Mine always does. If I take it easy for a day or two the engine literaly feels less responsive with less power. If I drive it hard all day the car is smoother, quicker and more responsive. Anyone else notice that? Could it be due to bad sensors (O2's, MAf etc., I think my o2's are toast but hey)?
It just feels better after driving it hard.

Have you cleaned the ICV, yet?

How to clean Idle Control Valve (ICV) (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589747)

Have you cleaned the ICV, yet?

How to clean Idle Control Valve (ICV) (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589747)

Don't got one, it's a 2000.

Actually it might, but I doubt you could really feel it, I think you just become more attuned after having some fun. On the real side high speed , high RPM driving is actually good as it helps burn of deposits that build up in the combustion chambers and on the spark plugs. it is actually recommended that owners who drive many short trips at low speed take an occasional trip on the highway to help keep things clean.

Don't got one, it's a 2000.
Ohhh, Okay.
I should have asked.

Mine always does. If I take it easy for a day or two the engine literaly feels less responsive with less power. If I drive it hard all day the car is smoother, quicker and more responsive. Anyone else notice that? Could it be due to bad sensors (O2's, MAf etc., I think my o2's are toast but hey)?
It just feels better after driving it hard.

Actually, I notice this as well. But I don't think it's the engine running better. I'm convinced it's the drive by wire throttle adaptation changing to your driving habits.

I find if I'm really light on the gas pedal for a long while it will take more pedal application to get some hard accel. But I find if I drive more aggressivly for a while then the gas pedal is a lot more responsive.

Who knows, it could be in my head. But I'm sure these cars do adapt in some way, since some bmw diag software has options to reset adaptation values.

If I had the choice I'd take a cable operated throttle any day:)

Mine is running great right now...I had 1/4 tank of 93 octane and I went to the Sunoco which carries 100 octane and fulled the rest. So with Math...I'm running 97.8 octane =)

so it's running a lot better now =)

Well the engine is running to your driving habits. It WILL adjust to your driving habits everytime you drive for more than an X amount of time.

I've kinda noticed what your talking about with my 530. I really haven't paid attention to whether it changes back and forth though like you've described.

I have noticed that Mr. Happy does twitch a little bit when I drive drive it fast and hard on the country roads I live on.

Thanks all,
I though it might be the whole adaptation thing but if it is, that is sucky gimmick BMW should have never used.
How bout it is ALWAYS responsive and smooth?
BTW I have a manual so the tranny has nothing to do with it, just my right hand:redspot

Try shifting to the S3 mode and see what happens

Try shifting to the S3 mode and see what happens
Come again?

for those of us with automatics, the car "learns" how you are driving and adjusts to fit that. If you shift the car down from D to 3, it forces the car into Sport mode, which has snappier shifting and delays the shifts, it also allows more engine drag as well. Makes that car feel very different.