Let's face it. You didn't buy a BMW because you thought it would be a nice sensible car to run you to the store and back.
You bought a BMW because you know what happens when you hit the open road and put your foot down...
Well, BMW knows that, too. I mean sure, it's not like they're only putting out zippy little runabouts; we can't all drive Z4s, you know ;) But whatever you drive — from a nimble 2 Series to an X7 behemoth — BMW has given a few little ways for you to get a taste of the company's sporting heritage behind the wheel.
As the imaginative name suggests, the BMW Driving Dynamics Control system is the first place to turn to, uh, control your vehicle's driving dynamics. Just flip a switch and completely change how your BMW performs with one of a few drive modes.
For the thrill-seekers among us, BMW Sport Mode is the obvious choice.
What is BMW Sport Mode?
So much of your BMW's performance — from gear shifts to traction control settings — is managed by a bunch of onboard electronics systems. When do you change into third? The computer says... now. So much for all that man-at-one-with-machine talk.
With BMW Driving Dynamics Control, you can't wrestle back complete control (you'll need to drive stick for that), but you can nudge your car's system in the right direction.
The BMW Sport Mode configuration is designed to wring the most performance possible out of your vehicle — even if that means sacrificing fuel efficiency. It's your way of telling your car to be a little more aggressive than it would be on your typical morning drive in the suburbs.
So what's the difference between the modes, exactly? Beyond vague promises of "more spirited driving"?
Let's start with Comfort Mode. You're probably already used to it; it's the default driving dynamic. It's safe, comfortable (if you couldn't guess from the name), middle-of-the-road. Decent performance, decent efficiency. All the stuff you like for everyday driving.
What does BMW Sport Mode do?
Switch into Sport Mode, however, and things start to get interesting.
You'll immediately notice a change to your shifting patterns — your automatic transmission will take its sweet time between shifts, so you reach higher rev levels. Not great for fuel efficiency, but just what you're looking for when you're in the mood for a little excitement.
A few things will change when it comes to steering, too. It'll be tuned a little tighter, with less power assistance at lower RPMs. That means you'll end up putting more work in to throw your BMW round turns, and get a lot more road feedback in the process.
You might also notice your suspension stiffening up a bit. The stiffer BMW Sport Mode suspension means a more exhilarating drive on twisting lanes — exactly what you'd expect from Sport Mode. That's going to depend on your vehicle's suspension option, though; BMWs with Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) or Active Roll Stabilization (ARS) will feel a difference, but other vehicles might miss out.
All in all, there's a hell of a lot of sportiness on offer. Surely it couldn't get any better than that?
BMW Sport Mode vs Sport Plus
Well, that's where you're wrong! In some vehicles, BMW takes things up another notch with Sport+ mode. It packs in all the goodness of Sport Mode, with the added excitement of reduced traction.
With BMW Sport Mode, traction control means about the same as it does in Comfort Mode. You'll still have Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) activated, to keep you from sliding all over the road. That also means that even in BMW Sport Mode, wheel spin can be hard to come by.
Switch into BMW Sport Plus Mode, though, and DSC is switched off. Not that you're left completely alone — Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) is still there to make sure you keep some control over your car.
If all these acronyms are flying over your head, DTC is that thing you switch on for a moment when you're heading up a snow- or gravel-covered hill and need a little wheel slip. With Sport+, that's the standard traction control setting, so needless to say, wheel spin is back on the menu ;)
Just a little disclaimer, though: if you think this talk of DTC means you should be using BMW Sport Plus mode in snow and rain... seriously, don't do that. Stick to the run-of-the-mill Sport Mode in low-traction situations, and leave the BMW DSC button well alone.
Which BMWs have Sport Mode?
Probably the best thing about BMW Sport Mode is how widely available it is. Most modern BMWs have it as an option — it's not limited only to sportier vehicles. That gives everybody the chance to get a little sporty behind the wheel every now and then, even if you don't want to go full out Fast and Furious with a high-performance M Sport model.
The story with Sport+ is a little different. BMW doesn't seem to think the average driver is going to have much interest in the white-knuckle adventure of its sportiest drive mode, so it's generally made available only in vehicles with the higher-spec performance options.
How to enable Sport Plus Mode for BMW
Fortunately, BMW Sport Plus Mode is an easy option to unlock in a wide range of vehicles. It only takes a few minutes and a remote BMW iDrive coding session with an expert technician.
Find out if Sport+ Mode is available for your BMW.
With Sport Plus mode activated, you can toggle between Sport and Sport+ with the sport button on your dashboard. You might also be able to jump straight to Sport+ mode by pushing your BMW gear lever to the left. Try it and see!
