Adaptive suspension query

machman767 · 03-02-2020, 01:49 PM

Off to have a look at a G20 320i M Sport + tomorrow that has adaptive suspension, what is the general consensus as to its usefulness? Will I notice much of a difference between it and my 320d Sport with passive?
Cheers,
Mick

MashinBenzin · 03-02-2020, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machman767

Off to have a look at a G20 320i M Sport + tomorrow that has adaptive suspension, what is the general consensus as to its usefulness? Will I notice much of a difference between it and my 320d Sport?
Cheers,
Mick

On the F36, I thought adaptive made a huge positive difference versus passive. Not sure if the G-series is the same.

Tengocity · 03-02-2020, 02:30 PM

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

GOF_430d · 03-03-2020, 01:52 AM

My previous 320d convertible had M sport suspension with 19" rims and Bridgestone tyres and the suspension crashed over & into every imperfection in the road, my current 430d has switchable adaptable M sport suspension on 19" rims and now Goodyear tyres and the ride is so much better - even before the Goodyears. The Goodyear tyres tyres softened the ride further so much so that I have to use the Sports suspension setting.

sensible · 03-03-2020, 07:40 AM

When I spec'ed adaptive suspension on my 3 series I thought it was very good. Nice and comfortable in Comfort mode and very firm in Sport mode. Now I have a 4 series without adaptive suspension that is fine too. The M Sport passive suspension is firmer than comfort mode but not as firm as sport mode on adaptive. It's nice to have but not a deal breaker.

machman767 · 03-03-2020, 07:52 AM

Thanks for all the input, order has been placed for this! Should pick it up early next week.[IMG][/IMG]

Tengocity · 03-03-2020, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machman767

Thanks for all the input, order has been placed for this! Should pick it up early next week.[IMG][/IMG]

And what did you think about the adaptive suspension?

machman767 · 03-03-2020, 09:42 AM

To be honest I didn't get chance to play around with it, the other car I was considering was a 320d without the plus pack, in Portimao blue but I went right off the colour for some reason so I'll have a play around when I pick it up. The car does seem to be much better planted, was quite noticeable on my journey home.

Dark_knight · 03-03-2020, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

Daft question alert.... how do you know is you have adaptive suspension?

Londoner · 03-03-2020, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

This is really interesting. I spent a while faffing over this option when buying last year. There doesn't seem to be any consensus on it - some people say the sport mode adaptive is too hard/comfort too soft and love the 704 setup, others like you love it.

A couple of the reviews (Car and Top Gear iirc) advised to stay away from it, which finally placed it into the optional category for me but opinions from people (i.e. you) who have owned both types in an F30 package are obviously most imo important!

anielsen71 · 03-03-2020, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_knight

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

Daft question alert.... how do you know is you have adaptive suspension?

Easiest way to find out is to use a VIN decoder to look up what equipment the car was delivered with.

Techno 9000 · 03-03-2020, 02:29 PM

Or get down and check out the damper body for the electric valve bulging out and wires going into it.

Tengocity · 03-03-2020, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_knight

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

Daft question alert.... how do you know is you have adaptive suspension?

I specced it from new, but when you put it in to sport mode you can feel it instantly.

Tengocity · 03-03-2020, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londoner

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time.

With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable.

Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation!

This is really interesting. I spent a while faffing over this option when buying last year. There doesn't seem to be any consensus on it - some people say the sport mode adaptive is too hard/comfort too soft and love the 704 setup, others like you love it.

A couple of the reviews (Car and Top Gear iirc) advised to stay away from it, which finally placed it into the optional category for me but opinions from people (i.e. you) who have owned both types in an F30 package are obviously most imo important!

I'm generally not a fan of the F series suspensions, and fitted coilovers to my first F31, never liked it that much on the company F30 330e, but couldn't modify it as it was a company car. Then for my M4 I've also fitted coilovers.
I've just bought new suspension for my new F31 340i too.

For the G20 I would say the suspension is much better resolved, but is generally firmer than with the F30s. However I have a G20 330e MSport and I think it rides and handles better than the G21 330d MSport that I test drove also. Both with adaptive.

So I think people really need to try and drive the exact car and options they are considering buying if at all possible.

