Steptronic Question on '01 Sport

[Templeglantine]

Just wondering, when trans is in sports mode, what's the difference from when it's in regular mode. Does it change gears @ a higher rev or is there something else involved?

[sealbeach740]

Yep, that's it. I holds the revs a bit longer before it shifts.
Not sure if it actually shifts, quicker, but I haven't noticed that it does.
Of course, in Sport mode you can shift it yourself (sequentially).

[dazednkenfused]

Sport mode "S" - Still automatic but shifts are more aggressive depending on your throttle input. If you drive normal on "S" (with a light foot), it will feel like "D" (non-sport)

Manual mode "M" - Uses +/- in the shifter to manual go through gears 1,2,3,4,5; will not shift on it's own

[DUDMD]

You can't use 5th gear when in S mode. You can engage it manually if you wanted though.

[Raudi Driver]

For some reason, sport mode in my old E38 turned the car into a beast. It felt a lot stronger off the line even from a low RPM. My new E38 doesn't feel as strong. It's a better motor but for some reason, the sport mode doesn't feel as sporty. Maybe my old car had a transmission reprogram or something.

[Awestfield]

For some reason, sport mode in my old E38 turned the car into a beast. It felt a lot stronger off the line even from a low RPM. My new E38 doesn't feel as strong. It's a better motor but for some reason, the sport mode doesn't feel as sporty. Maybe my old car had a transmission reprogram or something.

Was it a 95? They also had the 3.15 diff

[board57796]

The other day I had forgotten to put my car into Sport (I always do) and it was funny because after accelerating away from a traffic light, I could immediately tell I had forgotten because of how early the transmission shifted compared to what it "normally" does in Sport.

[sealbeach740]

Manual mode "M" - Uses +/- in the shifter to manual go through gears 1,2,3,4,5; will not shift on it's own

I believe even if you're in Manual mode, and say, shift it into 2nd, it will shift to 3rd if you rev it high enough.
I don't think it will let you floor it in 2nd & just stay in 2nd as you keep it floored. Unless you've have a software update to the tranny (like Dinan), it will upshift on it's own.

And, if it's in 4th or 5th & come to a stop, it will downshift to 3rd on it's own.
I really, really wish there was a way to make it downshift to 1st when you come to a stop instead of 3rd.

[board57796]

Correct, at high enough RPM it will shift itself to the next gear. At least stock, that's how it is.

[DUDMD]

What I hate is that if the rpm is too low and you floor it, it will downshift. So I could only dyno it from 3000rpm, vs 1500 that I was able to do with a non-steptronic shifter

Sent from my iPhone using BF.com

[Awestfield]

So now I ask which is better or more perfered? Steptronic or non stepptronic?

[sealbeach740]

So now I ask which is better or more perfered? Steptronic or non stepptronic?

I vote steptronic. It does all the non-steptronic does, plus more.
Shifting sequentially is fun to play with, and adding paddles just makes it more fun!