M6 idrive and 500hp

[TT]

Yo guys, weird question out of the blue, but well, I was wondering something about BMW's M6 and the 500 hp it can develop.

I had time to quickly check out again TG's M5 and M6vsAMV8... features and can't the procedure is quite different:

In the M5 Jeremy just pushes the M button on the steering wheel and the full 507 hp are there.
In the M6 on the Isle of Man test, pushing the M6 button isn't enough and they have tu shuffle through the menus to set the car on "P500 Sport".

I think we have an M6 owner around here and maybe somebody else, like jackaraman, tested the car.

Question is: how to be sure an M6 is in Sport mode and producing its full potential?

[Shinigami]

I think they mentioned that choosing the P500 Sport mode is for the sportiest suspension settings and stuff, whilst just pressing the M button sets it to 500hp, but a softer ride, i.e. if you want to overtake on the highway, but not experience a lot of vibrations from the harsher ride?

[No.1]

I think they mentioned that choosing the P500 Sport mode is for the sportiest suspension settings and stuff, whilst just pressing the M button sets it to 500hp, but a softer ride, i.e. if you want to overtake on the highway, but not experience a lot of vibrations from the harsher ride?

The M Button is programmable - you can have it set to any of the power levels, suspension stifnessess and gear change speeds.

It just needs programming, and then will remember what your settings were - i am sure that you need iDrive to programme it, but then all you need to do is press M.

[TT]

So basically if I don't know how the button was set, I still need to check in the system to be sure it was set to 500 at least and not just firm suspensions but still 400 hp (which would be quite weird anyway)

[Shinigami]

So, using that argumentation, one could say the M6 is an unpractical sports car ;)

[STiInYourEye]

So basically if I don't know how the button was set, I still need to check in the system to be sure it was set to 500 at least and not just firm suspensions but still 400 hp (which would be quite weird anyway)

Yes, you would still need to navigate iDrive to see how the previous driver had set up the M button. The 500Sport does not give any more power, just a more aggressive throttle setting.

[TT]

So, using that argumentation, one could say the M6 is an unpractical sports car ;)

Hehe, sure :D but still an interesting one. But definitely one wants to be sure he is testing it with full power at reach and not 100 hp short ;)

[Zot09]

I think they mentioned that choosing the P500 Sport mode is for the sportiest suspension settings and stuff, whilst just pressing the M button sets it to 500hp, but a softer ride, i.e. if you want to overtake on the highway, but not experience a lot of vibrations from the harsher ride?

The M Button is programmable - you can have it set to any of the power levels, suspension stifnessess and gear change speeds.

It just needs programming, and then will remember what your settings were - i am sure that you need iDrive to programme it, but then all you need to do is press M.

You are correct sir, the "M" setting is a saved custom-setting. This is how my friend's dad's M5 is.

[jakaracman]

Uff, remember those TG features and I was confused too. In reality it's like this (writing for M6 now, cause I drove it a month or so ago and M5 last year or so): the button on the steering wheel (M button) also switches on full power (if it is not switched on before), but also puts G/box in fastest mode and turns stability systom off. It's programmble and it was set that way when i got the car but you can set it up however you want (400HP with frim suspension, DSC off and slow shifting for example). Of course you have to go to iDrive to programme it and I think that's what TG guys were doing not knowing that you can switch on 500 without firmer suspension and all that, with the button besides gearlever power button (you cant accidentaly drive with 400 as the red LED in the button comes on when its in P500 or P500 Sport mode). Or they weere just making a show of it. I checked the manual of M5 right now (I have it in pdf format, 2006 US model, 8 GB, I can upload somewhere if soemone tells me where) and it's the same for M5.
I just drove 550i and it's the best (price/preformance/fun) BMW this moment.

[TT]

Thanks everybody :D

So, the quick way to be sure you are in 500 hp mode is to check out if there is that red light on, after you press the M one (not sure I understood in which button exactly, but that's a start) ;)

[jakaracman]

There are 3 buttons to the left of gearlever. One is for suspension setting, one for DSC and one for power (if I remeber correctly the one farthest from the driver). When you strat the car, it has 400HP, then you press the button and get 500 + an orange LED lights in the button. Or so ...
M button is on the steering wheel and is the programmable one.

[TT]

Ah! didn't see this one in any vid I think, only gearchanges, susp and then M one

[jakaracman]

Look at this test:
http://www.bmw.com/generic/de/de/products/automobiles/pdf/bmw_m5_et_az23_04.pdf
On pages4/5 on the bottom you can se interior and the 3 buttons left of the gearlever

In this one of M6
http://www.bmw.com/generic/de/de/products/automobiles/pdf/AZ27bmwm6.pdf
Ther's a pic on page 1 left bottom, you can see 2 of the 3 buttons /they cut the pic badly) ...

Edit: thanks, dani, much better pic.

[TT]

Thanks!

[twboy1999]

I think they mentioned that choosing the P500 Sport mode is for the sportiest suspension settings and stuff, whilst just pressing the M button sets it to 500hp, but a softer ride, i.e. if you want to overtake on the highway, but not experience a lot of vibrations from the harsher ride?

The M Button is programmable - you can have it set to any of the power levels, suspension stifnessess and gear change speeds.

It just needs programming, and then will remember what your settings were - i am sure that you need iDrive to programme it, but then all you need to do is press M.

excatly what he just said