Sport/Sport+ vs Sport Program

[X5FX]

What is the difference between changing the vehicle to Sport or Sport+ via the Adaptive M selector button vs using the Gear Selector and pushing it to the left (other than the ability to use the paddle shifters)?

Is the transmission any different in Sport Mode vs pushing selector left?

what if I have both selected?

[twelve535i]

Originally Posted by X5FX

What is the difference between changing the vehicle to Sport or Sport+ via the Adaptive M selector button vs using the Gear Selector and pushing it to the left (other than the ability to use the paddle shifters)?

Is the transmission any different in Sport Mode vs pushing selector left?

what if I have both selected?

I think pushing selector to the left allows you to change gears from the shifter. It can now move up and down to select gears. At least thats how it works on my F10.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by twelve535i

I think pushing selector to the left allows you to change gears from the shifter. It can now move up and down to select gears. At least thats how it works on my F10.

yes, but it also makes the automatic shifting more aggressive...I was curious if the transmission settings were the same as the sport mode (via button) or if it was yet a different setting.

Also what happens when you have both selected?

[Kzang]

It is not the same as selecting the sport or sport+... at least not in my X5 with Adaptive M suspension. There is a thread on this here somewhere.. Let me do a search on it and see if I can find it.

[MysticBlue]

What it does when you put it into sport mode (by pushing the button) depends on how it's programmed. You can pre-select it to chasis, drivetrain, or both. "Chassis" tightens up the suspension and increases the steering effort. "Drive-train" steepens the throttle mapping and increases the transmission aggressiveness. I have tried to learn to like the drive-train in sport mode and I don't like it. It makes the car too jumpy, the throttle tip-in to steep, making it hard to drive smoothly. It does not give you more power, just makes it seem like that to some people because the throttle position is more sensitive. To get to your original question, I have also tried driving with the transmission selector lever pulled over into the sport mode quite a bit, to see if I would like that better. I don't know this for sure because I haven't seen any technical information, but they sure seem to act the same to me. In other words, as far as I can tell, there is very little, if any, difference between the more aggressive transmission setting arrived by using the selector lever or the button. The only real difference I can tell is the ability to use the selector lever to upshift and downshift if you used it instead of the button. As I've said, I've tried both extensively and don't like that setting, regardless of the method of getting there. So, my sport button is programmed to increase the chassis setting, but not my drivetrain, and that's how I usually drive. If I want it to up shift more aggressively as I'm slowing for a corner, I often just pop over the lever and let the transmission upshift on it's own, which it will do since it is now more aggesively programmed. But, I will then put it back to normal as I enter the corner so when I start throttling back up, it will be smoother, as I prefer. If I want even more control, I use the paddle shifters, but don't need to move the shifter lever over for that. I'm not up on all the details, but from what I understand, pushing the sport+ button up another level reduces the digital stability control to allow for a lot more slippage and steering angles, for driving in snow for instance. In this mode, it says "traction control engaged" or somehting like that, which seems counter-intuitive, but basically, "traction control engaged" is a less intrusive mode than full on normal digital stability control. But that's more than you asked, and in any case, if I'm wrong hopefully someone more knowledgeable will correct me.

[X5FX]

Thanks, I also felt they were similar, but would like to know for sure if there are differences and what they are. I typically drive in sport mode 70% of the time as I find without it the vehicle is sluggish at times, especially in traffic when you need it to pass slow drivers on their cell phones.

I realized the sport button has suspension options as well, but I was really just inquiring about the transmission settings specifically.

I wish there was an option in comfort mode to tighten up the steering only...I find it too sloppy on the highway, especially when its windy. Im constantly having to work to keep the car centered whereas in sport mode its much easier.

[senoromar]

As far as I know, the transmission behaves the same in Sport Mode (when configured to modify the drive train) as when the gear selector is pressed to the left. Both will keep the car in a lower gear than comfort, delay changing gears, and will give you the power with less push on the pedal.

Sport+ however feels different to me. It engages dynamic traction control, which is basically minimally intrusive traction control. With the reduced traction control, i feel the car is able to get moving faster. I like this mode a lot more than regular Sport or shifting the gear because it's more responsive. In terms of the transmission, it's also aggressive like Sport but seems to shift quicker which I like.

[X5FX]

Thanks!
I'll do some tests, I was waiting to break in the engine before pushing it too hard.

[akhter]

correct me if i am wrong, but unless you have m adaptive drive or dhp or some sort of adjustible suspension, they should be the same. if you have adjustable suspension the button should change both throttle and suspension. if you don't have adjustable suspension the gear lever and button should be the same.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by akhter

correct me if i am wrong, but unless you have m adaptive drive or dhp or some sort of adjustible suspension, they should be the same. if you have adjustable suspension the button should change both throttle and suspension. if you don't have adjustable suspension the gear lever and button should be the same.

Yes, I have Adaptive M and DHP, but as I said earlier my question is not about the suspension, but specifically the tuning of the transmission in each mode.