What exactly is "S" mode in transmission?

[E61Silver]

I find its very helpful when going from on highway to another to switch to sport mode. That way its in a lowwer gear and you have more power to merge.

Most of the time I leave it it in normal mode but the ability to tell the car that you want more power is helpful.

It don't see much reason to use the full manuel mode.

[Acezoned]

Rtfm

[withidl]

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

I find its very helpful when going from on highway to another to switch to sport mode. That way its in a lowwer gear and you have more power to merge.

Most of the time I leave it it in normal mode but the ability to tell the car that you want more power is helpful.

It don't see much reason to use the full manuel mode.

If your running the "twisties" or towing you'll use (or should use) manual mode almost 100% of the time.

Additionally, in manual mode, with cruise control on, when you "resume" speed after slowing down (especially when towing) the engine is max throttled BUT THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T DOWN SHIFTED (the torque converter may unlock) so you just get a smooth accereration back to the set speed.

[Dark BMW]

Originally Posted by withidl

The transmissioin does NOT start out in a "lower gear"; the transmission always starts out in 1st gear in Drive or Sport mode (it WILL start out in 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear in Manual mode). Sport mode holds the transmission in 1st, 2nd, etc. longer than Drive mode will (it will take it to max red line with full throttle), AND when suddenly releasing the throttle, as you would do moving through the "twisties", it holds the transmission in what ever gear you are in when you released the throttle to allow for engine braking and faster recovery without down shifting as you get back on the throttle. It also more agressively (readily) un-locks the torque converter and/or kicks down the transmission for additional power accelerating out of the "twisties". And yes, it does use more fuel.

You are right on !!! This guy knows his S mode
I use it in the city so the transmission doesn't shift all the way to 6th at 35 mph, then back to 2nd or 3rd every time I accelerate