What does the sport/comfort button do?

I was looking at 535s at lunch and noticed that all of them have the comfort/sport button without the dynamic damper control option. What does this feature do and how is it different from the DDC option?

It rocks!

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In Summary, without DDC, the sport mode increases throttle response and steering.
With DDC the same plus stiffens dampers.

There are three different shock absorber settings (comfort +, comfort, sport). There is also a fourth setting (sport +) that sets the shocks to sport, turns off traction control and puts the tranny in sport mode. The sport mode can be configured to put the transmission & shocks in sport mode or just the shocks in sport mode. BTW, I'll have to take "kssod"s word for the steering and throttle response changing because I don't feel it. Maybe a slight difference in steering "feel", but throttle response is really related to the transmission I think.

Actually, by itself it tweaks throttle, turns off part of the traction control. If you have the SAT it changes the settings and shift points.

It does not make any changes to suspension unless you have the adaptive control which allows for suspension changes.

Like others have already mentioned if you don't have DDC it changes the weight of the steering, throttle sensitivity and transmission shift points. If you have DDC it also adds suspension changes.

In my 2013 going from Comfort+, Comfort, to Sport makes a HUGE difference in the way the car feels. Its so big that Bmw should have label that switch "BMW" for the Sport and "Lincoln Town Car" for the Comfort modes

Alan

Originally Posted by Alan L.

Like others have already mentioned if you don't have DDC it changes the weight of the steering, throttle sensitivity and transmission shift points. If you have DDC it also adds suspension changes.

In my 2013 going from Comfort+, Comfort, to Sport makes a HUGE difference in the way the car feels. Its so big that Bmw should have label that switch "BMW" for the Sport and "Lincoln Town Car" for the Comfort modes

Alan

When I get my ACS springs installed I am going to actually notice it more right? (DDC only on my car)

I second Alan L. comments. However I have the SAT and DDC options as well. Also, acceleration in sport is much faster then comfort. Now that I'm broken in and had the oppurtunity to launch it a few times, I question whether the factory numbers are somewhat understated. Glad I did not go for the 550, I feel like I have a true hybrid: luxury/economic or BMW sports sedan. In sport the car eats almost like a V8, however. I'm very happy with this design.

I guess all the cars are different.

I have SAT and have five settings:

D Eco Pro-turns ASS back on if you turned it off (which makes sense)
Comfort-always at startup
Sport
Sport+
D Traction

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

When I get my ACS springs installed I am going to actually notice it more right? (DDC only on my car)

Yes. The ACS springs feels best on the sport setting if you have DDC

I also agree with LukeS...

The car accelerates much much quicker in sport mode because the car starts out in 1st gear. Comfort modes makes the 2013 cars start out in 2nd and won't use 1st at all. I tested this out several times and the difference is massive. (My car has the SAT and DDC option)

Alan

Originally Posted by kssod

Search this sight.
In Summary, without DDC, the sport mode increases throttle response and steering.
With DDC the same plus stiffens dampers.

This gets really confusing to newcomers, and even to me as a six month owner. My car is a 2012 550 M-Sport. I'll be damned if I still understand all the acronyms. I thought DDC was the option that automatically changes the damping of the shocks. My car has no other suspension options other than what is part of the M-Sport package. To be clear, changing from Comfort +, Comfort and Sport does change my shock settings, but my car does not have automatic suspension (damper) control.

I have a 2013 535i M-sport. How do you reprogram the Sport mode to only adjust the shocks and not the (higher) transmission shift points?

DDC refers to Driving Dynamics Control. It is confusing because in the past it has also referred to the dampers. But on the F10...

It is very confusing, as it has changed throughout the years like all else,

In 2011, the switch only came if you had:

Sport Auto Trans
Dynamic Handling Package
M Sport

For the SAT only option, it had Three settings: Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. It adjusted the steering weight, throttle and transmission response. Sport Plus is the same as Sport as far as those three, but also adjusts the traction / stability control.

For M Sport or DHP (which was included with MSport and had both active dampers and anti roll) it added the fourth setting, comfort, and also adjusts both the shocks and anti roll settings

In 2012, the switch was made standard. It added Eco Pro. The settings now cycled from Eco Pro to Comfort Plus (the old comfort) Comfort (the old Normal) Sport (Same) and Sport Plus.

