[upsidedownfunnel]

I just took my 335i Sport Line in for service and got a 430i Gran Coupe as a loaner car. It has much better suspension than my car. Has anyone else tried out the 4 series? Is it specific to the Gran Coupe or just the 4 in general?

I know the coupes generally are a little stiffer than the sedans, but the difference here is night and day. The body stays composed and body roll is minimized.

It's disappointing that the 3 series sport suspension isn't a bit tighter. I think a suspension upgrade is in my future.

[otay]

I like the Sport suspension in my '14 Sport Line. Handles well, minimal roll.

For the GC, what what was the model year and suspension? If '18, then there are LCI suspension improvements...

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by otay

I like the Sport suspension in my '14 Sport Line. Handles well, minimal roll.

For the GC, what what was the model year and suspension? If '18, then there are LCI suspension improvements...

It's a 2017. The 4 series or GC at least must get much firmer suspension though. I agree the 3 isn't terrible, but I think it does have a bit too much body roll. I last drove a car with Magnetic Ride suspension so the difference was very big.

[2000Z3M]

3er and 4er have different suspensions

[nealh]

Originally Posted by 2000Z3M

3er and 4er have different suspensions

What's different??

[skier219]

4 series is lower, but I don't know about other differences. I still think the 4-series doesn't have great handling, especially the steering.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Well the steering is a lost cause. But the suspension is definitely tighter. It's a pretty big difference.

[Strudle]

I don't know the technical differences either, but when I was trying to decide between the 3er and 4er, I drove them back to back, and was surprised how much firmer the 4 felt, both in terms of steering and body roll. This observation is reconfirmed when I get a 330i loaner for service visits. All vehicles up here have X drive, I don't know if that made the 3 softer than the 4 with X drive, or what. But the X drive 4 is definitely a firmer suspension than the X drive 3 (which is crazy soft, IMO).

[misterjim]

Originally Posted by Strudle

I don't know the technical differences either, but when I was trying to decide between the 3er and 4er, I drove them back to back, and was surprised how much firmer the 4 felt, both in terms of steering and body roll. This observation is reconfirmed when I get a 330i loaner for service visits. All vehicles up here have X drive, I don't know if that made the 3 softer than the 4 with X drive, or what. But the X drive 4 is definitely a firmer suspension than the X drive 3 (which is crazy soft, IMO).

I had asked this question on one of the forums and didn't get a good answer. I remember the early coupe launch info from BMW indicated a more "sport tuned" suspension for the 4 vs the 3. I've also read review articles that praised the 4 series suspension (even the awd) but were critical of the 335 x-drive. Anectodal evidence but your impressions seem to back it up.

[r3amir]

My 2015 435i GC luxury line has tight suspension, body roll doesn't occur.

4 series definitely has a different suspension than 3 series

It is a coupe and 3 series is a sedan

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I just took my 335i Sport Line in for service and got a 430i Gran Coupe as a loaner car. It has much better suspension than my car. Has anyone else tried out the 4 series? Is it specific to the Gran Coupe or just the 4 in general?

I know the coupes generally are a little stiffer than the sedans, but the difference here is night and day. The body stays composed and body roll is minimized.

It's disappointing that the 3 series sport suspension isn't a bit tighter. I think a suspension upgrade is in my future.

The 335 was known for not having the best suspension compared to the E90. There were improvements made in the 2016 LCI.

[nealh]

My 2014 428 m sport adaptive suspension vert has a very tight suspension kind hard at times

I cant see how 4 series GC would have a tighter suspension than 3 series sedan... both are sedans

[EBS0712]

My 4 Series CG is more "BMW like" than my 3 Series Sports Wagon in the handling department even though both are x-Drive.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by nealh

My 2014 428 m sport adaptive suspension vert has a very tight suspension kind hard at times

I cant see how 4 series GC would have a tighter suspension than 3 series sedan... both are sedans

Huh? A 4 series GC is just a 4 series with 4 doors. The reason a 4 coupe has stiffer suspension is because that's the way it was tuned. It's not hard to apply that same tuning to a GC. The addition of two doors is not what makes the 3 more softly sprung. I don't understand your though process here. A 4 GC is just a 4 with two extra doors. It's definitely more similar to a normal 4 than it is to a 3.

the 4 GC definitely has stiffer suspension than the 3. I drove both. The 4 GC sounds like it drives just like your 428. Actually, it is probably a much better handling car overall considering you drive a convertible.

[r3amir]

4 series GC has a coupe suspension and is definitely not a sedan

[silver28]

Aside from suspension, the 4 series has the lowest centre of gravity of any BMW, it's wider than a 3 series and has perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

Think this helps as well in terms of the body roll and being more composed.

[ska///235i]

4 series have a wider track

The steering make it feel soft but it handles ok

[RM7]

The handling on my 428GC drive was poor IMO. Granted, I didn't expect it to match my previous camaro SS that had a few mods, but the 428 definitely didn't live up to BMW hype. I did test drive it first, but i can't imagine how bad the pre-LCI is given all of this. With the mods I've done to the suspension on the 428, it lives up to what I'd expect it to come with or be available with. The x-drives are especially bad, having a raised ride height and no sport suspension as compared to the non-x models. Now in sport+ I forget it's an AWD car and I get some nice neutral handling on the snow/pavement without too much oversteer.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

The handling on my 428GC drive was poor IMO. Granted, I didn't expect it to match my previous camaro SS that had a few mods, but the 428 definitely didn't live up to BMW hype. I did test drive it first, but i can't imagine how bad the pre-LCI is given all of this. With the mods I've done to the suspension on the 428, it lives up to what I'd expect it to come with or be available with. The x-drives are especially bad, having a raised ride height and no sport suspension as compared to the non-x models. Now in sport+ I forget it's an AWD car and I get some nice neutral handling on the snow/pavement without too much oversteer.

What mods you have?

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

The handling on my 428GC drive was poor IMO. Granted, I didn't expect it to match my previous camaro SS that had a few mods, but the 428 definitely didn't live up to BMW hype. I did test drive it first, but i can't imagine how bad the pre-LCI is given all of this. With the mods I've done to the suspension on the 428, it lives up to what I'd expect it to come with or be available with. The x-drives are especially bad, having a raised ride height and no sport suspension as compared to the non-x models. Now in sport+ I forget it's an AWD car and I get some nice neutral handling on the snow/pavement without too much oversteer.

Yeah I'm coming from a Chevy SS. I just needed a smaller car. Definitely miss the LS3 and MagneRide.

[nealh]

Thanks. I understand better. I think my 4 series is at my age a little tighter than I want now.

I hope my 2108 340i will hit the middle of the road for me. The 5 series was nice but the handling on the 3 series was much tighter but not bumpy as my 428

[nealh]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

Huh? A 4 series GC is just a 4 series with 4 doors. The reason a 4 coupe has stiffer suspension is because that's the way it was tuned. It's not hard to apply that same tuning to a GC. The addition of two doors is not what makes the 3 more softly sprung. I don't understand your though process here. A 4 GC is just a 4 with two extra doors. It's definitely more similar to a normal 4 than it is to a 3.

the 4 GC definitely has stiffer suspension than the 3. I drove both. The 4 GC sounds like it drives just like your 428. Actually, it is probably a much better handling car overall considering you drive a convertible.

Ignorance was my thought process. Thanks for the clarification