Servotronic settings

[Brknbones]

Is the only way to have Servotronic set to sport is to press the M button? Do most of you leave it on for DD? I have had the care only two days but do not notice a huge differnce with it on and off.

It really annoys me I cant just set the car the way I want and have it stay there when I shut it off!

I would like to have my standard settings that would stay most of the time, and then have the M button with everything set to the most aggressive. Instead I need to set the M button for my standard driving and press it every time I get in the car. Not a big deal, but does not make sense.

[BCA]

Yes, the only way to get to it is to use the M button. I thought the normal setting felt way over-boosted when I first got the car but I've gotten used to it and therefore don't feel the need to use the M button all the time...

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Brknbones

Is the only way to have Servotronic set to sport is to press the M button?

Yes.

It really annoys me I cant just set the car the way I want and have it stay there when I shut it off!

Yeah, MDrive allows you to push a button and get the car set to your liking. That's great. Unfortunately it comes at the expense of just being able to have it set to your liking by default when you start the car. It didn't have to be implemented this way obviously, but the marketing geniuses apparently decided it should be so.

[deletedelete]

At first I could tell a big difference when in sport mode, now I dont notice a difference at all, its weird.

[N8dawg]

Does the sport setting take the assistance away or does the normal setting add assistance?

[dimabimmer]

Originally Posted by N8dawg

Does the sport setting take the assistance away or does the normal setting add assistance?

If read M3's Owner's Manual about servotronic, it says when in sport mode,- you get less assistance the faster you go... which is very very good.

I also do feel Normal Steering Setting is way overboosted, but... it is awesome when needing to be quick and agile in low speed traffic... however, at highway speed it is somehwat an effort to keep the car steady in lane when in Normal Steering Mode because, once again, it is too much assistance for speed.

When in all Sport Servotronic on highway,- this M3 is on rails!!! Even my passengers notice this, rails like stability... When on highway, I can only relax and let the car roll when in Sport Servotronic...

One more comment,- When in Servotronic in Slow to Steady moving traffic, having the car in Servotronic is a huge disadvantage since it takes more time, more effort to change lane,- definitely not as quick as Normal and even somewhat dangerous ( had to steer clear off car in front that stopped suddenly and nearly had an accident because Servo took more and longer effort to steer... 20-30 MPH?)

Hope all this is helpfull

[cgalford]

If you want the steering heavy all the time you can unplug the wire that control servotronic and it defaults to the sport/heavy setting. I got my car used and was amazed at how heavy the steering was all the time and changing the settings made no difference then I was in my front left wheelwell changing the springs and noticed a connector unplugged, plugged it in and after that the steering was back to what I now know is normal.

[7500rich]

Originally Posted by cgalford

If you want the steering heavy all the time you can unplug the wire that control servotronic and it defaults to the sport/heavy setting. I got my car used and was amazed at how heavy the steering was all the time and changing the settings made no difference then I was in my front left wheelwell changing the springs and noticed a connector unplugged, plugged it in and after that the steering was back to what I now know is normal.

Reviving an old thread.

Can anyone confirm the above? Where is the connector being referred to? Does this throw any fault codes?

[AriuSen]

reviving again.
can anyone confirm the above too? which plug is he talking about?

[jphughan]

I'm pretty sure I remember Mike Benvo of BPM Sport saying that he could convert Normal to behave as Sport mode as part of an ECU tune, but then you lose Normal mode entirely and of course need to buy a tune since Servotronic settings are apparently managed by the DME.

[davesaddiction]

Originally Posted by jphughan

I'm pretty sure I remember Mike Benvo of BPM Sport saying that he could convert Normal to behave as Sport mode as part of an ECU tune, but then you lose Normal mode entirely and of course need to buy a tune since Servotronic settings are apparently managed by the DME.

A Servotronic tune was included with my tune from Mike. Normal now has less assist - more like the old Sport setting - and now my Sport setting in M mode has even less assist and more weight and feel. I love it.

[Powashiftin]

What about for those of us with no M button? Any way to change steering?

[davesaddiction]

Originally Posted by Powashiftin

What about for those of us with no M button? Any way to change steering?

I'm sure Mike can do it with a tune.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Powashiftin

What about for those of us with no M button? Any way to change steering?

Search M Drive retrofit. It requires hardware and coding. The hardware is rather inexpensive ($2-300 I think) and easily installed, and the coding can be DIYed or you can talk to someone like Benvo.

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by cgalford

If you want the steering heavy all the time you can unplug the wire that control servotronic and it defaults to the sport/heavy setting. I got my car used and was amazed at how heavy the steering was all the time and changing the settings made no difference then I was in my front left wheelwell changing the springs and noticed a connector unplugged, plugged it in and after that the steering was back to what I now know is normal.

Originally Posted by 7499rich

Reviving an old thread.

Can anyone confirm the above? Where is the connector being referred to? Does this throw any fault codes?

Originally Posted by AriuSen

reviving again.
can anyone confirm the above too? which plug is he talking about?

Has anyone found this plug? any DIY or picture on how to access it?

I wonder if mine is unplugged because I don't notice any difference in my servotronic settings.

[BPMSport]

Yes, we can change it to whatever you'd like, it just wont be switchable from the two modes with the M Button. For those people we suggest an M-Drive retrofit.

Originally Posted by PandaM3

Has anyone found this plug? any DIY or picture on how to access it?

I wonder if mine is unplugged because I don't notice any difference in my servotronic settings.

Yes, it should throw a fault code for Servotronic if this is unplugged. It may or may not light up the SES light but it will store a fault in the DME's memory.

[MachinesWithSouls]

I'm sorry for the lack of reference guys, but I remember reading that servotronic defaults to sport mode if your edc is set to normal and above. So comfort you get regular assist, and normal and sport you get sport assist.

To be honest, I can't really feel the difference anymore between steering settings.

[GVIFlyer]

Servotronic

The concept

"Servotronic" varies the steering force required
to turn the wheels as a function of the speed at
which you are driving.

At low speeds, steering is assisted strongly, i.e.
less effort is required to turn the vehicle. Steering
assistance lessens with increasing speed.

With M Drive you can select between two programs.

"Normal" program

Select the "Normal" program if you want comfort-
oriented steering, e.g. in city traffic or when
parking.

"Sport" program

Select the "Sport" program if you want consistently
sporty steering.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by SoManyBlueCars

I'm sorry for the lack of reference guys, but I remember reading that servotronic defaults to sport mode if your edc is set to normal and above. So comfort you get regular assist, and normal and sport you get sport assist.

To be honest, I can't really feel the difference anymore between steering settings.

Servotronic has no relationship to EDC, and the difference was always very clear to me even on simple maneuvers like turning a corner. Don't believe everything you read -- but believe this.