[Lancelot]

So I got the car 2 months ago and only just discovered by accident that you can setup the driving mode to "Adaptive", not just Comfort/Sport/Sport+/SportIndividual/Eco/... like i've done

I feel rather silly but thought perhaps it's not just me!

There's a quick video here on the topic

[SteveinArizona]

Duh! it is a button next to the other buttons and comes with the adaptive dampers.

My only complaint is that BMW doesn't let us customize adaptive mode.

[Joe-BMW33]

In theory, adaptive mode sounds like a winner and the best of both worlds comfort and sport, but I never use it. Maybe it needs to "learn" more, but I find I like comfort 90% of the time and Sport+ 10% for spirited driving. Adaptive is one mode too many, maybe I need to give it more time, but I don't love it.

[CnSky]

I wasn't sold on adaptive at first, seemed same as comfort but I stuck with it and I swear it gets better each drive.

It must be learning my driving habits and road conditions in my locality as the car now seems better in adaptive setup than comfort.

Still do sport mode for fun!!

[AP]

I never use it mainly because I can't customise the steering to be in sport mode
Just find the steering too light otherwise , prefer the sport steering weight although not convinced it offers any more feel

Other than that just feels like comfort

[RonronEG]

Originally Posted by CnSky

I wasn't sold on adaptive at first, seemed same as comfort but I stuck with it and I swear it gets better each drive.

It must be learning my driving habits and road conditions in my locality as the car now seems better in adaptive setup than comfort.

Still do sport mode for fun!!

I've been using it for about a week, hopefully I see the same results.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by RonronEG

I've been using it for about a week, hopefully I see the same results.

Adaptive mode should be adapting in 'real time', to any driving style and conditions you throw at it. It's the whole idea of having the mode.

[CnSky]

Hi Pete

I get the part where it adapt to my driving style but how does it know conditions? Cameras or pre programmed gps data?

I'm convinced it is learning the road condition and memorising it, obviously if a new pot hole or speed bump turns up overnight it won't know until it has driven over it.

I know when navigating it prepares the car for bends etc but even when not navigating it seems to be getting better the more I use it.

I tested it today and in comfort leaving my estate there is a speed ramp and adaptive is more comfortable going over it than in comfort mode but a few weeks ago when I only started using adaptive before leaving my drive way it was the opposite.

Maybe I'm imagining things but seems to me it is mapping the locality and learning the road conditions and areas with bump and pot holes etc.

Would love to see info from BMW exactly how it works as all the marketing crap is very nondescript and never goes into details. A technical paper on the system and it's capabilities would be an interesting read.

One thing it seems to miss is eco pro mode not sure why it doesn't just switch to it when for example crawling up a street in town or when traffic is heavy per real time traffic signals. Maybe it does but the coasting sign and other indicators like reduce air con /reduce pedal pressure etc never occur so hard to tell.

QUOTE=HighlandPete;27581629]

Originally Posted by RonronEG

I've been using it for about a week, hopefully I see the same results.

Adaptive mode should be adapting in 'real time', to any driving style and conditions you throw at it. It's the whole idea of having the mode.[/QUOTE]

[crypto]

The more I read this thread the more I wonder if the adaptive mode is just a social experiment.

[CnSky]

That doesn't bode well the last German social experiment got a little out to hand if I remember.🤔


QUOTE=crypto;27582567]The more I read this thread the more I wonder if the adaptive mode is just a social experiment.[/QUOTE]

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by CnSky

I get the part where it adapt to my driving style but how does it know conditions? Cameras or pre programmed gps data?

I'm convinced it is learning the road condition and memorising it, obviously if a new pot hole or speed bump turns up overnight it won't know until it has driven over it.

I've not read anything, even in the technical data, which indicates there is anything in memory. The idea of real time adaptions stands out from the descriptions, using driving style, driving situation, ('conditions' like taking a bend) and some predictive data from the Sat Nav system as you drive.

Here's the Adaptive mode description for the 7-series. (7-series has a few extras).

G11 & 12 Adaptive Mode

If ADAPTIVE driving mode has been activated via the driving experience switch, the Dynamic Stability Control control unit processes the navigation data to analyses the route and influences the driving program to be activated if necessary. If the vehicle is approaching a sharp bend at high speed, for example, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) activates Sport mode without any action on the part of the driver. The Vertical Dynamics Platform (VDP) reads in this information and activates the corresponding chassis components for Sport mode.

Conversely, an automatic change in driving program from Sport to Comfort is also possible. If the vehicle exits a twisting section of road through which it has been driven at speed and then drives at constant speed on a straight section, this results in automatic change over to the Comfort driving program. This means that the optimum driving mode with respect to comfort (Comfort) and driving dynamics (Sport) is automatically set without manual operation of the driving experience switch depending on the driving style and probable route. Route guidance need not be activated for this.

Overview
The "ADAPTIVE" mode is used for the first time in the BMW 7 Series. It is designed to achieve a balanced driving mode where the setup is automatically adapted to both the driving situation and the driving style.

