EDC button settings help

[kdavi175]

I've searched all over my manual and can't find anything to help. I know the edc button next to the shift is the damper control, but can't find anything to tell me what the three settings are. What is the car set at when both led lights are off? When 1 is lit? And when both are lit? Also the clutch control button behind the shift knob on a double clutch transmission. I know it controls the timing of the shifting, but don't know which way is better for optimal performance. When all the lights are on, or when they are off? Which one switches faster, and which one makes the car rev more before shifting?

Thanks for any help!

[audioMeth]

its in the supplementary manual

[schnell325]

I can't recall off the top of my head but I'm pretty sure two lights is Sport mode, and one is Normal and zero lights is comfort.....with your iDrive, set EDC to the various settings and when you press the M Button, you can correlate each setting to the # of buttons that light up.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by schnell325

I can't recall off the top of my head but I'm pretty sure two lights is Sport mode, and one is Normal and zero lights is comfort.....

This is correct, and yes it's in the supplement manual.

[kdavi175]

Thanks for the help! The supplemental book is very helpful. One more thing, is there a reason anyone would want to drive with the M mode turned off? Is it bad for the car to always keep the M turned on?

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

Thanks for the help! The supplemental book is very helpful. One more thing, is there a reason anyone would want to drive with the M mode turned off? Is it bad for the car to always keep the M turned on?

It's not "M mode". The M button is basically a one-button to activate or deactivate user-config settings to your liking: throttle ("Power" button), steering (Servotronic), dampening (EDC) and DSC.

I am going to ignore your 2 actual "questions" because they are pretty much invalid questions once you understand what the M button does O.o

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

Thanks for the help! The supplemental book is very helpful. One more thing, is there a reason anyone would want to drive with the M mode turned off? Is it bad for the car to always keep the M turned on?

It just allows you to have two different "profiles". For example, my non-M settings which I use for casual driving are EDC on Comfort and Power on Sport (makes the car feel faster even though I know it's not). My M settings which I use for spirited driving on back roads and on the track are EDC Normal (better than Sport since it's adaptive on non-ZCP cars), Servotronic on Sport, and Power on Normal (linear throttle is more important for precision driving). That way I get a pretty comfy, easier to drive yet still "punchy" car for everyday driving and a more settled, composed, precise car when that's what I need.

I always keep DSC on when I'm on the road; if you're driving hard enough to trip the nannies regularly on the road, you're doing it wrong. I use MDM when I'm on the track in the wet (very little experience with that) or initially when I'm on a new track. The only time I turn it all the way off is when I'm comfortable with the track I'm on.

As for general EDC setting impressions/recommendations...

For casual driving: Comfort makes the car feel only slightly harsher than a base 3 Series with sport suspension, definitely reasonable for DDing. I can't reliably tell the difference between Comfort and Normal when I'm driving casually except over very bad pavement. Sport, on the other hand, feels absolutely BRUTAL almost anywhere. I couldn't imagine DDing a car that had that type of setup permanently.

For spirited driving: If I start pushing a little bit and I'm still in Comfort, something feels wrong to me very quickly. Switching to Normal fixes that right away. I don't really use Sport because as I mentioned above, it's not adaptive on non-ZCP cars, and the harshest end of the Normal range is actually harsher than the fixed Sport setting. A BMW suspension engineer interviewed when ZCP came out said that on non-ZCP cars, he recommended using Normal for tracks and roads with elevation changes, and Sport only for totally flat tracks.

[kdavi175]

Thanks jphughan for taking the time for the thorough explanation unlike some smart asses on here!

[sensi09]

Page 78 http://www.m3post.com/goodiesforyou/e92-m3-manual.PDF

As far as shift speed, more lights equal faster, but harsher shifts. And rev-matched downshifts starting at S4.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

Thanks jphughan for taking the time for the thorough explanation unlike some smart asses on here!

Sounds like your questions have been answered. Welcome to the forum, always good to see someone from New Orleans...

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

Thanks jphughan for taking the time for the thorough explanation unlike some smart asses on here!

You are welcome for my answer too.

[kdavi175]

I can't lie. I had to laugh bnombe! Good one!

[CorrectoMan]

Originally Posted by jphughan

I don't really use Sport because as I mentioned above, it's not adaptive on non-ZCP cars, and the harshest end of the Normal range is actually harsher than the fixed Sport setting. A BMW suspension engineer interviewed when ZCP came out said that on non-ZCP cars, he recommended using Normal for tracks and roads with elevation changes, and Sport only for totally flat tracks.

[MKE_M3]

its strange. I would think it would be obvious what the buttons do while your driving. I can definately FEEL the differance between the differant EDC settings and I've heard the DCT settings make a significant differance, as well!??!

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

I can't lie. I had to laugh bnombe! Good one!

Glad you had a laugh out of it and to know you get the humour

I really wasn't trying to be a smart ass (maybe you weren't hinting that I was : ) I really did try to give input on your whole confusion re the M button and really figure the rest should fall into place for you once you have that understanding of the M button.

Peace out.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by kdavi175

Is it bad for the car to always keep the M turned on?

I never change EDC and have the M button set for S-5 one the DCT.

If I could, I'd like S-4 w/o throttle blips or more like S-3 except with the speed of S-4.

Crazy to say, but it's the missing option IMO

[DivideBYZero]

Throttle blips are the best.

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I never change EDC and have the M button set for S-5 one the DCT.

If I could, I'd like S-4 w/o throttle blips or more like S-3 except with the speed of S-4.

Crazy to say, but it's the missing option IMO

I usually use S4, but would like S3 with rev matching.