sport mode

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cwelch999

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I have an 04 330CiC and, yes, I have a SLIPtronic transmission. Dealer already 'failed to reproduce problem' once and I'm taking it back tomorrow now armed with lots of info from this board

My other question is this: when I switch into sport mode my car does not seem to behave any differently than in D. The shift points are not noticeably higher and on the highway it goes all the way up to 5th gear, when I thought that sport mode maxes out in 4th gear.

Any comments or similiar situations? Anyone think this could be related to the sliptronic, or is this possibly a computer programming issue?

Thanks
 
Kirby

Kirby

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I'm just guessing at this, but I seem to recall that the shift RPM in normal mode is around 2600 to 3000 RPM, where in sport mode it is above 3000 RPM. I do know that I notice the difference if I listen for it or watch the tach, but it's not like sport mode winds out over 5000 RPM.

I'm 99% positive that Sport mode includes 5th, I have just never paid attention to it, but I think I would have noticed if it didn't include 5th.
 
bmwrocks

bmwrocks

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Sport mode should give you noticeably higher RPM shift points for all gears. You should also notice more aggressive downshifts as you slow down.

There is a distinct difference in my vehicles in the D vs. S mode. Sometimes the car will cruise along (constant speed) at more than 3000 RPM without shifting to a higher gear. The difference in available power is huge from 2000 vs. 3000 RPMs

Also S does include 5th gear but it doesn't shift into it until a higher speed.
 
MyHarley

MyHarley

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May I give an opinion..........there is a such a big difference in the sport mode versus drive mode that there must be a problem if you cant tell the difference. Even if you are driving at low speeds continuously going from 0 to say 35 , the car jerks more if you are in sport mode because it wants to go and is revving a lot higher than in the drive mode. In sport mode you are basically getting close to red line each shift and slowing down is also jerky. Does your manual mode feel any different? I think the sport mode and manual are very close due to the car shifting for you if you dont do it on time. You need to gun your car in drive and then gun it in sport mode, getting up to about 70 quickly........you should be saying holy moly by then if the sport mode is working properly. When my customers drive my car, they start out in drive of course, cause they dont know any different, while we are going down the road, I reach over and flip it to sports mode and it shoots out and they are amazed. I of course do this when no other people are in front of us and I know they have control of the steering.

Just thought I would throw in my .02 worth since I'm a professional racer now......[rofl] [rofl] [rofl] [rofl] , I'm still laughing about it today..........[burnout]
 
donmbmw

donmbmw

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I agree with My Harley. If you can't tell the difference between sport and drive then there is something wrong. The shift points are definetly higher. Have you played around with the manual mode? It's great fun, and you never have to worry if you forget that you are in manual because the tranny will upshift and downshift on its own so as not to cause any damage. The cold morning slippage is a problem for sure,(I have it too but very minor) but outside of that the steptronic is the best transmission I ever drove.
 
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gbf1lm

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it should definetly hold it in gear longer but for the 330 i believe that it takes it into 5th. u may b counfused with maybe a steptronic equivilant of another car, this is why:in sport mode teh car will not go into OD, wich is not nessisarily 5th, other cars have 1-4 + OD 5th. i think 330s have 1-5, no OD. i could be mistaken though.
 
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cwelch999

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Yes, I have used the manumatic (though not really as a substitute for D or S). From what I am reading here I definitely should notice a difference in the shifting points for the D versus the S and more engine braking when in S (which I notice none at all -- a big disappointment to me as I really enjoy and utilize that in my Nissan Murano Sport mode).

So I will definitely have them look into this as well when I take it in tomorrow morning for work on:

"Slip"tronic transmission (2nd visit)
passenger door handle cable (2nd visit -- door won't open from outside, was fixed once then broke again after 10 days)
passenger window one-touch up (was probably broken when they tried to fix the cable)
creaks around windshield and back section of roof (both driver side)

This is my 4th BMW and the first one that I have seriously considered as a lemon. The car has only 2000 miles on it (picked it up in October and was a special order). I had to bring it back twice to get the stupid keys programmed right, now this will be the second time for warranty items. Four dealer visits in less than 4 months does not bode well...
 
sarahj12

sarahj12

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regarding sport mode - from a complete stop the default gear appears to be 2nd - is this (rather than 1st gear) just a fuel conservation thing, or is taking off in 1st gear no good for the engine? Take offs in 1st versus 2nd are definately different.
 
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gbf1lm

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sarahj12 said:
regarding sport mode - from a complete stop the default gear appears to be 2nd - is this (rather than 1st gear) just a fuel conservation thing, or is taking off in 1st gear no good for the engine? Take offs in 1st versus 2nd are definately different.
Click to expand...
i think it does that sometimes when not in sport mode, bc if it were wet/snowy and u hit that gas, in 1st u could get teh wheels slippin.
 
bmwrocks

bmwrocks

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sarahj12 said:
regarding sport mode - from a complete stop the default gear appears to be 2nd - is this (rather than 1st gear) just a fuel conservation thing, or is taking off in 1st gear no good for the engine? Take offs in 1st versus 2nd are definately different.
Click to expand...
Are you sure it actually takes off in 2nd? I would have to go out and try but I think I remember being able to actually shift + above M2 at a standstill and then take off and it will shift automatically like S mode until you reach the selected gear then revert to M mode.....

Someone needs to try this (maybe me if I can get away).
 
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