07-02-2019, 04:01 AM | #45 |
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I don't understand why people don't always tick the box for the adaptive suspension, it's probably the best priced BMW option, at less than 1% of the car, and greatly improves.
The people who don't choose this option almost always regret the decision (me included). |
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07-02-2019, 06:20 AM | #46 | |
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There are a few reasons I can think of. Many feel they should have a very firm suspension, to be 'sporty'. Passive "M-sport suspension must be the best", thinking. We know that is flawed thinking, as often suspensions can be too firm to give the best grip on many roads. Tire grip is key to any sporty driving. Tires often get the blame when the suspension is more the issue. Try and convince someone a softer suspension can be the faster drive! Some don't want an adaptive setup. Feel that a passive system is more predictable, which it can be, to a certain degree. It's an option that doesn't show, something like big rims show. Wheel upgrades are often the preferred spend, even though they cost more and can totally spoil the ride quality on anything less than the smoothest surfaces. Ride quality is not a priority. Other users intend to modify. Easier to do, starting with a passive setup. Still other users don't fully grasp the way adaptive works and how it can widen the working envelope, particularly on poor surfaces, which ever mode you are using. Some fear the costs, long term. Yes that is a valid concern, more to go wrong, or if the failures are similar to a passive system, will cost more to fix. Probably a few other reasons, we could add. |
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07-02-2019, 07:26 AM | #47 |
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The only M340i I test drove had the passive suspension and I still ordered the adaptive dampers.
I will admit, the new standard suspension was very impressive and rode smoothly/handled well. To be honest, the comfort level was more than sufficient but I still felt a bit too much body movement, and I think the "Sport Plus" suspension mode with the adaptive dampers will help solve that problem. Well my car is on the boat, so at this point I hope I made the right choice, hah! |
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07-02-2019, 08:18 AM | #48 | |
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I test drove two M340's and both had passive suspension and I actually thought it drove great. I am still waiting on my order which is supposedly in the U.S. now but if I had the option to order again, I would check that box. |
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07-02-2019, 08:32 AM | #49 | |
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That is what the debate is all about. On M3 forums ( with people who drive track and really use the suspension) this topic was debated as well. Consensus is - adaptive does not improve performance. quite the opposite - it takes away from the performance and replaces it with comfort. So some people make conscious decision - not to order it. Some - who track more often even pay to remove it and replace with coil overs or go back to standard BMW set up. |
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07-02-2019, 09:20 AM | #50 | |
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Isn't a bit of comfort "in a road car" what a lot of users are after. The ability to change the suspension characteristics to suit the need. Carrying passengers, road quality, daily drive choice, etc. I fully understand some users want one setting, looking for what they term best performance and will compromise the comfort level. That doesn't mean 'improve' the chassis for some users. In fact it could mean the exact opposite, even unusable. Therefore adaptive is a definite improvement (maybe a compromise) compared to the standard passive Sport suspension for those users. It is good there are now three suspensions to choose from, without even considering any aftermarket options. |
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07-02-2019, 09:39 AM | #51 | |
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To me - the suspension performance in an M or M performance car - is ability to sustain road holding/ traction at the limit. I tried several M 3/4 cars on the track with adaptive and passive suspensions. Adaptive - is a comfort compromise and does not consistently hold the at the limit. I found comfort to be - too leany/floaty. and in Sport/sport + it is skipping. - so mid corner bumps, apex curbs tend to upset the car and the rear steps out. So i left the car in comfort on the track preferring to deal with lean over skipping. The regular M sport suspension does not exhibit this behavior. But at slow speeds in town on broken roads - it is more bumpy - i can live with that - some choose not to. |
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07-02-2019, 10:11 AM | #52 |
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I could understand the performance argument if we were talking about race cars or supercars who are driven a lot on track, but even Ferrari has the option of magnetic suspension, which is said to improve performance.
