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Originally Posted by SeattleYates
Very helpful post, JCL. From what you're saying, it sounds like it would be better to keep the X5 in S mode rather than downshifting manually, since presumably BMW's engineers have made the shock to the transmission less traumatic to the engine when it downshifts itself (which, in S mode, is at higher RPMs, therefore providing at least SOME compression braking, whereas in standard auto mode, there is virtually NO compression braking), right?
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I don't think there is a traumatic shock to the engine in either mode. I think that there is more wear on the transmission, but unless you are are taking it to extremes I wouldn't worry about the engine wear. A guide would be that if you are around the rev range where the transmission would shift anyway (ie fairly close to the S mode shift point) there isn't much wear of any type to worry about.
The advantage to the manual mode is that you can modulate the throttle to try and reduce the driveline shock. Driving well is about smoothness.
I am not a fan of S mode, but that is just me. I think it is an operating mode dictated by the marketing department, not the engineering department. I do find the manual mode helpful, but only in certain situations, ie a long hill at a certain grade, or towing a trailer. The modes are there for people to use, however. We don't have sufficient empirical evidence to be able to link driving styles to transmission wear. I would just keep in mind that at any mileage from 100k up, an X5 transmission could go, based on anecdotal evidence on this board and elsewhere. I wouldn't try and speed up that process, myself. That's my quarter done.
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