F30 SE suspension ,horrible

[JNW1]

Lorcan said:

My ears are burning

The reason is most x-drive cars are specced with adaptive. The market for x-drive non-adaptive dampers is too small to justify the development cost in addition to our RS (adjustable) suspension kit which already caters for this.

So are you saying that in your view adaptive offers sufficient improvement such that most people wouldn't bother with a further upgrade? I specced my F31 with adaptive and I'm sure I made the right choice as I tend to drive it with the suspension in Sport mode most of the time. On a test drive I found the standard X-drive too soft and floaty on the twisty bits for my taste but having said that I wouldn't go as far as describing the Comfort setting as dangerous; I reckon it's fine even going quite quickly on a motorway and the softer ride is nice to have when you're driving at low-speed over poor roads around town. Having said all that I'd still prefer a well sorted passive set-up given the choice; apart from anything else I suspect adaptive will only be bad news from a cost point of view when the time comes to replace the dampers?

[Wills2]

Lorcan said:

Wills2 said:

Looks like a good option Smashy, I'd go with that if you could have it on the xdrive models but for some reason you can't.

My ears are burning

The reason is most x-drive cars are specced with adaptive. The market for x-drive non-adaptive dampers is too small to justify the development cost in addition to our RS (adjustable) suspension kit which already caters for this.

Ha! Indeed.

Would you say the springs you do suit a passive damped xdrive as well as they suit the adaptive cars?

[Lorcan]

JNW1 said:

So are you saying that in your view adaptive offers sufficient improvement such that most people wouldn't bother with a further upgrade?

No, I'm not saying that. We offer three levels of upgrade.

1) Springs only (for all variants). These work great with adaptive or passive, cutting down on body roll, wallowing and nose dive - see the feedback on the UK F30 Bimmerpost forum.
2) Springs and non-adjustable dampers (for passive 2WD cars). These give added control on bumpy corners while retaining ride comfort.
3) RS adjustable (for all variants). This kit disables adaptive damping and has manual adjustment for compression damping, rebound damping and ride height. This is our kit for people serious about handling. It's still comfortable but most people would be happy with option 1 or 2.

We already offer the RS kit for those with adaptive and x-drive for those looking for a further step up, but there is not enough demand for the sports kit (option 2) for cars passive cars with x-drive, as most x-drives are adaptive.

[Lorcan]

Wills2 said:

Ha! Indeed.

Would you say the springs you do suit a passive damped xdrive as well as they suit the adaptive cars?

Absolutely. Read this: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

Edited by Lorcan on Friday 7th November 16:51

[340600]

ORD said:

smashy said:

On the M25 yesterday ,a situation with a lorry pulling out ,I gave it some right foot,and as this car can go a bit (330d) I ended up not hanging about.Now Ive been driving for 38 years since I was 17 and I have to say I was as spooked as Ive ever been,
I suggest if pushing on the SE suspension in a new F30 is dangerous.....It was like I had lost contact properly on this flat dry road ,so floaty and wallowing,I thought I would lose control.Difficult to explain,but very unnerving.

All I know is thankfully Im booked into Rossiters to have the AC schnitzer suspension next friday

Edited by smashy on Thursday 6th November 17:57

That was my perception of the SE suspension, too - it inspired no confidence at all, and the car felt as though it would roam without any change in steering inputs. My wife, who is normally a fairly confident driver, refused to drive our 320d courtesy car after 10 mins on country roads, saying that it made her feel unsafe at well below the speed limit. Either some SE set ups are worse than others (unlikely), or lots of people don't know bad suspension when they feel it.

I spend a fair bit of time in 330d SE's and have never had this happen. They are always heavily loaded though which possibly helps.

Conversely I test drove an F30 320d M Sport a while back and hated it. Constantly tramlined in Sport+ mode and didn't inspire any confidence in Comfort (the leather felt extremely cheap as well but that's a separate gripe).

[Wills2]

Lorcan said:

Wills2 said:

Ha! Indeed.

Would you say the springs you do suit a passive damped xdrive as well as they suit the adaptive cars?

