Gran Coupe M Sport Suspension Ride?

Damage Inc · 12-14-2018, 04:36 PM

Hey all. I'm looking at a couple Gran Coupe w M Sport. However nothing local I can drive would need to place a deposit, then go out of state prior to purchase.

How is the M Sport ride vs. regular sport? This car will be a DD on terrible Michigan roads. I do like a sporty suspension but nothing rough.

It might be better for me to lean towards a standard sport. I've driven a non sport 3 series and it was super floaty. I currently have a 320i m sport and I like the ride in the "sport setting". I've had a 15 M3 and the ride was unnecessarily harsh, M2 ride was spot on.

Is there a diff between the M Sport and normal sport? I'll be searching threads in the meantime.

BigJack75 · 12-14-2018, 10:11 PM

I've driven a 328i with m-sport and a couple of 435i GC non m-sport. I own a 435i GC M-Sport. The m-sport does seem to stiffen up the suspension but it's definitely not too harsh. This is a bmw after all not civic with cut springs. I think you will be fine. Also you can change from comfort mode to sport which I think makes a difference.

alohasurftoad · 12-14-2018, 11:11 PM

if i'm not mistaken, RWD suspension options are base, adaptive, and the 704. if you don't have the base or adaptive, you have the 704.

for x-drives, there is no 704, so if you don't have adaptive, you have the base suspension.

if both series have the same suspensions, i believe the 4-series chassis is a bit more rigid and a bit lower so it handles better than a 3-series.

RM7 · 12-15-2018, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

if i'm not mistaken, RWD suspension options are base, adaptive, and the 704. if you don't have the base or adaptive, you have the 704.

for x-drives, there is no 704, so if you don't have adaptive, you have the base suspension.

if both series have the same suspensions, i believe the 4-series chassis is a bit more rigid and a bit lower so it handles better than a 3-series.

I found the adaptive x-drive 4-series GC to be too floaty. "Sport" was acceptable, but swaybars+springs+shockware was much more what I was hoping for out of the bag. There's no way with adaptive or base suspension the car will be "too harsh" and even with the sport I doubt that could be the case. The good thing about adaptive is you can change the settings, but the only time I went to "comfort" or "eco" was at slow speeds over bumps. Even over some of the bumps, I'd want stiffer damping to damp out the side-to-side of my stiffer swaybars. The adaptive suspension in the x-drive is the same as base, just with the adaptive dampers. Extremely weak swaybars and everything else. So much so that you question if it's a joke or not.

So basically, there's little chance it will be "too harsh". Even with a sport suspension (704) this is nowhere near a M3/4. As said above, the 4 is a little wider and lower and handles inherently a little better than the 3-series. Not a whole lot better, just slightly. In general, these are not very aggressive cars and with real sport (704) suspension you actually get a decently sporty suspension without it being ridiculous. Remember, BMW tuned this generation way back and it's far from "aggressive".

movietub · 12-15-2018, 04:32 PM

I have the msport GC, the ride is never upsetting, although it is of course on the firmer side. It's about as good a compromise as you can expect really. My old F31 had adaptive dampers which were better in all regards - I would encourage you to find a car with that option if at all possible.

If you really can't find one with adaptive, then it's not the end of the world. Mine is on 20's and even then the ride really isn't annoying unless it's a seriously rutted road.

cfm56d7b · 12-16-2018, 11:59 AM

Are you looking for xDrive or RWD vehicle?

My suggestion is to find a vehicle without M Adaptive suspension and get coilovers with individually adjustable compression and rebound controls to give you complete flexibility to tune the suspension behavior for Michigan roads.

Beembar51 · 12-17-2018, 05:32 PM

I had a 2018 430xi GC with M Adaptive Suspension and 19” wheels. In comfort mode it was a very compliant ride. In sport mode it was definitely firmer, but still acceptable. I think with 18” wheels rather than 19s the ride would probably be even better. Of course the roads in Florida are better than many other places.

simonelwell · 12-18-2018, 09:33 AM

My GC has "sport" and "sport+"
It has adaptive suspension / dampers
Comfort mode = great around town - light on the steering and softer ride
Sport - ride firms up, steering firms up too - much more accurate.
Sport+ as sport, but the traction goes into fun mode so the back is just a little more lively if you kick it.

simonelwell · 12-18-2018, 09:34 AM

My GC has "sport" and "sport+"
It has adaptive suspension / dampers
Comfort mode = great around town - light on the steering and softer ride
Sport - ride firms up, steering firms up too - much more accurate.
Sport+ as sport, but the traction goes into fun mode so the back is just a little more lively if you kick it.