We use our cars on the road, where the pavement is far from perfect and surfaces are constantly changing, so these adaptive setups are by far the best option. Try a Porsche with and without PASM (Porsche adaptive suspension), the ride is night and day difference, on the road the PASM is a must have option from my experience of driving 300 000 klms in recent 911s. I ordered my Audi RS3 without magnetc ride because I thought I was a "performance oriented guy", because it would "handle better", and that I was too much of a Petrolhead for the adaptive suspensions. The truth is that I drove another RS3 with magnetic ride and it is miles better than mine in everything, makes it so much more usable, on the road it is also faster since it adapts to the bad surfaces and finds more grip than mine that is so stiff that cannot absorb bumps so it just jumps from side to side, also on motorway fast driving it is safer when the surface is not perfect, and gives more confidence. My opinion is that I ruined my car by not choosing it. If you can afford the adaptive setup (here it costs only 600 euros, and the 3 series cost around 60.000 euros) in my opinion there is no reason not to choose it, it's one of the few "recent" car features that is actually very useful. |
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07-02-2019, 10:11 AM | #53 | |
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I'm running the 5-series adaptive suspension which is a more advanced and better design than the 3/4 series. It has three base settings. I find the middle setting is the best compromise and if I only had one setting, it would be the one of choice. I do use the two other settings, the sport setting if I'm pressing on. But I wouldn't want it all the time, some roads it is totally unnecessary, plus I prefer a bit of comfort, particularly on long trips. I had a passive suspension X1 for a couple of days last week. It was a reasonable compromise, but there were times I would have preferred to firm it up a bit, mainly due to roads I was using, once off a major trunk road. If I was in that market, adaptive would definitely be on my options list. |
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07-02-2019, 02:15 PM | #54 | |
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I'm not saying the BMW system is bad, I'm just saying its very different than the magnetic system. |
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07-05-2019, 03:25 PM | #55 |
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Are there people we have also an extra jump on a speed bump. When i drive slow on a bump sometimes we get an extra ‘jump’
M-sport with adaptive spring set. 330i. I asked GGD garage to do a check |
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07-11-2019, 11:21 PM | #56 |
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I test drove the active and the passive suspension and went with the passive suspension because I prefer a sporty setup more often than not. It really comes down to preference. In my experience, it's only on really bumpy roads that are consistently bumpy and in the 35 to 55mph range will the passive suspension punish you. If you're going slow (below 35) you will bounce over bumps in a compliant manner and if you are going fast (over 55mph) you will float right over the bumps and not really feel them. So you need to consider where you live and what speeds you are driving.
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07-12-2019, 12:17 AM | #57 | ||
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07-12-2019, 12:18 AM | #58 |
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BMW designed a complete new set of dampers. Better than ever and more balanced than ever. So sporty and comfortable as it should be for a daily. People who buy the adaptive set dont get these new dampers and/or dont benefit from them.
Shouldnt that be a good reason not to buy the adaptive suspension? |
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07-12-2019, 07:09 AM | #59 | |
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UK motoring press have made comments that there some situations where the damping is not ideal. They may well be better than the previous generation, that won't be hard to improve on. Adaptive still has its place, where users want to run both a comfort and sport biased chassis, across a wide range of road conditions and use. |
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07-12-2019, 07:18 AM | #60 | |
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Agree we need to consider our own particular driving situation. I know (for me) adaptive definitely improves my BMW in the more challenging conditions I drive day to day. I've spent time in another part of the UK, adaptive would not be so important, as the roads are much better and it's easier to live with a passive sport suspension. |
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07-12-2019, 08:03 AM | #61 |
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I agree ! But I heard the lift-related dampers are only there if you dont have the adaptive suspension.
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07-12-2019, 08:28 AM | #62 | |
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Adaptive has the potential to be programmed to react in a similar way to the lift-related characteristics, if BMW choose to do so. Plus the added ability to have the different base switchable settings (Comfort/Sport), and an 'overlap' of both using the Adaptive mode setting. I see it this way, we have two passive setups using the lift-related damping, one comfort biased, one sport biased. Adaptive gives you the two in one setup, plus a bit more. |
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07-12-2019, 10:03 AM | #63 | |
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07-18-2019, 10:54 AM | #64 |
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I have been debating on the suspension options myself for a while. This back and fourth has not been helpful for one glaring reason.
Nobody is mentioning what tire they are running. Including the professional reviews referenced. A run flat tire is going to feel jarring over bumps with any suspension. They are garbage. Passive or adaptive bump handling will be massively improved by ditching the run flats. Every time I try to test drive m340s with the different options back to back, the dealer ends up selling on of them before I arrive. I live in boston like a lot of people here commented. the roads are awful everywhere around boston. It sounds like passive is still very good for people in Boston which is great considering they are likely on run flats. The hang up I have is my newborn. Being able to click a button to smooth out a ride and keep my baby sleeping is worth every bit of $700 if the difference is that significant. |
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07-18-2019, 02:56 PM | #65 | |
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07-18-2019, 03:52 PM | #66 | |
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