[gregnicc]

I disabled drivetrain sport activation when toggling between "normal" / "Sport" and "Sport+" settings on console.

Is drivetrain activation on console button the same as when I throw shifter into "sport" mode?

[Needsdecaf]

Yes.

[mlai]

Actually, no. This has been talked about before. There are very subtle differences.....
Refer to this thread.


In short, moving the shift lever to S mode:
1) Holds a gear longer, so you are ride the torque curve longer before shift.
2) Gives you synthetic manual shift. The car will not automatically shift up/down until you move shift lever back to D.

Switching the car to Sport mode with drivetrain enhancement (without putting shift lever in S):
1) Holds a gear longer, you ride the torque curve longer before shift. (sames as lever->S)
2) On Sport Automatic equipped F10, also further reduce gear change time (this is from a BMW technician working on my car). F10 with SAT already shift faster than non-SAT equipped F10s, but putting the car in sport mode further shorten the time required to change gear.
3) Pseudo manual like in normal. You can downshift/upshift and the car will adjust gear after a while depending on the driving style.
4) Accelerated throttle response in sport mode. (does not happen when shift lever in S but car in normal). Again this is on a SAT equipped F10.

And those are just the drivetrain differences. I am ignoring steering/suspension differences as the OP was asking about drivetrain only.

[Hustjo]

So with SAT it doesn't make any difference when in sport mode to put the gear lever in S ?

[mlai]

Originally Posted by Hustjo

So with SAT it doesn't make any difference when in sport mode to put the gear lever in S ?

It does. Putting gear lever in S holds the gear that you manually put the car into.

[Jon D]

My personal preference is to have sport mode configured to chassis only; that way I get sharper steering response and reduced body roll whilst retaining eighth gear. When I want a bit more I select sport+ and this, to me, gives a natural progression, all done on the toggle switch. I hardly ever select manual/sport mode with the shift lever and very rarely use the paddles.

[mistry]

Originally Posted by Jon D

My personal preference is to have sport mode configured to chassis only; that way I get sharper steering response and reduced body roll whilst retaining eighth gear. When I want a bit more I select sport+ and this, to me, gives a natural progression, all done on the toggle switch. I hardly ever select manual/sport mode with the shift lever and very rarely use the paddles.

+1 I do exactly the same.

[delvek]

Originally Posted by mistry

+1 I do exactly the same.

Agreed, the same.

[gregnicc]

Thanks everyone- very helpful.

Did not know Sport + makes suspension another level firmer- good to know.

I thought it just disables anti-slip.

[Needsdecaf]

Several incorrect / partially correct statements in your post.

Originally Posted by mlai

In short, moving the shift lever to S mode:

2) Gives you synthetic manual shift. The car will not automatically shift up/down until you move shift lever back to D.

This is only true if you move the lever to S, AND manually select a gear. If you move the lever to S and do NOT manually select a gear, it will shift automatically.

Originally Posted by mlai

Switching the car to Sport mode with drivetrain enhancement (without putting shift lever in S):

2) On Sport Automatic equipped F10, also further reduce gear change time (this is from a BMW technician working on my car). F10 with SAT already shift faster than non-SAT equipped F10s, but putting the car in sport mode further shorten the time required to change gear.

4) Accelerated throttle response in sport mode. (does not happen when shift lever in S but car in normal). Again this is on a SAT equipped F10.

These points are also not completely correct.

#2, this also happens in S mode from the lever, not only in "Sport" powertrain mode. Also, it happens regardless of SAT vs. normal transmission.

#4, this is incorrect, the advanced throttle DOES happen with lever in S mode, regardless of drive select position. And this also does happen regardless of which automatic.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by gregnicc

Thanks everyone- very helpful.

Did not know Sport + makes suspension another level firmer- good to know.

I thought it just disables anti-slip.

it does not firm up the suspension more.

I think the "more" that the poster was referring to is that regarless of how you have "sport" mode set up (drivetrain / chassis vs. one or the other), sport plus will engage the drivetrain "sport" settings.

As those posters said, by not having your "Sport" settings set to the combined setting, you can have firmer ride with more relaxed throttle and shifting in sport, or both in sport+. If you have sport configured as the "combo", the only benefit to sport plus is the reduced DSC.