12-14-2018, 04:36 PM	#1
Damage Inc Lieutenant Colonel 789 Rep 1,924 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nashville iTrader: (1)	Gran Coupe M Sport Suspension Ride? Hey all. I'm looking at a couple Gran Coupe w M Sport. However nothing local I can drive would need to place a deposit, then go out of state prior to purchase. How is the M Sport ride vs. regular sport? This car will be a DD on terrible Michigan roads. I do like a sporty suspension but nothing rough. It might be better for me to lean towards a standard sport. I've driven a non sport 3 series and it was super floaty. I currently have a 320i m sport and I like the ride in the "sport setting". I've had a 15 M3 and the ride was unnecessarily harsh, M2 ride was spot on. Is there a diff between the M Sport and normal sport? I'll be searching threads in the meantime. __________________ Current: 17 OG M2 / R8 Performance Past Performance Cars: 01 M3, 05 M3, 06 M5, 08 M6, 08 M3, 11 M3, 13 M3, 15 M3, 911 C4S, 911 GTS, 17 M2,R8 V8, R8 RWS
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12-14-2018, 10:11 PM	#2
BigJack75 Lieutenant 202 Rep 533 Posts Drives: M5 Dream Car Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Right Here iTrader: (0)	I've driven a 328i with m-sport and a couple of 435i GC non m-sport. I own a 435i GC M-Sport. The m-sport does seem to stiffen up the suspension but it's definitely not too harsh. This is a bmw after all not civic with cut springs. I think you will be fine. Also you can change from comfort mode to sport which I think makes a difference. __________________ 435i GC
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12-14-2018, 11:11 PM	#3
alohasurftoad Brigadier General 3069 Rep 4,314 Posts Drives: 440i gran coupe w/mppsk Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: hawaii iTrader: (0)	if i'm not mistaken, RWD suspension options are base, adaptive, and the 704. if you don't have the base or adaptive, you have the 704. for x-drives, there is no 704, so if you don't have adaptive, you have the base suspension. if both series have the same suspensions, i believe the 4-series chassis is a bit more rigid and a bit lower so it handles better than a 3-series.
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12-15-2018, 04:32 PM	#5
movietub First Lieutenant 101 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 330d M-Sport Touring, Black. Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stamford iTrader: (0)	I have the msport GC, the ride is never upsetting, although it is of course on the firmer side. It's about as good a compromise as you can expect really. My old F31 had adaptive dampers which were better in all regards - I would encourage you to find a car with that option if at all possible. If you really can't find one with adaptive, then it's not the end of the world. Mine is on 20's and even then the ride really isn't annoying unless it's a seriously rutted road.
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12-16-2018, 11:59 AM	#6
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5876 Rep 10,249 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	Are you looking for xDrive or RWD vehicle? My suggestion is to find a vehicle without M Adaptive suspension and get coilovers with individually adjustable compression and rebound controls to give you complete flexibility to tune the suspension behavior for Michigan roads.
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12-17-2018, 05:32 PM	#7
Beembar51 Private 55 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 2023 X1 Join Date: May 2016 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	GC M Adaptive Suspension I had a 2018 430xi GC with M Adaptive Suspension and 19” wheels. In comfort mode it was a very compliant ride. In sport mode it was definitely firmer, but still acceptable. I think with 18” wheels rather than 19s the ride would probably be even better. Of course the roads in Florida are better than many other places.
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12-18-2018, 09:33 AM	#8
simonelwell Private First Class 56 Rep 103 Posts Drives: X5 (G05) 30d M Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Essex, England iTrader: (0)	My GC has "sport" and "sport+" It has adaptive suspension / dampers Comfort mode = great around town - light on the steering and softer ride Sport - ride firms up, steering firms up too - much more accurate. Sport+ as sport, but the traction goes into fun mode so the back is just a little more lively if you kick it.
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12-18-2018, 09:34 AM	#9
simonelwell Private First Class 56 Rep 103 Posts Drives: X5 (G05) 30d M Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Essex, England iTrader: (0)	My GC has "sport" and "sport+" It has adaptive suspension / dampers Comfort mode = great around town - light on the steering and softer ride Sport - ride firms up, steering firms up too - much more accurate. Sport+ as sport, but the traction goes into fun mode so the back is just a little more lively if you kick it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote