Are throttle controllers a good idea?

QUESTION

Hi John,

As always I’m enjoying your clips.

I have two questions to ask.

Firstly, I can't seem to find any reports you have done regarding the Ultimate9 iDrive throttle controller (or similar). I feel your verdict on the iDrive may be the same as putting a catch can on my car, which, by the way, I was also considering until I heard your advice on it. (Now, on all the 4WD forums, when people ask whether they should get a catch can, I post a link to your report.) As for reviews on these products, why would a publication like 4X4 Australia rubbish a product when they've got it for free?

Secondly, we have just bought a 2003 BMW M3 and, reading the instruction manual, it advises to use 98 octane fuel. But then says the car ‘can run’ on 95 and 91, making this as clear as mud. Which of BMW's advice should I take, and what advice would you add? Should I just play it safe and go with 95? I know you have spoken about this at length in your videos, I’m just unsure how to interpret conflicting recommendations. Why does it say all three octane ratings are okay to use?

As always I know you have loads of questions to answer so I appreciate your time and hope for a reply.

Kind regards,

Geoffrey

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ANSWER

Geoffrey,

These forums are full of uneducated people (mechanically uneducated - they might be lawyers or doctors, but they don’t know shit about vehicles) with too much spare time, who like dicking around with their vehicles because they read brochures online and decide some useless piece of junk is a good idea.

Also, there’s 'confirmation bias’, which is what happens when you buy one of these stupid throttle controllers, and think it has to be a good idea, because otherwise you were an idiot. Same goes with people running 98RON fuel in a car designed for 91 - they tell themselves ‘it’s running so much better’ because otherwise they were dipshits for choosing this course of action. (Confirmation bias is everywhere - it’s a major, insidious challenge for researchers and problem-solvers.)

Confirmation bias is why people defend, so strenuously, the choice of car they made, even if it’s objectively inferior to an alternative. It’s the same problem with other great ideas like ‘rustproofing’, ‘fuel stabiliser’, ‘oil additives’, etc. They’re all voodoo ideas designed to entrap society’s automotive imbeciles. It’s like automotive pornography - you can’t look away.

Finally, taking action always seems productive, even when it’s not. It’s why people keep moving when they’re lost in the bush.

I agree with you that reviewers are incentivised to talk the product up, because they’re often also copping payment (in various forms) for recommending the product. Even if that’s not the case, if they’re critical, their supply of products to review will quickly dry up.

I’m an engineer. The only reason to modify a vehicle is: Does it have a problem or deficiency that needs to be overcome?

So, if your vehicle has a problem that a catch can will solve - go for it. If it doesn’t, don’t be a moron.

Ditto these throttle controllers. All they do, allegedly, is increase the speed at which the engine responds to changing the position of the accelerator. Throttle response is a programmed-in variable at the factory. Commonly, when you select ’sport’ mode in a modern car, throttle response is sharpened up a little. (So are the auto transmission shifting responses and steering feedback mechanisms.)

When you say ‘iDrive’ I assume you’re talking about this piece of shit: https://www.ocamindustries.com.au/idrive-throttle-controller

It’s ridiculous to think spending money on a device like that will make a tangible difference to the performance of the vehicle. (An M3 goes well enough, out of the box - don’t mess with it.)

Plenty of pelicans who don’t know shit from clay will loudly claim otherwise, generally for one or all of the reasons noted above.

It’s entirely up to you if you fit one, and I’m sure the dude selling it to you will be thrilled to take your money.

Given your M3 was designed and tuned in Europe where the minimum RON is 95, I’d run that. It probably adapts down to 91 by reducing the timing. (But unless you thrash its tits off you probably won’t notice any difference.) And buying 98 RON, unless strictly necessary, is just a waste of money for no tangible gain.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your M3 the way BMW intended; it’s a modern classic now.

JC

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