[sepsis]

forgive me if the following has been discussed previously I'm still a rook.

How often are you automatic drivers using sport mode? What is/isn't recommended? Is there a "too much?" Can I use it whenever I'm not freeway driving? Any insight is appreciated.

[NoSurrender]

Took me a while to even realize i had a "sport" mode on my bmw. Thought I just had auto and steptronic.

I like it though, gives you that grunt and extra pull you look for in a bimmer.

[Year's_End]

you could leave it in sport mode forever. you can't screw up the transmission. you could repeatedly mash the pedal from 0% throttle to WOT over and over and it won't do anything except shift like crazy.

it's fool proof.

i don't like DS though. i'll leave it in D or use M.

[335iPaul]

I have had my 335i a few weeks now and just found the DS tonight and realized it was something different than the manual shifting. Was going to look in DS this weekend and see what it does differently.

[NoSurrender]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

you could leave it in sport mode forever. you can't screw up the transmission. you could repeatedly mash the pedal from 0% throttle to WOT over and over and it won't do anything except shift like crazy.

it's fool proof.

i don't like DS though. i'll leave it in D or use M.

M? Didnt know the 335 had this.
Just out of curiosity, would my car happen to have this feature?

[335iPaul]

Originally Posted by NoSurrender

M? Didnt know the 335 had this.
Just out of curiosity, would my car happen to have this feature?

M would be the manual shifting you can do with the Steptronic.

[NoSurrender]

Originally Posted by 335iPaul

M would be the manual shifting you can do with the Steptronic.

Dont I feel stupid, thanks though.

[Bmoney2K4]

I really don't know about this subject. Can you just leave it in DS Mode and not shift or will that ruin the engine and tranmission. I have never driven a manual and need to find out somehow to use the manual mode on my car.

[335iPaul]

Originally Posted by Bmoney2K4

I really don't know about this subject. Can you just leave it in DS Mode and not shift or will that ruin the engine and tranmission. I have never driven a manual and need to find out somehow to use the manual mode on my car.

The car won't let you totally blow the engine if you throw it in manual mode (assuming you have the steptronic). Next time you are driving, as you are coming up to a stop light that is red, throw it in manual and downshift one, then watch as you slow the car down it will shift down automatically. While these "auto/manual" systems give you the feel of a manual, the car always has control.

[normtrum]

After my car gets above 100 degrees engine temp, I'm in sport mode 100% of the time. It will cause no damage to your car whatsoever. You will however get some of the worst gas mileage you've ever seen, but that's the trade off. BTW, I usually get about 15 mpg.

[Bmoney2K4]

Just to clarify, in sport mode, the car stays in DS mode and doesn't shift whatsoever?

[sepsis]

it shifts at 6500 rpm i believe. and thanks for allthe aforementioned guys this has been very helpful. I love sport mode for the record just didnt know if i was pushing my car too hard being in it so often

[3lusive]

sport mode is DS mode, and it shifts at higher rpm's than in normal D.
i think throttle response is also increased

[Lutz328xi]

I was out enjoying Sports Mode this evening! It is such a different feel from regular auto to DS mode. Puts a smile on my face every time.

[freshwhite335]

it shifts at around 3500rpm in normal city driving while in DS. whereas in D it will shirt at around 2200-2500rpm

[mike-y]

DS mode is a more aggressive automatic mode. The throttle response is increased, and the car will downshift much faster and hold the gear to redline. The car feels a lot more responsive in DS than in regular D.

I flip the stick over to DS whenever I'm merging, want to pass, or am approaching an onramp or offramp. Or whenever I feel like driving more aggressively. I rarely use the manual mode, because it's laggy, and annoys me, because I expect it to shift like a real manual, and it doesn't.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Bmoney2K4

Just to clarify, in sport mode, the car stays in DS mode and doesn't shift whatsoever?

Of course it shifts. Every time it swaps a cog it's a shift. It behaves differently, but it's all shifting nonetheless.

Originally Posted by sepsis

it shifts at 6500 rpm i believe. and thanks for allthe aforementioned guys this has been very helpful. I love sport mode for the record just didnt know if i was pushing my car too hard being in it so often

It will shift at redline if you keep your foot down. It will shift up if you lift off the throttle for long enough. It depends on where your foot is, like most autos.

Originally Posted by 3lusive

sport mode is DS mode, and it shifts at higher rpm's than in normal D.
i think throttle response is also increased

-Sharper throttle response
-Maintains gear longer (but not long enough in my opinion)
-Shifts at redline (D will do this too though)

Originally Posted by freshwhite335

it shifts at around 3500rpm in normal city driving while in DS. whereas in D it will shirt at around 2200-2500rpm

Not exactly. The transmission will shift, as previously stated, depending on your throttle inputs. Give it more throttle and it's less likely to shift up. Give it more and it'll downshift. Maintain throttle and in DS it should hold the gear.

Originally Posted by mike-y

DS mode is a more aggressive automatic mode. The throttle response is increased, and the car will downshift much faster and hold the gear to redline. The car feels a lot more responsive in DS than in regular D.

I flip the stick over to DS whenever I'm merging, want to pass, or am approaching an onramp or offramp. Or whenever I feel like driving more aggressively. I rarely use the manual mode, because it's laggy, and annoys me, because I expect it to shift like a real manual, and it doesn't.

If you're merging, and you use kickdown, use D instead of DS. Because DS usually holds the car in a gear lower, when you use the kickdown it'll downshift again if possible, sometimes up to 5.5-6k (right at the end of the powerband), making you much slower and requiring an immediate shift.

I prefer manual. I'd say I use M about 90% of the time. D the other 10%.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

If you're merging, and you use kickdown, use D instead of DS. Because DS usually holds the car in a gear lower, when you use the kickdown it'll downshift again if possible, sometimes up to 5.5-6k (right at the end of the powerband), making you much slower and requiring an immediate shift.

I prefer manual. I'd say I use M about 90% of the time. D the other 10%.

I'll have to try that in D mode. I usually throw it in DS a few hundred yards before I hit the on/off ramp so its "ready". around town I use DS a lot more because of the added response. but I do flip it back to D whenever I'm cruising.

I probably just need to get more used to the manual mode, and learn to anticipate shifts better. and stop being so lazy, haha. I'm sure it would be a lot more useful than DS on the track. But that's what my other car is for .

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by mike-y

I flip the stick over to DS whenever I'm merging, want to pass, or am approaching an onramp or offramp. Or whenever I feel like driving more aggressively.

Same here, loads of fun. Feels like I'm engaging rocket mode. Only thing missing now is a little aviator switch to open up the parachute.

[sepsis]

Originally Posted by 335iPaul

The car won't let you totally blow the engine if you throw it in manual mode (assuming you have the steptronic). Next time you are driving, as you are coming up to a stop light that is red, throw it in manual and downshift one, then watch as you slow the car down it will shift down automatically. While these "auto/manual" systems give you the feel of a manual, the car always has control.

Very helpful info Loyalist. Also guys just a heads up I myself wasn't aware of until recently: you can toggle in and out of sport mode while rolling... no stand still/red light necessary & likely the funnest attribute of this feature imo

[Neutrino45]

When you coast to a stop in DS mode, does your car get jerky when it's slowing down?

[TWiTCHY]

I've noticed the hitching on slowing down as well. Doesn't happen in D.