[ElHeffe]

Most of the information I found on M Drive Professional has either been around drifting or with AWD and automatic transmission. What I'm really curious about how M Drive Professional pairs with RWD models and if the adjustability has any practical application on the street as far as potentially allowing a bit more of the rear to break loose than what MDM provides while still being relatively "safe". Can anyone share their experience with a RWD model and M Drive Professional on the street? I have a deposit down for a M2, so unless BMW really surprises us, xDrive isn't an option.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by ElHeffe

Most of the information I found on M Drive Professional has either been around drifting or with AWD and automatic transmission. What I'm really curious about how M Drive Professional pairs with RWD models and if the adjustability has any practical application on the street as far as potentially allowing a bit more of the rear to break loose than what MDM provides while still being relatively "safe". Can anyone share their experience with a RWD model and M Drive Professional on the street? I have a deposit down for a M2, so unless BMW really surprises us, xDrive isn't an option.

I don't think it matters and the system just allows different levels of slip so if an awd, rwd or rwd default the result is the same.

It allow the driver to learn and drive closer to the edge with a level of safety but it also includes a drift analyzer. Its a stage traction/slip control.


See the video below

https://youtu.be/5QwlgiW5paE


https://youtu.be/U3CT13kmNNY

[8262S]

Originally Posted by ElHeffe

Most of the information I found on M Drive Professional has either been around drifting or with AWD and automatic transmission. What I'm really curious about how M Drive Professional pairs with RWD models and if the adjustability has any practical application on the street as far as potentially allowing a bit more of the rear to break loose than what MDM provides while still being relatively "safe". Can anyone share their experience with a RWD model and M Drive Professional on the street? I have a deposit down for a M2, so unless BMW really surprises us, xDrive isn't an option.

I have an M3CX with M Drive Pro.

Yes it is a great option to have. As I am learning the car in RWD mode I am able to dial in a certain level of protection while still being able to feel what the car is doing.

For $1,000 or whatever is costs, it is a one time option — get it now or live without it. On a car of this price point, I wasn’t going to leave that option on the table.

There is a great video where someone demonstrates levels 10-0 on a wet skid pad. IIRC somewhere around 5 and under things are pretty loose. EDIT: that second video in the post above is the one I am referring to.

Without M Drive Pro you are pretty much on your own in RWD mode. Of course, plenty of a Mustang drivers have demonstrated how well that works out, right?

[Chad11491]

I have M drive professional on my MT M3. TBH I never really use it. It lets the rear end slip out a bit more than MDM when you set the M Traction Control around 2-3 or so, but honestly I'm not really ever hanging the @ss out in the car on public roads, and in every car I've ever taken on a track / autocross I just turn TC completely off. I don't see the value in it really, but that's just my 2c.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by Chad11491

I have M drive professional on my MT M3. TBH I never really use it. It lets the rear end slip out a bit more than MDM when you set the M Traction Control around 2-3 or so, but honestly I'm not really ever hanging the @ss out in the car on public roads, and in every car I've ever taken on a track / autocross I just turn TC completely off. I don't see the value in it really, but that's just my 2c.

I have an M3CX and do not have MDM available in RWD mode. MDM has to be disabled before it lets me go into RWD, and then I have to set M Traction Control (0-10).

Am I missing something? Can I use MDM in RWD, or not? Perhaps I am doing something wrong.

But if I didn’t have M Traction Control ( M Driver Pro) I would have nothing in RWD mode.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by 8262S

I have an M3CX and do not have MDM available in RWD mode. MDM has to be disabled before it lets me go into RWD, and then I have to set M Traction Control (0-10).

Am I missing something? Can I use MDM in RWD, or not? Perhaps I am doing something wrong.

But if I didn’t have M Traction Control ( M Driver Pro) I would have nothing in RWD mode.

You would still have MDM available in a RWD only car, in the M5 it's DSC Off only in RWD but in the M3/4 they added the ability to use the 10stage traction control in RWD mode.

I was disappointed that the stand alone option or M drive Pro was gone for 2023 but after thinking about it it's not that useful since to really use it you have to have your foot planted on the gaz and your not really learning car control that way.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by PLF69

You would still have MDM available in a RWD only car, in the M5 it's DSC Off only in RWD but in the M3/4 they added the ability to use the 10stage traction control in RWD mode.

I was disappointed that the stand alone option or M drive Pro was gone for 2023 but after thinking about it it's not that useful since to really use it you have to have your foot planted on the gaz and your not really learning car control that way.

In my M3CX MDM does not appear to be available in RWD mode.

Are you saying that it is available in the RWD only M3’s?

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by 8262S

In my M3CX MDM does not appear to be available in RWD mode.

Are you saying that it is available in the RWD only M3’s?

Yes it is, RWD only car you have DSC On, MDM and DSC Off and if you have M drive Pro you also have access to 10 stage traction control (0 is DSC Off).

With the AWD car you have AWD, AWD Sport and 2WD and then you also have DSC On, MDM and DSC Off and if I recall correctly MDM is only available in AWD Sport but DSC Off you can be in AWD, AWD Sport or 2WD. You can only use the 10 stage traction control in 2WD and you don't have access to MDM.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Yes it is, RWD only car you have DSC On, MDM and DSC Off and if you have M drive Pro you also have access to 10 stage traction control (0 is DSC Off).

