1M Coupe MDM and M Buttons Explained

[southlight]

Following this post, there was some confusion as to how M-Drive and MDM are triggered, and whether that changes with iDrive or not. Thus I figured it would be worth making a new thread explaining how it works.

First of all, here's a picture of the interior:

The red circle shows the M button on the steering wheel and the blue circle shows the MDM button.

Unlike the M3 and M5/6, the M-button on the steering wheel (red circle) is not programmable. It's always set to trigger a sharper throttle response mapping (comparable to the POWER button in the E9x M3), and nothing else.

The M Dynamic Mode aka MDM cannot be programmed to be activated by the same M button. Thus it's triggered by the MDM button (blue circle) located at the dashboard. As usual with BMWs, a long press of said button will deactivate DSC completely.

Finally, iDrive has no affect on this functionality. In other words, no matter if you'll order NAV or not, these buttons are always pre-set. I hope this helps to clear most of the earlier confusion about this.

Personally, I don't consider this a bad solution. Remember that the 1M is a 'back to the roots' car of some sort where people wouldn't program their cars deciding out of plenty of different options but rather enjoy driving.


Background:

MDM or M Dynamic Mode is a DSC mode which allows the best of two worlds, so to speak. While driving with a fully engaged Dynamic Stability Control might be as safe to drive as possible, it might also be too intervening when driving on a race track. Switching DSC completely off however is not intervening at all, but neither provides it any safety instance to avoid losing control over a car. To offer another option, BMW developed MDM. It allows the car's rear end to step out a bit more before applying any instance of correction. MDM made its first appearance in the E46 M3 CSL and then found its way into every M car going forward.

Best regards,
south

[eugegall]

Thanks for this information. Very good insight for someone that doesn't have a clue about how the M buttons work.

Thanks again

[MikesBMW]

Thanks for clearing this up!

[MusclezMarinara]

hmmm

[cchui369]

As I put my name on the list for a 1M I was asking myself last night exactly this question and you've totally answered it.

I actually like the simpleness in it without going through idrive.

[James T. Kirk]

Yes, less is certainly more.
It's perhaps a layout all M-designs should consider moving toward. (Though I know they won't.)

[TunedM2C]

Just like the E46 M3, no programs to worry about, just press and go.

[EmmDrei]

Originally Posted by southlight

Personally, I don't consider this a bad solution. Remember that the 1M is a 'back to the roots' car of some sort where people wouldn't program their cars deciding out of plenty of different options but rather enjoy driving.

Thanks for the explanation! I personally would consider it second best though. Give a driver MDM via the steering wheel and link that to the throttle response (you only get the sharper throttle response if MDM is active or DSC is off). Why do I need to take my hand off the wheel to work the DSC? That's system critical, the throttle response isn't. But then again... it's not really important which button does what... as long as it's turn-off-able. Keeping in mind, that the official approach was to build a toy for the "future M-Kids", it probably makes sense to give them something to play with, that makes the car FEEL faster.

[mcacciola]

Simplicity is good!

I always thougt that the latest M's have too many configurations options, the M button, the gear box speed option switch, the EDC, etc,.

I remember Clarkson on Top Gear making joking about it as well.

[uhn2000]

Nice .. simplicity is awesome. Porsche has that in their sport button. You press and done.

[Technic]

Two buttons to accomplish the same thing that a single button can do. The cost cutting went backwards here...

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by mcacciola

Simplicity is good!

I always thougt that the latest M's have too many configurations options, the M button, the gear box speed option switch, the EDC, etc,.

I remember Clarkson on Top Gear making joking about it as well.

Being able to set everything with one button is more simple, IMO. I change my throttle response, traction control, steering response, and suspension with 1 button press. On the 1M, you'll have to press 2 buttons every time you want to change the driving dynamics. I wouldn't call that simple. And being able to set the M button exactly the way I want it is a good thing.

[as7920]

As a "novice" I am glad there are two buttons.

Doubt I will ever use the MDM button but I would like to sharpen up the throttle response now and again!

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by as7920

As a "novice" I am glad there are two buttons.

Doubt I will ever use the MDM button but I would like to sharpen up the throttle response now and again!

A programmable M button would allow you to set things the way you want and someone else the way they want.

And if the 1M pulls anywhere as hard as my 135i with Dinan software did, you'll want to turn on MDM as your wheels will break loose in first and second and the car will just shudder as traction control protects you. Not fun at all.

[Ash83]

Press and GO

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by as7920

As a "novice" I am glad there are two buttons.

Doubt I will ever use the MDM button but I would like to sharpen up the throttle response now and again!

Wanna bet

Even MDM is too intrusive sometimes (as you get to know the car on the track).

[Yogijet]

Thanks for that.

[mkoesel]

Thanks for that information, southlight. I agree that this setup is nice for its simplicity. Others reading may not be aware that, by comparison, for the M3 there is no way to engage MDM without using the M button. This means that, one must activate their desired settings in sort of an all-or nothing fashion if they want MDM active.

It looks like they took the route that I wish BMW had taken with the M3 - just replace the DTC button from the normal series car with an MDM button. After all it makes great sense - both MDM and DTC are midlevel traction control modes, just setup differently and branded differently between M and non-M vehicles. Instead, for the M3 we get the DTC button replaced with a TPMS button which is needless since the TPMS reset was handle just fine via the OBC dash computer in the 3 series. Why waste a button for something I might use once a year?

Tell me south, do you know if the MDM setting is retained across restarts with the 1M? What about a "key" setting? My suspiscion is "no" to both? What about the M Button (I.e throttle mapping) - is that at least retained across restarts, or no?

[bimmerbarlow]

Biggest upgrade between 135 and 1M? Dropping the oddly placed 'recirculation' button on the steering wheel and replacing it with the M-button.

[BMWPower06]

It's essentially just the sport button from the E39 M5 or E46 M3 then...Thanks, but I'd rather have programmable custom settings for my M button

[MrRoboto]

Anyone know if the 1M revs more freely? The 135 is kinda sluggish I find.

[Fuerza]

Originally Posted by Tuned1

Just like the E46 M3, no programs to worry about, just press and go.

Agreed.

"M" = "Sport"
"MDM" = "DSC"