Other BMW Sport Mode Coding Options
When you're activating Sport+ Mode in your BMW, there's more you can do to give your car a sporty new look. They won't make your car any faster, but it will look faster, and isn't that what really matters? ;)
BMW Sport Display / M Sport Display coding
Why waste your iDrive screen showing navigation when the wide open road is the only place you're headed?
With Sport Display and M Sport Display, you can show power and torque gauges on your dashboard display. Watch those needles climb higher as your foot sinks deep onto the pedal.
As everything's digital and fully lit up, you won't have any trouble keeping track of vital metrics when you're on a hot lap. Of course it's not going to be as convenient as a 6WB digital cluster — which comes with a special BMW Sport Mode display when you switch your driving dynamic settings — but it's a great choice for occasional gearheads.
With either the standard Sport or M Sport style to choose from, your display is definitely going to put you in the mood to drive hard.
BMW RDC Safety coding
The harder you drive — and the more traction control you switch off — the more important it is to stay on top of your tire condition.
With RDC Safety, you can see an exact digital readout of the pressure of each of your tires. Check everything's within the manufacturer's recommended operating range before you do anything too adventurous on a twisting country road...
BMW Start & Stop button coding
If you're out for a more energetic drive, you probably want to make a quick start at the lights. Nobody likes getting smoked by the Honda in the next lane. So it's a real shame when your auto-start/stop kicks in and shuts off your engine.
To avoid the deflated feeling of crawling away across the intersection, coding your BMW to keep the engine on as you wait at the lights means you're always primed and ready to go as soon as you hit the throttle.
In some vehicles, BMW takes things up another notch with Sport+ mode. It packs in all the goodness of Sport Mode, with the added excitement of reduced traction. With BMW Sport Mode, traction control means about the same as it does in Comfort Mode.
What is the sports plus mode? Sport+ in auto mode keeps your revs and gear at a position for max power output for your current speed and throttle position. You can also configure sport+ to have either the drive train or chassis or both tightened. Which means the electric steering and suspension can be stiffer.
SPORT mode, on the other hand, ramps up power, enabling your BMW to perform at its peak sportiness. It accomplishes this by shortening the gearshift times in the transmission, making it easier to pick up speed and generate more power. You'll hear your engine rev up and roar once you switch into this powerful mode.
Yes, you can drive your car in sport mode all of the time BUT you need to be prepared to pay a bit extra for it (and possibly put additional wear and strain on your car).
Plus Sport organizations are more focused on the non-sporting outcomes that result from the programs such as increasing positive education outcomes, providing mentorship and guidance or reducing gang violence. Both types of organizations provide great services and opportunities for children.
Other than that, Sport + mode only turns off traction control which you can do manually. Sport plus doesn't just turn off traction control. That was true in pre LCI F30. Or more accurately it turns on DTC on the older models only but also makes the car more aggressive than sport on newer models.
BMW launched a new option called the M Sport plus Package. This package offers upgrades on the 1,3 and 5 series BMW. Options include Xenon headlights, sun protection glass, Harman kardon sound system and exclusive to the BMW 3 Series new 19-inch M Sport alloy wheels.
If you have dared to push it, you might have found that it made your car seem quicker as you bop around town, almost as though your ride found a few extra ponies in the paddock. Well, that Sport button doesn't squeeze more horsepower out of your engine — but it might make you think it has.
What is the BMW M Sport Plus package? M Sport Plus is available on certain models. This adds some extra goodies, typically including new alloy wheels and improved brakes.
You can switch to sport mode while driving. Turning it on when you're already in motion won't damage your car. Sport mode typically functions much like cruise control. It's meant to be activated in the moment when necessary.
The sports mode will employ more power to the car enabling it to accelerate quicker and give the driver more responsive performance than what the comfort modes would provide.
The Sport mode is for an extra thrilling & aggressive driving experience. Sport mode gives a quicker throttle response for a sporty drive, meaning the car accelerates more readily. In addition, more fuel is introduced into the engine to increase the available power.
Increased throttle response works wonders whether you're on the highway or overtaking on a two-lane road. The combination of the increase in horsepower, torque, and response will have you zipping up and past anyone at a much faster pace.
You should let the engine come up to temp before hitting it hard though. Usually that's around 10 minutes. I stay under 3k until 8-10mins has passed. If you don't the engine will wear quicker.
You can sign up to add extra sports channels to your YouTube TV membership with the Sports Plus option. Sports Plus is a package of channels you can add to the Base Plan for $10.99 per month.
At its most basic, Sport mode is intended to sharpen how a vehicle responds to a driver's inputs. It does so by telling the car's computers to adjust certain settings, such as throttle sensitivity and the transmission's shift points (assuming it's an automatic).
