DCT owners do you drive in Smode?

VailM3 · 04-23-2013, 07:20 AM

Or do you keep it in D and just use the sport/sport+ button instead? To me it seem a bit redundant to have Sport/sport+ and an Smode for the DCT.

As far as I got s-mode holds the gears longer and downshifts quicker when you are on the brakes. Doesn't Sport/sport+ do this of does it only impact throttle response and suspension?

SgtGigglebox · 04-23-2013, 07:26 AM

I generally keep it in sport, but will turn on sport+ at least once every other drive or so.

BMWZ4RIDER · 04-23-2013, 07:47 AM

I use sport + in manual mode 90% of the time, after full warm up and after my coffee is gone. The fun of shifting with the DCT at or near the red line is by far the most fun of all transmissions including full manual. This transmission and total overall driving performance was absolutely one of the key reasons I plunked down my money on this car. The difference between normal, sport and sport + from the gearing to suspension is incredible. The power and torque increase in sport + cannot be understated. One of the posts who stated the 35i or is as only a luxury car obviously does not drive the car enough to enjoy the pure performance of these machines.

ManiacGT · 04-23-2013, 08:48 AM

I use both. Mainly as I have adaptive suspension. There are times I want quicker power delivery (dct in S) but not toughen up the suspension. When I want tougher suspension I use drive control (sport/sport+) instead. DCT in S and Sport/Sport+ can be a bit scary with maximum power and very little traction control at the lightest throttle touch.

SgtGigglebox · 04-23-2013, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER

I use sport + in manual mode 90% of the time, after full warm up and after my coffee is gone. The fun of shifting with the DCT at or near the red line is by far the most fun of all transmissions including full manual. This transmission and total overall driving performance was absolutely one of the key reasons I plunked down my money on this car. The difference between normal, sport and sport + from the gearing to suspension is incredible. The power and torque increase in sport + cannot be understated. One of the posts who stated the 35i or is as only a luxury car obviously does not drive the car enough to enjoy the pure performance of these machines.

Running errands around the neighborhood or downtown aside, sport+ in manual is the way to have fun...

mbetoni · 04-23-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER

This transmission and total overall driving performance was absolutely one of the key reasons I plunked down my money on this car.

Have to agree. Driving the DCT in the M3 @ M School was what got me started on this whole shebang to begin with, and being a lifelong manual driver, that's how I expect to be driving the E89 (once the damn thing gets here!

).

VailM3 · 04-23-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

I use both. Mainly as I have adaptive suspension. There are times I want quicker power delivery (dct in S) but not toughen up the suspension. When I want tougher suspension I use drive control (sport/sport+) instead. DCT in S and Sport/Sport+ can be a bit scary with maximum power and very little traction control at the lightest throttle touch.

OK I havent put the car in Smode. Honestly i didnt realize it had this function and was content with just the Sport/Sport+ button instead. I will have to give it a try with Smode and Sport+ when nobody is around.

I take it the exhaust has a lounder/longer bark due to holding revs higher in Smode than in Dmode?

ManiacGT · 04-23-2013, 11:03 AM

Its noisy, yes.

Asbjorn · 04-23-2013, 11:07 AM

I think S stands for sequential mode rather than sports mode.

According to my feeling, the gear shifts offered with the S mode are harder compared to the M or D modes. Especially in sport+, the S mode really kicks the car on each gear shift. I believe it is meant to simulate a sequential gearbox rather than just offer sports shifting (ie its different from D/M in sport/sport+)

z4z4z4 · 04-23-2013, 02:34 PM

A few years have just about passed since I posted this and it seems it may serve newer owners at this time.

dr_mikee · 04-23-2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z4z4z4

A few years have just about passed since I posted this and it seems it may serve newer owners at this time.

so besides turning off traction whats the real difference between SPORT+ and SPORT cause to me it looks identical in the charts??

mbetoni · 04-23-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_mikee

so besides turning off traction whats the real difference between SPORT+ and SPORT cause to me it looks identical in the charts??

