DS versus D with the auto transmissions

[nato-main-man-5am]

finding that except in, say, a parking lot, driving in DS mode is far more pleasant than regular D mode.

wondering why the car isn't just set up in DS mode from the start as the default. i suppose it's a little less fuel efficient, but i'm not noticing a significant difference.

does bmw intend for anyone to actually use the "D" mode when "DS" is available?

[andrey_gta]

Your case sounds like the accelerator issues with this:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...highlight=130i

[JuuS]

If the car came fixed on DS mode only you'd be on here complaining the car is too jerky especially in parking lots. The car is fine. It comes in 2 modes for your preference. Just leave it at that.

[135ivert]

I use DS for around town, when I appreciate the higher revs & later shift points, and D for highway driving.

I'm sure D is the default for fuel economy purposes.

[Greenkirby21]

That is why I only use manual mode now

[chrisN]

i use D mode when im a tightarse for petrol.

[TheSt|G]

D always starts the car in second gear, so that's probably what you are primarily noticing around town.

[Billup]

I have a question kind of relating to the DS portion.

I've noticed at times if I am in DS mode, the car will automatically take it out of DS mode and a D will appear on the panel and the car will resume to shift/downshift on its own, even if I have the shifter still engaged in DS. Is there a reason behind this? I can click up or down and get it back into mode, but it will rev up and go immediately back into D mode? Kind of confused by this.

[JuuS]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

D always starts the car in second gear, so that's probably what you are primarily noticing around town.

I don't find this to be true. In D mode, WOT, my shiftpoint is around 65km/h and I have to feather the throttle to reduce wheelspin. In second, I can almost freely stomp on it and I'm 100+ before the shift.

It might be totally different on the GM tranny though...

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by JuuS

I don't find this to be true. In D mode, WOT, my shiftpoint is around 65km/h and I have to feather the throttle to reduce wheelspin. In second, I can almost freely stomp on it and I'm 100+ before the shift.

It might be totally different on the GM tranny though...

Nope. Its the truth man. Youll notice that if you let the car downshit in manual mode while slowing down that it wont drop into first too.

[Zombie1]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Nope. Its the truth man. Youll notice that if you let the car downshit in manual mode while slowing down that it wont drop into first too.

Mine always starts in second

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by Billup

I have a question kind of relating to the DS portion.

I've noticed at times if I am in DS mode, the car will automatically take it out of DS mode and a D will appear on the panel and the car will resume to shift/downshift on its own, even if I have the shifter still engaged in DS. Is there a reason behind this? I can click up or down and get it back into mode, but it will rev up and go immediately back into D mode? Kind of confused by this.

I haven't seen this. Is it when you reach the extreme limits of the range and the car needs to override you? Even then, I have only seen it go back into DS non manual mode, not into D mode.

Originally Posted by Zombie1

Mine always starts in second

How can you tell? Is this a 135 thing (being able to tell)? It does seem like when I have it in manual but still in D mode, not DS, it will only down shift to 2nd at a stop.

[Billup]

Originally Posted by nato-main-man-5am

I haven't seen this. Is it when you reach the extreme limits of the range and the car needs to override you? Even then, I have only seen it go back into DS non manual mode, not into D mode.

How can you tell? Is this a 135 thing (being able to tell)? It does seem like when I have it in manual but still in D mode, not DS, it will only down shift to 2nd at a stop.

Nope. I would be driving like any other day, maybe take it up to 4.5k when I want to hit like 5.5k and it will pre-shift for me then go into "D" mode. It will then take over and continue to shift and downshift as if I'm not in DS. It doesn't happen all the time either, and I haven't seemed to be able to pinpoint what would be triggering it.

I think this is typical in most cars in D, that the car will never downshift into first even at a light. You can typically tell just by the responsiveness of the gas pedal leaving 1st in DS compared to leaving a light in D. First gear is really short and has a lot of torque, if you take off in first in DS you will definitely feel it compared to taking off in D. I think it only shifts down to 2nd so the car doesn't have to litigate certain situations whether it should downshift into first or not, because we all know an AT could downshift into first inadvertently, potentially putting the trans in a high stress situation.

[Zombie1]

Originally Posted by nato-main-man-5am

How can you tell? Is this a 135 thing (being able to tell)? It does seem like when I have it in manual but still in D mode, not DS, it will only down shift to 2nd at a stop.

I have the alpnia flash on my car when I'm in drive it reads D1-D6 and when in sport turns into S1-S6 same with manual M1-M6

[nato-main-man-5am]

I did a few searches on "alpina flash" and didn't find a definitive summary of what it is. Is there a good page to read on that?

[JuuS]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Nope. Its the truth man. Youll notice that if you let the car downshit in manual mode while slowing down that it wont drop into first too.

Very interesting indeed! I have a totally different experience. I understand that no auto would be programmed engine break using first gear as it's much too harsh on the passengers. However, this doesn't mean that the car naturally stays in 2nd once you come to a complete stop. The car does in fact 'quietly' changes back into 1st. (for me at least!)

In this scenario, I'm talking about 100% D mode - without touching the paddles/shifter. Come to a complete stop at a light, pull the paddle once. Dash will read M2. You'll feel a slight blump/clunk. It's the tranny changing to 2nd as you told it to. If the car was already in 2nd, you wouldn't feel a thing. Is this the right assessment?

I think the simplest test is to just see what the speed the car shifts at, WOT, in D mode. If the car can get 100+ without a single shift, then it's 2nd gear. I've just never encountered this, seriously!

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by nato-main-man-5am

I did a few searches on "alpina flash" and didn't find a definitive summary of what it is. Is there a good page to read on that?

It's only for the 135i auto tranny.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ghlight=alpina

[bozola]

There is an inherent design flaw in the wiring assembly of the shift lever that will cause wires to break with too much D-DS action.

I used to use DS, but given that flaw, I use D and my paddles..

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by bozola

There is an inherent design flaw in the wiring assembly of the shift lever that will cause wires to break with too much D-DS action.

Does that wiring flaw turn into a problem from changing between DS and D, or from changing gears when in DS via the shifter?

I used to use DS, but given that flaw, I use D and my paddles..

The annoying thing about using the paddles in D on my car is that the car will override the paddles if the revs fall outside a fairly narrow range. In DS, on the other hand, the car lets me go to the extremes of the revs range without taking over until it really does get to the usable rev limit (upper or lower).

[bozola]

The problem causes the up/down shift lever shifts to fail.

I thought D-M went back to D after a time period like 20 seconds.. As in if you shifted rapidly, D would stay manual.

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by bozola

The problem causes the up/down shift lever shifts to fail.

Oh, so DS mode is okay as long as you only use the paddles for the manual override/shifting.

I thought D-M went back to D after a time period like 20 seconds.. As in if you shifted rapidly, D would stay manual.

I haven't exhaustively tested it, but it really seems like it is based on a range of revs that is much narrower than when in DS mode. When using the paddles in D mode, it seems like it exits manual mode much faster than 20 seconds for me. Maybe I never stayed in the zone long enough to hit the time limit and simply always hit the rev limit first.

Clearly using paddles in DS mode for me works much better since it stays in manual as long as I don't go extreme in the revs (ie, come to a stop sign and not downshift).

[nato-main-man-5am]

I think I noticed the timeout limit when using paddles in D mode, finally. Most interesting.

Makes me still want to us DS mode -- not for up down shifting via the shift lever, but just so i don't get the manual shifting timeout when using the paddles.