If you want to be even sportier in everyday life or need to tease out the last fraction of a second on the racetrack, the BMW M Setup offers the perfect solution. With the possibilities for individual adjustment of steering, engine curve, dampers and transmission it provides, BMW M drivers can discover a whole new dimension in driving performance.
SEVEN FACTS ABOUT BMW M SETUP:
- 7-speed M DCT with Drivelogic
- Engine characteristics
- Damper Control
- Steering characteristics
- M Dynamic Mode
- M Buttons
- Dynamic Stability Control
7-SPEED M DOUBLE-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVELOGIC.
In the BMW M4 cockpit there are five or six control buttons to the left of the gearstick, depending on the equipment specification. The 7-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, for example, offers various adjustment options. It enables the M driver to change gears quickly without the vehicle losing traction. It also offers sporty and comfortable gearshifts that support perfect acceleration and a dynamic driving experience. The Drivelogic button allows the driver to set the speed of the gear changes and when they take place.
ENGINE CHARACTERISTICS.
The driver can change the engine characteristics as part of the BMW M Setup by selecting one of the preset modes: Efficient, Sport and Sport Plus. Efficient, the default setting, is the most economical, and Sport Plus is the most extreme of the three. In both Sport modes the exhaust flaps widen and the engine sound becomes much more intense, creating an exhilarating natural soundtrack when accelerating.
DAMPER CONTROL.
The BMW M Setup can be used to vary the damper setting, with three modes to choose from: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. With it the hardness of the dampers is electronically regulated; the car becomes more agile through corners when Sport and Sport Plus have been selected, and the suspension becomes noticeably firmer.
STEERING CHARACTERISTICS.
The Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus modes are also available when adjusting the steering. The most striking difference between them is that Sport and Sport Plus modes add significant weight to the M Servotronic steering than Comfort, making the driving experience even more direct. In Comfort, steering is lighter and more relaxed – fantastic for longer journeys.
M BUTTONS.
Whichever mode the driver selects is displayed in the instrument cluster. When the more ambitious, sportier driver has configured their perfect combination of settings, this can be saved for later use. The driver’s individual profile is created in the iDrive system by holding down the red M1 or M2 button on the multifunction steering wheel for a few seconds until an acoustic feedback confirms that the settings have been saved. The stored profile can then be selected via the M1 and M2 buttons. With just one press, the M driver can instantly access his preferred performance setup.
M DYNAMIC MODE.
Another way to boost driving pleasure option is with the M Dynamic Mode (MDM). This gives the vehicle higher lateral dynamics and lateral acceleration for controlled drifting. However, if the car begins to turn too far, the DSC will switch back on, power to the engine is reduced and braking pulses are activated via the vehicles sensors.
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL.
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) button selects several different modes. If the button is pressed once, the vehicle changes to M Dynamic Mode (MDM) and the DSC is not completely switched off yet. Only when the DSC button is pressed for four seconds will the DSC be completely disabled for pure and unfiltered driving pleasure comes. Of course, this means that the driver deliberately foregoes any help from the car’s active assistance systems.
WHO IS WHO.
Race car driver, winner of the 24-hour Nürburgring, BMW instructor: Stefan Landmann stays on the ideal line. As a class winner in 2011 at the 24-hour Nürburgring on the notorious Nordschleife, the hot-blooded race car driver conquered one of the most demanding racetracks in the world in a BMW M3 GT4. As a certified BMW instructor, the 30-year-old Austrian is the right man in the right place when it comes to transferring the fascination of racing to the road. “It is a great pleasure for me to work with people who are as enthusiastic as I am,” says Landmann. “I like to pass on my motorsport experience.”
