[Billy Cheeseman]

Does anyone know what it actually does to the engine?

I assume it re-programs the gearbox to drop the revs as soon as possible and you can feel the throttle travel change to dull - but does it take bhp away or just adjust the feel of the throttle???

I only tend to only use it when on motorways etc and use sport when on the back roads etc etc

[....,,,,..,,..]

It enables a couple of additions to the engine.

When the evo mode option is selected the following devices are enabled.

1. The Blanderiser - changes the standard drive to a large grey visage.

2. The Soul Sucker - takes the soul out of the driver, leaves behind an empty husk, as can be seen on numerous motorways with BMW's traveling at 50 - 60 mph.

Unfortunately, a knock on effect of these 2 options is that due to a bug in the Idrive, Self harm mode is also enabled.

Apparantly the EU are seeking a health warnng to pop up on the Idrive screen as a warning to anyone using Eco Mode.

[Tom Tallon]

Yes just posted elsewhere that on my only ECO PRO run Alnwick Newcastle I got a 3 per cent improvement over Comfort - not worth it eh. Particularly as a leisurely Sunday afternoon when other factors could have led to an improvement in mpg anyway.

[Notechy]

Originally Posted by Brigand

It enables a couple of additions to the engine.

When the evo mode option is selected the following devices are enabled.

1. The Blanderiser - changes the standard drive to a large grey visage.

2. The Soul Sucker - takes the soul out of the driver, leaves behind an empty husk, as can be seen on numerous motorways with BMW's traveling at 50 - 60 mph.

Unfortunately, a knock on effect of these 2 options is that due to a bug in the Idrive, Self harm mode is also enabled.

Apparantly the EU are seeking a health warnng to pop up on the Idrive screen as a warning to anyone using Eco Mode.

While I rather like this reply, I am also interested in the proper answer. To put the question a different way, given identical rates of acceleration and deceleration, does Comfort use any more fuel than Eco Pro?

And a side comment on the anticipation function in Eco Pro. On familiar routes I find it a little irritating. It tells you to ease off when approaching roundabouts, reduced speed limits and descents. It does this even if you are easing off, and seems to want you to do it far more than following cars would tolerate. On the other hand, while travelling through France on unfamiliar roads, with vehicles ahead blocking the view, on numerous occasions it was in effect my first warning of 'something" ahead and more than once, stopped me attempting to overtake. Thus function did not seem to operate in Portugal, and I did not notice in Spain!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Notechy

While I rather like this reply, I am also interested in the proper answer. To put the question a different way, given identical rates of acceleration and deceleration, does Comfort use any more fuel than Eco Pro?

And a side comment on the anticipation function in Eco Pro. On familiar routes I find it a little irritating. It tells you to ease off when approaching roundabouts, reduced speed limits and descents. It does this even if you are easing off, and seems to want you to do it far more than following cars would tolerate. On the other hand, while travelling through France on unfamiliar roads, with vehicles ahead blocking the view, on numerous occasions it was in effect my first warning of 'something" ahead and more than once, stopped me attempting to overtake. Thus function did not seem to operate in Portugal, and I did not notice in Spain!

I believe due to the acceleration and drive system being remapped when Eco Mode is selected, then this does reduce fuel consumption.
The aircon is also restricted in operation, possibly the heated seats as well (?).

However Helga (Allo Allo) must be obeyed at all times and you must get stars on anticipation and accelerator control.

Actually would be amusing if it was voice enabled lol.

When I first got the car, I did a few trials in each mode and did get the best return in Eco mode.

[teaston]

Forget Eco pro mode, it is a waste of time!

Also forget sport mode, as it gives you less control over the throttle!

The drive mode selector is just a novelty, push the gear stick to the left when you want to have some fun!

[JD6]

I have only used Eco Pro on a small number of occasions, but one quirk I noticed was that you seem to be able to lose the additional miles that you have built up, when you drive faster, later in the same journey.

I can fully understand that driving faster won't necessarily increase the additional miles, but seeing them go down, it appears to be suggesting that Eco Pro is less economical than other modes for that faster section.

[mcoops]

Originally Posted by teaston

Forget Eco pro mode, it is a waste of time!

Also forget sport mode, as it gives you less control over the throttle!

The drive mode selector is just a novelty, push the gear stick to the left when you want to have some fun!

I am really interested in this, as I fear I'm too thick to fully understand the difference between sport mode and just pushing the stick to the left.

Sport mode seems to do more, i.e. the steering definitely firms up, and I think the suspension does too.

The gearing seems pretty similar in both cases, certainly vs. comfort mode. Is there any difference?

The thing which seems different is the throttle response. Sport mode feels sharper to me even than pushing the stick left. On that basis I prefer to select sport and don't push the gear level left very often. Is there a difference, or am I just being fooled by the combined effect with steering, suspension etc.?

Layman's explanation would be much appreciated...

[Billy Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by mcoops

I am really interested in this, as I fear I'm too thick to fully understand the difference between sport mode and just pushing the stick to the left.

Sport mode seems to do more, i.e. the steering definitely firms up, and I think the suspension does too.

The gearing seems pretty similar in both cases, certainly vs. comfort mode. Is there any difference?

The thing which seems different is the throttle response. Sport mode feels sharper to me even than pushing the stick left. On that basis I prefer to select sport and don't push the gear level left very often. Is there a difference, or am I just being fooled by the combined effect with steering, suspension etc.?

Layman's explanation would be much appreciated...

+1 on that here

when I picked up my car my guy at the stealer went through all the buttons and operations and then simply said put it in sport and stick the shifter to the left for "double sport mode"

my understanding is that putting the shifter the left gives you the most aggressive gearing and quick shifts while the sport mode more affects throttle response etc etc

[Dave_3]

Look at page 40 in this pdf :

http://prodcds.bmwuniversity.com/lib...ics.pdf#page40

Gives an overview of settings.

