[Wyfi]

Hey folks,

I just traded in my 2008 M3 for a new 435 Gran Coupe with Xdrive. Need 4 doors for the kids, and well, I've always liked hatchbacks - I really like the GC styling! I'm pretty happy with the car overall, just had some concerns around the ride height.

I've looked through the forums and read numerous posts where the dealer forgot to remove the shipping blocks. I verified this morning that the blocks are removed - I just wanted to get an idea from the community if the ride height appears excessive? Or normal being an Xdrive? I can fit 3 fingers in the gap from the front tire to the wheel well. Or will this settle in over time?

This is my first Xdrive car - so not really sure what to expect!

I'll likely settle on 12mm/15mm spacers to optically close the gap a little as well - not sure if it'll help much on stock suspension. Still debating 12mm or 15mm on the rear.

Thanks for your help!

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[RM7]

It's like a subaru outback.

[Beowulf65]

xDrive raises the suspension 10mm unless you get the adaptive suspension. Personally, I prefer the slightly higher ride as I load the car very heavily for summer trips and also travel over some areas with large bumps/rocks in the country. Unless the spacers are suitable, lowering the car at this point would mean an aftermarket suspension job...AFAIK.

[Wyfi]

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

xDrive raises the suspension 10mm unless you get the adaptive suspension. Personally, I prefer the slightly higher ride as I load the car very heavily for summer trips and also travel over some areas with large bumps/rocks in the country. Unless the spacers are suitable, lowering the car at this point would mean an aftermarket suspension job...AFAIK.

That's great, thank you!

I'm not opposed to the higher ride height at all - just was concerned it was too high. The 10mm guidance helps.

Not sure I want to look at aftermarket coils or anything - not sure I want to play with potential warranty issues on this car. The local dealers are kinda sticky with mods it seems.

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

xDrive raises the suspension 10mm unless you get the adaptive suspension. Personally, I prefer the slightly higher ride as I load the car very heavily for summer trips and also travel over some areas with large bumps/rocks in the country. Unless the spacers are suitable, lowering the car at this point would mean an aftermarket suspension job...AFAIK.

xDrive doesn't raise the suspension, it's just base suspension height. Sport/M-Sport Suspension and Adaptive M Suspension will lower the ride height by 10mm for RWD vehicles.

But if it's an AWD vehicle, no factory optioned suspension will lower the ride height, even the Adaptive M Suspension since it's just adding electronic dampers. Kind of a bummer...

Congrats on the new car by the way! Still wish I got a GC myself rather than the sedan.

[itrocks4u]

How are you finding it after M3?

[Beowulf65]

Originally Posted by Halsifer

xDrive doesn't raise the suspension, it's just base suspension height. Sport/M-Sport Suspension and Adaptive M Suspension will lower the ride height by 10mm for RWD vehicles.

But if it's an AWD vehicle, no factory optioned suspension will lower the ride height, even the Adaptive M Suspension since it's just adding electronic dampers. Kind of a bummer...

Congrats on the new car by the way! Still wish I got a GC myself rather than the sedan.

Yes...it's lovely car! Now we just have to wait for the replacement as the entire car was recalled...bummer bimmer

As M-Sport was standard with the 435i/435ix, I had mistaken the increased height with the 435ix as a change from base...thanks for the correction.

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

Yes...it's lovely car! Now we just have to wait for the replacement as the entire car was recalled...bummer bimmer

As M-Sport was standard with the 435i/435ix, I had mistaken the increased height with the 435ix as a change from base...thanks for the correction.

Ahh, you're the guy with the sea water damaged car. Sorry to hear, hopefully they gave you a very good loaner car since you'll be driving it for a while, if not, I would ask for that. BUT on the bright side, you got free milage from your last 435i and will soon have a brand new one!

[sr5959]

Originally Posted by Halsifer

xDrive doesn't raise the suspension, it's just base suspension height. Sport/M-Sport Suspension and Adaptive M Suspension will lower the ride height by 10mm for RWD vehicles.

But if it's an AWD vehicle, no factory optioned suspension will lower the ride height, even the Adaptive M Suspension since it's just adding electronic dampers. Kind of a bummer...

