Improving the Driving Experience of a Modern BMW
Last week, we did a thought exercise that compared the benefits and drawbacks of both modern and vintage BMWs. A number of our readers responded to that article with stories of their own, insights about factors we had not considered, and voiced some real concerns. In a conversation with David, one of our readers who is a die-hard BMW owner and loves his contemporary BMWs, we began talking about his long history with the brand. The correspondence quickly focused on concerns he had, despite loving the direction the brand has taken in the past decade, about technology in these cars that have moved away from the driver-centric model BMW built their brand on in their history. We spoke about engagement, reliability, and ‘nanny features’ that have compelled him for the first time to not keep a specific model BMW in the family and instead pursue a different BMW model for his next transportation. This week, we wanted to explore driver engagement and what you can do with your modern BMW to help it favor the driving experience rather than driving you through its technology. | 
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I will be the first to say I resist new technology. Not from the standpoint that ‘older is better,’ but rather, from my perspective that I don’t need certain features the average consumer wants in their cars. Between safety mandates and preferences in the largest target audiences to which car manufacturers want to find their cars appealing, modern cars, especially BMWs, have adopted futuristic tech that assists with driving as well as certain functions of the act. From a transportation standpoint, technology like backup cameras, lane-keep assist, dynamic cruise control, brake assist, pre-collision systems, blind-spot monitors, and integrated touch-screen interfaces make driving for the average commuter much safer. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that many collisions on the roads today are avoidable and are reduced by such technologies. However, this figure includes all drivers. Enthusiasts, although susceptible to the same mistakes as every other driver, are more attentive on the road and more focused on the act of driving.
For this reason, many drivers, like myself, prefer to drive ‘analog’ and insist we can do as well or a better of a job at preventing crashes. Technology, while it helps us, reduces our control of a vehicle by allowing a system to override our inputs. From a driving engagement standpoint, not being entirely in control of a vehicle and its functions reduces our need to be engaged. While these technologies are often demanded by buyers and required by agencies like the NHTSA, they aren’t exactly fun. Driving, from an enthusiast’s perspective, is about enjoyment first, transportation second. | 
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It was in my conversation with David that two specific grievances were voiced: touch screens and ancillary equipment like rain-sensing wipers. With modern cars, these features are praised by drivers who want to be as far removed from the act of driving as possible. There is nothing wrong with wanting a removed driving experience; most drivers view the act as a chore. For enthusiasts, however, we relish the control we have over our vehicles. From manually changing gears to feeling a physical connection with the road through mechanical steering racks and a lack of safety systems. We may have given much of that up with modern cars, but we don’t have to lose our feeling of driving engagement.
At Turner Motorsport, we definitely don’t condone drivers disabling safety features. The data gathered in years since these systems were required, all the way back to three-point seatbelts, shows cars have become safer with these systems in place. We just need to focus our attention on ways to make the cars themselves more fun to drive through our own involvement. Think of it like taking control of an analog car, but through modifications and improvements to how we are engaged when we drive rather than a direct connection to the car out of the box. |
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Look, we understand. Some of you will just prefer to avoid the modern safety and convenience features altogether. That’s where vintage BMW ownership comes in. If you would rather not have to make improvements to your car in the driving engagement arena, then maybe you are better suited to older BMW models and find the pros/cons listed in last week’s article more than appealing. We encourage you to keep the classics on the road and pursue the driving experience you want. For those of us who prefer the new cars, despite their increasing technology, however, it will be critical that we find ways to enjoy our cars within the requirements we need to observe thanks to the increase in mandatory safety features and convenience features the rest of the market wants.
With that in mind, we have a few suggestions that will allow you to enjoy your modern BMW and no longer feel hindered by the technology in place.
First and foremost, improving the performance of your BMW is paramount to enjoying your commutes and weekend cruises. In that respect, we have some suggestions. Suspension technology has reached a point where the manufacturer's equipment is as good or better than aftermarket performance equivalents, with one exception: the ride height. While David mentioned he prefers his BMWs stock, many enthusiasts, myself included, feel more connected and engaged in their car with a lowered ride height. The look matches my taste while the feel of a more responsive and better handling car keeps me entertained on my morning commute. With the incredible suspension technology, like dynamic suspension, replacing all your factory equipment with coilovers or air suspension seems like a bit of a waste. With modern BMWs, a set of high-quality lowering springs will help you achieve your ride height goals and improve your handling without sacrificing the incredible abilities of modern suspension technology. H&R and DINAN lowering springs let you do just that. | 
| | With the lower ride height, another change that helps me forget my modern car woes are a set of more aggressive wheels. APEX, our go-to, offers BMW-specific fitment in multiple attractive styles to help give your car the beefier stance and more aggressive looks you need to pair with the lower height. With a sticky set of tires, your lowered BMW on a set of APEX wheels will look and feel much better while maintaining all the technology benefits offered in the equipment from the factory. | | | | | | 
| | Unfortunately, many systems can’t be improved. David and I both agreed that touch screens in cars are not ideal and potentially more dangerous than their analog interface counterparts. While we can do nothing to make BMW touch screens go away, we can offer something that will keep you from caring what is on the touch screen. Turner Motorsport Performance Software will help maximize the performance of your modern BMW and keep you engaged with the act of driving. By not being bored behind the wheel, you will spend less time fidgeting with functions of the touch screen and more time focused on what is in front of you as you mash the throttle. An intake, exhaust, tune, and the previously mentioned lowering springs, wheels, and tires are just what you need in your modern BMW to stay engaged despite all the nanny systems. | | | |
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| I know, you probably expected us to tell you how to disable your rain-sensing wipers, nanny features, and that pesky lane-keep assist. Unfortunately, these are systems we insist must remain intact. If you don’t want to deal with them, stick with the classics. If you want to enjoy the power and performance of a modern BMW, though, you’re going to need to have fun within the constraints placed on you by these systems. That’s precisely why we encourage you to make some simple modifications that allow you to have fun within those ‘rules.’ At least, on the street.
That said, many modifications do allow you to work around or completely disable those systems. It would be irresponsible of us to tell you exactly how to do that, but what you do with the knowledge that it can be done is all on you.
Modern BMWs and every contemporary car are required to have certain features that help improve safety on the roadways. It is unavoidable in the new car market, as many of these systems will be universally required by 2022, according to AAA. Having fun despite these systems is what we are all about. Everything requires sacrifice. In the case of owning a modern BMW, that means accepting that certain features non-enthusiasts want (the larger market segment by far) will be present in these cars. But they can’t stop us from making the cars more fun to us through simple improvements. By just changing the ride height with some lowering springs, improving the performance with software and bolt-ons, and offering an engaging sound and driving experience with aggressive wheels, tires, and exhaust, you stand to have a more enjoyable time behind the wheel of your BMW. This is without giving up the performance and convenience benefits you want from a contemporary car, inside the constraints placed on you for safety you may protest. The fact is, for cars to improve, these features will continue to be a bigger and bigger part of them. How we react to those changes, though, will be the defining factor that contributes to how we enjoy them. We can either resist and fall back to older models, which has their own benefits, or accept a few sacrifices and find ways to make these advancements fit within our own agenda.
Special thanks to David P. who gave me the idea for this week’s article and everyone else who responded to last week’s edition of Turner Motorsport Weekly. We love to hear your inputs and talk about your experiences with your BMW. If you have any suggestions, questions, or responses related to this week’s article, we would love to hear your input! Just reach out to [email protected] and join the conversation. See you next week, folks! |
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