Questions about M3

[///M-er-gized]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. This is my first post.

I have an F30 335 now, and like it a lot, but eventually I want to upgrade to an M3. I have several questions and that's why I joined this forum.

Question 1 is about active sound. This might be a stupid question, but I'm going to ask anyway. Does this engage if you're listening to music or a basketball game for example? I have HK now, and really enjoy it, so obviously I want it in my M3 too. I'd assume it only engages if you're not listening to anything, but I can't find a definitive answer anywhere.

Question 2 is about the button on the shifter with the 3 bars on it. How is that different than the throttle response button?

Question 3 is about WOT. I've read a lot about this on this forum. How is that engaged? I'd assume it's just a matter of selecting sport vs efficiency mode, correct?

In terms of options, features, colors, I'm pretty sure I know what I want --so no need for any feedback there.

Thanks in advance.

[ES_TRADER]

Welcome to the forum

[dport]

Active sound is always on.

The shift level determines when a shift occurs and how smooth the shift is.
1 bar, dct shifts at ~2k rpm, smooth shifts at high rpm
2 bar, dct shifts at ~3k rpm, you feel the shift at high rpm
3 bar, Dct shifts at ~4k rpm, holds gears longer, shifts are wtf violent at high rpm. Rev match downshifts are cool

When you completely floor it the car downshifts and accelerates. At max rpm you can shift with no power loss. Not sure what you mean by wot in a mode.

So many buttons and config options. It's fun to drive around and experiment. I used a tank of gas in 2 days driving around my neighborhood playing.

[2000cs]

Active sound is always on but doesn't interfere with music (and music doesn't interfere with it!)

By WOT I assume you mean launch control (not wide open throttle which is achieved with firm application of the pedal on the right). Several threads on that.

[Blksnowflake]

1: AS is always on.

2: throttle controls throttle, how fast the engine responds - shifter buttons control tranny, how fast the transmission shifts according to throttle selection

3: WOT is wide open throttle
or are you talking about launch control
or are you referring to "kick down" when you stomp on the gas pedal.....all different things

[///M-er-gized]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Active sound is always on but doesn't interfere with music (and music doesn't interfere with it!)

By WOT I assume you mean launch control (not wide open throttle which is achieved with firm application of the pedal on the right). Several threads on that.

Ok, thank you very much for responding.

I'm pretty open minded when it comes to active sound, but I just want to make certain I understand how it works. So it's on all the time, but volume control and frequency equalization don't impact it? You can turn up the music, but active sound doesn't increase in volume when you do so? Is my understanding right?

In terms of WOT, I might be confused with that.

Originally Posted by dport

Active sound is always on.

The shift level determines when a shift occurs and how smooth the shift is.
1 bar, dct shifts at ~2k rpm, smooth shifts at high rpm
2 bar, dct shifts at ~3k rpm, you feel the shift at high rpm
3 bar, Dct shifts at ~4k rpm, holds gears longer, shifts are wtf violent at high rpm. Rev match downshifts are cool

When you completely floor it the car downshifts and accelerates. At max rpm you can shift with no power loss. Not sure what you mean by wot in a mode.

So many buttons and config options. It's fun to drive around and experiment. I used a tank of gas in 2 days driving around my neighborhood playing.

Thanks that is very helpful, but what does the throttle response button do then. In my 335, it seems like when I'm in sport mode, it holds revs longer before it shifts too. Is there a difference?

[///M-er-gized]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

1: AS is always on.

2: throttle controls throttle, how fast the engine responds - shifter buttons control tranny, how fast the transmission shifts according to throttle selection

3: WOT is wide open throttle
or are you talking about launch control
or are you referring to "kick down" when you stomp on the gas pedal.....all different things

Thank you very much for your response. I understand now.

[Blksnowflake]

Originally Posted by ///M-er-gized

Thank you very much for your response. I understand now.

[Vectors2final]

Busted your cherry.

[///M-er-gized]

Originally Posted by Vectors2final

Busted your cherry.

Actually, it really wasn't that bad. I'm surprised.

[Vectors2final]

[CanAutM3]

A lot of good answers have already been provided. I will just add my spin to the answers

1. ASD is always active. I don't find it detrimental to the quality of whatever I listen to on the sound system. That being said, I will de-activate ASD at the first opportunity as I simply don't like the concept of the engine note being played through the speakers.

