[g9icy]

Do I really need adaptive suspension on an 18 plate 440i GC?

My 435d has it, and variable steering, and while I hardly use the variable steering, I do like to whack the firmer suspension on, on the rare occasion I find a nice road.

Thoughts?

Am I better off not worrying about it and getting aftermarket in the future instead?

[gippy]

Originally Posted by g9icy

I do like to whack the firmer suspension on, on the rare occasion I find a nice road.

problem solved

[g9icy]

Originally Posted by gippy

problem solved

The suspension in a stock 435d isn't any where near the same as a stock 440i though.

My point is, do I need adaptive on stock 440i, or is it good enough all the time?

[Rasco]

I have an LCI 440i GC on the static m sport suspension, I'd say it's very composed and although on the slightly comfort oriented side, although my previous car was an I30n which was adaptive (and rock hard even in comfort) I'll look to change to the eibach pro lowering springs and non-RFT's. I've only had the car a few months and the car handles very well although I've not really pushed it hard, body roll is minimal and the handing is pretty good.

[330XDave]

Originally Posted by Rasco

I have an LCI 440i GC on the static m sport suspension, I'd say it's very composed and although on the slightly comfort oriented side, although my previous car was an I30n which was adaptive (and rock hard even in comfort) I'll look to change to the eibach pro lowering springs and non-RFT's. I've only had the car a few months and the car handles very well although I've not really pushed it hard, body roll is minimal and the handing is pretty good.

Interesting change of car. Other than the suspension being softer on the 440i, what else are your thoughts on the two cars?

[Alscoob]

Each to there own really, depends on your expectations and what you want / how you drive.

Can't comment on a 440i except that it will be far better than the x drive standard suspension, it will also improve with non run flats, but can comment on my 340i non adaptive.

Standard was OK but on undulating B roads was terrible pitching and bouncing around, never felt planted. Ditched the RFT good improvement added ACS suspension, now it does exactly what it's supposed to. Planted but still comfortable. Would I pay extra for adaptive, from my experience of driving one the answer is no, but then we all have diffent expectations.

[Quantox]

You really need to try out both over similar road surfaces. Going from a pre-LCI 330xD F30 with ACS springs (still underdamped) I found the stock LCI 440i GC to be way too firm, jiggly and crashy on the abysmal roads that we have in the Lakes, so much so that I dismissed it from my shortlist. Fortunately an adaptive equipped demo car became available and it was like chalk and cheese, perfect in comfort on the back roads and just select sport when on a decent surface. I was then lucky to find a good spec. 2,000 miler on a good deal. Overall far better ride / handling than the 330xD.

Cheers

Q

[Cootie]

Originally Posted by g9icy

Do I really need adaptive suspension on an 18 plate 440i GC?

My 435d has it, and variable steering, and while I hardly use the variable steering, I do like to whack the firmer suspension on, on the rare occasion I find a nice road.

Thoughts?

Am I better off not worrying about it and getting aftermarket in the future instead?

My thinking would probably be influenced by whether you’re on 19” wheels (guessing you likely are) and RFT. If so, you might benefit from adaptive to take the edge off the ride. I suspect going for aftermarket - perhaps Bilstein Komfort - would benefit both ride and handling, whilst still being at the more affordable end of the spectrum. Alternatively at a slightly higher price point can very much recommend the full ACS spring and damper set (rather than the full fat RS set up, which is excellent but really quite pricey).

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by Quantox

You really need to try out both over similar road surfaces. Going from a pre-LCI 330xD F30 with ACS springs (still underdamped) I found the stock LCI 440i GC to be way too firm, jiggly and crashy on the abysmal roads that we have in the Lakes, so much so that I dismissed it from my shortlist. Fortunately an adaptive equipped demo car became available and it was like chalk and cheese, perfect in comfort on the back roads and just select sport when on a decent surface.

I have just changed my early adaptive 430D S-Drive to the last of the 435Ds.

Earlier when they were just released there was a lot posted about the X-Drive suspension on the 35Ds. I always found the suspension on my S-Drive 430D on 19" to be perfect - smooth, relaxed and compliant and flowing in Comfort and stiffer in Sport. I never felt this floatiness often reported for early 335Ds.

My adaptive 435D (LCI) on 18" in comparison has far firmer suspension than my 430D. Comfort is probably like my old Sport. It is certainly more busy and at times that incessant pitter-patter feedback from small ripples is annoying - before I never even registered them. But, you certainly do get better turn in and a feeling of alert responsiveness. So, swings and roundabouts.

I also checked what was changed in the LCI and it seems that apart from re-calibrated suspension there is also a thicker rear anti-roll bar than before.

Like Quantox, I think that with the many little changes made to LCI cars the only way you will know personally is to test drive a prospective car.

[goodbyalfa]

I went from 330d m sport suspension to 440i on adaptive. Love the adaptive. Comfort is pretty refined, with sport setting firming up nicely which gives that sharper feel when pressing on. Best of both worlds and I would spec this again given the option.
I was happy with the standard F30 m sport suspension by the way.

[Rasco]

To clarify given the option I would have found / spec'd a car with adaptive suspension, I was surprised so few 440i GC's that I looked at had that option ticked when I was in the market. The adaptive on the previous I30n was completely customisable and worked very well in that particular chassis setup. Glad to here it's good on the f30 series as it can ruin some cars.

I like the idea of eibach pro lowering springs, in part to improve the handling at well as the looks. But given the choice I would probably have got 20" wheels to fill the arches and adaptive dampers to stiffen the ride and further improve the handling.

Would that be a "better" than the 19" wheels (thus larger profile tyres) I have now and then lowering it? It's swings and roundabouts, unless anyone has direct experience of both?

[Mick.86uk]

I looked at swapping my 19" 442m wheels for 20" 405m or 624m.

The 20" definitely look better but you lose 10mm of sidewall on the front and 13mm on the rear compared to standard 19" sizes.

With the state of the pot holed roads round my area, I decided to stick with the 19s.

[winther1]

I'm on eibach lowering springs and 20" - definitely firm, but never found the ride too harsh

[Alscoob]

20" wheel with 30 profile tyre, if run flat is a great recipe for disaster and cracked rims or even 19" with the same, so be careful.

[gippy]

Originally Posted by g9icy

The suspension in a stock 435d isn't any where near the same as a stock 440i though.

My point is, do I need adaptive on stock 440i, or is it good enough all the time?

my point was, given that you've already stated you liked your adaptive mode in your 435 and like to 'whack it on', i doubt that the 440i, even if it is Lci, would have passive dampers capable of giving the flexibility that you enjoyed in the 435.

the passive m-sport suspension in my pre-lci 440i was garbage compared to the b14 kit i installed. I know post-lci there were improvements made but unless anyone has data on the damper/spring rates its difficult to know for sure.

therefore given what youve stated, you'd probably want adaptive to cover your wider needs, or risk getting passive and not being happy. Or drive a passive and see how you feel...........impossible to know from other peoples subjective feedback to make that decision.

[Cootie]

Think of 20s as being perhaps cosmetically preferable but with an associated compromise in ride/handling on anything other than on the very smoothest roads or tracks. Mate of mine shifted to 19s from standard 20s on his M3 Competition and that benefited both the ride and handling.