[greydout]

How does the Msport 335 GT handle? Has anyone experienced the car with and without the dynamic handling package?

[Slalom]

I have the 335 GT and the handling is quite competent.

There are many days that I chose to drive the GT even when I am just going to pick up a few groceries. It is a really comfortable ride. I have two nice roundabouts (traffic circles) on one way from my house and a twisty country road in the other. The GT eats both up.

(I say chose the GT because my other choices are an E85 Z4 and an E92 M3 ZCP with damper control.)

[Orient330iNYC]

Originally Posted by greydout

How does the Msport 335 GT handle? Has anyone experienced the car with and without the dynamic handling package?

just remember in the US, the 335i GT has the same base suspension regardless of M Sport or not- Xdrive deletes the msport suspension.
you'll need to add DHP for the stiffer suspension (althought it will not lower the car)

[greydout]

Thanks guys!! I'm leaning towards the GT. I imagine it will out handle the x6 50i w/ DHP simply because of the X6's weight. I'm coming out of an S4, and I am trying to keep as much of that feel as possible. My wife wants an SUV, and I'm thinking the GT is the best compromise(she likes it as well).

Anyone have any experience driving the X6 with DHP?

[ipilcher]

I've never driven the GT without DHP, but I wasn't happy with the DHP in comfort mode until I added Dinan Shockware. (U.S. xDrive 335i.)

[Pleaseenterpassword]

i've got dhp and x-drive and this combination is quite useless for me, as i barely feel a difference between comfort and sport setting, if at all. I did a test drive with a F34 with dhp but without x-drive before and the difference between comfort and sport settings was huge. Haven't driven a car with the basic x-drive suspension, so i don't know the ride quality there.

My recommendation: Try to get test drives both with and without dhp before choosing, as you have to take x-drive in the us.

[RJGBMW]

Wish I knew the real, seat of the pants, difference between the US standard GT suspension and the DHP. I have a 335 GT without DHP, but with the 19" A/S tire option. The best ride/handling combination I've experience was my old E36: comfortable ride (sporty comfortable, not Cadillac floaty comfortable) and just great handling. My E90 had the sport package and I found handling better (than I needed) and ride quality awful! I expected my GT to be a clone to the E36, but it is not. Ride way better than my E90, but not as good as the E36. This may be because our roads have gotten much worse, or because of the 19" wider, run flat tires on the GT. Handling (taking curves at speed) is disappointing. The GT just "heals over" too much, IMHO for a BMW. All in all, I'm just OK with the ride/handling combination. I've not experienced DHP, so I wonder if I should have ordered it. I read many comments by DHP owners who say there isn't much difference between comfort and sport settings, and DHP is not worth the money. Good luck with your decision on DHP!

[FunRevn]

I love our 335 GT. We have the DHP package and when you grab this car by the scruff of the neck and run it through some sweeping bends she handles great. When I'm with my family I usually cruise in comfort mode if I know a fast corner approaching , I just push the selector to sport mode and the car maintains it posture. The car can really be fun through the twisties. I can feel the difference between comfort and sport. Also remember DHP IS dynamic. Meaning that it will progressively get firmer or softer based on your type of driving at the moment.

[sushkr]

I have the luxury line 335GT with DHP. In sport/sport+ modes I can clearly feel the difference in both chassis and steering. Good road feel and it seems to cling on to the road much better. But have to turn that off when with back passengers otherwise they think I am driving a truck.

[lmcq784]

I have a 328iX GT with DHP and it's definitely notice between the different settings.
Now I added the Dinan Shockware, and oh my, what a difference it makes! (Shockware requires DHP)
Worth the money to have it.

[ElBlanco]

I have a 335 gt with DHP. I test drove a gt without the DHP prior to purchase. I am glad I got mine with the DHP. The car feels like it rolls less in the turns. I would recommend the DHP if you want a car that handles more like a 3 series. More importantly, the braking. The gt is heavy. I hated the way the standard brakes felt. It almost felt like I couldn't stop the car under harder braking. I purchased the m sport brakes, and couldn't be happier. I guess I just wanted my gt to behave more like my E90. I would highly recommend test driving a gt with and without the DHP and m sport brakes. However, for me there was only one choice. I hope that helps.

[sushkr]

Unfortunately M sport brakes do not go with all season tires. So out here on East coast, we don't get to enjoy them.

[sushkr]

Do you have all seasons with your M sport brakes? When I custom ordered there was no way I could configure M sport brakes with all seasons either 18" or 19". I had to choose mixed summer tires along with those brakes. I never understood why that is and dealer did not know as well. M sport brakes are beefier and bigger disks but no reason for not allowing them with winter tires.

