[Trialskings]

Keep your 'foot in'.

I love that in my 335d & with ACS the rear is first to go. Though this winter I'm on 255 rear winter tyres where as previously I was on 225's & it was a whole heap more fun/scary

Better than my old A4 which was just under steer after more understeer!

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by Symbol-formerly Mr Helmut

Even though we shouldnt have to, ACS (or HR) is deffo the way ahead on xDrive. I only had mine a week or so from delivery without ACS but it made such a difference when they were slapped on. Not just to the looks you expect from a coupe but the handling was dramatically transformed. It gives you so much more confidence. Even in Comfort/Eco, the ride quality and stability is what it should have been out the factory; Sharp, precise and predictable. Its a shame you didn't go for adaptive as that really compliments the chassis. No idea what a retro-fit would cost?

I got the car second hand and didn't know that much about the spec until after it was in my possession. I needed to act fast as my old "faithful" Eclass Merc had died....I am not unhappy with the car, in fact quite the opposite, but I do need it to be less "executive" on the handling side.....

[Darth Helmut]

Seriously, ACS will give you that 'smile'. (and no, I don't work for Lorcan!....he couldn't afford me )

Just as a tiny example, my usually dull commute to work is down a pretty ruler-straight 12.3 miles (which is fun flooring it and overtaking and gives me that 'holy fucking torque, Batman' grin) apart from a couple of really nice bends (see pic below). The first right hander (north to south) can be taken very confidently at a good 50mph with virtually no chassis roll, down hill for a bit then a nice tightish 90 left. Again, really nice at 40mph+ with no issues (I'm playing the bottle game of really late braking on a clear dry road, chucking down quickly on the paddles at the last second). The final adrenaline injection is off the roundabout for a sweeping left hand 180 where you can feel the tyres letting go but chassis and drive nice and predictable (lost many a boy-racer through that ). I cannot overstate enough how ACS (or H&R) change the dynamics of the 435d. They turn this vehicle into what we expect from a BMW coupe with a straight 6.

[Firaxis]

Originally Posted by Dave1963

So, I decided to get a bit "hands on" in full manual, giving it some (loads) of beans tonight. Got a bit frisky around a few bends, back spitting out and feeling a bit "wallowy". This is xdrive. I was expecting more grip and less vagueness.......ACS time?

Was you driving it at the time? It's like you got advice off swiss Tony but swapped out the word "like" and took it a bit too literal ...

Sure the ACS suspension will most likely help, but you'll never get around the fact it's quite a large heavy lump and you got to decide what you want out of a car. Personally I never had any issues throwing it around corners on, it was a little wallowy but it never felt unsafe.

If anything I'd upgrade the brakes before anything, recently a mobile traffic light flicked between green / red and with stock brakes it really struggled to stop from 50.

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by Firaxis

Was you driving it at the time? It's like you got advice off swiss Tony but swapped out the word "like" and took it a bit too literal ...

Sure the ACS suspension will most likely help, but you'll never get around the fact it's quite a large heavy lump and you got to decide what you want out of a car. Personally I never had any issues throwing it around corners on, it was a little wallowy but it never felt unsafe.

If anything I'd upgrade the brakes before anything, recently a mobile traffic light flicked between green / red and with stock brakes it really struggled to stop from 50.

I am very confident with the brakes, in fact they are exceptionally good....140-30 in very quick time. (Don't ask....). I realise it's a heavy lump, I had an E Class Merc before this and managed it very well in all sorts of conditions, including drifting around a few bends when required. I just assumed the 435 would "stick" a bit more, before letting go at the back and then recover with some under steer. I never got that far, as the hedge was getting a bit close to put £30k of car into, just for fun.....

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by Symbol-formerly Mr Helmut

Seriously, ACS will give you that 'smile'. (and no, I don't work for Lorcan!....he couldn't afford me )

Just as a tiny example, my usually dull commute to work is down a pretty ruler-straight 12.3 miles (which is fun flooring it and overtaking and gives me that 'holy fucking torque, Batman' grin) apart from a couple of really nice bends (see pic below). The first right hander (north to south) can be taken very confidently at a good 50mph with virtually no chassis roll, down hill for a bit then a nice tightish 90 left. Again, really nice at 40mph+ with no issues (I'm playing the bottle game of really late braking on a clear dry road, chucking down quickly on the paddles at the last second). The final adrenaline injection is off the roundabout for a sweeping left hand 180 where you can feel the tyres letting go but chassis and drive nice and predictable (lost many a boy-racer through that ). I cannot overstate enough how ACS (or H&R) change the dynamics of the 435d. They turn this vehicle into what we expect from a BMW coupe with a straight 6.

I do love the handling under power out of a bend, but I am used to late braking and power though the bend....This is when I bottled it....I was trying to feather the turbo and possibly got a bit more boost that I was expecting.....

