Hello all!

I recently had my '07 MCS in for service. While the car was in I got an '09 MCS as a loaner. One of the things I noticed immediate is the ride is so much smoother than my car. The loaner has the S-Winder wheels which I believe are a 15" with the normal tires. My car has the run flats on the larger crown spoke rim. I know that the run flats do make the ride harder, but hear me out.

While driving the loaner I pressed the sport button and the ride became noticibly firmer (not quite as firm as mine but pretty close). When I hit the button I noticed that "SPORT" appeared in the tach display box. On my '07 if you hit the sport button nothing happens. Also the text sport does not appear in the display. Does anyone know if their '07 shows sport in the display when pushing the button? Also is it possible to have the car programmed to be in sport all the time? I bought my MCS used so there is no telling what the previous owner did.

I am just trying to trace the issue. If its the run flats its one thing, but I think there is something else happening in combination. Any help would be appreciated!

 

Displaying "Sport" in the tach was new with 08s, (or maybe late 07s). Its one of the differences we have between Tristan (the 07) and Shawn (the 08). Though sport mode should have no effect on suspension stiffness. With the 07 you should see the light on the button light up when in sport mode.

S-Winders are 16" wheels as far as I remember and come with runflats, however not all runflats are created equal. The latest runflats I got (with Shawn) rode a lot better than any other runflat I'd ridden on. This depends on the exact model of tire, different models behave differently.

16" vs 17" would make some difference to the ride, even with the same model of tires. Smaller wheels give you bigger sidewalls for more cushion.

If you want sport mode on all the time, there's a mod for that. Have a look for the "auto sport mode" in the electrial forum. I've done that to both MINIs.

The ride difference is probably down to the wheel size and tire model, nothing else.

 

What brand of runflats are on Shawn?

 

Sport in the tach display started with the August 07 builds.

 

I believe I have the Dunlop run-flats on mine. So what does sport do then if it doesn't change suspension settings?

 

Sport mode tightens up the steering which is what you probably felt and makes throttle response more aggressive.

 

He came with Goodyear Excellence RunOnFlat, but got swapped out almost immediately.

 

Thanks. Swapped for what? I'm planning on a transplant of 205/50 x 16 Bridgestone 760 Sport or MIchelin Pilot Exalto PE2.

 

+1. My Aug 07 build MCS has it.

Keith

 

Sport mode also changes how the automatic transmission shifts.

 

Sounds like the RFTs, although I have S Winders with RFT (Contis) and they ride very harsh. I have yet to drive any RFT's that aren't super hard.

Sport button tightens up the suspension, but I don't find it makes it any harsher. Does your car have a sport suspension, thats the only difference I could imagine.

 

NO

 

I have the Dunlop RF's on my MCS ('08) and would never get them again. Will eventually replace with non runflats. W/RF and sport suspension, and sport button on, you can lose some tooth fillings. Way too harsh. I've dropped the pressure about 4lbs in each tire, and that has made it tolerable. But the tires do suck.

 

Surfblue says:
The SPORT BUTTON does NOTHING to the suspension. NOTHING. NADA, ZERO, ZILCH! It electronically "tightens up" the throttle response and the steering feel. That is ALL the SPORT BUTTON does.

 

Nope. Sport button only affects steering, not ride. Sport suspension's not any different than stock as far as the ride goes. It's the tires, only the tires, always the tires. And you always notice it right away, as soon as you start driving the car on the road, right? That's always the way it works when it's the tires.

 

I have been running Goodyear Eagle F1 DS-G3s in 205/50-16. They stopped making those in that size, and since I got some Yokohama S.drives for Tristan (which have a smooth quiet ride) I've been looking for something quieter. I would buy some Michelin PE2s if they were in stock anywhere.