Absolutely. Read this: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

Edited by Lorcan on Friday 7th November 16:51

Cheers Lorcan.

[Wills2]

340600 said:

ORD said:

smashy said:

On the M25 yesterday ,a situation with a lorry pulling out ,I gave it some right foot,and as this car can go a bit (330d) I ended up not hanging about.Now Ive been driving for 38 years since I was 17 and I have to say I was as spooked as Ive ever been,
I suggest if pushing on the SE suspension in a new F30 is dangerous.....It was like I had lost contact properly on this flat dry road ,so floaty and wallowing,I thought I would lose control.Difficult to explain,but very unnerving.

All I know is thankfully Im booked into Rossiters to have the AC schnitzer suspension next friday

Edited by smashy on Thursday 6th November 17:57

That was my perception of the SE suspension, too - it inspired no confidence at all, and the car felt as though it would roam without any change in steering inputs. My wife, who is normally a fairly confident driver, refused to drive our 320d courtesy car after 10 mins on country roads, saying that it made her feel unsafe at well below the speed limit. Either some SE set ups are worse than others (unlikely), or lots of people don't know bad suspension when they feel it.

I spend a fair bit of time in 330d SE's and have never had this happen. They are always heavily loaded though which possibly helps.

Conversely I test drove an F30 320d M Sport a while back and hated it. Constantly tramlined in Sport+ mode and didn't inspire any confidence in Comfort (the leather felt extremely cheap as well but that's a separate gripe).

Whilst everyone is different I am surprised by Smashy and ORD when they say it's dangerous, I would say it's very safe and stable just not very sporty, maybe its the extra weight, bigger wheels and xdrive that makes a difference.

I've had 3 M3s and did 50,000 miles in my old 911 so I do have experience of cars that handle well and have driven many a boxster/cayman as loan cars when they serviced the 911.

But each to his own I guess.

[ORD]

Certainly not dangerous in either form. Very capable cars. I was only talking about the feel and subjective existence of it.

I've just been for a blast in my wife's Touring with the M sport suspension and it generates pretty impressive grip.

[Urban Sports]

ORD said:

Certainly not dangerous in either form. Very capable cars. I was only talking about the feel and subjective existence of it.

I've just been for a blast in my wife's Touring with the M sport suspension and it generates pretty impressive grip.

Agree totally.

[smashy]

Well OP here ,got my ACS sports suspension today.

Where do I start? On the run up from London to Rossiters early morning as luck would have it sat nav took me to an odd sounding area called Prick willow ,this was miles of straight roads but very undulating.My partner was with me and the floaty bouncy ride was nuts even she couldnt believe it ,an easy 60mph was impossible so backed off to 50. Ian an Ex BMW master tech did the job and said there were no issues with my standard set up ,its just the way it is.

So heading back instead of going straight back down the A10 I found these long straight back roads again the perfect test.
Tell you nearly cried lol.....its now the way a BMW should behave , put foot down and just planted itself ,fantastic.Going round corners is now on rails, braking heavily just stays straight ahead instead of falling forwards.

Im extatic ,I can now push on when driving.

I dont care what anyone says that SE set up is flawed.

,,,,and thanks to Lorcan and Ian ,I can really enjoy the cars potential.,,and of course AC schnitzer.

[Wills2]

Glad your sorted Smashy, nothing worse than not liking your car. (well there is but you know what I mean)

[smashy]

Wills , thanks your a toff and scholar.Just to add went to leicester on wednesday to sit in all the Recaro seats ,didnt really get into them (no pun etc) bought a £30 seat cover from halfords and that has made the normal BMW seat nice and supportive and actually quite comfortable,so im finally getting there.

Sat in an S class merc seat yesterday boy oh boy now that is a seat!!

[Wills2]

Yes I bet they are, nice price for the car that comes with them too, I do think that all the seats on offer in the F30 are bit well.....Meh.

BTW you have now got me critiquing the ride and handling on most journeys!

