F30 SE suspension ,horrible
Discussion
After driving my new 3 days old 330d Luxury. ,I cannot believe how bad the suspension is.
Circumstances meant I needed a new car quickly and here it is.
I had a 120d SE auto 57 plate from 6 months old and I cant believe i bought this 3 series to be more comfortable as I do a lot of miles and how its ended up.
3 days in, my lower back really sore the seat is just not as comfortable as the oner and that was so much more chuckable,and the seats were longer and hugged you more(not sport seats)
Anyway back to the suspension ,floaty ,wallowy ,a ship when you corner as you fall out the seat. On the M25 between herts and essex today ,choppy ride as well(thought that was only M sport domain?)
....anyway this cant go on and I have made my mind up to go to Kings Lynn for the day and get the AC schnitzer sports suspension. Funny enough Forumer Gizlaroc allways maintains the M sport suspension is better than the SE for our roads,maybe he is right
The car in Imperial Blue , venition leather interior and twin chrome exhausts erc looks great ,the engine is amazing,but my body was a lot more comfortable in the old 117K miles One Series and that cant be right can it??
Circumstances meant I needed a new car quickly and here it is.
I had a 120d SE auto 57 plate from 6 months old and I cant believe i bought this 3 series to be more comfortable as I do a lot of miles and how its ended up.
3 days in, my lower back really sore the seat is just not as comfortable as the oner and that was so much more chuckable,and the seats were longer and hugged you more(not sport seats)
Anyway back to the suspension ,floaty ,wallowy ,a ship when you corner as you fall out the seat. On the M25 between herts and essex today ,choppy ride as well(thought that was only M sport domain?)
....anyway this cant go on and I have made my mind up to go to Kings Lynn for the day and get the AC schnitzer sports suspension. Funny enough Forumer Gizlaroc allways maintains the M sport suspension is better than the SE for our roads,maybe he is right
The car in Imperial Blue , venition leather interior and twin chrome exhausts erc looks great ,the engine is amazing,but my body was a lot more comfortable in the old 117K miles One Series and that cant be right can it??
Edited by smashy on Tuesday 28th October 17:37
Edited by smashy on Tuesday 28th October 20:01
Helicopter123 said:
Have you got the adaptive dampers?
These really transform the ride and handling on the F30.
I don't disagree but adpative won't change the spring rates, or anti-roll bar thickness so there's only so much it can do. But suspension dynamics is a minefield and I am no expert. These really transform the ride and handling on the F30.
OP - sorry to hear of your woes. Was considering a Luxury 330D for my next car so will take extended test drive having read your views.
Booked the car into rossitors for the ACS sports suspension,,they are also Recaro ditributors ,but dont have all the seats in the showroom,so Im going to the main importers in Leicester to have a sit in a few.
Mind you this is crazy ,thought by getting a £40K motor I would be in something akin to a comfortable ride ,never dreamed id be doing all this ir spernding out more money.
By the way BMW dealer says its a no no cost wise to change from SE seats to sports something to do with electrics
Mind you this is crazy ,thought by getting a £40K motor I would be in something akin to a comfortable ride ,never dreamed id be doing all this ir spernding out more money.
By the way BMW dealer says its a no no cost wise to change from SE seats to sports something to do with electrics
You could get some Sportster CS seats from Recaro, IIRC they fit the F30/31 the same seat as the BMW performance seat that they did for the e90/92 model.
They are eye wateringly expensive though £1800 in black leather/heated with side air bags.....each!
They are eye wateringly expensive though £1800 in black leather/heated with side air bags.....each!
Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 30th October 18:28
Oh yes some of the seats are er quite pricey!!!
Thing is ,that SE seat I have is flat ,you have no thigh support so as you brake you come forward like on a roller coaster.
This is where you need a seat bottom that can be tilted up at the front to support your thighs.
Sports can do that .......and I think electric seats on the ordinary (not 100% on that )
Thing is ,that SE seat I have is flat ,you have no thigh support so as you brake you come forward like on a roller coaster.
This is where you need a seat bottom that can be tilted up at the front to support your thighs.
Sports can do that .......and I think electric seats on the ordinary (not 100% on that )
IATM said:
not trying to be a dick (I guess I am) did you not think to test drive the dam thing before spending that much money.
If I was you I would PX it for an F10. Considerably more comfortable.
You win the prize,,,only a matter of time.lolIf I was you I would PX it for an F10. Considerably more comfortable.
