What does the "Sport button" do on the X5 with Sport Package?

[spmd11]

Hey guys.

I test drove the 4.8 Sport on Sunday. It had the sport package on it and I noticed the sport button below the transmission lever. What does the sport button do?

On my 08 535i Sport I have the same button, and it tightens the steering, increases throttle response, and most importantly, it halves the shift time of the transmission in manual mode.

Is this what the 4.8 and 3.0 X5 sport button does?

I didn't have a long enough test drive to figure this out. It seemed as though the transmission was a bit lazy in manual mode compared to my 535.

[cmyX6go]

The button is for sports suspension, it stiffens the ride a bit. If you throw the shifter to the left, you get the throttle response

[rh71]

After 6 months and switching it back and forth at times, I still can't feel a damn difference... local or highway.

[jeep]

I have noticed that the engine revs higher in each gear in sport mode, the suspension might get tighter but I couldn't make out the difference

[yorencer]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

The button is for sports suspension, it stiffens the ride a bit. If you throw the shifter to the left, you get the throttle response

the "sport" button supposed to stiffen the ride. but you really cannot feel the difference..
but the going into m/s on the shifter...

[autoque]

If you can't feel much difference, that means the ride without the sport button pressed is already almost as stiff as the sport suspension itself.. Isn't that a little too stiff to be comfortable? I've test driven a vehicle equipped with a sport suspension and found it transmitted every little bump on the road to the cabin.

[Barcius]

It has been 3 months on mine and the difference is big. Once the Sport button is pressed, it makes the suspension stiffer and there is no body roll on turns and/or twist roads. Lots of fun!

However, I did not notice any difference in throttle response or speed between gear shifts. I used to have a 3-series (E46) with SMG transmission and the sport button on that car indeed shortned the throttle response and made the transmission slightly quickier. I believe the sport button in X5 only impacts the active suspension while on other models impacts the transmission and throttle.

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by spmd11

Hey guys.

I test drove the 4.8 Sport on Sunday. It had the sport package on it and I noticed the sport button below the transmission lever. What does the sport button do?

On my 08 535i Sport I have the same button, and it tightens the steering, increases throttle response, and most importantly, it halves the shift time of the transmission in manual mode.

Is this what the 4.8 and 3.0 X5 sport button does?

I didn't have a long enough test drive to figure this out. It seemed as though the transmission was a bit lazy in manual mode compared to my 535.

body roll, body roll, body roll. while i do not claim to be an expert, it may also mildly alter shift points. not to any advantage however if and when you lean on the handling. pull the stick over into sport mode with the sport button setting engaged on a vehicle with sport package and i must say, it is quite "sporty". neck snapping in my 4.8.

i doubt the effect is the same in the 3.0. sorry rh71.

don't be fooled however. this weekend i was late for a competition event and threw the X into an off ramp that nearly forced me to drive straight off rather than reel the front end back toward me. 6k pounds of high centered bavarian steel my friend. it ain't no sport sedan.

[vinuneuro]

Sport button marginally increases the valving force of the dampers, and also reduces body rolls through the active sway-bars.

Selecting Sport mode through the shifter allows the trans to hold gears longer and down shift at a lower threshold.

The effect is the same in both the 3.0 and 4.8.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by soldmystang

i doubt the effect is the same in the 3.0. sorry rh71.

The 4.8 accelerates from stop noticeably (and much) better but everything else is not really a big difference when you're talking in this "handling" context. Body roll isn't different in a 3.0 or 4.8 unless you're hauling ass around a corner just when a light turns green.