Sports Auto Gearbox & Button

northernmonkey · 01-09-2011, 02:02 PM

ok I know this question has probably come up before now but I've tried some searches and cannot find a decent answer to what i am sure is an obvious question.

just taken delivery of an F11 with sports auto gearbox. car is F11 M-Sport so standard M-Sport suspension no other suspension related options on the car at all.

next to the gearlevel is a button marked NORMAL/SPORT that lets you cycle through three options:

NORMAL
SPORT
SPORT+

as you cycle through said options pics appear on i-drive showing drivetrain and chassis combination's.

what are the differences between each choice? anyone know? I am guessing it's just sharper throttle responses and hanging on to lower ratios for longer in SPORT/SPORT+ where the gearbox is concerned but what chassis related tweaks are taking place in SPORT/SPORT+?

Ewymac · 01-09-2011, 02:30 PM

Some info here! Hope it helps.

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449239
http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416668

Nice car still waiting for mine! Tormented and jealous!

pogodog · 01-09-2011, 02:32 PM

The shift points of the trasnmission are faster and the suspension/sterring is firmer as you for to Sport and then Sport+. Normal is a bit cushy but great for touring in straight line.

indus · 01-09-2011, 02:37 PM

As far as I know even though chassis appears on the screen there is no change made to it unless you have adaptive drive.

Sport setting will lock out 8th gear and sport + will do this and disable traction control to some extent..i

Sport and sport + also seems to make the steering feel heavier/more direct.

northernmonkey · 01-09-2011, 02:56 PM

thanks for the replies.

this info and those links make sense....more sense than the manual anyway

I knew the suspension couldn't be receiving any adjustment despite what i-drive claims, as I only have the std m-sport setup no dynamic aids.

so its just feel/software changes...seems logical. i tried sport mode today and definitely felt a lot sharper and as has been said already soon as you go to sport+ you receive a warning about some traction control element being disabled...didn't spend too long on that setting given the car is 3 days old and the roads were icey

MySport · 01-09-2011, 03:56 PM

I am waiting for my M Sport on standard sport suspension to turn up. I would really appreciate some feed back on the ride quality without VDC. Have you got the standard M Sport 18" wheels or did you go for the 19" upgrade?

northernmonkey · 01-09-2011, 04:57 PM

19's + standard suspension and am very happy with the ride quality but then my last 3 BMW's have all been M-Sport models so i am used to the setup i guess. This latest model seems to achieve an excellent balance between comfort and sportiness.

k44ENT · 01-09-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indus

As far as I know even though chassis appears on the screen there is no change made to it unless you have adaptive drive.

Sport setting will lock out 8th gear and sport + will do this and disable traction control to some extent..i

Sport and sport + also seems to make the steering feel heavier/more direct.

Correct but you can also set Sport mode to just adjust the steering and throttle and leave the gearbox in normal 8 speed mode. I have my car set like this then just flick the gear lever across to get the faster gear changes.

citrilla · 01-09-2011, 05:25 PM

This still seems to cause considerable confusion. Unless you have adaptive drive or variable damper control, the sports settings have no impact on the chassis/suspension. They simply change the responsiveness of the acceleration by dropping the eighth gear and make the steering slightly more direct

indus · 01-10-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E61

Correct but you can also set Sport mode to just adjust the steering and throttle and leave the gearbox in normal 8 speed mode. I have my car set like this then just flick the gear lever across to get the faster gear changes.

Thanks, I was wondering whether this was possible. But when you flick the gear lever across doesn't that put it into manual(flappy paddle) mode?

Excuse my ignorance but this gearbox is different to the SMG jobbie in my E60.

ipso_facto · 01-10-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citrilla

This still seems to cause considerable confusion. Unless you have adaptive drive or variable damper control, the sports settings have no impact on the chassis/suspension. They simply change the responsiveness of the acceleration by dropping the eighth gear and make the steering slightly more direct

Do you have the primary source for this?

The reason I ask is that I have the sports auto on M Sport suspension and it corners better when in Sport, than when in Normal mode. Maybe they should have a s/w upgrade ...

Normal
Placebo Sport
Placebo Sport+

... for non-adaptive drive / non-variable damper control owners!

Or in other words is ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by citrilla

make the steering slightly more direct

... messing with my mind?

k44ENT · 01-10-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indus

Thanks, I was wondering whether this was possible. But when you flick the gear lever across doesn't that put it into manual(flappy paddle) mode?

Excuse my ignorance but this gearbox is different to the SMG jobbie in my E60.

Flappy paddle mode as you call it is active all the time, you can change gear with the paddles (providing in doing so you won't damage the engine) when ever you want. By moving the gear selector across to the left you engage sports mode on the gear box which I think gives you 6 gears and higher change points and allows you to change gear with the gear selector as well as the flappy paddles. I may be wrong on this?? will try it tomorrow.

It gives you 7 gears.

Titanflux · 01-10-2011, 03:07 PM

What impact on mpg does the Normal setting have?

