[2msport]

Originally Posted by darkerosxx

Is this a real question? There is a difference and its documented in the manual. Sport+ turns off the car trying to keep itself straight in a line. You have to do that. That's it. It's legit the "okay, now you're driving without training wheels" version of Sport, so if you do a donut on the highway and kill yourself, they can say it's your fault for turning it off. If it was going to have different power train and chassis, they wouldn't give it the same name with a +.

Yeah you're right. Makes sense

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by G228msport

That still doesn't answer the question as to whether sport (configured chassis & drivetrain) drives the same as sport+. (I say no it doesn't) why are we still talking about being able to configure sport mode. We all know we can configure chassis and or drivetrain. That was never a question. (For most of us who bothered to browse the idrive) the real question is how does sport and sport+ drive/feel different, if at all. I'm tired of asking the question since people just come back explaining sport modes options... It sounds like Dr. Indi Jones noticed a difference too. "Steering will be it's heaviest in sport+ mode". Meaning it's heavier than sport mode. (With chassis and drivetrain selected)

Pikcachu: I know people think they are the same. But based on nothing.

I'm always really curious about the differences between modes when I go to test drive a BMW, so I devised a simple set of tests. For throttle response, I lock my foot in at a specific throttle setting so that the car is traveling straight and at a fixed rate of acceleration, then I change the setting using the toggle switch on the console. Going from:

ECO Pro to Comfort - massive increase in acceleration (well, duh)
Comfort to Sport - increase in acceleration
Sport to Sport+ - no increase in acceleration

The car was set to "Chassis & Drivetrain" in iDrive.

Granted, that doesn't mean that the entire car is the same. We know that, at a minimum, there is a difference in the way the traction control systems are set up. As far as throttle response goes though, if your car is set to "Chassis & Drivetrain" there's very little (or no) difference in throttle response between Sport and Sport+.

I drive my car (M3) in M-Dynamic mode all the time. IMO, it drives the way an M-car should when you turn on all the sport goodies.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

I havent driven in sport+ yet as Im still in breakin period.

Has anyone actually driven in S+? Whats your impression on it?

Seems like your question got sidelined by the debate over what Sport+ actually does. Here's my advice:

During the break-in period, you're supposed to avoid a number of very specific behaviors:

* Do not use wide-open-throttle
* Keep the RPMs below 4k (check your manual for the specific RPM)
* Do not drive the car at a constant RPM for extended periods

The answer to your question requires some nuance. The goal during break-in is to satisfy these requirements. When you put the car in Sport+, do you think it will be easier or more difficult to stay within the parameters specified by the break-in period?

This seems like an easy answer to me. The sharper throttle response alone would make it more difficult to avoid wide-open-throttle. Personally, I'd keep the car in Comfort for the duration of the break-in. Once you've got that first oil change out of the way, let 'er rip.

[Dr. Indiana Jones]

Great insights everyone. Forgive my novice car experience, but I've logged several hours behind the M235i wheel. I agree with the quote that the disabled traction control in sport+ mode is POMPOUSLY called "dynamic traction control on" - it's no wonder we're all struggling with what these modes do! While stationary, if u move the steering wheel back-and-forth and switch from comfort to sport modes there is a nominal discernable stiffening of the steering wheel (that's the only way I can discern a difference - sad really). It's a real shame that BMW hasn't engineered a way to rack-up this electronic steering stiffness much more (like our beloved hydraulic set-ups of the past). The electronic steering retains the same precision; it just doesn't feel as solid/nice. As for sport vs. sport+ (other than the DTC difference which I'm not about to try to test), it SEEMS that there is no discernible difference between them (if both the drivetrain & chassis are set to sport in sport mode). As others have suggested, the ideal set-up MAY be to set only the drivetrain to sport in sport mode, so that the chassis absorps the bumps better, albeit the difference in sport mode between chassis set to sport or not is once again VERY subtle. I just tend to throw the damn thing into sport+ from the get go and be done w it, albeit I suppose the safer choice is sport mode (w drivetrain set to sport and chassis set to either sport or not depending on your tolerance level for bumps). I also agree that having 8 gears in the auto/stepronic takes a LOT of getting used to, and that there is no rational reason why the car w/b in 6th+ doing 40mph or the like. I've compared the gear ratios of the M235i vs. outgoing 335i (not hard to do), and the range is about the same. As a very rough guide, u'd need to be 1.5-to-2 gears higher in the M235i to get an equivalent result in the 335i ("e.g., 5th gear in the M235i is like say 3rd or so in the 335i, etc.). For someone like me who likes to use the transmission/engine to brake the car, this often requires resorting to manual steptronic mode and double-down/up shifting to get the performance I've come to expect. I don't know - the M235i is no doubt faster and yet it doesn't feel faster than the 335i? And the argument that the M235i has a more linear power curve doesn't explain this difference, as since when was the 335i power curve not linear? Anyhoo, just putting in my 2 cents worth so the experts can debate what I've said and enlighten us all.

