02-09-2013, 09:49 AM | #1 |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Suspension: M Sport Adaptive vs M Sport Passive
Two Cars, two drivers:
(1) F30 330d M Sport, Servotronic Steering, 18" Wheels, Bridgestone tyres, Adaptive M Sport Suspension, Sport Mode. (2) Exactly as above but with Passive M Sport Suspension. Both with full tanks of Diesel. Tyre pressures checked when cold to be exactly the same. Roads: Motorway, A Roads, B roads, Twisty roads, Bumpy roads, Potholed roads. Ride: Adaptive better on rough roads even though it felt slightly stiffer due to less body roll. Less crashing on potholes. At 70 mph Adaptive had a flatter ride and the car felt more secure/planted. There was a roughness to the cars overall feel with Passive suspension. I found the car with Passive Suspension a bit tiring. The other driver agreed with these differences but felt they were not enough to worry or concern him. I felt the opposite. Handling: Adaptive superior, less roll, felt more planted and stable. Better cornering ability. Car felt more at one with the driver. Both drivers agreed on the differences. However, the other driver did not feel they were significant enough. Again, I felt the opposite. Steering feel: Adaptive tracked better in a straight line on Motorways. Adaptive felt less twitchy. Overall steering feel very similar. Adaptive seemed to take bumpy corners with less steering fight. The other driver did not notice any difference. Noise: Somehow the car with Adaptive suspension seemed quieter to my ears. A much more refined drive. The other driver felt there was no difference which really surprised me. Summary: Perhaps, as I am used to a car with Adaptive Suspension, the change to the Passive setup was more obvious to me than the change from Passive to Adaptive to the other driver. Yes, he agreed the Adaptive setup was better overall, the car feeling more communicative but he could easily live without Adaptive. I strongly felt the opposite. To me, the F30 with the Passive setup felt a lower grade of car. It lacked the refinement and the overall prowess of the famed BMW drive. I think the other driver was in denial. I know for sure I made the right choice. The other driver only had minor regrets in not having Adaptive, UNTIL ......... HE DROVE MY CAR IN COMFORT MODE AND WAS KICKING HIMSELF FOR NOT HAVING ADAPTIVE M SPORT SUSPENSION. He regretted that for a few hundred quid he could have had two different superior cars! Boy, I'm tired but happy.
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys Last edited by F30AM; 02-09-2013 at 11:37 AM.. |
02-09-2013, 09:57 AM | #2 |
Lieutenant
27
Rep 583
Posts |
Nice Comparison review between the two. Glad I ordered the Adaptive. I remember saying to the dealer that I hated the M Suspension on the E46 I currently have. I asked would the adaptive be better? He said just delete the M Suspension... Glad I didn't just delete and added Adaptive...
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 10:58 AM | #3 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
541
Rep 1,894
Posts |
Quote:
The M Sport Suspension on our E91 with the 18" 193M was quite an unsettled ride esp on bad roads around where we live. But on a twisty/smooth road it was amazing. Glad I ignored the dealer and went for the Adaptive M Suspension. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 11:23 AM | #4 |
Live for today tomorrow never comes
1990
Rep 9,498
Posts |
Just as I thought really, adaptive all the way, good write too.
__________________
Live for now, life is too short.
2021 LCI M5 Marina Bay Blue/ Smoked White Leather |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 11:47 AM | #5 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Very interesting observations. About as close as you can get for a user comparison test. Very useful feedback on the different setups. Much how I expected the OP's view to be. As I posted just this morning in the other thread:
Quote:
Been similar discussions on the 5-series forums, where some drivers just don't see much difference in the VDC fitted cars, whereas other drivers say it is "chalk and cheese", one of the best bits of technology on the car, and lifts the drive to another level. I note that F30AM has VDC in his Golf GTi, so very aware of the finer and subtle differences over passive systems. Myself, I come from the 330d with Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping), and after living with that setup for about 5-years, no BMW passive system (standard or sport) could give the same quality of suspension refinement (out of the box) until VDC came along. Then I know some tried the Koni FSD and didn't like the feel as they didn't find it a sporty enough feel. VDC has brought refinement without losing the sporty handling abilities, which refinement I've felt has been lacking in BMW for a few years, since RFTs were introduced. Interesting comments on the steering feel, that is my feeling as well, for the 5-series cars. As a settled suspension allows the steering to be more fluid, with less of a corrupted twitch. HighlandPete |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 12:07 PM | #6 |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Pete:
The experience was most interesting. In fact, after he tried my car in 'Comfort' mode, he wished to try the 'Sport' mode again. Then, suddenly, as if by a miracle, it clicked! He's now a 100% fan of Adaptive Suspension. He's furious with his Salesperson who's advice he took.
