The big mode change between ECO and SPORT mode for this forced induction engine is not actually achieved by modifying the throttle plate positon vs acelerator pedal position (the pedal "mapping") but changes a setpoint for traget "pre throttle boost pressure". This is the air pressure in the intake system upstream of the throttle plate. Because the engine is turbocharged (and uses electronic wastegate actuators) the engine control system can command the turbo(s) to blow air against a closed throttle, increasing the pressure upstream of that throttle plate. This means, when you open that throttle, the engine responds much faster, ie flywheel torque increases more quickly as the throttle opens and because the turbo(s) is already doing work, it is spinning faster than it otherwise would, there is less turbo lag as well. The penalty is additional fuel consumption, because the turbo is doing work that is then lost across the throttle plate, so if that setting was the standard setting, on say a motorway cruise at part throttle, the turbo(s) would be working for no net gain in engine output and economy would be reduced. Hence in "eco" mode, pre-throttle boost is reduced to a minimum, bringing the additional lag and a less "crisp" response.

Hi Reg, brilliant video thank you. I've just taken delivery of my new M2 Competition (manual) and have only driven it back from the dealers. I have spent quite some time attempting to understand how the M1 & M2 buttons interact with the buttons mounted adjacent to the gear lever. However the more I read the relevant sections in the user manual the more confused I became. Thank goodness for your video as you've explained in great detail how the buttons function. Thank you from a very grateful M2 owner.

I traded in my 14 year old from new Focus RS mk2 for one of these beasts last week (2020 1 owner) and picked it up last Saturday. This video was exactly what I needed to fully clarify the drive mode settings. I had got about 70% of the way to understanding them. I'd already decided on my M1 setting which is a bit more middle ground to yours, with DSC on / Steering Sport / Throttle Sport / Gear change ferocity 2 in auto shift. Though I think I will also play around on this set-up between Throttle Sport Plus v Sport after seeing you having it in Sport Plus. I tend to only use the default softer settings at set off if in a city/suburb area or if traffic is heavy queuing/crawling through lights etc. Otherwise my M1 settings will be my own default position as I prefer to feel and hear a bit more than the softer default settings even if it does mean using up a bit more fuel. I won't be using it for commuting so not too heavy on mileage to worry about saving fuel costs. But I really hadn't decided yet on some more hardcore M2 settings to reserve mainly for the single lane no limit roads. MDM I now fully understand thanks to you and in my head before I even saw your own M2 settings I was thinking MDM / Steering Sport / Throttle Sport Plus / Gear change ferocity 3 in manual shift. Which is same as yours. On a separate point I'm really pleased about the ride being smoother than I had expected meaning it is handling the shocking Scottish road surfaces more comfortably than I expected. That was always my biggest criticism on the Focus RS mk2 that the ride was too harsh for the state of our modern roads and you felt every bump and felt like the car was damaging itself with the clatter it made riding those bumps. M2 Comp is defo much more GT cruiser to the Focus RS's hot hatch. In fact the M2 Comp feels like a muscle car in comparison.

Hi my friend, I pick up my very first new M2 Competition tomorrow and this is very helpful, I will be back for more so I can understand my new car better, thank you

These videos are so under appreciated! Great job got mine ordered today can't wait

MDM mode doesn't limit you to an "amount of yaw" ie a angle of slide before it steps in, what it does is to estimate if the car is in fact going when the driver is asking it too, irrespective of the yaw! So, if you put in the correct control inputs via the handwheel and pedals, then the DSC allows the car to yaw, as long as that yaw is commensurate with those inputs. What this means, is that skilled drivers can operate the car in the non linear region at high tyre slip values whilst still having the DSC provide additional yaw control should the situation change. Of course, once you are operating at those high slip conditions, the DSC safety net is somewhat reduced, because high slip means less grip and because of the intrinsic non linearity of control under these conditions.

I love the BMW drive modes, which is why I have owned many one after another. Most cars do not let you turn everything off, so having a RWD car which does allow you to turn everything off so that you can enjoy feeling the car moving around and learning how to balance those movements yourself, is brilliant. Edit : Fabulous road, I have only been to Lancashire a few times, to Gisburn Forest (I used to Mountain Bike a lot), so went from Lincolnshire where I live, to Skipton, to pick a mate up, then on to Gisburn, but don't recognise that particular road.

