My 2014 M7 has just started doing this (of course - with only one month before its 3/36 warranty is up).

When left for several hours in cold temp, upon start up, it defaults to Tour no matter what mode it was left in before it was last shut off. I always drive it in Sport and it has never done this before in nearly 3 years of ownership.

Once started, I can switch to Sport, shut it off, and then it will start up in Sport immediately without any warm up, and for the rest of the day until it rests again in the cold for several hours or overnight.

Dealer could not replicate 2 weeks ago, but it was warmer then in our area.

Anyone else experience this?

 

Very likely one of the glitches that occurs when the battery is on the way out. Voltage drop is much higher during a cold start due to the somewhat thicker oil and extended cranking time while the high pressure side of the fuel system reaches required pressure.

For curiosity try putting the vehicle into "service" mode (doesn't crank engine) and see if it stayed in sport mode.

 

Service mode?

Please explain.

Thanks

 

You are welcome.

See section 9-20 of your manual and it explains the process. The wording is a little confusing because it tells you to press the start button without pressing the brake which is the correct process to go into service mode with an automatic transmission equipped vehicle. For the manual I assume you would have to do the same process but without pressing the clutch pedal. Make sure the parking brake is engaged and be sure that the transmission is in neutral before trying this with the manual.

Service mode allows operation of instrument panel/controls/etc. as if the engine were running except the engine is off. Service mode does not have the usual time out so be sure not to leave it in service mode because this will run down your battery. A normal start (brake or presumably clutch engaged) will take it out of service mode.

On edit: while in service mode take a look at your battery voltage display and also look at it with the lights manually turned on which will give you some clue as to the state of the electrical system. It is also possible that one or both battery connections are dirty but I would bet on a weak and failing battery.

 

Here is what happened this morning.

Service mode would not show battery voltage. All gauges stayed at zero until engine started. This time it was 40 degrees out.

I tried the lights, highbeams, heater fan on high, and rear defroster, and battery seemed to take it well.

Started car, no problem, and it started in Sport, as it should have.

So, this seems to be a problem only below 25-30 degrees or so.

Is it possible it is designed this way? In other words, when the car senses icy conditions (as it would later show on the display), would it be programmed to initially start in Tour so that throttle progression is not as aggressive unless the driver later overrides the selection?

Any other cold climate C7 owners out there who have experienced this, or perhaps very few have, as very few drive in the winter as I do?

Hmmm...