[teaston]

Originally Posted by carzaddict

selecting the Sport drive mode will increase your throttle sensitivity, making it seem as if your car is moving faster with less effort from the pedal. for example in sport, if you're pressing the gas 50% of the way, it will be like pressing it 100% in comfort mode.

The sport side of your transmission (moving the lever to the left) gives sporty characteristics to the transmission....meaning it will be in a lower gear and hold the gear longer. it doesnt have THAT much of an impact on your perception of the cars speed.

Exactly right!

Originally Posted by MWA

Yes it would be.. When you stick the car into Sport Mode (using the button) it opens up the throttle more, thus injecting more fuel and becomes more responsive.. It's like having the sports/power button on the M3's...

Sticking the Gear Lever to the left, that only allows the engine to rev higher before selecting a higher gear.. I find this mode very boring in comparison to the first one!

Whenever I decide to play, I select Sports Mode using the button..

Not really right, there is no more fuel going in than if you floor it in comfort mode!

@carzaddict 's explanation above is correct!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by teaston

Exactly right!

@carzaddict 's explanation above is correct!

Doesn't the 3-series get sharper throttle response for both toggled Sport mode, or when selecting DS mode?

I'm sure mine does, when moving to DS, will have to check. I know it does if I've only got the chassis checked. No throttle change in Sport mode, but changes throttle sensitivity in Sport+, plus the gearbox automatically changes to Sport mode.

HighlandPete

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Doesn't the 3-series get sharper throttle response for both toggled Sport mode, or when selecting DS mode?

I'm sure mine does, when moving to DS, will have to check. I know it does if I've only got the chassis checked. No throttle change in Sport mode, but changes throttle sensitivity in Sport+, plus the gearbox automatically changes to Sport mode.

HighlandPete

I was just referring to how throttle response works, i.e. it doesn't actually put more fuel in.

I'm not sure which modes definitely do/don't activate it.

[DaveA]

This is a matter that is confusing me a little in getting to know my new car, I have to say..

From what I can work out, the four combinations of drive experience mode and gearbox mode have the following effects in my car (which has VSS and fixed suspension):

Drive experience switch in "comfort" and gearbox in D = most relaxed combo

Drive experience switch in "sport" and gearbox in D = sharper throttle and weightier steering with some changes to gearbox (typically 500 more revs per gear change). I get the feeling the change itself is still a more relaxed one, like in D. I have to be honest, though, and say that I have not quite worked out in exactly what way the changes change.

Drive experience switch in "sport" and gearbox in S = sharper throttle and weightier steering with more aggressive changes to gearchanges (typically more revs per upchange, hanging onto lower gears longer, and a more aggressive change itself)

Drive experience switch in "comfort" and gearbox in S (or M) = normal throttle/steering but with some changes to gearbox (typically 500 more revs per gear change). I suspect this switching of the gearbox mode (without the dive experience change) is more to allow manual changes in comfort for those times when that would be useful.

Has anybody any further thoughts/observations on the differences between the combinations?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by teaston

I was just referring to how throttle response works, i.e. it doesn't actually put more fuel in.

I'm not sure which modes definitely do/don't activate it.

I understand...

As to using more fuel, I suppose it depends how we see it, heavy right foot + sensitive throttle = more fuel for many drivers.

I personally don't particularly like a throttle being too sensitive, I like the longer travel of a normal setting, allows for a more controlled throttle modulation.

Then I'm not really into the heavier damping of the sport steering mode, takes away from the steering more than it adds, IMO, with a superficial stiffly damped feeling, rather than genuine added weighting.

HighlandPete

[Xplosiv166]

Is it possible to make sport only change the Steering?

So far the only mode i get options on is ECO PRO the rest don't seem to have user settings (unless they are hidden in the iDrive menu system)

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Has anybody any further thoughts/observations on the differences between the combinations?

When you drive at a constant speed in say comfort mode, go into DS and the gears will drop a cog or two. So in DS you are always in a lower gear than comfort mode and any given speed, from what I can tell.


Going back to what the OP is asking..... I think higher torque always makes a car "feel" faster. Diesels have bucket loads at low revs and gearbox D mode keeps the engine at lower revs thus making the car "feel" faster.

[dopper99]

This is why even 2 litre diesels "feel" fast. They don't have the bhp, but they have masses of low down torque.

A few years back I had a 2.2 petrol Vectra as a company car and my colleague had the 1.9 Vectra diesel. Both put out around 150bhp - but the diesel felt quicker, due to the torque.

[NISFAN]

@d4springer has hit the nail on the head. It is Torque that you 'feel' when it comes to acceleration urge.

