F31 335d XDrive Handling

F31 335d XDrive Handling

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Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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JNW1 said:
REALIST123 said:
kingofdbrits said:
I've just changed from 18" runflats to 19" without the runflats and there isn't much difference in handling or comfort, though the 19's are better. Most noticeably when hitting cats eyes, the runflats felt like you'd hit a brick! The 19" goodyears are massively quieter than the contisport runflats, despite beings 25mm wider but i put that down the nature of runflats.
Imagine the 19's with runflats must be terrible, i didn't like any of the 19" wheel options so bought some 437M wheels, but that's another issue.

I do find it bizzare that a car at this price point has so many things ruining it, that for literally another 50p could be sorted? The ACS springs could easily be standard, get rid of runflats or give the option to have standard tyres and i've just changed the brake pads to yellowstuff and they've made a world of difference to the initial bite and braking at more than 80%.


Braking at 80%? 80% of what?
I assume he means the different pads make a difference when braking with a relatively large amount of pressure on the pedal (so braking at 100% would be full-on and the equivalent of an emergency stop and hence 80% would be braking reasonably hard!). If that interpretation's correct I doubt I get above 50% very often!


Perhaps. It just seems a meaningless comment as it stands.

E24man

6,654 posts

178 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
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Following up on my assessment of the twitchy, horrible, uncomfortable 420d GC on its 18" Goodyear runflats I an confirm that the 435d Xdrive on 18" Bridgestone runflats is night and day difference for the better than the 420d on Goodyears.

Edited by E24man on Monday 9th May 06:56

ratty6464

628 posts

209 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Having the ACS springs fitted next week. Looking forward to it

wakaday

Original Poster:

24 posts

173 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Recently got the Birds B3X suspension fitted to my F31 335d. Had an issue with the rear ride height sitting lower than expected, but Birds have sorted this issue with a custom adaptor. Really, very impressed with the kit. The car fast, and fluid, wet or dry with improved ride quality and major improvement in handling. Don’t see any point in comfort or sport mode, this kit does all. Traction control starts to work harder, weight transfer improved on acceleration, and tyres pushed harder. I’m a fussy customer, but really can’t fault it. Not cheap, but you’re paying for custom b8 monotubes and springs and the R&D to finalise the spec. The car is finally fun, just can’t understand why BMW got the standard car so wrong.

ds666

2,605 posts

178 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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The car is finally fun, just can’t understand why BMW got the standard car so wrong.
[/quote]

I don't understand this talk about BMW getting it so wrong . It's a fast family car , not an M car .Yes , it can be improved . So what ?
Perhaps you should be asking why you got it so wrong buying the wrong car for you ?

Osinjak

5,453 posts

120 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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ds666 said:
The car is finally fun, just can’t understand why BMW got the standard car so wrong.
I don't understand this talk about BMW getting it so wrong . It's a fast family car , not an M car .Yes , it can be improved . So what ?
Perhaps you should be asking why you got it so wrong buying the wrong car for you ?
+1. The car isn't wrong, it is what it is. Just about any bit on a car can be 'improved' if you want it and are prepared to pay for it. It's a mass consumer product, not a bespoke sports car.

Edited by Osinjak on Thursday 25th August 20:09

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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ds666 said:
The car is finally fun, just can’t understand why BMW got the standard car so wrong.
I don't understand this talk about BMW getting it so wrong . It's a fast family car , not an M car .Yes , it can be improved . So what ?
Perhaps you should be asking why you got it so wrong buying the wrong car for you ?
The 330d PPK is quicker Rear wheel drive and proper m sport suspension.


God knows why they only offered it in X Drive?

Take the 5 series 535d exactly the same engine and it's only RWD go figure.


Maybe it's because they wanted Alpina with the D3 to offer that higher level of car whilst not compromising too much on 335d v M3 /closing the gap/law of diminishing returns (so to speak).

wakaday

Original Poster:

24 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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I've previously owned 2 x 535d Msports, 530d SE, X5 40d Msport. This car has the same suspension as an SE and is the worst handling BM I've owned. For a car that hits sub 5 sec to 60 , the handling doesn't match the performance. It came with the big brakes and massive grip, ultra low profiles , but the total car just didn't add up. If I had test driven the factory car for say 1000 miles I probably wouldn't have brought it. Having said that, now sorted with suspension that handles with improved ride, and a remap, it's a very fast point to point car, that could match an M3 in the dry, and leave for dead in the wet. Its looks conservative , the family fit in, the ride doesn't make the kids sick and it hit 40+ mpg on a run. I'm happy with that.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Welshbeef


wish you had been in my 330d se on a 5 mile road in a place called prick willow going to Rossiters me and my mrs laughing our heads off as we bounced along like those guys on ice road truckers if i hadnt known in 4 hrs this would be history id have been crying ,coming back on ACS springs and dampers superb....the area name is appropiate for the BMW bod who signed The floating blancmange off