With the AWD car you have AWD, AWD Sport and 2WD and then you also have DSC On, MDM and DSC Off and if I recall correctly MDM is only available in AWD Sport but DSC Off you can be in AWD, AWD Sport or 2WD. You can only use the 10 stage traction control in 2WD and you don't have access to MDM.

That last part seems right. In the M3CX MDM is only available in 4WS.

2WD is M Pro traction control only. Which is one of the reasons why I say if you get the M3CX that I would definitely get M Driver Pro. Otherwise it seems in 2WD you would not have any traction control options available.

4WD in winter with DSC off will be fun!

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by 8262S

That last part seems right. In the M3CX MDM is only available in 4WS.

2WD is M Pro traction control only. Which is one of the reasons why I say if you get the M3CX that I would definitely get M Driver Pro. Otherwise it seems in 2WD you would not have any traction control options available.

4WD in winter with DSC off will be fun!

Remember it's not stability control, only traction control so it only works to limit your wheel spin during acceleration. If your already sliding sideways the M traction control will do nothing for you.

When experimenting with it on track, I realised it would only engage if I put my foot to the floor during corner exit and didn't seem to help much part throttle so it's kind of usefull to keep your wheel spin under control when fooling around but it encourages you to carelessly floor it. It pains me to say it but it's main purpose is really when your trying to score on the drift analyzer without ending in the bush.

An indication of this is in the CSL they reprogrammed the 6-10 stages in a sort of MDM for different environment and track surfaces.

I liked to drive in AWD Sport DSC off the most and it's that way I was faster around the track.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Remember it's not stability control, only traction control so it only works to limit your wheel spin during acceleration. If your already sliding sideways the M traction control will do nothing for you.

When experimenting with it on track, I realised it would only engage if I put my foot to the floor during corner exit and didn't seem to help much part throttle so it's kind of usefull to keep your wheel spin under control when fooling around but it encourages you to carelessly floor it. It pains me to say it but it's main purpose is really when your trying to score on the drift analyzer without ending in the bush.

An indication of this is in the CSL they reprogrammed the 6-10 stages in a sort of MDM for different environment and track surfaces.

I liked to drive in AWD Sport DSC off the most and it's that way I was faster around the track.

Wait, are you referring to the M Driver Pro 0-10 level feature?

Because if so, the Joe Achilles video seems to confirm that it definitely is a stability control system too. It limits and allows levels of oversteer. Granted it might not be the full stability control of DSC or MDM, but I would still consider it stability control.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by 8262S

Wait, are you referring to the M Driver Pro 0-10 level feature?

Because if so, the Joe Achilles video seems to confirm that it definitely is a stability control system too. It limits and allows levels of oversteer. Granted it might not be the full stability control of DSC or MDM, but I would still consider it stability control.

It limits your wheel spin under throttle/power but I bet if you do a quick steer and counter steer and throttle lift you can spin around, it doesn't control the stability of the car only the power that is applied to the rear wheels.

It regulates your oversteer by limiting/allowing power to the rear wheels, very different than a stability control that saves your ass when applying too much steering angle on an off camber turn while lifting the throttle because your scared.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by PLF69

It limits your wheel spin under throttle/power but I bet if you do a quick steer and counter steer and throttle lift you can spin around, it doesn't control the stability of the car only the power that is applied to the rear wheels.

It regulates your oversteer by limiting/allowing power to the rear wheels, very different than a stability control that saves your ass when applying too much steering angle on an off camber turn while lifting the throttle because your scared.

Gotcha, that makes sense.

So at 10 there is tremendous understeer because the power is limited and the rear tires are braking, so it just plows into the corner right?

This is all very good to know. So M Traction is a different animal than MDM.

[BMWRacer523]

Just to be clear, there is no MDM in an Xdrive model when you switch to RWD only mode. If you have M-Drive Pro option you can set the traction control. I have it and have used it a few times on track but I prefer to drive in 4wd sport mode on track.

[forumlurker]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

Just to be clear, there is no MDM in an Xdrive model when you switch to RWD only mode. If you have M-Drive Pro option you can set the traction control. I have it and have used it a few times on track but I prefer to drive in 4wd sport mode on track.

so 4wd only works with m drive pro or can use rwd only mode with m drive pro?

[8262S]

Originally Posted by forumlurker

so 4wd only works with m drive pro or can use rwd only mode with m drive pro?

M Drive Pro traction control only works in RWD mode with everything else shut off.

As described above, it will control drift angles with traction control, but is not a stability control system.

[akbjr]

Originally Posted by PLF69

You would still have MDM available in a RWD only car, in the M5 it's DSC Off only in RWD but in the M3/4 they added the ability to use the 10stage traction control in RWD mode.

I was disappointed that the stand alone option or M drive Pro was gone for 2023 but after thinking about it it's not that useful since to really use it you have to have your foot planted on the gaz and your not really learning car control that way.

sorry, I am new here. What is the difference between MDM and DSC, I have a rear wheel drive M3 hopefully soon.

thanks

[geko29]

Originally Posted by PLF69

I was disappointed that the stand alone option or M drive Pro was gone for 2023

I'm curious what you mean by this. I specced M Drive Professional (1MB) on the 2023 I ordered last weekend. The order guide has it as a standalone option on the Base, Comp, and Comp xDrive variants.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by geko29

I'm curious what you mean by this. I specced M Drive Professional (1MB) on the 2023 I ordered last weekend. The order guide has it as a standalone option on the Base, Comp, and Comp xDrive variants.

I think it's still standalone in the USA but only in a package in Canada