according the the s4wiki (not sure how accurate any more) the timing retard is caused by 3 things.

• long-term(CF)
  Medium term (IAT)
  short term (KV)

I am wondering when logging how to tell what is timing being pulled due to knock.  I know I can log knock voltage and I read through the tread talking about what safe knock voltage is, but that just confused me more... lol.    I am not as smart as most of you guys and I come from the subaru and dsm scene where "knock" is the timing being pulled due to knock voltage reaching a limit. 

Is there any way to figure out if the timing being pulled is due to CF's, IAT's or KV? 

I am ok with the ecu pulling timing due to IAT, that is safe and normal, but I want to be able to check if its being pulled due to Knock voltage, or maybe what the safe knock voltage is for a motor.    Also in the subaru world it was possible to check with a program called Learning View what the stored Ignition Timing Correction Factors were.  Is there any way to log this, or check this with ECUx or ME7 logger or other software?

Ive been searching and there doesn't seem to be clear info on what timing retard is actual knock and what is just due to IAT, or how to see what the CFs are.     

seems as though bob was closest to being able to figure out what timing being pulled is timing to actually be concerned about. 


Here is a 3rd gear log I did showing Timing retard and Knock Voltage from ECUx


car is an rs6 turbo car with a vast tune

I got it from your s4 wiki... lol.

http://s4wiki.com/wiki/Timing

this is the page I got it from.

I am really confused as to how the ecu's handle knock and pull timing based off knock.   I want to know if the knock voltage I am running is safe, and if the timing retard is due to knock or something else...  In the subaru and dsm world no timing being pulled is acceptable.   I don't know if under 10 degrees of timing retard is acceptable because the s4 motor is a bit more tough or if the ecu is better (faster) or if the timing is being pulled from some outside factor.   Can anyone explain more on this? 

Under 30V with stock knock sensitivity you are ok.

Ugh. I need to update that page. Thanks for the heads up.


The knock signal goes through a lot of filtering. The raw knock voltages really don't tell you much, since they are highly dependent on load, rpm, and cylinder (there are only two knock sensors, and they are nearest to cyls 2 and 5, so 2 and 5 will always read higher)


Look at your CFs


You'll have to log for that. If you don't see it in CF, it is something else


ME7 is very aggressive about pulling timing, much more so than many other systems.

Hi all,

i think my friend @lq! means this question not in general (ME7.x based), but for the older ecu's (M3.8.3)

My belief is, that the sensitivity is determined in a knock-map. Other maps don't have influence
on that ? Please correct AND explain if this information is not right.

Thanks,

PvL