[ElBlanco]

I use tire rack online. Good website for checking out ratings and selecting tires. Looks like there are options for 18in run flats in all season for the gt. I just realized my only option for my 19in BMW m sport brakes with staggered rims might be a non run flat. But they still look like a decent tire for all season. Plus they have a great UTQG rating.

http://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireDeta...taggered+Tires

[sushkr]

Originally Posted by ElBlanco

I use tire rack online. Good website for checking out ratings and selecting tires. Looks like there are options for 18in run flats in all season for the gt. I just realized my only option for my 19in BMW m sport brakes with staggered rims might be a non run flat. But they still look like a decent tire for all season. Plus they have a great UTQG rating.

http://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireDeta...taggered+Tires

Thank you!

[KneeDragr]

Originally Posted by ElBlanco

I use tire rack online. Good website for checking out ratings and selecting tires. Looks like there are options for 18in run flats in all season for the gt. I just realized my only option for my 19in BMW m sport brakes with staggered rims might be a non run flat. But they still look like a decent tire for all season. Plus they have a great UTQG rating.

http://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireDeta...taggered+Tires

You could also go Yokohama Advan Sport A/S and save some $$, although the tread rating it not quite as high.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....taggered+Tires

[ipilcher]

Originally Posted by sushkr

Do you have all seasons with your M sport brakes? When I custom ordered there was no way I could configure M sport brakes with all seasons either 18" or 19". I had to choose mixed summer tires along with those brakes. I never understood why that is and dealer did not know as well. M sport brakes are beefier and bigger disks but no reason for not allowing them with winter tires.

M Sport brakes also up the electronic speed governor to 155 MPH. U.S. regulations require that a car capable of going that fast be sold with tires that are rated for such speeds, which rules out all-seasons.

[ElBlanco]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

M Sport brakes also up the electronic speed governor to 155 MPH. U.S. regulations require that a car capable of going that fast be sold with tires that are rated for such speeds, which rules out all-seasons.

The all season tire I mentioned is more than capable of high speeds. It is a y rated tire with a max speed rating of 186 mph. I am pretty sure it will get the job done.

[lmcq784]

sushkr, I'm in PA too, I highly recommend ditching the all season tires, and getting dedicated winter wheels. I have a set of summer performance for half the year, and a set of Blizzaks for the winter. This makes changing seasons easy.

Here in PA, we get bad enough winter roads (where it's not super cold, but rains and freezes a lot) that good winter tires should be common practice.

[Alexygen]

Can anyone confirm that DHP doesn't lower the car in US? I just saw them side by side with and without DHP...and the one with DHP does looks lowered.

[ipilcher]

Neither DHP nor the M Sport line lowers an F34 in the U.S. (You can thank xDrive for the latter.)

AFAIK, there are no aftermarket lowering options available either.

[driftmotion]

Originally Posted by RJGBMW

Wish I knew the real, seat of the pants, difference between the US standard GT suspension and the DHP. I have a 335 GT without DHP, but with the 19" A/S tire option. The best ride/handling combination I've experience was my old E36: comfortable ride (sporty comfortable, not Cadillac floaty comfortable) and just great handling. My E90 had the sport package and I found handling better (than I needed) and ride quality awful! I expected my GT to be a clone to the E36, but it is not. Ride way better than my E90, but not as good as the E36. This may be because our roads have gotten much worse, or because of the 19" wider, run flat tires on the GT. Handling (taking curves at speed) is disappointing. The GT just "heals over" too much, IMHO for a BMW. All in all, I'm just OK with the ride/handling combination. I've not experienced DHP, so I wonder if I should have ordered it. I read many comments by DHP owners who say there isn't much difference between comfort and sport settings, and DHP is not worth the money. Good luck with your decision on DHP!

I'm not sure what cars other are coming from but I'm used to a horribly stiff ride so the GT is a welcomed comfort. However, it's horrible at taking corners and has SO MUCH body roll which to be honest does not at all inspire confidence! Other annoyance, comfort mode..... why can't the car just utilize the HP and good shifting they state and not purposefully make the car smoother ... If I wanted a slower, smoother car I would have bought a 328i gt xdrive or even an Audi....

Originally Posted by ipilcher

Neither DHP nor the M Sport line lowers an F34 in the U.S. (You can thank xDrive for the latter.)

AFAIK, there are no aftermarket lowering options available either.

There are a few options I've found so far.... It looks like KW makes a set of springs for the 335i xDrive GT. Also AC-Schnitzer makes a set as well. How easy they are to get, that I don't know.

I've also been speaking to a company called Scale which makes coilover who might be interested in developing an application for the F34 platform, granted there is enough interest. I'm trying to see if they would do it as a group buy but nothing as of yet.