Sport Mode or Auto

[BMW X5]

heres a question, at what speed is it safe/unsafe to go between regular and sport mode

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by imola4.8isWA

How bout this question..

What if im going down a steep hill.. and as some of you know the X5 seems to have weird shift points, so if you brake just a bit when going down the hill it just drops to the lowest gear so it slows down w/ the engine. That doesnt seem to healthy for the engine so I like to pop it into neutral sometimes when going down a steep hill.. now is it bad to engage it into drive while the car is in motion at like 40mphs..?

Yes, you shouldn't engage drive when moving. Also, there is nothing wrong with using engine braking going down a hil. Actually, you don't use fuel when that happens since the injectors close without any throttle input. When you get to around 1k rpm, it will open to allow idle. All thats happening when going down a hill in gear without throttle, is that the mass of all the moving components in the engine and transmission are providing a counter-force to the movemment of the vehicle. I hope that made sense.

[Intel55]

does not matter. Once in sport mode your shifts are later for more performance and you use more gas.

[DinanX5]

Originally Posted by BMW X5

heres a question, at what speed is it safe/unsafe to go between regular and sport mode

There's no issue with this at any speed.

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Yes, you shouldn't engage drive [from neutral] when moving.

Why would this be a problem?

[TahoeM3]

I used to use sport mode all the time, but the jerky stops made me change my mind. Now I use it on the freeway and when I'm not going to be slowing down for a while. Any time I want acceleration I use either sport or manual.

Even with the regular mode, the stops can be jerky as it drops down a gear or two. This transmission definitely does not like to roll through stop signs. It will make you learn to stop COMPLETELY the first time it drops down to 1st gear as you start to roll again and causes the car to lurch abruptly.

[Donegal TDI]

IMHO, no, it doesn't do any harm.
While the transmission may be in neutral,
the tranny computer is still on full alert,
monitoring speed etc
Engaging drive again after coasting a while,
should be uneventful.
You'll probaly be using your brakes more though,
personally I like to let the engine do as much of the braking as possible.
It also does a diesel much good to drive in sport once in a while.
Clears out the soot built up
while pussy footing around in traffic.

[rayxi]

Originally Posted by imola4.8isWA

How bout this question..

What if im going down a steep hill.. and as some of you know the X5 seems to have weird shift points, so if you brake just a bit when going down the hill it just drops to the lowest gear so it slows down w/ the engine. That doesnt seem to healthy for the engine so I like to pop it into neutral sometimes when going down a steep hill.. now is it bad to engage it into drive while the car is in motion at like 40mphs..?

The worst part about coasting down a hill in sport mode is getting back on the gas. Once the tranny has shifted to a lower gear and is controlling the speed with the engine it is impossible to get back on the gas without jolting the car forward. It feels like you're dropping the clutch at 3000 rpm in a manual.

Driving with the manual override in sport mode is much better but I my daily driver is a 330xi manual. If I'm not paying attention the muscle memory takes over and I catch myself trying to clutch during a shift.

[03Topazbluex5]

I use sport mode when i need to get around the old ppl crowding the road in their coffins! Or women on their cell phones! Oh God!
I wish some ppl would learn how to drive!

[cimbro]

Originally Posted by DinanX5

I've heard this before, but I don't think it's true in the X5 (although I know it is true in the M3)... can anyone confirm for sure whether or not the X5's Sport mode changes the throttle mapping?

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IN SPORT MODE CHANGE THE THROTTLE MAPPING?? DOES ANYONE KNOW IT?
THE MAX POWER DECLARED OF THE CAR IS EXPRESSED IN DRIVE AND SPORT TOGHETER OR IT IS IN SPORT?