Edited by smashy on Thursday 25th August 23:23

wakaday

Original Poster:

24 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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In brief, and I benchmark may cars in my day job, my opinion is that BMW could have developed a better handling car, better primary and secondary ride, which would have been in line with their previous SE & MSport cars chassis achievements, and ultimately made a more balanced car. It's odd to me how Birds with a tiny R&D budget compared to BMW can deliver a solution which is better on the on a track or going to the shops. No need for adaptive dampers, but off course BMW like to sell though as an expensive option.
On drivetrain, I've had 2 RWD 535ds, and they simply can't put the power down in the wet. XDrive is the way to go, total grip.

ds666

2,605 posts

178 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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You make some good points .
I haven't noticed any issues with secondary ride ( compared with , say a rr evoque which had cronic secondary ride ) and I always think runflats give a particular ride compromise for primary ride .
The reality is probably that a mapped and suspension sorted 335d x drive would possibly outshine an m3 ?

My real frustration is that people keep talking about upgrading something I bought to transport a new dog and I don't want to . I now go round sticking my fingers under the arches of non-xdrive 3's to check the suspension height .

Leave me in peace smile


Now where's the number for dms ....and are Birds on the way to Southampton from here ...

wakaday

Original Poster:

24 posts

173 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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If I had a dog, the standard car would have made it sick in back. I could buy a M5 E61 and start a new post ‘M5 tourer, fast car but makes dog sick in back, BMW got it wrong’.No more sterotypes please, you’ll hurt the dogs feeling. DMS not my choise.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Buy a 330d PPK touring instead it's faster and has the M sport handling.


Chap with the dog - I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone compare M sport handing to M car handling before that's a big difference

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Re the comment here re keeping the power down so you need xdrive wonder what Alpina have to say about that? Genuine not taking the rise,

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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smashy said:
Re the comment here re keeping the power down so you need xdrive wonder what Alpina have to say about that? Genuine not taking the rise,
And the 535d too.

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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smashy said:
Re the comment here re keeping the power down so you need xdrive wonder what Alpina have to say about that? Genuine not taking the rise,
They offer xdrive models in LHD markets.



smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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your right and they like it

All-Wheel-Drive

The all-wheel drive system uses the technical possibilities of the BMW xDrive system, whose intelligent and dynamic control system distributes output smoothly and fully variably between the front and rear axles in milliseconds, thereby ensuring maximum traction and superior performance in all driving situations.

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Although for me x drive dulls the 3 series chassis down adds weight and the x drive is very nannying on low grip surfaces it's job is to control not to let you have any fun.

It's effective but very dull and not what you'd want in a fun sporty performance car which is why I guess BMW don't fit it to the M3/4.




wakaday

Original Poster:

24 posts

173 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Current Xdrives are poor on rough surface because underdamped and rear over sprung. Just not set up for UK tarmac. Great for Autobahn. But why is 4WD dull in a sports car? Been very successful in Audi RS, Impreza, Evos, Ford RS .....BMW have some big M badged 4WD saloons, M550xd , M135xi, Alpina D3 Xdrive. RWD is great until the surface is wet. I'm sure BMW will get better at future Xdrive saloons products.

ratty6464

628 posts

209 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Osinjak said:
ds666 said:
The car is finally fun, just can’t understand why BMW got the standard car so wrong.
I don't understand this talk about BMW getting it so wrong . It's a fast family car , not an M car .Yes , it can be improved . So what ?
Perhaps you should be asking why you got it so wrong buying the wrong car for you ?
+1. The car isn't wrong, it is what it is. Just about any bit on a car can be 'improved' if you want it and are prepared to pay for it. It's a mass consumer product, not a bespoke sports car.

Edited by Osinjak on Thursday 25th August 20:09
Honestly though, the suspension on the 435d is pretty rubbish as standard. I've never felt the need to modify one of the other 3 BMWs i've had, but this one manages to fidget and wallow, squirm under braking and corkscrew under acceleration. I'm not expecting sports car levels of handling but they could have done a lot better. it smacks of a lack of proper development. It's ok if you cruise about, although it does bounce along bit. When pushed it falls apart.

for a £45k+ car i think it's perfectly reasonable to expect better, especially when BMW have pedigree of making some decent handling "non-M" cars - 330ci anyone?