335d F31 M Sport LCI Handling
Discussion
Smashy – spoke to Lorcan, discussed ACS springs, he very honestly and decently told me that no matter what I do to my F31, it will never drive like a 5 series at speed, having had 2x E60’s and spent a good bit of time in the F10, I don’t want to be disappointed. I’m happier with mine now when I put it in sport mode on chassis only for daily driving and I like to think this will keep me sweet until it’s time for new tyres (MPSS) and if I feel the need after that I will seriously consider the ACS mod, I should have more disposable income in 12/18 months or so anyway so will be easier to justify.
V10M5talbs said:
Smashy – spoke to Lorcan, discussed ACS springs, he very honestly and decently told me that no matter what I do to my F31, it will never drive like a 5 series at speed, having had 2x E60’s and spent a good bit of time in the F10, I don’t want to be disappointed. I’m happier with mine now when I put it in sport mode on chassis only for daily driving and I like to think this will keep me sweet until it’s time for new tyres (MPSS) and if I feel the need after that I will seriously consider the ACS mod, I should have more disposable income in 12/18 months or so anyway so will be easier to justify.
Sounds like a sensible compromise. Despite all of the discussions the F31 335d is not a bad steer out of the box but can be significantly enhanced by some relatively inexpensive modifications (tyres and springs). I've owned several iterations of the 5 series including the E60 M5 - which I reckon was my best road car - if running costs are taken out of the equation. The 3 series is perhaps not as composed at speed as a 5 but I would say that the right tyres, non-adaptive suspension and the ACS springs turn it into a relatively agile and competent motor. Now that I have heard the artificially stiff steering can't be separated from the sport suspension mode on the adaptive model, I would really question the value of OE adaptive suspension over aftermarket mods. It might just be my personal preference but these steering modes are just gimmicks which in reality reduce what feel is available through the system. V10M5talbs said:
Also, i was 'pressing on' on the motorway in comfort mode a few weeks ago, cought a side wind and it scared me quite a bit?? Maybe it's the fact I'm not 24 anymore and nowhere near as brave and stupid...... Maybe ACS springs would be a good idea.....
Bit late to this but if it's any consolation you're not alone. I was in Germany earlier this year and cracking on at 140 ( was trying to max it out just for fun) when I had exactly the same feeling, one of vagueness and lightness and a sense that the merest puff of wind would have me off the road. It could have been me, it could have been the road conditions but something really didn't feel right so I backed off to a more sedate 100 and left it there and all felt fine. Never pursued a solution or query as one doesn't tend to smash around at 140+ everywhere.Re the posts above , I said the SE suspension was actually dangerous and I got hammered on here for that comment, I was on the M25 doing about 85 keeping up with traffic the camber of the road or something I dont know but it was like I had no control a very strange feeling like I was being carried by a Boat Sail ,never happend to me before in all the years of driving it was a panicky moment thats for sure
Docsteve – agreed, unfortunately I don’t think BMW will refund me for the adaptive suspension :-(
Osinjak and Smashy – feels almost like the car is airborne!! Horrible and petrifying. Happened in my E92 335d too on the M69, VERY scary. I think the already awful and further rapidly declining quality of our roads has something to do with it but as this has also happened in my F31 I would have to say that the 3 series is a far cry from the 5 series at high speed yet much better on the twisty stuff of course.
Smashy – can’t say it’s ever happened to me either in my years of driving, that I remember anyway.
As I’d say I’m definitely past my driving prime too, might be an idea to not bother with the top end stuff these days. Self-preservation N’all.
Osinjak and Smashy – feels almost like the car is airborne!! Horrible and petrifying. Happened in my E92 335d too on the M69, VERY scary. I think the already awful and further rapidly declining quality of our roads has something to do with it but as this has also happened in my F31 I would have to say that the 3 series is a far cry from the 5 series at high speed yet much better on the twisty stuff of course.
Smashy – can’t say it’s ever happened to me either in my years of driving, that I remember anyway.
As I’d say I’m definitely past my driving prime too, might be an idea to not bother with the top end stuff these days. Self-preservation N’all.
DocSteve said:
Now that I have heard the artificially stiff steering can't be separated from the sport suspension mode on the adaptive model, I would really question the value of OE adaptive suspension over aftermarket mods. It might just be my personal preference but these steering modes are just gimmicks which in reality reduce what feel is available through the system.