D.

[SkyJawa]

Linky broken.

I find with Eco Poo - even left in for the entire tank at the end it drops dramatically.

[Billy Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Look at page 40 in this pdf :

http://prodcds.bmwuniversity.com/lib...ics.pdf#page40

Gives an overview of settings.

D.

link no worky

[Pablo68]

It immediately turns you into a Volvo driver. With a flat cap.

[HighlandPete]

The whole ECO-PRO concept is to encourage more economical driving. So besides the software changes to help the driver to achieve economy, like the reduced throttle response, there is more energy/consumer management, like the A/C, but most of all a lot depends on the driver.

Of course you can rev the engine out, drive outside the ECO-PRO thresholds. Economy is all about working with ECO-PRO, not driving as in Sport mode and hoping to save mpg. It is a way of reducing the effects of what is known as "aggressive driving" or "aggressiveness factors", wide ranging, (which incidentally includes traffic conditions), driving cycles, driver impact, etc., all of which are our worst fuel wasters.

BMW's own studies say up to 20% gains are achievable working 'with' ECO-PRO. When we add to the equation (from other studies) that the driver can influence economy on the same trip by up to 30 - 35%, we see how easy it is for many drivers to simply waste fuel on a given trip.

Good thing fuel is cheap, or more users would see how ECO-PRO is a valuable tool for saving fuel, without really changing trip times by any significant figure.

HighlandPete

[Mr NSB]

Have a look here, obviously you need to scroll down to cars

http://www.1010global.org/uk/2013/01...Fc7HtAodVn4AXg

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mcoops

I am really interested in this, as I fear I'm too thick to fully understand the difference between sport mode and just pushing the stick to the left.

Sport mode seems to do more, i.e. the steering definitely firms up, and I think the suspension does too.

The gearing seems pretty similar in both cases, certainly vs. comfort mode. Is there any difference?

The thing which seems different is the throttle response. Sport mode feels sharper to me even than pushing the stick left. On that basis I prefer to select sport and don't push the gear level left very often. Is there a difference, or am I just being fooled by the combined effect with steering, suspension etc.?

Layman's explanation would be much appreciated...

The chart in the link applies to cars where we have the ability to select chassis and drivetrain separately, or combined. Not all F30 models have all the options which give that ability of configuration.

There is also a difference between using the driving experience control modes and/or using the shifter in M/S position.

Well documented here on the forums, that Sport mode and M/S shifter position have different software programming. Typically the gearbox makes an extra down change as you move from Sport mode 'D' position, to M/S. Two down changes are often made if you are running with only 'chassis' checked.

HighlandPete

[HighlandPete]

Link to F30 Chassis Dynamics.

http://prodcds.bmwuniversity.com/lib...20Dynamics.pdf

HighlandPete

[mcoops]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

The chart in the link applies to cars where we have the ability to select chassis and drivetrain separately, or combined. Not all F30 models have all the options which give that ability of configuration.

There is also a difference between using the driving experience control modes and/or using the shifter in M/S position.

Well documented here on the forums, that Sport mode and M/S shifter position have different software programming. Typically the gearbox makes an extra down change as you move from Sport mode 'D' position, to M/S. Two down changes are often made if you are running with only 'chassis' checked.

HighlandPete

Thanks Pete. Just to fully check understanding, I'm guessing chassis in this context is shorthand for steering & suspension, whereas drivetrain is transmission / gear ratios / throttle response? I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes, basic stuff, but I hope I'm clarifying things others might be afraid to ask for fear of looking stupid. Taking one for the team...

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mcoops

Thanks Pete. Just to fully check understanding, I'm guessing chassis in this context is shorthand for steering & suspension, whereas drivetrain is transmission / gear ratios / throttle response? I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes, basic stuff, but I hope I'm clarifying things others might be afraid to ask for fear of looking stupid. Taking one for the team...

Yes you are understanding it correctly.

To be fair to users, BMW could help a lot by spelling it out much more clearly and adding more technical detail to the user manuals. Sport+ gets confusing for some, as BMW descriptions can even imply there is additional suspension tuning, which clearly is not the case.

HighlandPete

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by teaston

Forget Eco pro mode, it is a waste of time!

Also forget sport mode, as it gives you less control over the throttle!

The drive mode selector is just a novelty, push the gear stick to the left when you want to have some fun!

I agree with the sport setting being useless. The throttle is to sharp, I prefer the linear response of the Comfort drivetrain.

It's a shame I can't select my suspension and steering independently. I like the fun of the Adaptive Dampers in Sport. However, I dislike the 'dead' Servotronic Steering in Sport. Initially I thought the Comfort steering was too light, now I think it gives superior feedback to Sport steering. Tyre pressures being correct.

Eco Pro also has its place. It's good when your making poor progress in slow traffic. I find the long pedal stops me over accelerating and closing up too much on the car in front. Fuel saved by not having to brake. Maybe only an issue for the bigger engines? I can make good progress in normal traffic, with comfort drivetrain, by only ever pushing the accelerator about an inch!

Poor progress: Eco Pro
Normal Driving: Comfort
Fun: Sport (chassis only) and stick to the left

With the drivetrain in comfort and stick to the left I think I get the linear throttle response of comfort with the gearbox response of Sport. Also, it holds a gear lower than sport mode (when set to both) does.

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Link to F30 Chassis Dynamics.

http://prodcds.bmwuniversity.com/lib...20Dynamics.pdf

HighlandPete

Interesting link. Thanks.

Backs up some folks opinions on Adaptive Dampers, my own included.

[carzaddict]

i end up using eco-pro as a "snow mode".....when im driving on snow and i dont want to be too aggressive with the gas