[mlai]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

This is only true if you move the lever to S, AND manually select a gear. If you move the lever to S and do NOT manually select a gear, it will shift automatically.

I concurr. But it is a difference between Sport mode and shifting gear lever to S mode nonetheless.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

#2, this also happens in S mode from the lever, not only in "Sport" powertrain mode. Also, it happens regardless of SAT vs. normal transmission.

#2 was confirmed by my BMW Technician which sent a message to a BMW engineer at headquarters to confirm. To be honest, I am not sensitive to tell the difference between 0.7ms/0.3ms shifts. But if BMW says so, who am I to argue.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

#4, this is incorrect, the advanced throttle DOES happen with lever in S mode, regardless of drive select position. And this also does happen regardless of which automatic.

This one I completely disagree. There is a difference. I had my doubts until my BMW technician demonstrated to me. I live on the hillside and has a stretch of 4-lane uphill 30deg incline with multiple merging entries on the way. The BMW tech had me try to merge into uphill traffic (going at 80km/h) from standstill in normal mode, gear in S. And then he had me switch to sport mode, but leave the gear in D. Throttle response is definitely way faster in Sport mode than S. Although car accelerates nicely (by no means lack of power) with shift lever in S, it shoots off like a rocket in sport mode!

To confirm that this is indeed the case, I had a blind test (ok, maybe not physically blind) by one of my friend who has not driven my F10 before, doing the same: merging into uphill traffic at speed from standtill. And he can tell the difference between S and sport. That's a good enough proof for me that there is a difference.

My BMW tech told me that S mode primarily moves the shift points higher up, but for throttle responsiveness, gotta put the F10 in sport/sport+ mode.

Maybe they did something special to my car to appease me, or rather to make me stop badgering them for the difference between sport and S

[Bmrmeup]

I hardly ever use the sport mode. The car is fast enough as it is in normal. If I get pissed off & have to drive aggressively THEN, (BAM) I put the F10 into sport mode & handle my business ( which doesn't take very long ...........LOL). On occasion I do use the shift paddles when I remember. As you all know, it does not take long to reach 100 MPH........where the heck am I going. . Arrive safely everyone...

[radarguy]

Originally Posted by mlai

To confirm that this is indeed the case, I had a blind test (ok, maybe not physically blind) by one of my friend who has not driven my F10 before, doing the same: merging into uphill traffic at speed from standtill. And he can tell the difference between S and sport. That's a good enough proof for me that there is a difference.

Very Interesting. Will have to try it. I wish BMW would provide some tech info on this.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by mlai

I concurr. But it is a difference between Sport mode and shifting gear lever to S mode nonetheless.



#2 was confirmed by my BMW Technician which sent a message to a BMW engineer at headquarters to confirm. To be honest, I am not sensitive to tell the difference between 0.7ms/0.3ms shifts. But if BMW says so, who am I to argue.



This one I completely disagree. There is a difference. I had my doubts until my BMW technician demonstrated to me. I live on the hillside and has a stretch of 4-lane uphill 30deg incline with multiple merging entries on the way. The BMW tech had me try to merge into uphill traffic (going at 80km/h) from standstill in normal mode, gear in S. And then he had me switch to sport mode, but leave the gear in D. Throttle response is definitely way faster in Sport mode than S. Although car accelerates nicely (by no means lack of power) with shift lever in S, it shoots off like a rocket in sport mode!

To confirm that this is indeed the case, I had a blind test (ok, maybe not physically blind) by one of my friend who has not driven my F10 before, doing the same: merging into uphill traffic at speed from standtill. And he can tell the difference between S and sport. That's a good enough proof for me that there is a difference.

My BMW tech told me that S mode primarily moves the shift points higher up, but for throttle responsiveness, gotta put the F10 in sport/sport+ mode.

Maybe they did something special to my car to appease me, or rather to make me stop badgering them for the difference between sport and S

Must work differently with the sport automatic.

[mlai]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Must work differently with the sport automatic.

Mine has SAT. Must be, as I have mentioned in my original post, #2+#4 are on cars with SAT