10-27-2021, 08:45 AM | #1 |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
How active is active M sport suspension?
Hi ppl
Anyone know how active an Active M suspension is? Does it use input from sensors to tighten up suspension on the fly? Or is it just possible to choose between comfort and sport firmness? I have it in my car and think its the last of the 2 options. Just wondered since I will prob change it to a KW suspension in the next few months. And if it actually is active, I might consider changing the dampers to a new set og OEM's
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
10-27-2021, 09:31 AM | #2 |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2021, 09:39 AM | #3 |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Sure?
I've been on some trackdays and have never felt the firmenss really change unless I used the switch. Might be mine is just almost dead, has almost done 200.000km now. Thats why im considering the options. One is to replace with OEM dampers since I have ACS springs. Another option could be a KW DDC suspension. But that is not active.
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2021, 09:45 AM | #4 | |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Quote:
That has controlled (active) Comfort and Normal, plus the controlled (fixed) Sport setting. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2021, 09:49 AM | #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Ok, thnx for info :-)
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2021, 09:57 AM | #6 |
Captain
1306
Rep 881
Posts |
Allan, it’s the first. From BMW:
The Electronic Damper Control in the Adaptive M Sports suspension consists of four continuously adjustable shock absorbers with coupled rebound/compression stage adjustment produce damping forces according to requirements. The shock absorbers can automatically assume a harder setting (more dynamic/sporty) or softer (more comfortable) setting, depending on the driving manoeuvre. The Electronic Damper Control (EDC) is a comfort-oriented suspension control system for controlling the damping forces on individual wheels. Electronic Damper Control provides the following advantages: -greater on-road comfort -enhanced agility of vehicle -improved self-steering response and response to load reversals -improved driving safety and shortening of the stopping distance Functional description: The EDC control unit is the central control unit for Vertical Dynamics Management. Electronic Damper Control increases ride comfort. Greater on-road comfort is achieved when the vehicle body moves vertically as little as possible. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2021, 10:02 AM | #7 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Quote:
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 03:42 AM | #8 |
Brigadier General
1887
Rep 3,871
Posts |
Although all of the above is true, at least on paper, and makes sense as this is the "adaptive" bit, I can also confirm that I for one am unable to tell any difference, apart from when switching from Comfort to Sport and vice versa.
I assume the automatic fine-tuning within a mode or "adaptiveness" is simply not perceivable without a "with" vs. "without" comparison. If anyone has a "test case" which clearly shows the adaptiveness, let me know
__________________
"Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in cars and women."
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 04:24 PM | #9 |
Captain
518
Rep 944
Posts |
My case for you would be, for those on OEM XDrive springs in Comfort mode that seems very soft, turning into a tight bend at speed shows surprisingly little roll. I think the system is stiffening the outer dampers to resist the roll.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 04:52 PM | #10 |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
Add to the above... also think... what would it be like in a bend, without the dampers stiffening up and the slowing of weight transfer?
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 04:56 PM | #11 |
Lieutenant General
6659
Rep 15,858
Posts |
You'd need to test a standard (not M-sport) passive setup, 'back to back' with adaptive in Comfort, see the difference in handling, more so than ride.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 05:08 PM | #12 |
Brigadier General
1887
Rep 3,871
Posts |
That was my point - I know very well that there is a difference and am very happy with the suspension in general!! I just cannot categorically feel/identify the "adaptive" element on the fly.
The difference between the non-adaptive and adaptive in general is very appreciable, but it has more to do with the overall stiffness and lack of any versatility, which the adaptive has and I love. But I expected to be able to feel whet it softens or gets stiffer automatically, e.g. when suddenly driving over a bad road or going off-road.
__________________
"Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in cars and women."
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2021, 10:37 PM | #13 | |
Major General
4528
Rep 5,393
Posts
Drives: 2015 BMW 335i x-Drive Auto
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: New Jersey/Philadelphia
|
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-30-2021, 02:52 AM | #14 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Quote:
I'm happy with the comfort and ride, and happy with the possibility of changing to sport to stiffen up the suspension. But I have a hard time feeing the adaptiveness.
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-30-2021, 02:59 AM | #15 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Quote:
And from the text above from the description of M Adaptive suspension, the intelligence is in the EDC module and not in the damper itself. And since the KW DDC is plug and play the EDC module will still do its thing. So with KW's,I should not loose the adaptiveness. Im aware of Bilsteins B6 DampTronic and their B16 adaptive. But I have had Bilstein B16 adaptive on my former E91. And they are really good as long as they work. they don't last very long. I had to change front struts after only 80.000km. And that's not good enough for me. I would expect at least double. I have a friend with a E90 with KW adaptive. And comparing his E91 and my E91, his KW was more comfortable than mine. As he put it: "Yours is stiff, and in sport more stiff". That also lead me towards KW's
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-30-2021, 08:18 AM | #16 | ||
Major General
4528
Rep 5,393
Posts
Drives: 2015 BMW 335i x-Drive Auto
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: New Jersey/Philadelphia
|
Quote:
It's also why I did not include F3x Bilstein B16-DampTronic coilovers in my recommendation. Their front springs are overly stiff. So much so that increasing the size of the front sway bar only makes things worse. The handling of the B16 setup could benefit from a heavier rear sway such as an H&R 20mm. But nothing will make it ride better with those stiff front springs. |
||
Appreciate
0
|
10-30-2021, 08:31 AM | #17 | |||
Lieutenant Colonel
559
Rep 1,502
Posts
Drives: F36 435xd
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Behind the wheel
|
Quote:
And changed all bushings to power flex. All in all a bit harsh as a dd doing approx 50.000km a year. But it was fun at the time. Now I want a bit more comfort but with the option to change for sport mode :-)
__________________
Brgds
Allan ‘15 F36 435xd Gran Coupé Ex: E46 330d, E91 330dA |
|||
Appreciate
1
johnung4528.00 |
10-30-2021, 10:01 AM | #18 | |
Captain
1306
Rep 881
Posts |
Quote:
It’s very evident in the ultra-smooth yet grippy ride at speed over varying road surfaces, and the chassis’s better stability in transitions (braking/acceleration). There’s a extra smoothness to the ride driving these backroads with the M Adaptive EDC. It provides a feel of sustained tire contact with the road at all four corners in the turns and when braking, while also maintaining an uncanny chassis stillness during these maneuvers and when traveling over rougher sections. The computer control enables more rapid and precise responses, timed to the needs across all 4 corners, keeping the chassis height smoothly stable while also keeping the tires in greater contact with the road surface. The EDC is also evident coming into and out of tight corners and hairpins turns. In the transition from braking to accelerating, the chassis is more stable, with noticeably reduced pitch and yaw. I find the flattened body dynamics also aids hard braking, especially over less than ideal road surfaces. So, when on pace, you should definitely notice the EDC’s aid in transition stability (pitch/yaw response) and in providing a super smooth ride while also providing improved tire contact (timed damping). I do. |
|
10-30-2021, 11:49 AM | #19 | ||
Major General
4528
Rep 5,393
Posts
Drives: 2015 BMW 335i x-Drive Auto
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: New Jersey/Philadelphia
|
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
1
visionaut1305.50 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|