[ska///235i]

My 4GC have splash shields under the control arms, not that it improves handling but it keeps alot of winter salt away

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

My 4GC have splash shields under the control arms, not that it improves handling but it keeps alot of winter salt away

3 Series has those too on the rear lower control arms. Is that where they are on the 4?

[upsidedownfunnel]

I received an LCI 330i today and it honestly is not a big difference between the 2014 335i sport line in terms of suspension. There's still a ton of body roll, although the dampers feel less harsh. The lack of harshness may be due to the car being newer, but I don't think so.

The 430i GC was definitely a huge difference. The LCI barely makes any difference. I haven't spent too much time with it yet, but from what i can tell body roll is still just as bad. It's definitely a very small step.

[LMK5]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I received an LCI 330i today and it honestly is not a big difference between the 2014 335i sport line in terms of suspension. There's still a ton of body roll, although the dampers feel less harsh. The lack of harshness may be due to the car being newer, but I don't think so.

The 430i GC was definitely a huge difference. The LCI barely makes any difference. I haven't spent too much time with it yet, but from what i can tell body roll is still just as bad. It's definitely a very small step.

I had a 2014 base 328i and am now in a MY2017 330i sportline loaner. The 330i, even with 18" staggered summer tires, feels better in every way. The suspension is more composed, absorbs bumps better, has less travel over undulations, and corners better. Directional stability is also better. Yes, it could corner flatter, and the tires could have more grip, but it's just a better car than the MY2014. The 330i feels very similar to the pre-LCI 704 suspension. The 330i msport I drove did corner flatter, but I felt the ride was too jittery and prefer the ride/handling balance of the sportline suspension.

I'm a little torn between the B46 engine and the N26. The lag when accelerating from a slow roll is quite noticeable in the B46. Never noticed this in the N26. I also preferred the sound of the N26.

When I test drove a 428i I could tell immediately that it was a better handling car than the F30. But the wider exterior combined with the tighter interior, lower visibility, frameless windows, and higher price made it a nogo for me.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by LMK5

I had a 2014 base 328i and am now in a MY2017 330i sportline loaner. The 330i, even with 18" staggered summer tires, feels better in every way. The suspension is more composed, absorbs bumps better, has less travel over undulations, and corners better. Directional stability is also better. Yes, it could corner flatter, and the tires could have more grip, but it's just a better car than the MY2014. The 330i feels very similar to the pre-LCI 704 suspension. The 330i msport I drove did corner flatter, but I felt the ride was too jittery and prefer the ride/handling balance of the sportline suspension.

I'm a little torn between the B46 engine and the N26. The lag when accelerating from a slow roll is quite noticeable in the B46. Never noticed this in the N26. I also preferred the sound of the N26.

When I test drove a 428i I could tell immediately that it was a better handling car than the F30. But the wider exterior combined with the tighter interior, lower visibility, frameless windows, and higher price made it a nogo for me.

There is ZERO difference between the "Sport" and "M-Sport" static suspension; they are the same (unless the later had the adaptive setup).

[LMK5]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

There is ZERO difference between the "Sport" and "M-Sport" static suspension; they are the same (unless the later had the adaptive setup).

Allow me to clarify. For MY2017, "sportline" is standard, but they don't call the suspension "sport." So I can say it this way: The MY2017 base suspension feels about the same as the pre-LCI sport (704) suspension.

[englishguy84]

Is the M sport suspension on the 4 as jiggly as on the 3?

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by englishguy84

Is the M sport suspension on the 4 as jiggly as on the 3?

Originally Posted by englishguy84

Is the M sport suspension on the 4 as jiggly as on the 3?

No, the 4 is much more composed.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

There is ZERO difference between the "Sport" and "M-Sport" static suspension; they are the same (unless the later had the adaptive setup).

False, the msport has a shorter spring

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

False, the msport has a shorter spring

Sport and M-Sport have the same ride height. Why do you think it would have shorter springs?

[upsidedownfunnel]

I think some of the confusion here is the difference between the Sport/Sport Line pre and post LCI. Pre-LCI, the Sport Line and M Sport have the same optional 704 suspension. Post-LCI, the sport package is standard but does not come with the 704 sport suspension and instead just has the normal suspension.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I think some of the confusion here is the difference between the Sport/Sport Line pre and post LCI. Pre-LCI, the Sport Line and M Sport have the same optional 704 suspension. Post-LCI, the sport package is standard but does not come with the 704 sport suspension and instead just has the normal suspension.

