Rudy

Although I highly recommend doing a Performance Center delivery, I'm choosing not to do it this time around because it adds a few weeks to the delivery date. I do plan on going down to the PC on my own this year to attend some of the driving schools, etc.

doug_999

I can't seem to find the write-up on the new Sport Auto. Everything I seem to find shows that the Sport Auto has the paddle shifters and that is about it - they say the regular trans has the updates for the quicker shifting. Can anyone confirm?

cader

Good choice...so, I will get at least 2 reviews of the Sport Auto before delivery...so much for the "Gold" in this one - best case will be "Bronze" - and a brand new 550i!!!

BMWSTL

I was looking at the 2008 manual, and here's what it says:

You can shift manually with paddle shifters. Pull to shift up, push to shift down.

You can select Normal or Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving Control.

That is stated to be as follows:

*speed range is optimally utilized;
*gearshifts are faster;
*engine responds more spontaneously to accelerator pedal movements;
*steering responds more spontaneously to steering wheel movements;
*in the automatic mode, 6th gear is not engaged.

So it's more than just paddle shifters, it engages different control responses (software driven I imagine)

To activate, push the"Sport" button.

To deactivate (and this is interesting!): press the Sport button again; engage reverse gear; switch engine off.

So to get out of the Sport mode, you need to pull over and turn the car off. If you're on the highway and want to use the feature, turning it off is not just "push the button." Not having 6th gear at highway speeds when you're done playing could be a royal pain, unless 6th is available in the manual mode.

Lou

My08535i

My 535i Sport Auto Trans. will be completed June 7th-

Now heres the dilemma- If I pick it up at the dealership I get it at the end of June- If I pick it up at the performance center (as originally scheduled) the soonest I can get it is July 30th.

I would rather get it in June- any opinions?

soc_fans

wow carbon black is available for 08 models? That was one of my fav BMW color!

1994_RX-7_Tour

I'm not so sure that there is an "and" between those three conditions (pressing Sport button again, engaging reverse, switching engine off) - I think it's probably an "or" (meaning that any of those 3 conditions?indivdually?WILL disengage sport mode and return to normal). ?Certainly I hope that is the case, we'll have to see (I have one on order too, ED pickup 4 Sep). ?The only one I would not have included is disengaging on "reverse" - I do see the value of having the car start up in "normal" mode upon engine start though. ?Agree with your other points too.

mogsyman

My 535d M Sport is built next week and has this option.

Delivery could be as soon as 20th June, but that remains to be seen. Not sure what to expect other than you can control the shift via the wheel, rather than moving the gear shift back and forwards as per my current 4.8iS X5.

Either way, should be a bit of fun for a while

Rudy

I agree that it's likely any one of those three conditions will deactivate sport mode. Actually that's exactly the way it works now on the SMG -- sport mode is turned off if any of those three things occur...

BMWSTL

Thanks for clarifying. The manual was less than clear. I've only driven SMG equipped cars for short periods and didn't know that. On the other hand, control functions on German cars are not always "logical."

Lou