The "S" Button

[Thruxton900]

Trying to gauge a potential issue. When the "S" button is actuated, should I experience a tremendous difference?

Here's what I see/hear...first the exhaust takes on a slightly throatier sound, nothing dramatic. My RPMs do not change. And I can't rightly say the car is faster or more responsive.

Only 35,600 miles on the car but it did sit for almost 3 years. Since I got it recently it's probably had nearly 10 new tanks of gas and a can of 44k.

Thoughts

[iduff]

The S button has two effects. It opens the exhaust flaps, and sharpens the throttle response.

From memory, anyone please feel free to correct me (as if I needed to say that here):
The flaps are open at idle when you start the engine, then close as you go above idle. When you press the S button, they remain closed until mid-RPM in gears 1-3, and open at any RPM in the higher gears.
Throttle response is sharpened everywhere with the S button pressed, regardless of gear selected or RPM.

[Mr Hyde]

The "S" button opens exhaust flaps, and changes to more sensitive throttle maps, but otherwise doesn't do much else. In flat out acceleration, both modes would produce the same results. Your RPMs shouldn't change just by hitting the button, but the throttle should become a little more sensitive with the same pedal effort.

Over time, the exhaust flaps can get jammed, so you may want to peak into the mufflers with someone turning the button on, and off to see if both of yours are working.

[S4V8]

Although the car has been sitting, perhaps a carbon clean might help? The mileage is there and a CC would improve the throttle response.

[cotmfk]

Another way to tell is to be driving with your foot in a constant position on the accelerator. Have S mode off - then with your foot remaining in the same position, turn S mode on. I was always able to tell the difference when doing that.

[993140]

Here's what I see/hear...first the exhaust takes on a slightly throatier sound, nothing dramatic. My RPMs do not change. And I can't rightly say the car is faster or more responsive.

That's about right.

[torquesteer]

It definitely has a quicker throttle response. I can't heel/toe without the S button being on anymore. The only problem is that it's not "sticky" so I have to press it every single time I turn on the car.

[WinterRunner]

I really preferred driving with the S button on, it was the first thing I hit every time I started her up. I still look for it in the R8. I prefer a sharper throttle in general, may even put a sprintbooster in the R8.

[Toronto5.5]

I thought the S button firmed up the suspension as well?

[PetrolDave]

I thought the S button firmed up the suspension as well?

Nope, the suspension is 100% mechanical with no electric/electronic control.

The suspension firms up automatically when cornering, or to prevent dive under braking, using the mechanical valve block in the cross-linked DRC pipes.

The only other thing that the S button does is to tighten the bolsters on the (non-US model) bucket drivers seat, provided the option is enabled on the DIS menu.

[zachf88]

provided the option is enabled on the DIS menu.

The US-spec seats do not have the "air pillows" and pumps to fill up the side bolsters. Our side airbags are in the way!

But unlike M-cars, the RPM's don't change when you hit the 'S' button. You can 'golf-tee' mod the stock exhaust. It's smoother than s-mode, but still get the sound, plus the added noise in mid-rpm in gears 1-3.

[PetrolDave]

The US-spec seats do not have the "air pillows" and pumps to fill up the side bolsters. Our side airbags are in the way!

Nor do non-US cars spec'd with the Recaro "comfort" seats (like my RS4 Avant had) which were the only seat offered in the US, so my RS4 didn't have the side bolster pump option.

As I said that option is only with the bucket seats.

[Sleepin On 18s]

When the "S" button is actuated, should I experience a tremendous difference?

I would say there is a NOTICEABLE difference, but not "tremendous". You already hear your exhaust flaps working (opening). The RPMs will not change. The pedal response should be a bit more lively. When you go WOT, it should throw you back in the seat a bit harder than without S button. When you let off the gas, you should feel a bit more engine breaking power. Lastly, as many agree, shifting seems smoother in S-mode (around 5-6k RPMs) because the throttle response is faster.

Generally speaking from a feel standpoint (through all gears, same pedal pressure): S mode OFF = softer/smoother acceleration with less torque feel // S mode ON = harder/faster acceleration that snaps your neck back a little with more torque feel on/off the gas pedal.

Do not expect the S button to completely transform the car, it just makes throttle response snappier/more alive and gives you a little more burble/volume from the pipes. Hope this helps!!

If you're ever up in Bmore send me a PM. Nice Triumph.

[Mr Hyde]

When you go WOT, it should throw you back in the seat a bit harder than without S button. When you let off the gas, you should feel a bit more engine breaking power.

Actually it shouldn't. At WOT, you are at 100% throttle, so hitting the S button can't give you anything additional.

To me the S button was good for the sound, but I ended up capping my lines to keep them open all the time. Once I did that I pretty much stopped using the button as I found the throttle response too herky/jerky in traffic or low speed situations. I eventually went to an APR tune to remove the torque limiter in the lower gears, so mine is completely useless at this point.

[Gareth_oau]

I've got an APR tune and non-flapped Milltek exhaust, and I also find that when I turn on the S button, the exhaust burbles a little bit more when I back off

[d2a4]

I thought the S button firmed up the suspension as well?

I did read a few article mention that, but then I did not see anywhere it regulate the strut pressure so no.

[AussieDan]

The S-button doesn't actually hold the exhaust flaps open all the way to redline, they close again so that the car can meet noise standards. I find the "sharpened" throttle curve really irritating, since the non-linear mapping of pedal position to throttle makes it hard to modulate. As others have noted there is no other effect from S-mode in US cars (euro cars have the fancy seats that grip tighter when it's enabled), to open the exhaust flaps all the way to redline and avoid the "sharpened" throttle curve you can either do the golf tee mod and have the flaps open all the time, or follow my DIY to add a switch to control the flaps electronically.

[Thruxton900]

Thanks everyone

[KryptoniK]

The S button does not control the side bolsters on euro sport seats. I have to manually adjust them. All over the work the s button only controls throttle sensitivity and exhaust valve. That's it.

[PetrolDave]

The S button does not control the side bolsters on euro sport seats.

If by "euro sports seats" you mean the bucket seats and not the comfort seats (as fitted to US RS4s) then it most certainly does on the drivers seat - if it doesn't then either you haven't enabled it in the DIS menu, got a faulty side bolster (which is a very common problem on the bucket seats), or not got the seat wired correctly.

[Eric F]

I'm not aware of any option in our DIS for the sport seats here in the States. It's possible to install the seats but you don't get the functionality tied to the "S" button.

[Fourplay]

I'm not aware of any option in our DIS for the sport seats here in the States. It's possible to install the seats but you don't get the functionality tied to the "S" button.

You have to go in through VAGCOM and enable it the sports seats. You may have to change your country/menus to non-US as well.

[PetrolDave]

You have to go in through VAGCOM and enable it the sports seats.

+1