Is there a way to improve throttle response?

[LSB4Me]

Hey Guys:

To me, pressing the gas pedal has always had a lag/delay on the e46m3. Lazy, dull, delayed throttle response shouldn’t be a thing on these cars. Am I alone here?

While a somewhat unfair comparison, the immediacy of the throttle response on old 911s (with and without carbs) is the high water mark. We probably can’t achieve this. But the throttle response on the R33 GTR (also a straight six and with turbos to boot) is markedly better than us. I recently blipped the throttles of an old 911 followed by the GTR and then the e46. The m3’s lack of urgency was glaring.

That brings me to my question—is there anything that can be done to improve throttle response? Please don’t say hit the SPORT button.

Thanks in advance.

[Flow]

Throttle response on my car is instant to me.
Not sure how it can be better to be honest.
Have you drive other e46 M3s and compared to yours ?

[BL92]

Yes, i remember i had this lag, when i 1st bought mine, i originally was thinking the vanos is shot, turned out to be a blown head gasket combined with the return hose to sump, unhooked under the airbox

[EthanolTurbo]

Something is wrong with your car.

[Altaran]

Something is wrong with your car.

That.

Our cars have ITBs and well designed intake and exhaust from the factory. Throttle response IS better than on Porsches (except maybe GT3s) if everything is working ok.

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[01SG]

Yeah, something's wrong. There are probably few cars in the world with more instantaneous throttle response than an e46 m3 with sport mode on.

[Flow]

Yeah, something's wrong. There are probably few cars in the world with more instantaneous throttle response than an e46 m3 with sport mode on.

Sport mode on is barely drivable at lower speeds to be honest, it is way to jerky to be precise

[LSB4Me]

Something is wrong with your car.

That.

Our cars have ITBs and well designed intake and exhaust from the factory. Throttle response IS better than on Porsches (except maybe GT3s) if everything is working ok.

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Appreciate that and should have clarified. At the risk of further flagging myself as the minority, here are a few data points:

1. The delay I am referring to is from idle with sport off.

2. Once the engine is spinning, response is ITB sharp.

3. The old 911s are mine—perhaps I’m just jaded.

4. The GTR is also mine—same comment.

5. I also have a 997.2 GT3–even its response from idle cannot touch the 71 911 on carbs. As they say, carbs are king.

6. My friends have e46s. They suffer from the same delay, imo.

7. I have a 5 inch binder of records (mainly my own repairs and purchases) and have gone through the e46 extensively with an open checkbook. If the car needed it, I bought it and every related while-you’re-in-there part I could.

Maybe it’s just a heavy crank/internals and lots of air to be gulped into a 3.2. The 71 is a 2.5; the GTR is a 2.6.

Or maybe (probably) this is a me problem. I was, however, hoping there were others that noticed this and that a modification had been created to address it.

[bigjae46]

E chassis BMWs and every german car from that era has a dull initial feel on the throttle.

Not sure what else you can do to improve the mechanics. Maybe spray some parafin oil on the throttle body springs? It is all in the ECU.

[jayjaya29]

Heavy flywheel probably contributes as well.

[LSB4Me]

E chassis BMWs and every german car from that era has a dull initial feel on the throttle.

Not sure what else you can do to improve the mechanics. Maybe spray some parafin oil on the throttle body springs? It is all in the ECU.

Thank you—it is as I feared then. Pretty sure the GTR is drive by cable, which contributes greatly to its performance.

Who wants to make a DBC conversion for the e46? Let’s go backwards!

[LSB4Me]

Heavy flywheel probably contributes as well.

Yeaaa, I probably should have switched to a lightened unit when I did the clutch + flywheel job shortly after getting the car. Next time.

[samthejam]

If your clutch switch is not working correctly that can effect this and your idle. The DME changes how sensitive the pedal is if clutch in or out as well as gear position.

I can blip the throttle faster with my clutch in, but I have it configured like a Z3M without a gps sensor. A normal manual car probably is same in neutral and clutch out.

I also had a MAF that soft failed and kinda delayed the response very slightly, but these cars have pretty damn near instant response with the throttle. I come from drive by cable, and the M3 is night and day better from lets say a E46 330i.

It has a heavy flywheel but they've done a great job dialing that out while retaining drivability. The sport button is pretty useless not sure why people want less resolution in the throttle.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/special-interests/coding-tuning/246025-ecuworx-issue-with-clutch-switch-direct-wire-and-gps-delete

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/special-interests/coding-tuning/206989-clutch-switch

[bigjae46]

Heavy flywheel probably contributes as well.

Didn't think of that. I have the JB Racing flyhweel which is the heaviest lightweight flywheel out there. You will likely get a transmission rattle that will sound like pinballs being shaken in a glass jar. Wouldn't be ideal for street driving unless you're deaf.

I wouldn't describe it as throttle response but it spins up much faster. Not sure if that is the same thing???

[Cubieman]

My car came with a "pedal commander", I wouldn't have bought one on my own but I will say I do use it.

It has four main settings each more sensitive, then each of the four setting as four sensitivity levels as well.

I usually leave it on level 1-1, if that makes sense. I must say I like that setting for around town driving more than stock.

Its nice to be able to switch on the fly w/o using the binmod tool etc. to change things. I will admit its a cheeseball type product but its nice to be able to dial in 1/8th, 1/4th sport mode etc.