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 12:19 PM | #7 |
Female driving enthusiast :P
76
Rep 2,308
Posts
Drives: Bimmer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
Thanks for the review. I didn't test drive cars back to back but came away with a similar impression. That the M adaptive is so much worth the extra price for 'enthusiast' drivers.
After testing the regular sports suspension, I still preferred my E92's drive, despite the trashy ride due to the (older generation) run-flats. Then I got to try the same car but with M adaptive suspension. Now that was a car I could get behind.
__________________
2013 M3 coupe (Azurite Black, Black, Piano Black)
+ miata nut (2 miatas) + Mk6 GTI 5-door hatch (our mini-SUV ) |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 12:29 PM | #8 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
When folks question the sport suspension, "Delete the sport suspension" or "Adaptive it is not worth the money", is all a lot of them seem to say. Now the other factor is wheels, at least you have 18", so sit there on optimum design specification, for the adaptive suspension. I'm on 18" summer wheels with the 5-series. Talking with the dealer I got my car from, they did know 18" are the optimum for Adaptive Drive, and appreciated I'd be getting the best possible from it. HighlandPete |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 12:39 PM | #9 | |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Quote:
18" + Adaptive Suspension = Optimum setup. Car feels fabulous in both suspension modes.
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 03:01 PM | #10 |
First Lieutenant
60
Rep 355
Posts |
Thanks for the write up F30AM. This exactly fits my experience of comparing 330d with adaptive to same car with non adaptive.
I have an interesting additional factor that affects my drive (positively) in Variable Sport Steering. I'll do a separate post on this. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 03:08 PM | #11 |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Yes PLEASE.
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 03:41 PM | #12 |
Major
292
Rep 1,121
Posts |
When you posting up this sounds interesting
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 05:38 PM | #14 |
Lieutenant General
3533
Rep 11,292
Posts |
Great write up F30AM and good to see the adaptive is worth getting.
I have a question which I'd be interested in with regards the F30 compared to my E90...... In my car, when driving around bends and hitting pot holes and manhole covers etc, the car has a tendency to "hop" very slightly off line. Its always done this from new. Looking at e90post it appears people blame the run flats for this and changing to non-run flats apparently improves things. Anyway, does the F30 suffer in a similar way when hitting pot holes and manholes when pushing on around the bends? Or is the suspension much better regardless of the fact run flats are fitted? Cheers. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 05:48 PM | #15 | |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-09-2013, 05:53 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant General
3533
Rep 11,292
Posts |
Sounds good and a lot better than the E90. I'm not talking caning it in mine to get it to hop. Just ordinary brisk-ish speeds, nothing too fast. Its not until I drive another car that I realise how poor mine is. Is not a major problem, but not great for a BMW.
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 02:22 AM | #17 |
Major General
1045
Rep 6,947
Posts |
How much is the Adaptive drive?
I have adaptive on my X5, I bought it used and its the only one I have ever seen with the option, probably effectively cost me nothing but cost the first owner £2000!! |
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 02:29 AM | #18 |
Lieutenant Colonel
541
Rep 1,894
Posts |
Adaptive M Suspension was a £515 option on M Sport trim, I think it costs a bit more if you don't have M Sport.
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 02:53 AM | #19 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
For a current 5-series, Variable Damping Control is £985; Adaptive Drive is £2,770 The other steering upgrade (sporty steering) is Integral Active Steering at £1,330, so makes the F30/1 Variable Sport Steering (VSS) quite a cheap option. HighlandPete |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 02:58 AM | #20 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
HighlandPete |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 05:32 AM | #21 | |
Major General
709
Rep 5,021
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys
Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-10-2013, 06:15 AM | #22 | |
Major
292
Rep 1,121
Posts |
Quote:
I remember a motor show when i was speaking to one of the suspension guys from BMW in 2007 i was invited up with a few others to have a chat on what we felt the issue was with e90 m sport and they must have been worried all present sales unless ride improves or got ajustable suspension they would lose market share to other brands, as my street was an example one moved from old 5 series to e class another to Audi and a few more, two of them back to 5 series with adaptive damping, or non RFT. I think the Adaptive was put on spec list due to the facts above to keep the hard core BMW car buyes that buy not for the badge or looks , but that does help, but for the Drive train and 50/50 balance and also well controlled and compliant handling. Not all owners are looking for this |
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|