Variable power from ECU?

[Rapido WP]

My old Audi A4 2.8L had the most amazing ability to adjust the power to one's type of driving - if you drove it like an old lady it gave basic power. The harder you drove it the more power it gave. This was the case before and after chipping it. It was extremely noticeable. My E46 330i however does no such thing - always the same output. Is this the case with all beemers? Do M's do it?

 

[bryden]

My Reno sport is the same,
It changes braking and steering response to suit the current driving style.
If you riding hard, the brakes become firm and the steering stiff.
Drive easy and its all soft and smooth.

The ///M3 has a sport button that increases throttle response, makes a huge difference.

 

[Jandre]

As far as I know, the BMW's adapt to a drivers driving style. To get the car's memory on a clean slate, you have to disconnect the battery for 15 odd minutes. Then when you connect and start driving, the car will adapt to your specific driving style. (I was told this by an ex BMW mechanic years ago).

How noticeable the difference is, I am not sure.

 

[BimmerMan]

To get the car's memory on a clean slate, you have to disconnect the battery for 15 odd minutes. Then when you connect and start driving, the car will adapt to your specific driving style. (I was told this by an ex BMW mechanic years ago).

This is NOT true on the newer BMW's...cira anything after 1995! For the older E30, E32, E34 and E36 this was true, but anything newer than that has non-volatile memory. It can ONLY be cleared through computer intervention eg: Carsoft, PASoft or a GT1

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To answer the OP question...

Yes, BMW's do adapt to the driving style. The DME and EGS computers aswell as the DSC and EDC are always adjusting as your drive. On my 7, if I push it really hard, the suspension becomes rock hard yet when I just want to 'potter' around, it glides over all the bumps.

The EGS (gearbox) it always taking into account the traffic, accelerator position, air temp, engine temp, wheel slippage and so on to give your the best performance and economy that you want.

 

[Jandre]

There we go.

 

[Hellas]

Only speaking from a bud's comments here: He told me that he 'cleared' his E60's drive memory with a combination of button presses and sequences. One step included holding down the throttle pedal for 30-40 seconds whereafter the car makes a peep telling you the the settings have been cleared. He got this off the SA E60 forum, and aparantly it made the difference he wanted...

 

[BimmerMan]

Only speaking from a bud's comments here: He told me that he 'cleared' his E60's drive memory with a combination of button presses and sequences. One step included holding down the throttle pedal for 30-40 seconds whereafter the car makes a peep telling you the the settings have been cleared. He got this off the SA E60 forum, and aparantly it made the difference he wanted...

Hi Hellas

I have heard this too off a 7 Series Forum. The debate is still out as to whether it actually does anything or whether it is just a placebo? You have to apparately have a certain type of ZF box for this to work and you also have to hold the pedal down for the right amount of time. Some guys have said it worked while others said it did not, but doing the above will only clear the gearbox memory, not the DME.
There are secret menus to be found on the E60 and E65 that will reset service lights and intervals etc, but nothing as far as I am aware of that clears the DME memory.

This story orignated off an Audi forum, where I believe it has been confirmed as working? When I get my hands on an E65 one day, I will be able to test it and see if it does infact work .

 

[Rapido WP]

Thanks for all the input. I'm sure that this ecu ability was made redundant with the introduction of variable valve timing. Vanos now constantly optimises power so its not noticeable. I miss the old technology where the map adjusted the fueling after some time and you could really feel the difference.