move the wheel. So no difference. With the car in D and the Sport Button OFF it still takes 1100 grams to move the wheel. With the car in D (SD) and Sport Button ON it takes 1350 grams to move the wheel. I repeated this test many times and it stays consistant. So there is some change when I put the Sport Button ON. Pretty much what I feel at low speed. Unfortunately I don't have anyone here tonight to help me do this on the road, so tomorrow will be Phase 2...On the road... Chuck I

[caseysc]

Interested to see how you perform the dynamic test. Nevertheless, the static test proves an impact on the power steering unit by the sport button control in your modified version. Count that test as a success for your mod.

[GP20]

Originally Posted by Chuck I

Incompatible brings up a good point... For those of you (non-M) with the Sport Button, does the steering get stiffer (more resistance) as you speed up or slow down? Thanks, Chuck I

Incompatible is right. The steering resistence increases at higher speeds.

[Chuck I]

Well, we got out early this morning to beat the traffic. I'm sure there are those out there this morning that wonding what in the heck some idiot is doing with a bar across his steering wheel making strange "S" turns for no apparent reason... Anyway, this is what I was able to verify. I used the same route for each run. The run consisted of a straight run of about 1/4 mile going into a gentle left 90 degree turn followed by 1/8 mile straight then a sharp 70 degree left turn. I repeated each speed run 3 times. I made the run at 40 mph and 60 mph. Here are the results:
40 mph - Sport button OFF - 500-600 grams
40 mph - Sport button ON - 900-1100 grams

60 mph - Sport button OFF - 600-700 grams
60 mph - Sport button ON - 1100-1500 grams

Even though this experiment was very crude, I feel very confident that the steering does get heavier at a higher speed. Of course these values are based on the way I set this up and is in no way intended imply actual values that could be measured in a contolled environment. Chuck I

[Incompatible]

Originally Posted by Chuck I

Well, we got out early this morning to beat the traffic. I'm sure there are those out there this morning that wonding what in the heck some idiot is doing with a bar across his steering wheel making strange "S" turns for no apparent reason... Anyway, this is what I was able to verify. I used the same route for each run. The run consisted of a straight run of about 1/4 mile going into a gentle left 90 degree turn followed by 1/8 mile straight then a sharp 70 degree left turn. I repeated each speed run 3 times. I made the run at 40 mph and 60 mph. Here are the results:
40 mph - Sport button OFF - 500-600 grams
40 mph - Sport button ON - 900-1100 grams

60 mph - Sport button OFF - 600-700 grams
60 mph - Sport button ON - 1100-1500 grams

Even though this experiment was very crude, I feel very confident that the steering does get heavier at a higher speed. Of course these values are based on the way I set this up and is in no way intended imply actual values that could be measured in a contolled environment. Chuck I

Chuck I, Great post, great factual information. Something tells me you're in a technical/scientific occupation...

Question: With how the system is wired, do you think that it would be possible to modify it to actuate only the increase in steering resistance? I prefer the heavier feel of the wheel, but find the throttle sensitivity un-necessary/unwanted with the manual transmission. thanks

[Chuck I]

Originally Posted by Incompatible

Chuck I, Great post, great factual information. Something tells me you're in a technical/scientific occupation...

Question: With how the system is wired, do you think that it would be possible to modify it to actuate only the increase in steering resistance? I prefer the heavier feel of the wheel, but find the throttle sensitivity un-necessary/unwanted with the manual transmission. thanks

Incompatible, you're correct old Electrical/Mechanical Engineer by profession but most of this is fundamental. Unfortunately, I don't think you can. The reason is that the DME is the first unit to get the signal from the Sport Button. It then in turn sends signals to the EPS (Electrical Power Steering) unit. The EPS sends the signal to turn on the Sport button LED. The DME also sends the signals to the EGS (gearbox). I don't see a way to bypass that.... I do think that if you had a good aftermarket tuner, they could remap the firmware in there.

My Sport Button LED still doesn't come on. I'm going back out now to check the cable harness because I had it all apart to verify pins last week. Either way, I happy that I have it working with or without the LED. Chuck I