[larrylam646]

Earlier this year, I retrofitted adaptive suspension (lowered with Eibach Pro springs) into my vehicle, replacing the KW V2s I had installed within months of owning the vehicle.

Reason? I wanted a more compliant ride for longer trips and a more responsive ride for more spirited driving.

Coming from the KW V2s, my lower-back appreciated the Comfort mode setup of the adaptive suspension but at highway speeds, I found myself routinely changing to Sport mode to eliminate the suspension float (experienced in Comfort mode).

I looked into Dinan Shockwave but based on my searches, Shockwave remaps the OEM Sport mode settings into Comfort mode and I was not sure I wanted Sport to be my base suspension setting.

I came across this post in the M4 forum - https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...3&postcount=36

where the adaptive suspension setting can be changed by FDL coding the VDC. So I took a look at the "Fahrzeugtyp" VDC parameter for my vehicle and I noticed one of the selections was "F32_alpina". I FDL coded my VDC to this setting and tested to determine if this changed anything with the suspension setup.

It may be all in my mind but the suspension in Comfort mode felt tighter with reduce float, especially at speed.

So my ask? Would one of you please FDL code your VDC and share your experience on the differences, if any?

Thank you

Larry

[FaRKle!]

Good find!

It wouldn't surprise me if this changed the damping curve as I'm sure Alpina tunes the D4/B4 EDC to their liking vs the BMW profile.

[Eschmacher]

Oh man, I'm going to have to try this. I always wondered if you could recode the vdc in some way.

[Eschmacher]

I tried F30_Alpina and got an error in idrive, chassis function restricted. Tried F32_Alpina and got the same thing.

Ecu code is "variant invalid".

[Eschmacher]

Tried a few more, same thing. In fact, I'm getting the same error after setting it back to the original coding.

Edit: ecu readout is now indicating "zero point not learned" for both front acceleration sensors. Going to reset this in ista.

[larrylam646]

Originally Posted by Eschmacher

I tried F30_Alpina and got an error in idrive, chassis function restricted. Tried F32_Alpina and got the same thing.

Ecu code is "variant invalid".

In addition to changing Fahzeugtyp, change:

3000 FAHRZEUGVARIANTE--> Motor--> N55B30_Alpina (Werte = 3C)

Larry

[Eschmacher]

Originally Posted by larrylam646

In addition to changing Fahzeugtyp, change:

3000 FAHRZEUGVARIANTE--> Motor--> N55B30_Alpina (Werte = 3C)

Larry

I'll try that in the morning, ty.

[Eschmacher]

Larry, that worked! Going on a road trip right now, will update thread with thoughts after.

[Eschmacher]

I'm not particularly sure whether what I felt was placebo or not, but it feels like both modes are slightly stiffer. Comfort mode seems definitely improved, I used it on the highway the entire trip. Not as floaty. Curious to see how the car is once I get springs too.

[SilkySmoooth]

interesting information. I have a 2013 335i with M adaptive suspension. Will this work for me as well since mine is an F30, not an F32? What exactly needs to be coded. I have fully functioning ESYS and ISTA+

[larrylam646]

Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth

interesting information. I have a 2013 335i with M adaptive suspension. Will this work for me as well since mine is an F30, not an F32? What exactly needs to be coded. I have fully functioning ESYS and ISTA+

I used an enet cable, Launcher Pro 3.0 and E-Sys for FDL Coding.

I do not know if this coding will work with your 2013 335i but I would suggest giving it a try....

[Eschmacher]

Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth

interesting information. I have a 2013 335i with M adaptive suspension. Will this work for me as well since mine is an F30, not an F32? What exactly needs to be coded. I have fully functioning ESYS and ISTA+

It will work - I did it on my F30.

However I have some additional thoughts now that I've been running this for a bit. It seems to adjust how it reacts to bumps, but that's about it. The base firmness in each mode doesn't seem to change. However I've only changed to f30_alpina so far. I wonder if any other options would make different changes.

[SilkySmoooth]

Thanks to both of you!

Larry, what are your latest thoughts on how it feels? This has me wondering now.....what if this is exactly what the DINAN shockware does and they just charge you $200 to do it??

[Eschmacher]

Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth

Thanks to both of you!

Larry, what are your latest thoughts on how it feels? This has me wondering now.....what if this is exactly what the DINAN shockware does and they just charge you $200 to do it??

I don't think this is the case. Many people say shockware is dramatic, and this feels very subtle.

[SilkySmoooth]

Well damn, so much for wishing.
I just completed the coding and it was a success, no errors! I am going to try to take it for a drive tomorrow and hopefully, I can tell a difference.

I will report back soon on my findings.

[SilkySmoooth]

Went for a short drive today. I want to say I feel a difference and I think you may have said it best by saying "not as bumpy" as a great way to describe it, Eschmacher.
The car may feel more "planted" if I had to use another word to describe it.

Anymore thoughts from you two?

We need more people to try this out!

[larrylam646]

Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth

Went for a short drive today. I want to say I feel a difference and I think you may have said it best by saying "not as bumpy" as a great way to describe it, Eschmacher.
The car may feel more "planted" if I had to use another word to describe it.

Anymore thoughts from you two?

We need more people to try this out!

Glad to learn the coding makes your vehicle feel more planted.

As I wrote in my original post, the coding reduced the floaty feeling in comfort mode when travelling at highway speed. I have not had to change suspension to sport mode since. So, I too feel my vehicle feels more planted. I also noticed the suspension still remains compliant (in Comfort mode) when driving slowly, especially noticeable when driving over speed bumps.

While looking through the VDC CAFD file, I found two parameters additional that looked interesting. I do not know what they do so I tried coding them (from nicht_aktiv to aktiv):

1) M_Competition/High - FDL Coding was accepted but vehicle generated an error shortly afterwards. Coded back to default.

2) Adapt_M_FW - FDL Coding accepted. Vehicle did not generate an error. I have not yet had an opportunity to test but do so later and report back.

[larrylam646]

Originally Posted by larrylam646

2) Adapt_M_FW - FDL Coding accepted. Vehicle did not generate an error. I have not yet had an opportunity to test but do so later and report back.

Reporting back on the above coding after driving (in Comfort mode) at highway speeds; in city traffic; and over speed bumps, I do not feel anything negative. I think my vehicle rides a little stiffer with this coding.

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by Eschmacher

Tried a few more, same thing. In fact, I'm getting the same error after setting it back to the original coding.

Edit: ecu readout is now indicating "zero point not learned" for both front acceleration sensors. Going to reset this in ista.

Did you need ista in the end? I don’t have it and don’t want to run into issues with this coding

[Eschmacher]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Did you need ista in the end? I don’t have it and don’t want to run into issues with this coding

No, just need esys!