X5M - Driving modes question

[clevemont]

New X5M owner here. I learned pretty quickly to always be driving with the M button engaged to get the full aural experience of having the exhaust valves open. I assume others are always driving with the M button engaged as well?
What I'm really curious about is how many folks are always driving with the stick in "S" mode. The ride is a bit harsher given the higher shift points, but the throttle response is more immediate given that you are already driving at the higher rev levels. Thoughts?

[frankenm]

It takes a lot of practice to drive this truck in S mode properly for a smooth ride and can be really fun especially when braking since the truck loves to engine brake.

1st gear can be rough and it leaves a zone between 20-40MPH where you might be in 2nd or 3rd and it's not optimal for street cruising since it can shift back and forth as you move around 3.5k RPM

[TheVazha]

Yep.

S mode is amazing with no other cars on the road or a spirited canyon drive. It's also amazing if you love gas stations. The sensation is amplified once you get a tune.

I find that in traffic I sit in normal mode. However as soon as I see someone wants a fight, the M button goes on and the stick is slapped to the left!

[m5james]

Newer BMW's have normal, sport and sport+. We don't have it labeled that technically, but it's basically the same except we have one more choice is the way I see it. Normal is...normal. We can do normal shifting with and without M mode. We can also do sport shifting with and without M mode. Here's how I've broken it down to myself.

Normal = D and no M mode
Power = D and M mode
Sport = S and no M mode
Sport+ = S and M mode

I myself always like having M mode on for obvious reasons. If anything I wish it was on by default...I didn't by this car for gas mileage. S & M mode is fun during spirited driving, but the throttle is like an on/off switch once you're back to normal driving (cruising, neighborhoods, etc) but what I hate about NOT being in sport (assuming I'm already in M mode) is the cars constant need to try to goto the highest gear possible = slight drone due to catless downpipes and ziptied open valves.

[frankenm]

S mode + M is super aggressive when it comes to braking ... nothing like dropping to 1st at 35mph during a hard brake and hear the engine roar, burble and shoot fire out of the exhaust as it slows to a stop

Wife actually said the truck is too loud when I drive it like this and sounds like we’re racing and is super obnoxious

[m5james]

She's got a lot of nerve...good thing she won't take the X5M when you get that divorce!

[clevemont]

Originally Posted by frankenm

It takes a lot of practice to drive this truck in S mode properly for a smooth ride and can be really fun especially when braking since the truck loves to engine brake.

1st gear can be rough and it leaves a zone between 20-40MPH where you might be in 2nd or 3rd and it's not optimal for street cruising since it can shift back and forth as you move around 3.5k RPM

I'm being told that a Velos tune will help with these sometimes rough shift points. Does anyone have any insight into this?

[clevemont]

Originally Posted by m5james

Newer BMW's have normal, sport and sport+. We don't have it labeled that technically, but it's basically the same except we have one more choice is the way I see it. Normal is...normal. We can do normal shifting with and without M mode. We can also do sport shifting with and without M mode. Here's how I've broken it down to myself.

Normal = D and no M mode
Power = D and M mode
Sport = S and no M mode
Sport+ = S and M mode

I myself always like having M mode on for obvious reasons. If anything I wish it was on by default...I didn't by this car for gas mileage. S & M mode is fun during spirited driving, but the throttle is like an on/off switch once you're back to normal driving (cruising, neighborhoods, etc) but what I hate about NOT being in sport (assuming I'm already in M mode) is the cars constant need to try to goto the highest gear possible = slight drone due to catless downpipes and ziptied open valves.

I didn't realize that the new Ms didn't have an M button. I'll need to test this out. I've never actually driven in the S and no M mode. Love that open valves sound though so this mode seems like it will be the least used setting.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by clevemont

I'm being told that a Velos tune will help with these sometimes rough shift points. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Engine flash has zero to do with trans flash. XP makes s trans flash if you're interested.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by clevemont

I didn't realize that the new Ms didn't have an M button. I'll need to test this out. I've never actually driven in the S and no M mode. Love that open valves sound though so this mode seems like it will be the least used setting.

I'm guessing the newer M's still have an M button, I was just thinking about what I had a 528 loaner and it's settings.

[TheVazha]

Originally Posted by clevemont

I'm being told that a Velos tune will help with these sometimes rough shift points. Does anyone have any insight into this?

I have Velos tune and it is amazing. In Sport + M mode it seems like it's always in the right gear for what you want it to do, assuming you've not sitting in traffic. Coming out of corners is especially fun in SM mode. But, nothing is perfect. In even slight traffic it's un-drivable. It just holds high rpm's and it gets annoying.

I agree with other complaints here, in M mode on its own, while it's a rocket ship at WOT it's still a bit sluggish. Well, compared to sport + M at least. It's just such a drastic difference.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by clevemont

I'm being told that a Velos tune will help with these sometimes rough shift points. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Their product description states that their software increases shift speed...and I can tell you it's night and day between the stock tune and Velos when it comes to crisp shifts. Not sure how they did it but they did. I was pleasantly surprised. So much so, that I skipped on the XP transmission software.

[Colodano]

I feel that shifts are different after the Velos tune, but maybe it has to do with throttle angle changes, and the engine mapping in tip in and tip out at the shift points, and how it holds boost.