Putting the lever in MS keeps the revs high and on a 335d reduced torque but high power. Normally would still mean rapid progress, but with the close ratios of the 8 speed box there is not so much of a gearing torque drop between gears.

No point revving beyond 4700 max.

335d power graph;

[carzaddict]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

Is it possible to make sport only change the Steering?

press and hold the DSC button for 10+ seconds.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by carzaddict

press and hold the DSC button for 10+ seconds.

Yes, but that has other consequences such as losing the back end if you are not careful.

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

Is it possible to make sport only change the Steering?

So far the only mode i get options on is ECO PRO the rest don't seem to have user settings (unless they are hidden in the iDrive menu system)

I have the option in iDrive to configure sport mode (but not Sport+). So I have it set for chassis only which stiffens the suspension (if you have adaptive) and firms up the steering. The throttle response and gear change are just as Comfort. If I want the throttle response and later gear changes, I can just switch to Sport+.

Back to OP, I haven't noticed the same but will investigate

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

I have the option in iDrive to configure sport mode (but not Sport+). So I have it set for chassis only which stiffens the suspension (if you have adaptive) and firms up the steering. The throttle response and gear change are just as Comfort. If I want the throttle response and later gear changes, I can just switch to Sport+.

Back to OP, I haven't noticed the same but will investigate

This is what I've done. Can only be done, I think, if you have adaptive suspension of sports auto box or something like that.

[Steve C]

Right, I'm getting confused. Taking into account peak torque etc., which setting is the quickest accelerating?

Comfort, sport or sport+ and gearstick left or right?

[gatsojon]

Foot to the floor will be much the same in all settings, less the shorter gear changes with stick to left.

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by dopper99

When you drive at a constant speed in say comfort mode, go into DS and the gears will drop a cog or two. So in DS you are always in a lower gear than comfort mode and any given speed, from what I can tell.


Going back to what the OP is asking..... I think higher torque always makes a car "feel" faster. Diesels have bucket loads at low revs and gearbox D mode keeps the engine at lower revs thus making the car "feel" faster.

Thanks for all the replies people. So, to summarise, are any of the sport modes faster than another?... 0-60 for example?

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv166

Is it possible to make sport only change the Steering?

So far the only mode i get options on is ECO PRO the rest don't seem to have user settings (unless they are hidden in the iDrive menu system)

I think (and I stand to be corrected) that you need to have adaptive suspension to get the set up menu for sport mode..

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Hi All.
I took my car out for a drive last night ( at midnight ) to get my average MPG down a bit and for some reason the car 'seemed' to be faster in regular sport mode???
What I mean is, just selecting the driving mode as Sport but NOT pushing the gear selector over to the left appeared faster - or at least just as rapid as pushing the gear lever to the left. Does that make sense?
The gear changes are definitely a lot more aggressive when pushed over to the left but other than that I'm not really sure what's happening???
Has anyone else experienced this or can someone please explain the differences to me?
TIA

Faster than what BMWski? Sport mode would be faster than Comfort and Eco with lever pushed to the left. Pretty you know your stuff so I'm sure you're comparing apples to apples....maybe roads are clearer and darker and seem faster mid night.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Thanks for all the replies people. So, to summarise, are any of the sport modes faster than another?... 0-60 for example?

One other thought I'm sure the old auto boxes used to adapt to your first few minutes of driving, seriously.

Ie you pull away slowly and the box thinks he's off for a nice steady drive, but if you really pushed on in those early stages despite being in the same mode the car would be faster...... Certain it used to be like this so likely to have carried over.

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

Faster than what BMWski? Sport mode would be faster than Comfort and Eco with lever pushed to the left. Pretty you know your stuff so I'm sure you're comparing apples to apples....maybe roads are clearer and darker and seem faster mid night.

Thanks. I guess I'll just have to drive it a bit more then to decide
It could have something to do with the conditions though... It was chucking it down, it was dark, it was late, roads weren't the best and I was bricking it because this car is seriously fast!!!
It seems faster now it's got a few miles on it too. Is that possible or just a placebo again?

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Thanks for all the replies people. So, to summarise, are any of the sport modes faster than another?... 0-60 for example?

Now I like Comfort mode and I like Sport+ mode, but which one is best? There's only one way to find out... FIGHT

Or perhaps I'll just try out using the dynolicious App

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Thanks. I guess I'll just have to drive it a bit more then to decide
It could have something to do with the conditions though... It was chucking it down, it was dark, it was late, roads weren't the best and I was bricking it because this car is seriously fast!!!
It seems faster now it's got a few miles on it too. Is that possible or just a placebo again?

I think it will feel more responsive as the miles pile on. Gtsussex has commented on this too. But I think you are looking at 5k - 6k+ miles.