In addition for 2012, The sport package included active dampers whereas before it did not. M Sport dropped Active Roll but continued with the active dampers. The dynamic handling package went away and active anti roll ( ARS) became a stand alone option on either Sport or MSport. Now, here is what the switch does: If you have no sport or mSport, it will adjust steering, transmission and throttle. If you have Sport or MSport but no ARS, it will add damper adjustment. If you have ARS, it will adjust that as well.

For 2013, more changes. No more sport package at all. MSport now includes (supposedly) a static sport suspension. Active shocks are a stand alone option. Dynamic Handling Package, is back, bundling dynamic dampers and ARS. The switch is still there, settings the same for 2012.

There will be a quiz. Study hard!

Originally Posted by johnfinger

I have a 2013 535i M-sport. How do you reprogram the Sport mode to only adjust the shocks and not the (higher) transmission shift points?

Through the I drive. There should be A setting for sport mode. Select chassis only, instead of chassis and drivetrain.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

This gets really confusing to newcomers, and even to me as a six month owner. My car is a 2012 550 M-Sport. I'll be damned if I still understand all the acronyms. I thought DDC was the option that automatically changes the damping of the shocks. My car has no other suspension options other than what is part of the M-Sport package. To be clear, changing from Comfort +, Comfort and Sport does change my shock settings, but my car does not have automatic suspension (damper) control.

Your dampers are active / automatic. But you don't have active anti roll (ARS).

Does Eco pro really make a difference with fuel economy? I try it on the highway every now and then but not long enough to have noticed a difference.

Originally Posted by Chiropractor

Does Eco pro really make a difference with fuel economy? I try it on the highway every now and then but not long enough to have noticed a difference.

I have done several road trips and played with this option. IF you keep the speed at 65 MPH or lower and don't use the AC you will see a big difference. I have gotten 38 MPG on some trips. When cruising above 65 MPH or street driving in Eco Pro mod I have seen no better MPG than in any other setting.

There is an article in this month's roundel comparing a journey from NJ to OH using Eco Pro vs. not in a 528. I believe the driver got about 3 MPG better. Including speeds up to 75 MPG.

We have DDC only in our 2013 F10. When I go from comfort to sport, or sport+, the center display highlights the steering, transmission and suspension areas. Because of this indication on the display, I would say with DDC, the dampers also stiffen up as well.

Any one with a 2013 without DDC, please select sport or sport+ and tell us whether the display highlights the suspension area.

Originally Posted by Decboy

We have DDC only in our 2013 F10. When I go from comfort to sport, or sport+, the center display highlights the steering, transmission and suspension areas. Because of this indication on the display, I would say with DDC, the dampers also stiffen up as well.

Any one with a 2013 without DDC, please select sport or sport+ and tell us whether the display highlights the suspension area.

It does highlight the suspension area no matter what options you have. This does not mean it adjusts it. It only adjusts the steering. If you do not have the comfort plus setting, you cannot adjust the suspension.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

It does highlight the suspension area no matter what options you have. This does not mean it adjusts it. It only adjusts the steering. If you do not have the comfort plus setting, you cannot adjust the suspension.

+1

What it's displaying is not the suspension, but rather the changes to the traction control. It will allow you to drift... Should you want to... Lol

As always, impressive information Needsdecaf! I felt like I had to catch my breath and take a Beta-Blocker after reading your first post.

I know you did not agree with my thoughts on my 2011 535i VS a rental non M-sport 2012 535i. To me that 2012 felt so much faster than my 2011. I feel as if my current 2011 535i always drives like a 2012 535i in the COMFORT setting. I would kill for that SPORT button as I think it gives the car the dual personalities that I would want it to have. I do feel like I am missing out on the "BMW experience" with not having that SPORT button :/.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Your dampers are active / automatic. But you don't have active anti roll (ARS).

If they are they damn sure don't feel like it. I have had automatic damping on another car (a Corvette) and on that car I know I had them by how the car reacted. If my 550 has them then BMW wasted their money.

But thanks for the heads up - I'll have to look into that. (just looked it up - yes my car does have it, and I'm still surprised. Thanks again!)

On my 2013 M-sport, once you select sport mode, the i-drive screen shows in red what is affected. This is no option to do anything further...after searching all over the i-drive for about an hour yesterday. You cannot tell it to leave the transmission alone.

I just got 2012 535xdrive 4 weeks ago, and I don't have DDC, SAT or ARS. So, I only have eco-comfort-sport and in the sport mode, there is no option that you can select. But last night when I export my profile and play around. It turn out that there are 3 things that you can select in the sport mode. So, now in my "sport" mode, it only adjust steering and leave the transmission and throttle alone. ^_^