In this mode, the parameters of the Electronic Damper Control (VDP), the Electric Active Roll Stabilization (EARS), Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and the automatic transmission, for example, are switched between "COMFORT", "SPORT" and “ECOPRO” settings depending on the driving situation. However, when "ADAPTIVE" mode is active, no changes that restrict comfort (seat heating, A/C settings, etc.) are made in the event of switching to "ECOPRO" mode.


"ADAPTIVE" reacts to the current driving style. The affected control units can change their parameters on the basis of the detected driving style. With the navigation system, the mode makes use of the available map data and optimizes "ADAPTIVE" Mode by predictive functions such as early reaction to bends, junctions and road type.

The displays on the instrument cluster and Central Information Display (CID) remain in "normal" mode and do not continuously change between "COMFORT" and "SPORT" modes. This is to prevent the Driver from being distracted or lose comfort by changes in the displays. "ADAPTIVE" mode changes the modes in the background so that the driver does not notice the changes directly.

The following influences on the driving style are taken into account, among others:
• Longitudinal dynamics
• Current speed
• Pedal sensor position
• Cruise control (sensor data from ACC radar sensor)
• Sport shift gate for automatic transmission
• Turn indicator
• Steering wheel movements
• Navigation data

As you will note, some sensor inputs are used for assessment of both driving style and driving situations.

Brief reference for the G30, showing possible limitations of Sat Nav data.

BMW G30 5-series User Manual
ADAPTIVE
Concept
Comfort-oriented driving mode, whose tuning is automatically modified to the driving situation and driving style.
If the navigation system is active, upcoming road sections are considered.
The function may be restricted if the navigation data is invalid, outdated or not available, for example.

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I've not read anything, even in the technical data, which indicates there is anything in memory. The idea of real time adaptions stands out from the descriptions, using driving style, driving situation, ('conditions' like taking a bend) and some predictive data from the Sat Nav system as you drive.

Here's the Adaptive mode description for the 7-series. (7-series has a few extras).

As you will note, some sensor inputs are used for assessment of both driving style and driving situations.

Brief reference for the G30, showing possible limitations of Sat Nav data.

This is very interesting, i am liking it more and more as a default, instead of constantly switching btw comfort and sport like i used to.

I still like to put it in sport+ when i feel like it for spirited driving but for usual situations it is rather nice.

The position of the button, encompassing all 3 sport /comfort/eco leads me to think it is similar to the 7 series description you found.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

The position of the button, encompassing all 3 sport /comfort/eco leads me to think it is similar to the 7 series description you found.

Just to note, I was adding another quote for the G11 G12 description, while you were posting.

G30 technical data refers us back to the G11/12 data, for the understanding of the Adaptive mode. So yes, very similar function.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I've not read anything, even in the technical data, which indicates there is anything in memory. The idea of real time adaptions stands out from the descriptions, using driving style, driving situation, ('conditions' like taking a bend) and some predictive data from the Sat Nav system as you drive.

Here's the Adaptive mode description for the 7-series. (7-series has a few extras).





As you will note, some sensor inputs are used for assessment of both driving style and driving situations.

Brief reference for the G30, showing possible limitations of Sat Nav data.

This is very interesting and helpful. Thanks for posting. After reading this, I think I will give it a shot. It is still unclear to me whether Adaptive mode will leverage ECO Pro as one of the options.

[AP]

I don't believe it does.
Items like coasting and turning off a/c for periods of time we're not seen by me.

[Dheeth-G80]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

So I got the car 2 months ago and only just discovered by accident that you can setup the driving mode to "Adaptive", not just Comfort/Sport/Sport+/SportIndividual/Eco/... like i've done

I feel rather silly but thought perhaps it's not just me!

There's a quick video here on the topic

Wait wait wait, you're saying adaptive mode doesn't come on until I press it? I thought adaptive mode is ON all the time whenever the car comes on? So it's like pressing comfort, sport, eco, similarly you have to press adaptive to turn it on?

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by Dheeth-G30

Wait wait wait, you're saying adaptive mode doesn't come on until I press it? I thought adaptive mode is ON all the time whenever the car comes on? So it's like pressing comfort, sport, eco, similarly you have to press adaptive to turn it on?

Mine defaults to comfort at least

[ksoze]

Unless you code it to default to Adaptive, it defaults to Comfort.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by ksoze

Unless you code it to default to Adaptive, it defaults to Comfort.

I am so glad I didn't code my car to start in anything but comfort mode. It's really the best universal mode. I can count the times on one hand that the conditions are suited for sport plus which is too much power and throttle response for stop and go traffic of any kind, especially with a Dinan tune.. In terms of coding to start in adaptive, this would probably be the only way I would use it consistently as I am not pushing the button every time I get in the car when comfort is more than fine.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ksoze

Unless you code it to default to Adaptive, it defaults to Comfort.

correct. Pretty stupid IMHO. If someone invested in the adaptive system, one would think that the driver intends to use it as the primary form. I had mine coded to default to adaptive but that should have been set up by BMW.

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

correct. Pretty stupid IMHO. If someone invested in the adaptive system, one would think that the driver intends to use it as the primary form. I had mine coded to default to adaptive but that should have been set up by BMW.

I'll have a look at bimmercode, would you know by any chance where the option is?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

I'll have a look at bimmercode, would you know by any chance where the option is?

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