What exactly is "S" mode in transmission?
 

hey guys...might seem like a bad question; but...
what exactly does it do when i put it in "S" mode?
when is it right to use this mode?
how is it diff from "D"?

Thanks!

S in Sport Mode. The transmission will start in a lower gear from a standing start and will hold on to the gear longer before shifting up. As well it will downshift when you apply the brake....oh yeah you will use more gas too!

No wonder I use more gas when I drive in "S" mode.....:D

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.

I've never been able to start from a dead stop on 3rd gear in M mode. It automatically goes down to 2nd gear. I have a 2005 X3.

might be cuz its an X3. But my X5, can start off in 3rd in manual mode, sloooww, but can do it.

It's much more fun to drive it in "S" mode. You will get about a 10-15% reduction in gas mileage, but it's worth it.

honestly with gas prices today nothing justifies a 10-15% reduction however to each his own

My guessed is that only the 4.4i, 4.6is, and 4.8is can start from 3rd. My 3.0i X5 also will only start in 2nd from a dead stop in Manual mode.

So Its like a semiauto?

But if you drive at steady 70-90mph speeds on the highway it appears that the gas mileage is the same, correct? I can shift between modes and the tach is unchanged...anybody?

Put it in "S" mode and you get 100 hp more just like the button they have for the m5. :rofl: Don't listen to me, I'm just being silly.

"S" or sport is fully auto. "M" or manual mode is semiauto in that you can select each gear manually as long as the computer doesn't think you will over-reved the engine.

"S" mode does nothing when you're at a steady speed. Switching between "D" and "S" simply tell the tranny CPU to use the appropriate seperate "shifting/holding" programs.

I've noticed that "S" mode does actually do something at steady speed (well when you want to pass...). It won't require as much gas pedal to drop a gear for the added power it thinks you are looking for. Does that make sense? I guess it sounds better in my head.

Yes I agree, the shift up is much sooner and with less pedal...in fast and heavy interstate traffic I tend to just stay in S mode.

I notice too that in sport mode the consumption needle goes like in drive if you don't floor with the acceleration. At the same use of drive, normal drive, in sport mode the fuel mileage looks to be the same.
Someone can confirm it?

Chip - it's both. You can leave it in S mode, and it contiues to shift automatically, or you can change gears yourself pushing up or down on the gearstick in a semi auto mode.

Yes, D & S highway fuel mileage will be exactly the same IF you don't play with the throttle.

This is not intended to be a jab... but honestly ladies and gentlemen, you need to read the manual that came with your X. We are driving a pretty complex vehicle and there is a large amount of useful info in the manual that can serve you well while keeping your X running better and longer.

-RSZ

I switch to Sports mode when getting on highways
 

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.

Rtfm

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.

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