Have you checked the MAF?

Replaced it a while back, no change. ;)

Finally I looked at this, prompted by digging out my laptop yesterday to (fail to) help Nollywood. :o
I recall this thread here as well, in which I posted: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6643 and I've been trying Sport mode a fair bit, which never gives problems.
There is also this generic thread with more details on what people have tried: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=630

The current coding (which I'd never looked at) was 00101, just like my PF S8 had been initially, until I "improved" it with 00111.
So I changed it to 00111 and went for a little drive - can't go far, most minor roads around here are still flooded or blocked by trees and you need a bit of "give and take" driving to show the symptoms.

Anyway, so far so good, it behaved itself AND I could definitely notice it dropping a gear or two much more readily than before, yet not holding them as it does in Sport mode.

I'll report back when I've done a few more journeys, meanwhile has anyone else looked at and/or changed this coding on an FL D2 S8?

Edit: Just one thing I did notice, as part of my route was down a steepening hill in a 30mph limit, that I had good engine braking without taking any action on gears. :eek2:
Don't recall that before, certainly not on that stretch of road very near my house, so used regularly.

Interesting. Been a few more miles this evening and definitely feel a lot more confident pulling out briskly at T-junctions. +++
No sluggishness at all and so much confidence that I've given myself a couple of "energetic" surprises. :o

BUT I still (as I discussed with Nollywood on Sunday) prefer the throttle response on the PF. There's something about the fly-by-wire throttle and interaction between that and the gearbox that I'm not totally happy with. :tuttut:

The PF did just seem so much more 'connected up'.. I still miss mine sometimes.

I'd definitely rather have one in good condition. +++ The extra 20HP doesn't really do anything useful.

Rubs chin, that's very interesting.

I from time to time get throttle lag in normal mode but never had it in sport mode. I shall to do some more driving and investigation.

For reference mine is a 2002 FL with the sport mode on the box.

Ditto. Have you scanned with VCDS and checked what coding is on the transmission ECU at present?

Oh dear, still being a bit odd..... :Confused:
This evening, having driven maybe 5 miles plus sat for 5 minutes with the engine running (so nicely warmed up) I drove a mile or so at 30/40mph then came down a fairly long and steep hill to an A road and turned left.

Good visibility, nothing coming, so I didn't come to a halt.

As I pulled away, not heavy on the throttle, the revs rose but without that much power so just gentle acceleration. Similar feeling to a "slipping clutch" in a manual.
I did the usual "quick lift" and it sorted of "kicked in" and off we went normally.

I'll be doing that bit of the journey again later this evening so will try and be a bit more observant.

Most of my oddities have, thinking about it, been on or about hills or steep junctions. Wonder if the gearbox fluid level isn't right?

Well, it's still misbehaving, but with no pattern that I can discern other than it's worse when cold. :(

I'm also still having occasional starting problems, it doesn't always "catch", or if it does "chugs" for a second or two at low revs before firing up to over 1000rpm on all cylinders and then settling down.

Any thoughts? I've gone back to V-power after a tankful of Esso 97RON a while back.

I think I'm going to swap the MAF back again when I get the chance as I still have the old one.

PS Nothing showing on a VCDS scan apart from the occasional 01119 - Gear Recognition Signal (Intermittent)