Most everyone says that DS won't go into 6th gear. Mine won't. I have a 2005 with software updated in May. I think it is 16 - perspective Nav etc.

Everyonce in a while, someone says different. Usually it turns out that they were wrong. But who am I to say. If while cruising along, there is no difference between D and DS, then maybe a newer upgrade goes into 6th gear. But for most of us, it does not.

 

Mine does not go into 6th, at least not up to 100 MPH. That is about 4000 RPM. 4000 RPM in 6th would get me 125+

 

I can assure you - 6th is locked out in DS on my car. Theoretically, it would go into 6th after the rpm limit would be reached in 5th. Do the math.


Software 19.01

 

At highway speeds moving the shift lever from D to DS has no effect on engine revs. Its in 6th gear. Maybe its different with the V8 cars.

 

Definitely no 6th on my car in DS. CIP 19.01 also. And, definitely no 6th on my car in DS before my CIP update.

It is unfortunate that the gears are not indicated. As others have mentioned count the shifts, note the RPMs, or up or down shift in in DS. If you use the latter technique, then you will need to manually reverse what you did and move the shift lever to D and then back to DS to get back to exactly where you started--assuming you started in DS.

 

I've certainly never found 6th in DS on my May 04 530d.

I do often go D -> DS -> M6 at motorway speeds to hold in 6th (runs smoother in gentle cruise control, using the torque rather than kickdown). From the rev counter can see it always changes down to 5th when go to DS

 

My car (05 545i) gets to 6th gear in D mode. In DS mode, it's on 6th too. If I'm going 70+ mph in D mode, I turn over to DS mode, the display reads, "DS." I move the shifter forward, ithe display shows "M5" and the RPM revs up a little (which means that it was in 6th gear). Then I can move the shifter back and the display displays "M6" and the RPM decreases.

So, I can get to M6 in DS or D mode.

 

My car (05 545i) gets to 6th gear in D mode. In DS mode, it's on 6th too. If I'm going 70+ mph in D mode, I turn over to DS mode, the display reads, "DS." I move the shifter forward, ithe display shows "M5" and the RPM revs up a little (which means that it was in 6th gear). Then I can move the shifter back and the display displays "M6" and the RPM decreases.

So, I can get to M6 in DS or D mode.
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Once you manually shift it, you are no longer in DS mode, you are in manual mode. They aren't the same thing. Look it up in your owners manual.

 

Except when you are in 6th in D; then the tranny downshifts to 5th in DS when moved. It may downshift at other times too. As I recall, mine does, but I'll have to do a test.

It is unfortunate that the gears are not indicated. As others have mentioned count the shifts, note the RPMs, or up or down shift in in DS. If you use the latter technique, then you will need to manually reverse what you did and move the shift lever to D and then back to DS to get back to exactly where you started--assuming you started in DS.
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In my 06 525, my display (next to the speedometer) reads either D, DS, or M1, M2, etc.

 

In my old 530 (e60) when i bought it in 2003 the DS and D modes shifted to 6th gear, then I complained about I drive and the dealer reprogrammed the I drive and they say the transmision programs got updated too. Aftwr that the DS mode did not engaged 6th unless I was over 100mph, I complaint and complaint to my dealer shop foreman, after a lot of research of him (supposedly) and a few weeks I went back . They re-reprogrammed the car again and WOALA fixed, DS shifts to 6th gear. I can notice by moving the lever from DS to D and rpms not changing. My new 550 has not had any software upgrades and does the same in DS or D (no changes in rpm)..just the DS is more aggresive and sensitive to the gas pedal and downshifts faster.. be a good idea to complaint to your local shopforeman...