Ah, gotcha.

[englishguy84]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

No, the 4 is much more composed.

Thanks.

Has anyone compared an LCI 4 to a pre-LCI? They claim they stiffened the suspension and improved the steering response. Is it noticeable, and if so, does it come at the expense of ride quality?

[Strudle]

I haven't driven a 428i, but I have the 430i and, while it's stiff, I wouldn't say it rides harsh at all over bumps. My X1 actually takes bumps harder than the 4. The 4 has no body roll whatsoever, and it super fun in the twisties (base suspension).

By comparison my 330i loaner car felt very wiggly, and loose.

Originally Posted by LMK5

I'm a little torn between the B46 engine and the N26. The lag when accelerating from a slow roll is quite noticeable in the B46. Never noticed this in the N26. I also preferred the sound of the N26.

When I test drove a 428i I could tell immediately that it was a better handling car than the F30. But the wider exterior combined with the tighter interior, lower visibility, frameless windows, and higher price made it a nogo for me.

I know the N26 has Active Sound Design (ASD), did they take that away in the B46?

When you say 428i, did you test drive the Coupe or Gran Coupe?

[LMK5]

Originally Posted by beemer3

I know the N26 has Active Sound Design (ASD), did they take that away in the B46?

When you say 428i, did you test drive the Coupe or Gran Coupe?

Not sure about ASD but I believe it's in both the N26 and B46 cars because there's a coding function for it.

I test drove only the pre-LCI Grand Coupe'.

[sevalley]

Did OP mention if either of these cars had Msport?
I had a 2015 428i sportline and just traded it in for a 2018 430i GC. My GC is the base model, no sportline, no msport. Night and day difference. The 2015 sportline was stiff and had great suspension. My 2018 feels like its floating on a cloud, soft as a baby's bottom. I don't want to spend too much since it is a lease, so I'm going to install H&R Lowering springs in the hopes it will tighten things up a bit. I know I should get coilovers but they cost 4 times as much as springs. Upgraded sway bars would probably also help, but again, too expensive a mod for a lease for me. I'll probably throw in a dinan sport chip as well to make up for the loss of fun factor in the suspension with some extra zip.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by bimmer_335

I'd never buy a BMW without a sport suspension... regardless of which car in the line up you look at, without sport suspension they ride like grandma's car.

I agree completely.

It wasn't always this way. Base models without x-drive were above average on the last two generations. The F30 got much more grandma in the base rwd suspension.

[LMK5]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I agree completely.

It wasn't always this way. Base models without x-drive were above average on the last two generations. The F30 got much more grandma in the base rwd suspension.

I took a 2017 F30 Msport on a multi-day test drive, and while it was stiff and cornered OK, I thought there was an excessive amount of nervousness in the ride, with lots of quick bobs and weaves. I found the 2017 base suspension to be a better ride/handling compromise, especially with the 18" summer tires.

Before the LCI, I would agree that the base suspension was pretty awful, but I would say that the pre-LCI 704 suspension had excellent ride/handling balance, and also was much more comfortable than the pre-LCI base. I think that one was the best of the bunch.

I also suspect that BMW has to make some unfortunate compromises with their suspension designs to compensate for the harshness of the RFTs.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Exactly the same suspension options on both. My 2018 440 will out handle my 2014 435. Some place along the line the suspensions have been upgraded.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by LMK5

I took a 2017 F30 Msport on a multi-day test drive, and while it was stiff and cornered OK, I thought there was an excessive amount of nervousness in the ride, with lots of quick bobs and weaves. I found the 2017 base suspension to be a better ride/handling compromise, especially with the 18" summer tires.

Before the LCI, I would agree that the base suspension was pretty awful, but I would say that the pre-LCI 704 suspension had excellent ride/handling balance, and also was much more comfortable than the pre-LCI base. I think that one was the best of the bunch.

I also suspect that BMW has to make some unfortunate compromises with their suspension designs to compensate for the harshness of the RFTs.

I did not like the 2016 LCI base rwd suspension at all. Way too "comfortable". I didn't try the pre LCI, so my comment about grandma was to this suspension directly. It was not at all what I was looking for in a BMW, but it was my first F30 test drive (before many more sport specs), so it might be the suspension combined with my shock of the steering changes since the E90 and E46 that really made me dislike it so much.