I finally realized after experimenting with the steptronic automatic and my 530 engine how to make it get up and go more than it normally wants to put out. And that is from now on I use the DS mode all the time in city driving and only shift to D mode when on the highway.

I have some very steep hills near my house and the transmission doesn't want to stay in lower gear enough to kick me up the hills with some energy. Also, when I want to get past some slow drivers, the D mode just seems too sluggish to downshift and get me moving.

The DS mode is much more responsive and really moves the car like it should. It just has to wait until the highway for D mode, and then I let it change to 6th gear after reaching a cruising speed.

Has anyone else adopted this approach with steptronic?

Hills in Ohio? (just kidding... ;P)

I always use the DS mode too. Like the way the car responds its great :thumbsup:

I loved DS mode when the iDrive software ver was 12.2 >> it was acting realy sporty and I was feeling the adaptive transmission when even I drove crazy ..

if i'm on my own i use DS "all" the time. D(ull) is reserved for when I have wife +kids in the car. For motorway (highway) I just flip down on the steptronic to get the 6th gear. :thumbsup:

I use DS mode as well.

BTW, anyone know what DS stands for? I'm sure it's something simple....

Does DS mode get worse gas mileage? I find myself driving in DS mode all the time now. It really gives the car some extra zip.

DS stands for Drive-Sport or something to that effect. It's designed to implement a sportier shifting algorithm.

Sam

[quote name='Asahi' date='Apr 10 2005, 07:29 PM']
I use DS mode as well.

BTW, anyone know what DS stands for? I'm sure it's something simple....

Does DS mode get worse gas mileage? I find myself driving in DS mode all the time now. It really gives the car some extra zip.




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yeah it is Drive Sport.
you will get less mpg as the gears are held longer. wouldn't have thought it would be massive diff though.

DS, Floor it and double pump while the pedal is still depressed and hold on! :P

What does double pump do? Is this a undocumented program?