For a manual transmission, nothing. For the IS, which is DCT-only, a few things:

If left in DS, the gear changes are delayed (more RPMs per).

Either in DS or M, the gear changes themselves are faster in SPORT+.

nicknaz · 04-23-2013, 10:04 PM

I noticed that sport+ button and S mode keeps the RPM over 3000rpm (i.e. 7th gear never used, 6th gear only used at higher speeds) vs. sport button and S mode the car will shift into 7th gear often but downshift quickly when the gas is pressed down

When I am on a new road I drive in sport+ and S mode so I can can concentrate on other aspects of the drive. The computer does a good job keeping the engine over 3000rpm and in the powerband but sometimes doesn't downshift into first soon enough when entering really tight corners.

williakz · 04-23-2013, 10:30 PM

How does the tanker full of 93 keep up with you?

nicknaz · 04-24-2013, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by williakz

How does the tanker full of 93 keep up with you?

When I'm really going for it the car is still able to achieve 10mpg, so range hasn't been a problem yet....

VailM3 · 04-24-2013, 01:36 AM

So actually put it in Smode and sport on the drive to work, car is too eager to say the least. Best to reserve this for spirited mountain drive than the commute to work.

nicknaz · 04-24-2013, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VailM3

So actually put it in Smode and sport on the drive to work, car is too eager to say the least. Best to reserve this for spirited mountain drive than the commute to work.

How modified is your car? stock E89 35i is a slug unless you are revving the crap out of it...

ManiacGT · 04-24-2013, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicknaz

How modified is your car? stock E89 35i is a slug unless you are revving the crap out of it...

You can't rev the crap out of the 35i, the turbos run out of wind. There is plenty of power in the mid band rev range. Its far from a slug, its a 5 second car?!

Asbjorn · 04-24-2013, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z4z4z4

A few years have just about passed since I posted this and it seems it may serve newer owners at this time.

I have attached my comments to your nice chart. My comments are solely based on data from my butt dyno.

Vintage · 04-24-2013, 09:27 AM

sport button vast majority of the time and about half of that time I am also in the S DCT mode

fl_cyclist · 04-24-2013, 10:16 AM

I am the majority of time in Sport, I don't like the throttle response in Comfort. On the weekend I may use Sport+ and Smode for some fun but it not too often as I am happy in Sport and the gas mileage is better.

tranquility · 04-24-2013, 03:34 PM

As default just doing errands I leave it in D and Normal. When I like to get more of a throttle response, I go to D and Sport. When that's not enough as I want to keep my revs up, I go to D-Smode and Sport. I've been too lazy to go M and Sport but that's my fave setup. I rarely use Sport+ in any of its modes.