[Firaxis]

Originally Posted by Dave1963

I am very confident with the brakes, in fact they are exceptionally good....140-30 in very quick time. (Don't ask....). I realise it's a heavy lump, I had an E Class Merc before this and managed it very well in all sorts of conditions, including drifting around a few bends when required. I just assumed the 435 would "stick" a bit more, before letting go at the back and then recover with some under steer. I never got that far, as the hedge was getting a bit close to put £30k of car into, just for fun.....

But isn't that the point of it? X-drive is RW biased and is supposed to push out when needed.

I think a lot of people's issue is when it snaps from 4WD then all of a sudden transfers, it ain't a subtle transition and first time it happens it's a bit like WTF? But believe me when I say it's absolutley fine.

I'm running a 335D Xdrive although mine is LCI which they fettled a couple of things. Although if you've ever driven an M140i or M240i, it won't stick then snap the backend, it just slides out under mid throttle. Whilst it's not a jarring transition it does it far more often, I mean you don't even need to push it that hard.

It's fun though.. P.S glad your brakes are great, I nearly swallowed my undies.

[Darth Helmut]

Originally Posted by Dave1963

I do love the handling under power out of a bend, but I am used to late braking and power though the bend....This is when I bottled it....I was trying to feather the turbo and possibly got a bit more boost that I was expecting.....

You need a BlueSpark box too then Lofty (It kicks in at about 1800rpm and its a nice challenge playing with the revs to make it work. Estimate it shoves about 360bhp/690Nm at the wheels with my current setting-let you know once we've been to the dyno).

(I do not work for BlueSpark either! )

But. I do feel my car (8AF, adaptive, M Sport brakes, lighter than OEM wheels, BlueSpark Pro + Boost, ACS) satisfies me at the moment. I'm a keen driver, like to explore the 'limits' (usually mine) but also don't want to visit the scenery. But I do like get a bit of a driving adrenalin rush before I get to work and my F32 does that so far. Hopefully you can get the same.

[Darth Helmut]

It's fun though.. P.S glad your brakes are great, I near swallowed my undies.

Lol . Me too when a clunge in a Honda bimbled out on to the main road with the awareness of Donald Trumps PR team. Press brake hard; Fick meine alten Stiefel, my face looks like a Dover Sole on the windscreen!!

[Soul_Glo]

Seriously considering ACS. Do they look oem?

[M5 F90 (2018)]

Dave get the ACS springs fitted. You wont be disappointed and i had them added a couple of weeks back. They will transform the drive from the off as many, many on here have said. They do take a smidgen of the very soft comfort ride (15%- 20%) away in say central London driving, but what they offer in terms of turn in feel, much less body roll, lower ride height and the extra confidence that you gain are imo worth the trade off. They just make the car so much more enjoyable to drive and for a very reasonable cost. If you are really, really pushing hard then you will really need to change the dampers for that style of driving as i have found they dont solve that issue. Having said that and for 80% of a sensible hard drive around country roads etc they are spot on. Soooooo just so i am clear.......JUST DO IT and put them on!!

[dopper99]

Agreed that ACS springs are the way to go on xdrives. Just remember to inform your insurance.

I do hope the next generation 3 series follows suit of the new G30 5 series and fits proper M Sport suspenion to xdrive's.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Broken_Gearbox

Seriously considering ACS. Do they look oem?

In what way? The ride height or the springs themselves?

[Dave1963]

Going to go for the ACS, I have a few other things life wise that need to come first, but then will go for them. I do like the manual side of the gearbox and playing with the turbo on the throttle is absolute fun and to have a little more confidence in the ride would be good.....

[GTBrandon]

I was thinking of going with ACS springs, but do they need any additional components like bump stops? I do not want the car bottoming out every time I go over a speed bump or pothole, and don't want to ruin daily drive-ability. Also, I have a F34 if that makes a difference.

[Smee]

I fitted an uprated rear arb on mine made a world of difference to getting front to bite it no more understeer

[teaston]

Originally Posted by GTBrandon

I was thinking of going with ACS springs, but do they need any additional components like bump stops? I do not want the car bottoming out every time I go over a speed bump or pothole, and don't want to ruin daily drive-ability. Also, I have a F34 if that makes a difference.

No, ACS's saying is "fast not hard" so the retain the comfort and useability. I just changed the springs and nothing else, didn't even get the wheel alignment done.

[CazuaLLUK]

Just get them, stop talking

[RalphyBMW]

Unless you have adaptive, ACS won't solve the car feeling a bit slow witted and under damped.
Temper your expectations, it's still a 1.8t car with crap dampers.

[Tengocity]

ACS springs would be a good start, but sounds like you like to drive like I do, in which case perhaps consider a full suspension change. If you hold on to your cars for a good while then it will be well worthwhile.

I did springs at first but eventually have changed everything and the car will now handle like what it sounds like you want... composed, controlled, neutral handling balance until you decide you want oversteer.

No understeer unless you're on track and over ambitious with corner entry speed.

[blackpear]

Originally Posted by Dave1963

A bit dissapointed.....?

Yes, a bit disappointed with your spelling

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by blackpear

Yes, a bit disappointed with your spelling

Got to blame it on the iPad......I have a hate-hate relationship with it......