AlanQS · 03-04-2020, 12:43 PM

My F36 with adaptive suspension (18" rims) was in for some work and they gave me a 520d m-sport without adaptive suspension (also 18" rims). I went to work in it, over the same roads I do every day in the GC.

Bear in mind, the five has a longer wheelbase and is supposed to be a cut above the 3 and 4 in basic format so, I think a good comparison.

The ride, in comparison with my GC was bloody awful and made me realise what a smart move adaptive suspension had been.

That's all I can say.

03-02-2020, 01:49 PM	#1
machman767 Lieutenant 235 Rep 584 Posts Drives: 320i M Sport+ Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Preston iTrader: (0)	Off to have a look at a G20 320i M Sport + tomorrow that has adaptive suspension, what is the general consensus as to its usefulness? Will I notice much of a difference between it and my 320d Sport with passive? Cheers, Mick
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03-02-2020, 02:30 PM	#3
Tengocity General 8567 Rep 19,982 Posts Drives: 911, Cayenne Turbo, Disco 4 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	I have adaptive on my G20 330e and also on our F31 340i. I would say with the F30 cars the comfort setting is way too soft and wallowy, and I use sport suspension settings all the time. With the G20 I'd say the damping is better in general and I never really feel the need to use sport. When I do however I think it is a nice balance of being firmer without being unusable. Compared to a passive F30 i think you'll find it a revelation! __________________ Current: Porsche 911 991 C4S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Discovery 4. Gone...G01 X3 M40i, Cayman S 987, F31 340i, Cayman GT4, F82 M4 CP, Lotus Exige V6, G20 330e, F30 330e, Boxster S 987, F31 335d, Mini Cooper SD, E89 Z4, E90 330d 320d, E60 520d, E46 330d 320d, MX5s, E30 325i
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03-03-2020, 01:52 AM	#4
GOF_430d Lieutenant 289 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 430d convertible Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: London iTrader: (0)	My previous 320d convertible had M sport suspension with 19" rims and Bridgestone tyres and the suspension crashed over & into every imperfection in the road, my current 430d has switchable adaptable M sport suspension on 19" rims and now Goodyear tyres and the ride is so much better - even before the Goodyears. The Goodyear tyres tyres softened the ride further so much so that I have to use the Sports suspension setting.
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03-03-2020, 07:40 AM	#5
sensible Lieutenant Colonel 810 Rep 1,705 Posts Drives: BMW 420i M-Sport Gran Coupe Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: West Midlands UK iTrader: (0)	When I spec'ed adaptive suspension on my 3 series I thought it was very good. Nice and comfortable in Comfort mode and very firm in Sport mode. Now I have a 4 series without adaptive suspension that is fine too. The M Sport passive suspension is firmer than comfort mode but not as firm as sport mode on adaptive. It's nice to have but not a deal breaker.
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03-03-2020, 07:52 AM	#6
machman767 Lieutenant 235 Rep 584 Posts Drives: 320i M Sport+ Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Preston iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the input, order has been placed for this! Should pick it up early next week.[IMG][/IMG] Attached Images
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03-03-2020, 09:42 AM	#8
machman767 Lieutenant 235 Rep 584 Posts Drives: 320i M Sport+ Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Preston iTrader: (0)	To be honest I didn't get chance to play around with it, the other car I was considering was a 320d without the plus pack, in Portimao blue but I went right off the colour for some reason so I'll have a play around when I pick it up. The car does seem to be much better planted, was quite noticeable on my journey home.
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03-03-2020, 02:29 PM	#12
Techno 9000 Captain 521 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 435D Estoril Blue Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: East Sussex iTrader: (0)	Or get down and check out the damper body for the electric valve bulging out and wires going into it.
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03-04-2020, 12:43 PM	#15
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	My F36 with adaptive suspension (18" rims) was in for some work and they gave me a 520d m-sport without adaptive suspension (also 18" rims). I went to work in it, over the same roads I do every day in the GC. Bear in mind, the five has a longer wheelbase and is supposed to be a cut above the 3 and 4 in basic format so, I think a good comparison. The ride, in comparison with my GC was bloody awful and made me realise what a smart move adaptive suspension had been. That's all I can say.
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