I had a 120d SE with SE seats and had no problems liked the seats and the suspension ,so anyone I reckon would think a 3 series would be better not worse .....Yes??? I had on order a new 225d M sport with a Part exchange that was slowly falling to bits, due in a month ,when I would bring my PX in to the dealer.Got a call saying now could be 6 months.I needed a new car quickly and they sourced this for me and the repayments were slightly less so I went for it.
Tell you something else there is actually more room for a driver in a oner ,amazing,
When I bought my F10, I had read a lot about the poor reviews the standard suspension got, pretty much across the range, certainly 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 series.
I tested normal suspension, M and adaptive, before speccing adaptive. It is streets ahead of the others and gives all of the options you could need. Pricy but a no brainer of an option for me.
I still wonder how BMW can think the regular set ups are acceptable for a brand like theirs.
I tested normal suspension, M and adaptive, before speccing adaptive. It is streets ahead of the others and gives all of the options you could need. Pricy but a no brainer of an option for me.
I still wonder how BMW can think the regular set ups are acceptable for a brand like theirs.
REALIST123 said:
When I bought my F10, I had read a lot about the poor reviews the standard suspension got, pretty much across the range, certainly 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 series.
I tested normal suspension, M and adaptive, before speccing adaptive. It is streets ahead of the others and gives all of the options you could need. Pricy but a no brainer of an option for me.
I still wonder how BMW can think the regular set ups are acceptable for a brand like theirs.
I also specced adaptive suspension for my F31 335d because, having driven an X-Drive, I decided the standard set-up was a bit soft for those occasions when you want to push-on. Sport mode in adaptive certainly improves things but I do agree that for the money BMW ought to be selling cars which have suspension that's properly developed as standard; it's all well and good going to someone like Birds or ACS to get them to sort it out but why should you have to do that with a £40k car?! I tested normal suspension, M and adaptive, before speccing adaptive. It is streets ahead of the others and gives all of the options you could need. Pricy but a no brainer of an option for me.
I still wonder how BMW can think the regular set ups are acceptable for a brand like theirs.
Never really looked at a 5-series but I assume there's rather more to the adaptive set-up on those than there is on the 3-series? On the 3-series adaptive is only about £500 extra which is frankly peanuts compared to the cost of some of the other options; however, given the price for adaptive on the F10/F11 presumably the upgrade is much more extensive?
Edited by JNW1 on Friday 31st October 11:17
Adaptive drive on the F10 combines adaptive dampers and active roll bars the F30 option is just the dampers.
There is a dampers only option on the f series cars called VDC (variable damper control) I had that on my 520d se f10 but it didn't stop the roll which was the issue, driven a adaptive drive f11 and that was wonderful just what you'd expect from BMW as standard! Not for 3k more.
I was also impressed with the passive set up on an M-sport f10 I had for 3 months with 18" wheels that was nicely set up.
There is a dampers only option on the f series cars called VDC (variable damper control) I had that on my 520d se f10 but it didn't stop the roll which was the issue, driven a adaptive drive f11 and that was wonderful just what you'd expect from BMW as standard! Not for 3k more.
I was also impressed with the passive set up on an M-sport f10 I had for 3 months with 18" wheels that was nicely set up.
Wills2 said:
I was also impressed with the passive set up on an M-sport f10 I had for 3 months with 18" wheels that was nicely set up.
That was the set up that impressed me most. The active set up was flatter when pressing on into fast corners, but the passive set up on 18's handled the rougher roads better than the active.
Not tried an m-sport on 19's with the passive set up.
I tested the F30 Luxury and wasn't that impressed.
Having read all the reviews I could find beforehand I was expecting something really special, as all the reviews were gushing with praise ( as though it is some sort of second coming ), but in my opinion the reality didn't match the reviews.
I went home afterwards, re-read them and questioned my judgement, so went back and took it out again on my own for an extended test to give it a second chance - and still came to the same conclusion. It's just too soft and wallows badly on dips / crests if you are carrying any speed and the standard seats really don't give much support.
Realising that all the press cars were fitted with the adaptive set up and sports seats goes some way to explaining the praise, I can't believe that they would have hyped it so much on the standard set up.
On M-sport / adaptive suspension with the sports seats its undoubtedly a great car, but in standard trim not so much.
Having read all the reviews I could find beforehand I was expecting something really special, as all the reviews were gushing with praise ( as though it is some sort of second coming ), but in my opinion the reality didn't match the reviews.
I went home afterwards, re-read them and questioned my judgement, so went back and took it out again on my own for an extended test to give it a second chance - and still came to the same conclusion. It's just too soft and wallows badly on dips / crests if you are carrying any speed and the standard seats really don't give much support.