If it's just a faster gear change, then perhaps none? Clearly the higher revs and cutting the gear range will have an impact in sports/sports mode.

bimmernic · 01-12-2011, 06:42 AM

@ northernmonkey
@ ipso_facto

I have the M-Sport suspension with the SAT. Besides the steering, throttle and gearbox changes, there is a slight but perceptible hardening in the suspension (more jittery and road imperfections are felt more) in Sport mode. Not aware of any adaptive dampers included the M-Sport suspension but have read elsewhere that some Dutch owners have also experienced the same effect. Must be imagining things

01-09-2011, 02:02 PM	#1
northernmonkey Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 298 Posts Drives: F11 530d MSpt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SouthEast iTrader: (0)	Sports Auto Gearbox & Button ok I know this question has probably come up before now but I've tried some searches and cannot find a decent answer to what i am sure is an obvious question. just taken delivery of an F11 with sports auto gearbox. car is F11 M-Sport so standard M-Sport suspension no other suspension related options on the car at all. next to the gearlevel is a button marked NORMAL/SPORT that lets you cycle through three options: NORMAL SPORT SPORT+ as you cycle through said options pics appear on i-drive showing drivetrain and chassis combination's. what are the differences between each choice? anyone know? I am guessing it's just sharper throttle responses and hanging on to lower ratios for longer in SPORT/SPORT+ where the gearbox is concerned but what chassis related tweaks are taking place in SPORT/SPORT+? Attached Images
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01-09-2011, 02:30 PM	#2
Ewymac Ewymac 7 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 520d se sports auto on order Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manchester UK iTrader: (0)	Some info here! Hope it helps. http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449239 http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416668 Nice car still waiting for mine! Tormented and jealous!
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01-09-2011, 02:32 PM	#3
pogodog Private 14 Rep 85 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: los angeles iTrader: (0)	sport auto The shift points of the trasnmission are faster and the suspension/sterring is firmer as you for to Sport and then Sport+. Normal is a bit cushy but great for touring in straight line.
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01-09-2011, 02:37 PM	#4
indus Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 295 Posts Drives: BMW E60 M5 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	As far as I know even though chassis appears on the screen there is no change made to it unless you have adaptive drive. Sport setting will lock out 8th gear and sport + will do this and disable traction control to some extent..i Sport and sport + also seems to make the steering feel heavier/more direct. __________________ E60 M5
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01-09-2011, 02:56 PM	#5
northernmonkey Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 298 Posts Drives: F11 530d MSpt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SouthEast iTrader: (0)	thanks for the replies. this info and those links make sense....more sense than the manual anyway I knew the suspension couldn't be receiving any adjustment despite what i-drive claims, as I only have the std m-sport setup no dynamic aids. so its just feel/software changes...seems logical. i tried sport mode today and definitely felt a lot sharper and as has been said already soon as you go to sport+ you receive a warning about some traction control element being disabled...didn't spend too long on that setting given the car is 3 days old and the roads were icey
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01-09-2011, 03:56 PM	#6
MySport M40d Phytonic Blue 36 Rep 72 Posts Drives: M40d Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I am waiting for my M Sport on standard sport suspension to turn up. I would really appreciate some feed back on the ride quality without VDC. Have you got the standard M Sport 18" wheels or did you go for the 19" upgrade?
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01-09-2011, 04:57 PM	#7
northernmonkey Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 298 Posts Drives: F11 530d MSpt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SouthEast iTrader: (0)	19's + standard suspension and am very happy with the ride quality but then my last 3 BMW's have all been M-Sport models so i am used to the setup i guess. This latest model seems to achieve an excellent balance between comfort and sportiness.
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01-09-2011, 05:25 PM	#9
citrilla Winker 0 Rep 36 Posts Drives: Space Grey X3 MSport 2.0d Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	This still seems to cause considerable confusion. Unless you have adaptive drive or variable damper control, the sports settings have no impact on the chassis/suspension. They simply change the responsiveness of the acceleration by dropping the eighth gear and make the steering slightly more direct
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01-10-2011, 03:07 PM	#13
Titanflux Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335d M Sport auto Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 F10 520d SE [0.00]	What impact on mpg does the Normal setting have? If it's just a faster gear change, then perhaps none? Clearly the higher revs and cutting the gear range will have an impact in sports/sports mode. __________________ G32 640i xDrive M Sport GT with Driving Assistant Plus
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01-12-2011, 06:42 AM	#14
bimmernic Private First Class 1 Rep 109 Posts Drives: F10 (523) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SG iTrader: (0)	@ northernmonkey @ ipso_facto I have the M-Sport suspension with the SAT. Besides the steering, throttle and gearbox changes, there is a slight but perceptible hardening in the suspension (more jittery and road imperfections are felt more) in Sport mode. Not aware of any adaptive dampers included the M-Sport suspension but have read elsewhere that some Dutch owners have also experienced the same effect. Must be imagining things
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