Sport Plus = Fans On

[RickMonet]

I have been using Sport Plus engine mode more often lately. My routine is to wait until the car is fully warmed up before I switch into Sport Plus.

So, I am driving around with engine fully warm in SPORT mode sitting at a stop light with windows down. As soon as I switch to Sport Plus the radiator fans kick on immediately.

What is the reason for the radiator fans to activate at idle when in Sport Plus mode?

[peter_s]

It's cooling the engine for maximum performance. The engine runs cooler in S+ than regular S

[Ramos]

This has been covered in other threads, many modern turbo charged BMW's including the M3 and M235 have lower target oil and coolant temps in sport plus. As soon as you switch to sport plus, the cars goes into extra cooling mode.

My M235 runs cooler on the track (doing hot laps) in sport plus or DSC off than it does in normal street driving in comfort mode.

In my opinion these cars are not meant to always run in sport plus, you're putting more constant stress on the cooling system unnecessarily albeit you could argue that it's better for the engine long term to run a bit cooler.

Just to give you an idea, on the M235 target coolant temp in comfort is 105-110 C while in sport plus it's more like 95-100 C

[Colinv6]

I always run in sport plus, don't like the lesser throttle response in the other modes.

[Bluex]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

I always run in sport plus, don't like the lesser throttle response in the other modes.

I prefer the instant throttle response of S+ as well, but I don't always run in it. My M1 is Sport, but i'd say i'm close to 50/50 in my use of Sport/Sport +

Efficient is just when I really have a need to keep the car quiet (which isn't often...lol)

Fans certainly are super active in S+ and the engine really does run cooler.

I'm of the mind that you need to cycle through all these things from time to time, vary your driving habits to keep everything working at optimal efficiency.

[/// M sa]

Sport plus all the time... Car was meant to be driven.

[dharo1]

Originally Posted by Bluex

I prefer the instant throttle response of S+ as well, but I don't always run in it. My M1 is Sport, but i'd say i'm close to 50/50 in my use of Sport/Sport +

Efficient is just when I really have a need to keep the car quiet (which isn't often...lol)

Fans certainly are super active in S+ and the engine really does run cooler.

I'm of the mind that you need to cycle through all these things from time to time, vary your driving habits to keep everything working at optimal efficiency.

It sounds like an excellent excuse. I'll use it next time when driving with my wife.

[Miamiboyca]

WTF happened to me? Someone please tell me when I turned into my grandfather?

I guess I am the only one who drives in efficient mode more often then not?!?

[Bluex]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

WTF happened to me? Someone please tell me when I turned into my grandfather?

I guess I am the only one who drives in efficient mode more often then not?!?

Turn in your M-card. It's been revoked.

[Miamiboyca]

Originally Posted by Bluex

Turn in your M-card. It's been revoked.

Just looked into auto-cross and planning 2 day M school. I think only a suspension and a good smack are warranted.

[Bluex]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

Just looked into auto-cross and planning 2 day M school. I think only a suspension and a good smack are warranted.

You have been reprieved and issued a fix-it citation instead.

[TurboSid]

I always run S+. I think there would be a bigger warning from BMW if it was a long term issue.

[RickMonet]

Originally Posted by TurboSid

I always run S+. I think there would be a bigger warning from BMW if it was a long term issue.

Not sure if this is needed, but I always allow the car to warm up while using Efficient mode. Once warm I switch to Sport or Sport Plus (lately).

If I get on the highway for an extended period (more than 15 minutes) I switch back to Efficient mode.

[kdphan]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

WTF happened to me? Someone please tell me when I turned into my grandfather?

I guess I am the only one who drives in efficient mode more often then not?!?

i'm crying for your M

[Cameronc08]

I don't even understand why these cars have an efficient mode. I think it's stupid. If I want to worry about my gas mileage I'll walk. I tried regular sport mode once for 5 minutes and it felt like there was something wrong with the throttle bodies to me. I think Sport plus SHOULD be efficient, and we should have two more settings more aggressive than that.

Also, not sure if the people saying you shouldn't drive in sport plus all the time are serious or trolling. Never heard anyone that drives turbo cars say that a more efficient cooling system is actually bad for the car over a long period of time, wtf?

[TurboSid]

Originally Posted by RickMonet

Not sure if this is needed, but I always allow the car to warm up while using Efficient mode. Once warm I switch to Sport or Sport Plus (lately).

If I get on the highway for an extended period (more than 15 minutes) I switch back to Efficient mode.

I do wait for warm-up before I switch to S+

[Jockey]

Hmm, I have yet to even try efficient mode and I'm still breaking it in.

I've been in Sport for 90% of my breakin and the other 10 has been sport +

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

WTF happened to me? Someone please tell me when I turned into my grandfather?

I guess I am the only one who drives in efficient mode more often then not?!?

I am also in efficient mode most of the time.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by Cameronc08

I don't even understand why these cars have an efficient mode. I think it's stupid. If I want to worry about my gas mileage I'll walk. I tried regular sport mode once for 5 minutes and it felt like there was something wrong with the throttle bodies to me. I think Sport plus SHOULD be efficient, and we should have two more settings more aggressive than that.

They have it so the cars can be sold as they are.

To meet fuel economy regs (NA and European) they have to hit certain targets which are reached in efficient. It's also why your car defaults to efficient when you turn it on (the regs are based on the default settings)

So whatever your personal fuel economy is like isn't the purpose.....

It's an easy button to hit and change though.....

[Ramos]

Originally Posted by Cameronc08

I don't even understand why these cars have an efficient mode. I think it's stupid. If I want to worry about my gas mileage I'll walk. I tried regular sport mode once for 5 minutes and it felt like there was something wrong with the throttle bodies to me. I think Sport plus SHOULD be efficient, and we should have two more settings more aggressive than that.

Also, not sure if the people saying you shouldn't drive in sport plus all the time are serious or trolling. Never heard anyone that drives turbo cars say that a more efficient cooling system is actually bad for the car over a long period of time, wtf?

Two things:

1) the hyper sensitive throttle in sport plus is not normal, and most drivers don't like that. On the M235, DSC off mode which I use on track is basically everything in sport plus except it reverts the throttle to normal lazy mode which is what you want for proper throttle feathering.

2) saying that sport plus overworks the cooling system and should not be used in everyday normal stuck in traffic conditions is not trolling.
It's not about cooling efficiency, rather it's about setting lower temp targets which will overwork the cooling system to achieve.

I was just expressing my opinion, to each his own

[Arcades]

I do a full Efficient Setting and a Sport Setting.

Efficient is full comfort (including suspensions) D1. My Sport setting is Sport/Sport/Comfort, D3.

I don't have a Sport + setting as I don't tend to hammer my gas often to levitate the jerking motions of the 1-3 gears. I like regular Sport

[SpaceGhost]

In south Texas, it so damn hot that the fans run nearly all the time regardless of driving mode....every summer I ask myself why I stay here.....