Excellent video, pick up my M2C in a couple of weeks ... I know what to do now 😂

At 3 minutes you pressed the TC button and that short press engaged MDM (and it says MDM in the middle of the dash). You need to hold it down for a much longer press to actually turn it off. MDM absolutely will let you crash, it will let you get into a situation you need skill to get out of and if you don't have that skill... bang. I deliberately tried to spin my E92 M3 in MDM mode on an airfield and at 80mph it was trivial to push it beyond what it could control. With DSC fully on it was practically impossible to repeat. The Active M Differential in the newer cars is a lot sharper than the E92's so that will make a difference as to the control it offers. That said, I'd always treat MDM as if DSC was fully disabled and drive accordingly.

Very good on-road review with idea for various mode setting. Thank you.

Cheers for this video. Don’t need to read the manual now 😊

Fantastic car reg, another great video, don't ever sell my friend, what on the road looks as good as this, (nothing) just brilliant bit of engineering, I vegot the original bmw m2, and love it, great roads by the way. Looking forward to the next installment of the mighty m2 competition.

It's not just banging the gear changes in D mode it hold the gear a lot longer. So when you have 3 bars clicked it will rev way higher before going up a gear

Very good explanation. Thank you!

Test driven one today... bloody awesome car..and the exhaust is loud (with windows down)

Another great video Reg Have a VW Touareg as one of my cars and just discovered the sport mode last night by accident . Have flappy paddles (which seem so out of character with this car) and it’s nothing like as sophisticated as the system in your BM but good to see a demonstration of just how much engagement can be had from a modern auto box.

I have a manual M2 Comp. I played with all the settings when new and then settled to what I like. I always prefer the steering in Comfort - I don't find that adding artificial weight helps. My M1 setting is Efficient powertrain, Comfort steering. My M2 setting is Sport Plus powertrain, Comfort steering. I quite often turn the traction control fully off because that is the only way to disable the autoblip function. I have a manual car in order to get satisfaction from making decent gear changes - what's the point of a manual if the computer does the difficult bit? I have only used MDM on track and on the road don't normally sense the TC interfering although I thought I used a fair amount of performance!

The brake discs on your car are, according to Wikipedia, bigger than my car's wheel rims. I find this strangely amusing 😂.

It's a potentiometer on the pedal and a steppermotor that controls the throttle plate in the manifold. The system is called "Drive by wire".

i also have a m2c, i feel like in MDM mode the TC helps too much, doesn't want rear end slide at all, I either don't use the MDM or turn the traction completely off

Amazing car.. Great job.

Picked up the car today. I want the engine in the sportiest setting but the throttle is way to sensitive/responsive. Can you help me with a recommendation for my settings? Cheers, Lewia.

Amazing car, It's really a driver's car. I mean that if your know how to drive (as you do) you can really get satisfaction and enjoyment from it. We're are never to old to enjoy our toys. When do you think you will be doing more bike videos?

I only have one M button and it's an e92 m3 so it has a totally unnecessary 5 gear settings. I have M set to max the throttle, weight up the steering and switch the gear change into it's most aggressive mode but remain in auto. If I want manual I grab a paddle. If I want to return to auto I just press the M button again or use the gear lever. I avoid MDM mode unless its warm and due to my lack of driving talent.

Appreciate the video

Many thanks Reg for keeping making videos, we need to be reminded of all aspects of advanced driving whilst we are largely off the roads. This video obviously a bit different but interesting to me as an engineer (could never afford the car). The gearchange ferocity for upchanges must be how quickly it backs off the throttle before the cog swap, then IF you are accelerating how quickly it ramps back to the level of throttle you have selected. Test by driving at constant speed, perhaps very slight downhill, and see if then there is any difference between the ferocity levels. Perhaps do some refresher videos with lots of differnet aspects of advanced driving. For the BMW it must be M1 for open road and M2 for motorway. I wasn't at all keen on a car that changes mode until I watched this video, and I'm a slow sedate driver (I have passed the advanced test though). Enjoy, and please stay safe in all aspects.

Nice! Where is that rear camera secured?

Hi Reg, just one last question please to fully clarify my understanding of the rationale behind the M1 & M2 buttons and the buttons adjacent to the gear lever. I think I understand how the protocol functions but for complete understanding could you please let me know if the following is correct. If I have sport plus configured against M1 for example and I configure sport mode using the gear lever buttons before starting off on a journey, having then travelled a few mile I then put the car into M1 mode for another few miles but then deactivate M1 after a few more miles will the car then use the "default setting" of economy or will it default to sport as that was the last parameter programmed using the gear lever button. Hope that make sense but I'm assuming having listened to your video that the parameters manually selected on the gear lever buttons are always overriden to the default settings as soon as either M1 or M2 are selected. Thanks again