I have seen a number of posts here from people convinced that the sport button does more than simply change the transmission shift points. I often wondered where this mythical info comes from in the first place, but now have first-hand experience of how people can become firmly convinced of its magical properties.

I have a co-worker who's Wife has a 2000 X308 almost identical to mine (a clue to this guy's character is that he never ever brought this car to work until I showed up in mine). I have heard him discuss a number of times how sport mode firms up the suspension, changes the shift points, boosts power and (the most magical thing) "tightens up" the steering. His response to my pointing out the description of sport mode in the handbook is that "they just don't want to complicate things for the average driver".

What is it that convinces people that the S' button is some kind of magical device on these cars?

 

Explain that when BMW uses the 5HP24 transmission they refer to the 'sport' mode as 'normal' and the 'normal' position as 'Winter'.

 

It also whitens your teeth and lets you speak a foreign language

 

On the XJR it give first gear starts, and the torque converter does not lockup.

I drive in Sport + 4 except on the highway all the time. The gas mileage is better and
it drives better.

 

He is either misinformed or "stretching the truth" to make his car sound more impressive.

Some or most of what he is saying is true for later model Jags, but not for our cars. The S mode simply starts you off in first gear instead of second and raises the shift points on the transmission. I am not sure if the 2002+ cars equipped with CATS electronic suspension have that linked to the sport button or not, but it may firm up the suspension on these models.

Vector

 

It can also add points to your licence.

 

Pretty simple solution: pull out the electrical diagram, and trace the wires from the S button. It will show what it connects to.

Bottom line: it raises the shift .300 RPM, starts in first gear, precludes torque converter lock up until 55 mph; just like it says in the drivers manual.

 

That's only a control signal.

Once the control signal enters a module, the effects can go anywhere because the signal then travels
over CANBUS or the corporate network.

Almost all control modules are interconnected on those networks.