Sometimes, when driving in the snow and up a hill, you will need a little or a lot of wheel spin to help you. This is where DTC, or Dynamic Traction Control, can be your best friend.
The results are promising. Don't focus on the raw values as the computer is never 100% accurate - look at the MPG difference between both modes. It appears after my testing on highways, the difference between MPG consumption in COMFORT and SPORT is negligible.
Turning off the traction control on your car while racing can definitely help you to drive faster and bring you lap times down by a considerable amount. However, it does require a large amount of skill in order to keep your car on the track. There are dangers to disabling it on your car though.
An easy way to distinguish between the two is by the badge on the trunk. A 340i with the M Sport package, for instance, will just say '340i'; the M Performance version, the BMW M340i, though will actually say 'M340i. ' And while M Sport is mostly about looks, M Performance adds genuine speed.
M Sport models do cost more than equivalent SE models, whether you're getting a new or used car, but you may feel the sportier looks and driving experience are worth it. Also, because they're so popular, M Sport models tend to hold onto their value especially well, too.
Steve Shields. BMW M Sport is the top spec trim that BMW has to offer, and is available across the entire BMW range. This trim is also the most sought after, which is hardly surprising as it typically costs around £3,000 more than the next trim down when new!
This pre-emptively eliminates boost-lag that typically occurs when the throttle is first applied. The result? Easier access to the fastest possible off-the-line starts.
This package increases engine output to 617 horsepower, and adds 21/22" M Star-spoke bi-color wheels, extended Shadowline exterior trim, M Sport exhaust system, M Seat Belts, and additional Merino Leather upholstery options including exclusive Midrand Beige.
Registered. Just hit the driver control switch on the center console (ECO PRO > COMFORT >SPORT etc). If you have Adaptive it will ask you on the iDrive screen if you want to change 'Chassis & Drivetrain'. Non Adaptive cars don't have the chassis option (suspension).
Do not use sport mode. If, however, your car is rear-wheel drive, fill a few sandbags and place them in the trunk over the back axle. This will help add traction and stabilize the car, as RWD cars tend to slide more in snow.
Put simply, activating sport mode — which, depending upon the vehicle, requires nothing more than pressing a button or twisting a dial — adjusts performance in crucial areas such as: The engine, which gains a more “sensitive” throttle that increases acceleration responsiveness.
Sport mode will tend to hold lower gears for longer compared with regular Drive. Aside from increasing performance, this mode can be useful when driving in hilly areas due to increased engine braking going downhill.
By selecting Sport, you will need less throttle for acceleration because the car is already in a lower gear than it would have been at the same speed in Normal mode. This style of driving can result in better fuel consumption figures.
Sport Mode will often, but not always, include a boost in available torque and power, which translates into quicker acceleration and a higher top speed. Of course, this usually means increased fuel consumption as well, which is one of the reasons it might be a good idea to turn off Sport Mode when it's not needed.
The Sport mode is for an extra thrilling & aggressive driving experience. Sport mode gives a quicker throttle response for a sporty drive, meaning the car accelerates more readily. In addition, more fuel is introduced into the engine to increase the available power.
Capabilities such as faster acceleration and increased horsepower and torque put more strain on the engine, which, in turn, leads to higher fuel consumption. The decrease in fuel efficiency is ultimately the reason that Sport Mode is a feature that can be turned on and off.
Louder exhaust: In cars with an adjustable or dual-mode exhaust, Sport Mode can increase exhaust flow.This increases horsepower and makes more noise. Some models don't have a real adjustable exhaust system but will play a sportier exhaust sound on the vehicle's speakers.
You can switch to sport mode while driving. Turning it on when you're already in motion won't damage your car. Sport mode typically functions much like cruise control. It's meant to be activated in the moment when necessary.
Expect sharper handling and less body roll once you shift your car to sport mode. On some vehicles, shifting to sport mode adjusts the dampening levels in their shock absorbers. Usually, only high-end luxury and sports cars have adjustable shock absorbers.
This pre-emptively eliminates boost-lag that typically occurs when the throttle is first applied. The result? Easier access to the fastest possible off-the-line starts.
Sport mode is most useful when you want to explore your automobile's full performance capabilities. Since this setting will likely make the throttle response sharper, the steering heavier, and the suspension not quite as comfortable, you'll want to avoid using it while commuting.
The Eco Mode helps your fuel economy improve up to about 20 percent. You can select this drive mode to adjust engine power and transmission operation to help maximize fuel economy. The Sport Mode, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of the Eco Mode and a bit more aggressive in terms of performance and drivability.
More air being consumed produces more exhaust being driven out with more force. So if sport mode gives you a more aggressive throttle response, then it probably opens the throttle body a bit more for the same level of throttle, thereby making more power and producing more sound.
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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