2. The "3 bars" button controls the Drivelogic settings of the DCT. In D mode, it mostly governs the RPM at which the DCT shifts and also lightly alters the harshness/smoothness of the shifts. In S mode, it solely governs the harshness/smoothness of the shifts. In S1, it will execute butter smooth shifts regardless of throttle position or RPM and it will (mostly) not rev-match on downshifts, it is the ideal setting for a comfortable DD. S2 will still execute smooth shifts at lower RPM but will do more aggressive shifts at higher RPM and it will rev-match on downshifts, ideal for a spirited drive with DSC on or in MDM. S3 will execute all out powershifts for optimal acceleration and has the most immediate and sharp rev-matched downshifts, ideal for the race track with DSC off (I find S3 to aggressive to be used with DSC On or MDM). Do note that the "Engine response" setting is more that just throttle sensivity. In Sport and Sport+, the anti-lag features are also activated.

3. As others have stated, WOT simply stands for Wide Open Throttle. It is "engaged" every time your right foot is planted to the floor .

Hope this helps

[paddy335]

Originally Posted by ///M-er-gized

Actually, it really wasn't that bad. I'm surprised.

You approached the forum very tactfully. My cherry-popper post a few years ago was "Is my tuned 335i faster than an E9x M3?" You should have seen how that went.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by ///M-er-gized

Thanks that is very helpful, but what does the throttle response button do then. In my 335, it seems like when I'm in sport mode, it holds revs longer before it shifts too. Is there a difference?

Think of it this way.

in your 335, the sport button changes both the throttle response and the transmission behavior.

In the M, you have one button for each of those two behaviors, so you can mix and match.

Welcome!

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by paddy335

You approached the forum very tactfully. My cherry-popper post a few years ago was "Is my tuned 335i faster than an E9x M3?" You should have seen how that went.

Why do I feel like I remember that thread? Probably got a lot of

*It may be faster in a straight line, but doesn't have the feel of a M
*Can't handle or brake like an M
*Why didn't you just buy an M
*Why are you trolling over here, go back to E90post

OP, good job on your first post. You already had your questions answered very well, so I have nothing to add.

[Salespunk]

Clarification on the throttle maps.

Position 1 is linear, 10% pedal application is 10% throttle application
Sport is NOT linear, 10% pedal application is 10%+ throttle application.
Sport+ is NOT linear, 10% pedal application is 10%++ throttle application

Sport and Sport+ also open the second valve in the exhaust so you will HEAR much more from the motor as well.

On the transmission positions, S3 will activate traction control on the 1/2 and 2/3 shifts at WOT. The throttle cut is VERY annoying. My recommendation would be S2/MDM and S3 DSC OFF

[///M-er-gized]

Thank you. All these are very helpful.

I like the fact that in the M, there are 2 different buttons for throttle response & transmission behavior as opposed to the 1 button I have now in my 335.

The open valves in sport & sport+ mode is what I was really asking about in the first place.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Think of it this way.

in your 335, the sport button changes both the throttle response and the transmission behavior.

In the M, you have one button for each of those two behaviors, so you can mix and match.

Welcome!

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

A lot of good answers have already been provided. I will just add my spin to the answers

1. ASD is always active. I don't find it detrimental to the quality of whatever I listen to on the sound system. That being said, I will de-activate ASD at the first opportunity as I simply don't like the concept of the engine note being played through the speakers.

2. The "3 bars" button controls the Drivelogic settings of the DCT. In D mode, it mostly governs the RPM at which the DCT shifts and also lightly alters the harshness/smoothness of the shifts. In S mode, it solely governs the harshness/smoothness of the shifts. In S1, it will execute butter smooth shifts regardless of throttle position or RPM and it will (mostly) not rev-match on downshifts, it is the ideal setting for a comfortable DD. S2 will still execute smooth shifts at lower RPM but will do more aggressive shifts at higher RPM and it will rev-match on downshifts, ideal for a spirited drive with DSC on or in MDM. S3 will execute all out powershifts for optimal acceleration and has the most immediate and sharp rev-matched downshifts, ideal for the race track with DSC off (I find S3 to aggressive to be used with DSC On or MDM). Do note that the "Engine response" setting is more that just throttle sensivity. In Sport and Sport+, the anti-lag features are also activated.

3. As others have stated, WOT simply stands for Wide Open Throttle. It is "engaged" every time your right foot is planted to the floor .

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Salespunk

Clarification on the throttle maps.

Position 1 is linear, 10% pedal application is 10% throttle application
Sport is NOT linear, 10% pedal application is 10%+ throttle application.
Sport+ is NOT linear, 10% pedal application is 10%++ throttle application

Sport and Sport+ also open the second valve in the exhaust so you will HEAR much more from the motor as well.

On the transmission positions, S3 will activate traction control on the 1/2 and 2/3 shifts at WOT. The throttle cut is VERY annoying. My recommendation would be S2/MDM and S3 DSC OFF