04-23-2013, 07:20 AM	#1
VailM3 Captain 61 Rep 766 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Geneva Switzerland iTrader: (0)	DCT owners do you drive in Smode? Or do you keep it in D and just use the sport/sport+ button instead? To me it seem a bit redundant to have Sport/sport+ and an Smode for the DCT. As far as I got s-mode holds the gears longer and downshifts quicker when you are on the brakes. Doesn't Sport/sport+ do this of does it only impact throttle response and suspension?
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04-23-2013, 07:26 AM	#2
SgtGigglebox Lieutenant 100 Rep 494 Posts Drives: '13 Atacama 35is Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington D.C. Area iTrader: (0)	I generally keep it in sport, but will turn on sport+ at least once every other drive or so.
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04-23-2013, 07:47 AM	#3
BMWZ4RIDER BMWZ4Rider 69 Rep 801 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW Z4 35i Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cape Cod, MA iTrader: (0)	I use sport + in manual mode 90% of the time, after full warm up and after my coffee is gone. The fun of shifting with the DCT at or near the red line is by far the most fun of all transmissions including full manual. This transmission and total overall driving performance was absolutely one of the key reasons I plunked down my money on this car. The difference between normal, sport and sport + from the gearing to suspension is incredible. The power and torque increase in sport + cannot be understated. One of the posts who stated the 35i or is as only a luxury car obviously does not drive the car enough to enjoy the pure performance of these machines. __________________ 2009 BMW Z4 35i/SMG/DCT/Premium,Cold, Sound PK/Com Acc/Ash/PDC/Wind Deflector/Smoked Reflectors/Red Calipers/Cl Mask/M Series Grill/6000K LED's/De-Badged/M Pedals/CF Mirrors-Engine Cover/Stubby/20% Tint/H8 LED's/LCI Side Markers/Sniper Sprint Spoiler/VMR V710/H&R Sport Springs/KN.
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04-23-2013, 08:48 AM	#4
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	I use both. Mainly as I have adaptive suspension. There are times I want quicker power delivery (dct in S) but not toughen up the suspension. When I want tougher suspension I use drive control (sport/sport+) instead. DCT in S and Sport/Sport+ can be a bit scary with maximum power and very little traction control at the lightest throttle touch.
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04-23-2013, 11:03 AM	#8
ManiacGT Major 85 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Its noisy, yes.
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04-23-2013, 11:07 AM	#9
Asbjorn Captain 90 Rep 833 Posts Drives: Z4 N54 DCT (VTT GC lites) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: European in China iTrader: (0)	I think S stands for sequential mode rather than sports mode. According to my feeling, the gear shifts offered with the S mode are harder compared to the M or D modes. Especially in sport+, the S mode really kicks the car on each gear shift. I believe it is meant to simulate a sequential gearbox rather than just offer sports shifting (ie its different from D/M in sport/sport+)
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04-23-2013, 02:34 PM	#10
z4z4z4 Lieutenant 45 Rep 547 Posts Drives: 2002 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: mild mediterranean breezes iTrader: (1)	A few years have just about passed since I posted this and it seems it may serve newer owners at this time. __________________ Sold 2011 Z4, kept 2002 M3 PM for various e89 parts 4sale. Last edited by z4z4z4; 02-04-2015 at 01:39 AM..
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04-23-2013, 10:04 PM	#13
nicknaz Lieutenant General 3187 Rep 10,509 Posts Drives: C6Z Join Date: May 2008 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	I noticed that sport+ button and S mode keeps the RPM over 3000rpm (i.e. 7th gear never used, 6th gear only used at higher speeds) vs. sport button and S mode the car will shift into 7th gear often but downshift quickly when the gas is pressed down When I am on a new road I drive in sport+ and S mode so I can can concentrate on other aspects of the drive. The computer does a good job keeping the engine over 3000rpm and in the powerband but sometimes doesn't downshift into first soon enough when entering really tight corners.
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04-23-2013, 10:30 PM	#14
williakz Banned 6 Rep 119 Posts Drives: Lexus LS460 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: AL iTrader: (0)	How does the tanker full of 93 keep up with you?
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04-24-2013, 01:36 AM	#16
VailM3 Captain 61 Rep 766 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Geneva Switzerland iTrader: (0)	So actually put it in Smode and sport on the drive to work, car is too eager to say the least. Best to reserve this for spirited mountain drive than the commute to work.
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04-24-2013, 09:27 AM	#20
Vintage Colonel 378 Rep 2,588 Posts Drives: BMW G80 (MT), 718 Spyder Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	sport button vast majority of the time and about half of that time I am also in the S DCT mode
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04-24-2013, 10:16 AM	#21
fl_cyclist At the Beach or On the Road 0 Rep 99 Posts Drives: Z4 35is Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: S. Fl iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 z4 35is [0.00]	I am the majority of time in Sport, I don't like the throttle response in Comfort. On the weekend I may use Sport+ and Smode for some fun but it not too often as I am happy in Sport and the gas mileage is better.
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04-24-2013, 03:34 PM	#22
tranquility sportscars only 3244 Rep 3,195 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	As default just doing errands I leave it in D and Normal. When I like to get more of a throttle response, I go to D and Sport. When that's not enough as I want to keep my revs up, I go to D-Smode and Sport. I've been too lazy to go M and Sport but that's my fave setup. I rarely use Sport+ in any of its modes.
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