Oh man...I've taken many an arrow over the years in trying to explain the incorrectness of this rumor. But the facts are the facts...if one understands the development, implementation, and upgrades of Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC) since its debut...it becomes crystal clear to most who take the time to read the BMW documentation as to how this rumor is built on a false premise...and the rest just rolls downhill from that point.

And the fact that some may actually engage the adaptive sport mode...so they actually do "feel" some difference if they are a normal or "granny-toe" driver...adds to the difficulty in explaining that this "trick" really doesn't work and in fact is not a "trick" at all.


But as explained (and documented in the BMW info) the TCM doesn't retain any driver influenced info...so that one fact blows this rumor completely out of the water. Then when you realize that turning the ignition on and flooring the gas pedal (the ECM/DME is now reading data once the ignition is in position 2)...this is imitating aggressive driving behavior...so the car responds as it's designed to do...no secret trick has been performed.

And if the driver is not really "aggressive"...the car will immediately change to reflect normal accelerator pedal (throttle) behavior...or for those that are meek and drive like a granny (granny-toe mode)...then the extreme economy mode will be selected. Thus the reason some "feel" it, and some do not...the car is responding as designed to "driver influence" and selecting one of the 3 "adaptive" driving modes.