Yes, tend to agree with that! My pre-LCI F31 335d has adaptive which at the time I ordered felt like a must have option given the standard SE suspension; in fairness it does improve things but for me even in Sport mode it's still a bit soft if you want to press-on across a twisty, undulating, road. Therefore, if I was ordering now I'd probably stick with passive suspension and then upgrade with ACS springs if I found the LCI set-up inadequate; actually no I wouldn't, I'd buy a 340i but that's another thread entirely! JNW1 said:
DocSteve said:
Now that I have heard the artificially stiff steering can't be separated from the sport suspension mode on the adaptive model, I would really question the value of OE adaptive suspension over aftermarket mods. It might just be my personal preference but these steering modes are just gimmicks which in reality reduce what feel is available through the system.
Yes, tend to agree with that! My pre-LCI F31 335d has adaptive which at the time I ordered felt like a must have option given the standard SE suspension; in fairness it does improve things but for me even in Sport mode it's still a bit soft if you want to press-on across a twisty, undulating, road. Therefore, if I was ordering now I'd probably stick with passive suspension and then upgrade with ACS springs if I found the LCI set-up inadequate; actually no I wouldn't, I'd buy a 340i but that's another thread entirely! Smashy – I know what you mean. I test drive the new 272ps 3.0 tdi A4 close to when I test drove the F31 before ordering and didn’t like it, gear box felt docile even in full sport mode compared to our ZF’s, tyre roar from the run flats was awful at speed too, a bit numb was my overall conclusion. BMW are much much further with run flat tyre development on the F 3 series. Where do you go? Merc don’t do a particularly decent diesel let alone with 4wd, not sure about Jag and again, no 4wd on a decent diesel.
I think I’d like a 5 series again, pref new shape with xdrive but guess what, can’t fit it in the garage at work lol!! F31 is on the limit!! Can't afford one either at the minute and they're not even available yet, won't be any decent discounts until they've been out for a couple of years anyway. The eternal dilemma……
I think I’d like a 5 series again, pref new shape with xdrive but guess what, can’t fit it in the garage at work lol!! F31 is on the limit!! Can't afford one either at the minute and they're not even available yet, won't be any decent discounts until they've been out for a couple of years anyway. The eternal dilemma……
V10M5talbs said:
JNW1 - I love the thought of a 340i, pity there's no Xdrive available in the UK though :-(
You really don't need it.I'd take 2wd with winter tyres over 4wd on summer tyres every time if there's snow or ice involved.
Even at 5ºC, on 19" runflat summers, the 340i doesn't struggle for grip unless you're being ham-fisted (footed?).
Smashy – I know what you mean. I test drive the new 272ps 3.0 tdi A4 close to when I test drove the F31 before ordering and didn’t like it, gear box felt docile even in full sport mode compared to our ZF’s, tyre roar from the run flats was awful at speed too, a bit numb was my overall conclusion. BMW are much much further with run flat tyre development on the F 3 series. Where do you go? Merc don’t do a particularly decent diesel let alone with 4wd, not sure about Jag and again, no 4wd on a decent diesel.
I think I’d like a 5 series again, pref new shape with xdrive but guess what, can’t fit it in the garage at work lol!! F31 is on the limit!! Can't afford one either at the minute and they're not even available yet, won't be any decent discounts until they've been out for a couple of years anyway. The eternal dilemma……
I think I’d like a 5 series again, pref new shape with xdrive but guess what, can’t fit it in the garage at work lol!! F31 is on the limit!! Can't afford one either at the minute and they're not even available yet, won't be any decent discounts until they've been out for a couple of years anyway. The eternal dilemma……
V10M5talbs said:
Verysideways – I have managed to get my old E92 stuck in a damp flat field and my E60 stuck in the snow for 5 days. Never bothered with winter tyres as our winters (UK) are so unpredictable I reckon I’d be swapping them over all the time.
LOL!I've been running winters for a few years. I had a 130i which couldn't get off a flat driveway in the snow with summer tyres and yet handled a 16% gradient with ease using winter tyres on packed snow and ice.
I tend to change over sometime in November and change back sometime in March.
If the damp flat field was soft enough then even x-drive wouldn't have saved you...
Oh, and the new E class is available as an E43 4-matic (i.e. 3.0 v6 turbo and 4wd) using a 9 speed auto. Could be interesting?
LOL indeed!! I’d of been confident with Xdrive as the Audi Quattro parked next to me didn’t have any problems lol. Had to get towed out by a friendly range rover driver.
Yes, I am aware of the E43 and the C43, could be interesting indeed. Need an estate as have got a dog. Know they will be quite a bit heavier on fuel on a run but still, interesting none the less. Like I said earlier, I like the thought of E class/5 series size if it wasn’t for the garage at work. Still, overall am happy with my F31 for now.
Yes, I am aware of the E43 and the C43, could be interesting indeed. Need an estate as have got a dog. Know they will be quite a bit heavier on fuel on a run but still, interesting none the less. Like I said earlier, I like the thought of E class/5 series size if it wasn’t for the garage at work. Still, overall am happy with my F31 for now.
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