Congrats on the new car by the way! Still wish I got a GC myself rather than the sedan.

xDrive does raise the suspension 10mm over standard, so it's actually 20mm over a RWD Sport or M-Sport.

[Madriver]

Congrats on the new GC! I noticed that your car come with Pirelli Pzero, how do you like them? Mine came with Bridgestone Potenza s001.. very loud tires. I will be switching'em out with PSA/S3..

[3liter1]

Mine is the same, and I have seen a few other that are similar. I was initially disappointed, but where I live the extra space will help clear the snow! It seems to be a 4 series phenomenon. Or perhaps 2015+ model year. Some other x drives don't seem to have quite the gap.

[Beowulf65]

Originally Posted by Halsifer

Ahh, you're the guy with the sea water damaged car. Sorry to hear, hopefully they gave you a very good loaner car since you'll be driving it for a while, if not, I would ask for that. BUT on the bright side, you got free milage from your last 435i and will soon have a brand new one!

Thanks for the thought...we're on holiday and will be driving our car for another 3 weeks. When we return home we'll be requesting an equivalent loaner for all the hassle and distress. Rather sad to be driving a wonderful car with a truncated life span...we'd keep it if we could! Must remember to save our profiles for transfer.

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by sr5959

xDrive does raise the suspension 10mm over standard, so it's actually 20mm over a RWD Sport or M-Sport.

I was under the impression that the F30 xDrives being the same height as Base Suspension because it's the same suspension... Maybe it's a 4-series thing? I could be wrong as well. All I found unfortunately was this thread: CONFIRMED - F30 xDrive with Adaptive M Suspension Does NOT Lower Ride Height Do you happen to have any confirmation of the xDrive giving a 10mm lift? Because I can't seem to find anything suggesting the increase, only the non-decrease.

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

Thanks for the thought...we're on holiday and will be driving our car for another 3 weeks. When we return home we'll be requesting an equivalent loaner for all the hassle and distress. Rather sad to be driving a wonderful car with a truncated life span...we'd keep it if we could! Must remember to save our profiles for transfer.

Yes! I keep forgetting to do that for my loaners as well, it's a good habit to remember. Definitely ask for an equivalent or better vehicle in the mean time. Buddy of mine got a 2012 335is convertible as a loaner, but he also had an '88 M6. Lol

[Beowulf65]

I found the 10mm suspension drop noted in the literature on the adaptive m suspension in the 4 series GC brochure.

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

I found the 10mm suspension drop noted in the literature on the adaptive m suspension in the 4 series GC brochure.

Right, and the 10mm suspension drop is known because the Adaptive M Suspension is equivalent with the M-Sport/Sport Suspension but includes electronic damper. So it does drop for RWD vehicles, but it was discovered that the Adaptive M Suspension does not apply the 10mm drop to xDrive vehicles.

I'm more curious about this '10mm lift' that the previous poster mentioned because I have never seen or heard of this. I'm under the impression there is no height increase because it's the same as base suspension (at least on the 3-series), but that might not apply to the 4-series. So I'm curious where this was discovered.

[sr5959]

Originally Posted by Halsifer

Right, and the 10mm suspension drop is known because the Adaptive M Suspension is equivalent with the M-Sport/Sport Suspension but includes electronic damper. So it does drop for RWD vehicles, but it was discovered that the Adaptive M Suspension does not apply the 10mm drop to xDrive vehicles.

I'm more curious about this '10mm lift' that the previous poster mentioned because I have never seen or heard of this. I'm under the impression there is no height increase because it's the same as base suspension (at least on the 3-series), but that might not apply to the 4-series. So I'm curious where this was discovered.

I have seen many threads which discussed this in the past, but the best way to tell is at the dealer, look at a xdrive compared to any standard model (not sport suspension) and the increased ride height is clear to see.

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by sr5959

I have seen many threads which discussed this in the past, but the best way to tell is at the dealer, look at a xdrive compared to any standard model (not sport suspension) and the increased ride height is clear to see.

Well, if you happen to find any thread discussing the 'lift', link it here. I still can't find anything, only the lack of drop. I'll check it out next time I get a car wash. I've only looked at the 3-series between my vehicle and a student's base 3-series at my school (as well as a couple loaner vehicles), which appeared to be the same height, xDrive vs base. 4-series may be a different case.