Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
Lydiam
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:31 pm

Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by Lydiam » Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:15 pm

As above :driving:
Current
3.0d sport auto 2006
Previous
4.4i V8 sport 2002

User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18520
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by X5Sport » Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:27 pm

For a BMW auto, it changes the throttle response so the car is more lively when pressing on. It will start using all of the gears from a standstill. ‘Normal’ mode tends to ignore 1st. It will hold all of the gears for far longer in each rev range so you get nearer the red line each time. 6th will not usually get selected below 100mph (I tested it on a track some years back).

It also makes the fuel gauge fall faster, but you should get a grin factor.

It does not give you more power as you are just changing the gear shift map and throttle response.
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Lydiam
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:31 pm

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by Lydiam » Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:27 pm

Thanks, makes sense.

I differently get a sharper throttle response and gets closer to the red line, i just was not sure if it give you more power.

Does anyone ever use manual mode? I can not take to using it :headbang:
Current
3.0d sport auto 2006
Previous
4.4i V8 sport 2002

User avatar
fenj66
Member
Member
Posts: 556
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:18 pm
Location: devon

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by fenj66 » Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:00 am

Does anyone ever use manual mode? I can not take to using it

when climbing up a steep hill i found mine would constantly up and down change as the car wasnt sure which gear to be in,
slipping it into manual just kept one gear selected for a smoother drive.
similar going downhill, it let you have a bit of engine braking also.

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:06 am

Lydiam wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:27 pmDoes anyone ever use manual mode? I can not take to using it :headbang:
The only time I use manual is every oil change (6k miles) when I also put VGT&DPF cleaner in the fuel and then take the car for a blast for 25 miles down the A1 in either 5th or 6th gear. :driving: I keep it in comfort mode 99.5% of the time. I sometimes use Sport mode, and I've only used EcoPro once - when I test drove the car before I bought it.
My feeling is that you don't buy an auto then change gear yourself. If my car had come with paddle-shift, I doubt I would have used it.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

User avatar
Greydog
Member
Member
Posts: 792
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:26 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by Greydog » Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:42 am

I use the manual function when off road on slippery surfaces (mud and chalk) when out shooting or towing the horse trailer to Winter shows. The show entrances are normally through a farm gate which rapidly (well this year anyway) become a bog. Selecting 3rd to pull away with minimum throttle normally gets the job done, well I haven't needed rescue so far and have towed more than a few high end 4x4's out of the claggy stuff.

Lydiam
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:31 pm

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by Lydiam » Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:33 pm

Greydog wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:42 am I use the manual function when off road on slippery surfaces (mud and chalk) when out shooting or towing the horse trailer to Winter shows. The show entrances are normally through a farm gate which rapidly (well this year anyway) become a bog. Selecting 3rd to pull away with minimum throttle normally gets the job done, well I haven't needed rescue so far and have towed more than a few high end 4x4's out of the claggy stuff.
It must bring a nice satisfying smile to your face when you show up the big boys! :thumbsup:
StuBeeDoo wrote:
Lydiam wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:27 pmDoes anyone ever use manual mode? I can not take to using it :headbang:
The only time I use manual is every oil change (6k miles) when I also put VGT&DPF cleaner in the fuel and then take the car for a blast for 25 miles down the A1 in either 5th or 6th gear. :driving: I keep it in comfort mode 99.5% of the time. I sometimes use Sport mode, and I've only used EcoPro once - when I test drove the car before I bought it.
My feeling is that you don't buy an auto then change gear yourself. If my car had come with paddle-shift, I doubt I would have used it.
Totally agree! I quite like the lazy driving of an auto but much prefer a manual in a sportier car.
Current
3.0d sport auto 2006
Previous
4.4i V8 sport 2002

User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18520
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by X5Sport » Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:54 pm

I agree that a manual is better however the way things are going it’s going to be autos for everything. My X6 and F46 are both auto only because manuals can’t meet the emissions regs (allegedly) for those models.

I don’t use either of them in selected manual however both are equipped with flappy paddle shifters so I don’t need to use manual mode. I never got on with manual in the E53 either simply because it felt (to me) the wrong way around! It didn’t help that we had a manual car too and I kept trying to shift with the stick into gates that didn’t exist (in and out of sport :oops: )

The E53 does have engine braking as standard. You just need to lightly trail the brakes to hold a speed and after a few seconds the box will change down to hold it for you. It also works this way on both the X6 and F46. The gear holds until you next touch the throttle.
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1275
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Re: Select sport on a auto..... what actually or should happen?

Post by Leslie » Tue Mar 03, 2020 3:08 pm

Sport mode is good for an instant overtake as it lifts the revs a bit with a gear drop so throttle response is instant with no lag on my e70 sd as otherwise if going slow you have to floor it then wait for the box to think a little before it kicks down and get out of 6th gear then it wants to hit 4k and stay there when its already too late , apart from that its auto all the way never go near the stick :driving: For town driving you can't beat auto and despite always driving manuals up till now I don't think id go back (except for a v8 m3 ! ) , must be getting old but pressing a clutch all the time in town is a right pain .........

Post Reply