[Lorcan]

Great to meet you Smashy (and Mrs Smashy) and thanks very much for your feedback. Like I say to customers all the time, no-one ever regrets buying this kit, they just regret NOT buying it!

[anonymous-user]

ORD said:

REALIST123 said:

ORD said:

Like a few people on here, I just could not understand the gushing reviews of the 3 series until I drove one with M Sport suspension. Night and day. On standard suspension, the 3er is one of the least confidence-inspiring cars that I have ever driven; with the firmer suspension, it handles and rides very nicely indeed. It is bizarre that the standard set up is so very bad- perhaps even worse than a C Class (which is embarrassing given that Mercs are as soft as pillows and drive like bathtubs on cushions).

Are you sure you've actually driven these cars? Little,of what you say makes sense.

Yep. Weird, isn't it, that people can disagree with you? Almost as though some things are partially subjective and, even more strangely, you might not be God.

I like the M Sport suspension so much that I have just bought a 3er with it.

Bit late to respond I know, but I only just got back to this thread.

The thing is, having driven a wide range of Mercs recently and owning one alongside a 5 series, I think I can, without fear of rational contradiction say that "...Mercs are as soft as pillows and drive like bathtubs on cushions" is utter tosh.

Realising this, it is a fair assumption that the rest of what you say is suspect to.

I repeat, have you driven these cars?

[ORD]

REALIST123 said:

ORD said:

REALIST123 said:

ORD said:

Like a few people on here, I just could not understand the gushing reviews of the 3 series until I drove one with M Sport suspension. Night and day. On standard suspension, the 3er is one of the least confidence-inspiring cars that I have ever driven; with the firmer suspension, it handles and rides very nicely indeed. It is bizarre that the standard set up is so very bad- perhaps even worse than a C Class (which is embarrassing given that Mercs are as soft as pillows and drive like bathtubs on cushions).

Are you sure you've actually driven these cars? Little,of what you say makes sense.

Yep. Weird, isn't it, that people can disagree with you? Almost as though some things are partially subjective and, even more strangely, you might not be God.

I like the M Sport suspension so much that I have just bought a 3er with it.

Bit late to respond I know, but I only just got back to this thread.

The thing is, having driven a wide range of Mercs recently and owning one alongside a 5 series, I think I can, without fear of rational contradiction say that "...Mercs are as soft as pillows and drive like bathtubs on cushions" is utter tosh.

Realising this, it is a fair assumption that the rest of what you say is suspect to.

I repeat, have you driven these cars?

Reading is not a forte, huh? My wife drives a 3 Touring with the M Sport suspension; I have driven several BMWs with the standard suspension; I have done several hundred miles in the current C-Class.

[JNW1]

REALIST123 said:

Bit late to respond I know, but I only just got back to this thread.

The thing is, having driven a wide range of Mercs recently and owning one alongside a 5 series, I think I can, without fear of rational contradiction say that "...Mercs are as soft as pillows and drive like bathtubs on cushions" is utter tosh.

Realising this, it is a fair assumption that the rest of what you say is suspect to.

I repeat, have you driven these cars?

I've driven what is now the old shape C350 Cdi Sport and i thought the chassis was ok; that car was more a direct competitor to the E9x 3-Series and compared to one of those on sport suspension I'd say the Merc wasn't as sharp in terms of handling but had better ride quality than an E9x wearing the standard run-flats. On the more general point I think a lot of this debate comes down to personal opinion and preference but I have to say the assertion that an F3x on SE suspension is dangerous really is utter tosh in my view; a bit soft and floaty perhaps but never dangerous in a million years.

[smashy]

Yes id say dangerous ,I got out of trouble on the M25 ended up doing 90mph very quickly ok shoot me ,but I was bouncing felt I had no control and by the way there was no problems with this suspension.Wouldnt want to experience it again thats for sure.The ACS is a totally different proposition,

[Urban Sports]

smashy said:

Yes id say dangerous.

Jesus wept!

[Urban Sports]

smashy said:

Urban Sports said:

Jesus wept!

Exactly my thoughts when I saw how many posts youve made on here,there has to be more to life surely.

Nice try DH nice try....