[WWM]

I have sport set to use sport chassis but regular drive-train. That way I can cruise around in sport without the engine spinning at 2500 RPM, wasting gas.

For spirited driving, I don't find the transmission to be a problem at all. Using sport+ it won't shift past 6th and it won't drop revs below about 2500 RPM. Putting the transmission into sport using the gear shifter will keep the engine at a minimum of 3000 RPM.

[pikcachu]

using the gear shifter to the left should be the same as having "drivetrain" on in sport config

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

using the gear shifter to the left should be the same as having "drivetrain" on in sport config

So the smarter way of setting your Sports Mode would be Chassis Only since you can just put the shifter to the left for Drivetrain...

[pikcachu]

exactly.... that way you can do all off - drivetrain on chasis off (shiter to the left in comfort) - drivetrain off chassis on (sport to "chasis" only) - drivetrain on chasis on (sport +)

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

exactly.... that way you can do all off - drivetrain on chasis off (shiter to the left in comfort) - drivetrain off chassis on (sport to "chasis" only) - drivetrain on chasis on (sport +)

Ok i just try this...theres a huge difference in Sports Mode "drivetrain" than just putting lever to "S"...revs and sound are both higher in sport mode

[pikcachu]

no... it's the same.... only difference is that as soon as you put lever to "S" it will downshift right away 1 gear.... then after a few seconds it will go back up

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

no... it's the same.... only difference is that as soon as you put lever to "S" it will downshift right away 1 gear.... then after a few seconds it will go back up

Sorry man have to disagree with you...i can obviously tell by the exhaust note

The Sport Mode via the center consule button is not the same as the S on te auto lever

[pikcachu]

Sorry. Yes, the sound is different (i suppose sport makes active sound louder)..... but drivetrain wise is the same.....so revs should be exactly the same

[WWM]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

no... it's the same.... only difference is that as soon as you put lever to "S" it will downshift right away 1 gear.... then after a few seconds it will go back up

That's interesting. That's why I thought it held gears at higher RPMs because every time I shifted the gear stick it would do that.

[pikcachu]

Ya that was my initial thought too... then i realize it will always downshift one gear....

you can try this... D-S-D-S-D-S and you will see you end up in like 4th with a downshift every time you go into S... then after a little while will go back to the original gear... similar to how it goes back do D mode after a while if you hit the paddle shifters

[pikcachu]

Actually there is a difference between S and Sport mode (drivetrain setting) .... and seems to be the throttle mapping... so S only affect gear shift... but not throttle or sound...

What I did was this... In Comfort mode with gear shift in S maintain constant throttle and hit "Sport" button... the car suddenly accelerates keeping the same gear.... so throttle X in comfort is not same as throttle X in Sport...

[plien69]

Sport Mode throttle mapping has been around for a while. My E46 M3 has a Sport Mode button, which altered the throttle mapping in the same way:
https://flic.kr/p/2QiiC

I would think that is the same concept happening here in Sport and Sport+ drivetrain settings (which also alter shift and exhaust sound settings).

[ska///235i]

Also like to clarify the Sports mode exhaust note is not all fake (active sound)...I believe is the value/flap adjustment. You can tell by cracking down the windows and listen to the sound from the outside

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by plien69

Sport Mode throttle mapping has been around for a while. My E46 M3 has a Sport Mode button, which altered the throttle mapping in the same way:
https://flic.kr/p/2QiiC

I would think that is the same concept happening here in Sport and Sport+ drivetrain settings (which also alter shift and exhaust sound settings).

I knew the throttle mapping for Sport and Sport+.... i just didn't know if lever in S would have the throttle mapping in comfort too or not...

So:

Comfort & lever in S = higher shift points

Sport = higher shift points + throttle mapping + sound(+ chasis if configured so)
Sport & lever in S = same as just Sport as higher shift point is already included in Sport

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by kerm1t

no difference. been driving sport + since day 1

Same.

[ewohar]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

Who thinks comfort mode is a bit too comfort?

I do. Feels like a Camry.

[ewohar]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

So the smarter way of setting your Sports Mode would be Chassis Only since you can just put the shifter to the left for Drivetrain...

That makes sense. Just move the shifter to the left.

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Seems like your question got sidelined by the debate over what Sport+ actually does. Here's my advice:

During the break-in period, you're supposed to avoid a number of very specific behaviors:

* Do not use wide-open-throttle
* Keep the RPMs below 4k (check your manual for the specific RPM)
* Do not drive the car at a constant RPM for extended periods

The answer to your question requires some nuance. The goal during break-in is to satisfy these requirements. When you put the car in Sport+, do you think it will be easier or more difficult to stay within the parameters specified by the break-in period?

This seems like an easy answer to me. The sharper throttle response alone would make it more difficult to avoid wide-open-throttle. Personally, I'd keep the car in Comfort for the duration of the break-in. Once you've got that first oil change out of the way, let 'er rip.

The first oil change is at 10,000 miles.