Realising that all the press cars were fitted with the adaptive set up and sports seats goes some way to explaining the praise, I can't believe that they would have hyped it so much on the standard set up.
On M-sport / adaptive suspension with the sports seats its undoubtedly a great car, but in standard trim not so much.
As has been said, you shouldn't need to change the springs on a 40k car, but at £650 fitted with the warranty intact for the ACS springs, it isn't such a big deal. It completely transforms the handling and works really well with the adaptive dampers. You have to wonder what BMW were thinking when they chose the springs.
The F30 won't match the F10 (my previous car) for refinement, but with the ACS springs it handles far better than the F10 with or without VDC. Yet to try F10 adaptive drive, although most seem pretty positive about the improvement.
The F30 won't match the F10 (my previous car) for refinement, but with the ACS springs it handles far better than the F10 with or without VDC. Yet to try F10 adaptive drive, although most seem pretty positive about the improvement.
smashy said:
After driving my new 3 days old 330d Luxury. ,I cannot believe how bad the suspension is.
Circumstances meant I needed a new car quickly and here it is.
I had a 120d SE auto 57 plate from 6 months old and I cant believe i bought this 3 series to be more comfortable as I do a lot of miles and how its ended up.
3 days in, my lower back really sore the seat is just not as comfortable as the oner and that was so much more chuckable,and the seats were longer and hugged you more(not sport seats)
Anyway back to the suspension ,floaty ,wallowy ,a ship when you corner as you fall out the seat. On the M25 between herts and essex today ,choppy ride as well(thought that was only M sport domain?)
....anyway this cant go on and I have made my mind up to go to Kings Lynn for the day and get the AC schnitzer sports suspension. Funny enough Forumer Gizlaroc allways maintains the M sport suspension is better than the SE for our roads,maybe he is right
The car in Imperial Blue , venition leather interior and twin chrome exhausts erc looks great ,the engine is amazing,but my body was a lot more comfortable in the old 117K miles One Series and that cant be right can it??
The SE looks like it’s on stilts too but wow, a cracking engine, silver lining and all that! The new springs will help enormously.Circumstances meant I needed a new car quickly and here it is.
I had a 120d SE auto 57 plate from 6 months old and I cant believe i bought this 3 series to be more comfortable as I do a lot of miles and how its ended up.
3 days in, my lower back really sore the seat is just not as comfortable as the oner and that was so much more chuckable,and the seats were longer and hugged you more(not sport seats)
Anyway back to the suspension ,floaty ,wallowy ,a ship when you corner as you fall out the seat. On the M25 between herts and essex today ,choppy ride as well(thought that was only M sport domain?)
....anyway this cant go on and I have made my mind up to go to Kings Lynn for the day and get the AC schnitzer sports suspension. Funny enough Forumer Gizlaroc allways maintains the M sport suspension is better than the SE for our roads,maybe he is right
The car in Imperial Blue , venition leather interior and twin chrome exhausts erc looks great ,the engine is amazing,but my body was a lot more comfortable in the old 117K miles One Series and that cant be right can it??
Edited by smashy on Tuesday 28th October 17:37
Edited by smashy on Tuesday 28th October 20:01
I think you suffered from the old school of thought that the M Sport was harsh, if I were to spend £40 k, in a hurry or not, I would test drive all model variants.
You would have been quite pleased with the M Sport, but you’ll have a lovely car soon enough!
Knitware ,intersting and a clue in there...I allways thought the SE suspension set up in the 120d se was finejust a bit HARD so I thought the SE would be maybe a touch soft,
I did not realise it would be sitting on a marshmellow that would still like bumps,
Still from everything ive read the ACS suspension is the business...Ill give an honest review when I get it.
Very poor really, I wish the Jag XE had been around with a 3ltr diesel ,I would have definitely tried that out ,but with this 3 series |I thought I had enough feedback from 6 years in the oner to make a decision,
..Trying to think positive ,even getting the Full springs and dampers suspension from ACS overall it works out the same financials as the new 225d I had on order,
I did not realise it would be sitting on a marshmellow that would still like bumps,
Still from everything ive read the ACS suspension is the business...Ill give an honest review when I get it.
Very poor really, I wish the Jag XE had been around with a 3ltr diesel ,I would have definitely tried that out ,but with this 3 series |I thought I had enough feedback from 6 years in the oner to make a decision,
..Trying to think positive ,even getting the Full springs and dampers suspension from ACS overall it works out the same financials as the new 225d I had on order,
Edited by smashy on Friday 31st October 14:24
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