Qsilver7 - thanks for info on this. I read another post of yours earlier that was even more indepth - all great info!

Are these diagrams you show from some BMW manual that we can get our hands on as well? And if so can you please post where/how to access them? Thx

Also, just to make sure I'm understanding correctly what you are saying about ATC and AGS - the ATC selects 1 of 3 modes based on how you accelerate.

1) Does that mean that the FIRST application of pedal pressure for THAT driving session (until engine is shut off again) ESTABLISHES the mode for that ENTIRE particular session (ie suppose I floored it the first time I accelerated, but later in that same drive started driving like a granny)? In the example I just mentioned would it stay in aggressive (sport) mode?

2) You wrote: "In fact, you can go through the steps above and force ATC into selecting sport mode...but if your driving style is actually NOT aggressive...over a short period of time with soft/light throttle response...the driving style will change to adapt to how you're actually driving...especially if you have a soft foot (granny-toe)"

What is the "over a short period of time"? Are you talking about? Minutes, as in a period of time WITHIN that particular drive? - or days, as in many different startups and shutdowns later? I would think it cannot be the latter, as you have previously stated and highlighted on these diagrams - "Driving style is NOT stored."

3) I am new to BMW's having only just acquired a 2005 X5 4.4 and am just finding out about this adaptive feature. It seems to 'hesitate' for lack of a better word when first accelerating in normal drive mode (D). At first I thought the brakes were dragging a bit. It was more pronounced while in traffic where I was constantly going from 5-10 mph and having to only barely press the accelerator. It would then again seem like nothing was happening for the first second of time, and the first small bit of pedal travel, and then it would begin to go. Shifts were not rough or abnormal feeling though. Later I researched and read somewhere this adaptive feature was the culprit and was causing the tranny to start in 2nd gear instead of 1st - all based on the CUMULATIVE driving habits of the previous owner over the course of its life! Now I am to understand that the retention of driving style is not stored, but does the extreme economy mode actually cause it to start in 2nd gear?

4) After having said all this, I still am not sure how I can apply this to make the car NOT hesitate when starting out. If I aggressively apply gas it doesnt hesitate at all - only if I accelerate like I normally do in any other vehicle - which is to say not floor it nor granny toe it either - just what I would think that almost everyone else does - just a normal push on the pedal. However this is precisely when it seems to lag a bit. If (1) above is true, then should I aggressively accelerate the very FIRST time to force it to NOT start in 2nd gear for the remainder of that drive, and do so every time I begin a new driving session??

5) Or does driving forever in Sport mode solve all these problems, and if so, does it do any harm to continually drive exclusively in sport mode?

If you could please address each of these issues I would be eternallly grateful! Just want to have it drive normally!

Thanks!
Mike