F10 vs F34 Driving Dynamics (with DHP)

danperson1 · 11-26-2018, 11:18 AM

Looking at two options:

2014 F34 335i Gran Turismo xdrive with the adaptive suspension and VSS (DHP) ($24k)

vs

2011 F10 535i xdrive with adaptive suspension + active roll bars (DHP) ($20k)

Both have dynamic dampers.

F34 is lighter, F10 has active roll control. Which do you think offers the better driving experience? I am coming from an E92.

Richbot · 12-03-2018, 08:22 AM

Driving back to back when we ordered our F34, the F10 felt like a barge in comparison. Absolute numbers, they're probably putting up very similar numbers, but the width and driving position and just general numbness of F10 all show up very clearly when you back to back it with a similar spec F3x. We were coming from an E90 335xi as well, an '07. Both will disappoint compared to the car you're in now from a handling perspective IMO

Active roll control does not make the driving experience better in my experience. It makes the car feel unnatural

danperson1 · 12-03-2018, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

Driving back to back when we ordered our F34, the F10 felt like a barge in comparison. Absolute numbers, they're probably putting up very similar numbers, but the width and driving position and just general numbness of F10 all show up very clearly when you back to back it with a similar spec F3x. We were coming from an E90 335xi as well, an '07. Both will disappoint compared to the car you're in now from a handling perspective IMO

Active roll control does not make the driving experience better in my experience. It makes the car feel unnatural

Very helpful feedback, thank you. I found a non DHP F34 to test drive and it had a bit of body roll compare to the F10 I found with DHP. Still searching for a DHP F34

I am ok with losing some of the handling from the E92 in order for improvements in practicality and ride quality (and hopefully reliability of N55 vs N54). Just hoping to keep it has fun to drive as possible still!

KRS_SN · 12-04-2018, 04:51 AM

I had a f30(non msport) in Michelin crossclimates before choosing a 335d xdrive msport on pirelli pzero and the f34 doesn't stick to the road as much as the f30(could be tyre feel) but the f30 handling was worse with understeer and tail wagging.

danperson1 · 12-05-2018, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

I had a f30(non msport) in Michelin crossclimates before choosing a 335d xdrive msport on pirelli pzero and the f34 doesn't stick to the road as much as the f30(could be tyre feel) but the f30 handling was worse with understeer and tail wagging.

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, did you say the f30 handling was worse than the f34?

KRS_SN · 12-05-2018, 05:28 PM

F34 xdrive is more stable than f30 non xdrive. You can throw the xdrive at corners with greater confidence. After an intitial slip the xdrive steadies the car tightly. In case of non xdrive f30 the dsc kicks in later and is less reliable and I was reluctant to push it too far.That said f30 xdrive i expect will probably be 20% better handling than f34 xdrive.

11-26-2018, 11:18 AM	#1
danperson1 Second Lieutenant 66 Rep 241 Posts Drives: EB 2013 335i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	F10 vs F34 Driving Dynamics (with DHP) Looking at two options: 2014 F34 335i Gran Turismo xdrive with the adaptive suspension and VSS (DHP) ($24k) vs 2011 F10 535i xdrive with adaptive suspension + active roll bars (DHP) ($20k) Both have dynamic dampers. F34 is lighter, F10 has active roll control. Which do you think offers the better driving experience? I am coming from an E92.
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12-03-2018, 08:22 AM	#2
Richbot Major General 2760 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	Driving back to back when we ordered our F34, the F10 felt like a barge in comparison. Absolute numbers, they're probably putting up very similar numbers, but the width and driving position and just general numbness of F10 all show up very clearly when you back to back it with a similar spec F3x. We were coming from an E90 335xi as well, an '07. Both will disappoint compared to the car you're in now from a handling perspective IMO Active roll control does not make the driving experience better in my experience. It makes the car feel unnatural __________________
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12-04-2018, 04:51 AM	#4
KRS_SN Major General 13519 Rep 5,210 Posts Drives: IX,G07 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 X7 [10.00] X5 [8.50] IX [8.00]	I had a f30(non msport) in Michelin crossclimates before choosing a 335d xdrive msport on pirelli pzero and the f34 doesn't stick to the road as much as the f30(could be tyre feel) but the f30 handling was worse with understeer and tail wagging.
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12-05-2018, 05:28 PM	#6
KRS_SN Major General 13519 Rep 5,210 Posts Drives: IX,G07 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 X7 [10.00] X5 [8.50] IX [8.00]	F34 xdrive is more stable than f30 non xdrive. You can throw the xdrive at corners with greater confidence. After an intitial slip the xdrive steadies the car tightly. In case of non xdrive f30 the dsc kicks in later and is less reliable and I was reluctant to push it too far.That said f30 xdrive i expect will probably be 20% better handling than f34 xdrive.
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