F30 replacement question
Discussion
So, I have a 335D touring Xdrive at the moment with adaptive suspension.
Like it a lot, very competent but I am thinking of changing to the 340 primarily to go back to 2wd. I find the suspension too high ( I know I could get springs for that) and the steering feel and steering lock are not as good as my old E92. Additionally I am not doing the mileage I used to and that seems a good excuse for a 6cyl petrol
I do like the comfort setting for pootling around town, I'm not a fan of really really stiff suspension for covering ground quickly and I like having an easy choice to change when I push ahead.
2 questions (and apologies I couldn't find these answers through search)
-1- on an msport sdrive set up what does adaptive do? does it soften the ride in comfort or harden the ride more than standard on sport, ie is the standard ride mode the same as the non adaptive msport or softer?
-2- When is the replacement for the 3 series due out or is there an LC2 due?
Like it a lot, very competent but I am thinking of changing to the 340 primarily to go back to 2wd. I find the suspension too high ( I know I could get springs for that) and the steering feel and steering lock are not as good as my old E92. Additionally I am not doing the mileage I used to and that seems a good excuse for a 6cyl petrol
I do like the comfort setting for pootling around town, I'm not a fan of really really stiff suspension for covering ground quickly and I like having an easy choice to change when I push ahead.
2 questions (and apologies I couldn't find these answers through search)
-1- on an msport sdrive set up what does adaptive do? does it soften the ride in comfort or harden the ride more than standard on sport, ie is the standard ride mode the same as the non adaptive msport or softer?
-2- When is the replacement for the 3 series due out or is there an LC2 due?
Adaptive dampers on a 340i (with 19" runflats) are comfortable in comfort and stiffer in Sport/Sport+ if that's how you have it configured. When you flick into Sport, the idrive gives you the option to configure Sport; chassis only, chassis and drivetrain, drivetrain only.
As i don't like the stiffer ride and heavier steering i have mine set to drivetrain only, giving me the shift points and throttle response but with the lighter steering and comfier ride. Most of the time i leave it in comfort anyway, if i want to overtake i just nudge the gearstick left and plant the right pedal.
As for replacement, i believe the new 3 series is due in late 2018?
EDIT: i think Comfort is softer, and Sport is similar to non-adaptive.
As i don't like the stiffer ride and heavier steering i have mine set to drivetrain only, giving me the shift points and throttle response but with the lighter steering and comfier ride. Most of the time i leave it in comfort anyway, if i want to overtake i just nudge the gearstick left and plant the right pedal.
As for replacement, i believe the new 3 series is due in late 2018?
EDIT: i think Comfort is softer, and Sport is similar to non-adaptive.
The new G20 3 Series is due out in just under 2 years - late 2018. It will probably be Feb 2019 before the first ones reach the UK. They are on 7 year product cycles.
I would suggest that you try and find someone with a version of your car on ACS springs who will let you try it. Along with almost everyone, I have found on my F30 335d (with adaptive) that the springs transform the car. The handling and turn in is considerably better than an sDrive on M Sport springs - some with sDrive have since switched springs and noted a significant improvement. I think that people quite often confuse the impact of xDrive with the SE springs, which is easily done since they come as a package. It is the springs which cause the vagueness.
For the sake of £650 ish, this looks like a no-brainer to me, particularly now it is late in the product cycle to be ordering an F3x.
I would suggest that you try and find someone with a version of your car on ACS springs who will let you try it. Along with almost everyone, I have found on my F30 335d (with adaptive) that the springs transform the car. The handling and turn in is considerably better than an sDrive on M Sport springs - some with sDrive have since switched springs and noted a significant improvement. I think that people quite often confuse the impact of xDrive with the SE springs, which is easily done since they come as a package. It is the springs which cause the vagueness.
For the sake of £650 ish, this looks like a no-brainer to me, particularly now it is late in the product cycle to be ordering an F3x.
Thanks for the responses.
So it is just the springs and the ride height that changes.
I had considered the replacement AC springs , however it is a lease car at the moment and also , saying that the car is modified does cut out a lot of mainstream insurers at renewal time.
As said, I need to test drive an sdrive msport, compared with my old E90 the steering and positivity at the front seems lacking a bit and I was hopeing that was due to the Xdrive but it could just be "progress"
Appreciate I am being fussy as the 335D is an awesome car, I suppose that having got to a stage where I can afford cars like this I am a little disappointed to be missing an 8 year old 325D SE touring!
So it is just the springs and the ride height that changes.
I had considered the replacement AC springs , however it is a lease car at the moment and also , saying that the car is modified does cut out a lot of mainstream insurers at renewal time.
As said, I need to test drive an sdrive msport, compared with my old E90 the steering and positivity at the front seems lacking a bit and I was hopeing that was due to the Xdrive but it could just be "progress"
Appreciate I am being fussy as the 335D is an awesome car, I suppose that having got to a stage where I can afford cars like this I am a little disappointed to be missing an 8 year old 325D SE touring!
I don't think that the springs are a problem for mainstream insurers. LV loaded my premium by £11 when the springs were added, and when I used a comparison site to find a new insurer this year, the cheapest one, Aviva, didn't load the premium at all when I told them about the springs.
The vagueness of the steering is transformed by the springs, with a much more positive turn-in. While it is annoying to have to modify a car (particularly a BMW) to set it up correctly, I think you'll find that an M Sport sDrive F3x isn't the solution. The F3x is a fair bit less sharp from the factory than the E90.
The vagueness of the steering is transformed by the springs, with a much more positive turn-in. While it is annoying to have to modify a car (particularly a BMW) to set it up correctly, I think you'll find that an M Sport sDrive F3x isn't the solution. The F3x is a fair bit less sharp from the factory than the E90.
I replaced my 330d xDrive Touring 2013 with an m235i Convertible. Which is something of a contrast, to say the least. We don't miss the xDrive or the raised suspension nor the carrying capacity nor roof bars. We love the open top in good weather. We only occasionally carry 4 adults and when we do, the rear seats of the 2 Series are good enough. With the through-load in the 2 series we carried three suitcases, two large boxes, electric coolbox, boots and shoes for a summer holiday in the Alps all with the roof down. And a smaller car is much easier to park. We do have a second small hatchback that we use for trips to the tip etc. Sometimes it's interesting to ask yourself just why you need all that unused space you carry around empty for 95% of the time. Of course, a convertible isn't an option for everyone, but it is worth thinking about something radically different sometimes. As you say, the 33xd xD is competent and ours managed snow, torrential rain, long autoroute days, and protracted motorway jams with aplomb, but it wasn't a car you'd call exciting.
Edited by msej449 on Saturday 31st December 21:13
I have looked at smaller cars but with two teenage kids, holidays that we drive to and camping we fill the touring boot quite regularly and use a roof box 2/3 times a year, plus I am lucky to have a toy car available as well.
Luggage wise I have thought of bigger rather than smaller but having tried Merc E class and BM 5 series they just seemed a bit wasteful and lumbering day to day vs the 3 series
Re the insurance, thanks, hadn't realised the difference was so little
Re 335D vs 340 I am concious that I am also trying to man maths a reason to get a 6 cyl petrol while they are still available and probably being a bit first world about the "problem".
Luggage wise I have thought of bigger rather than smaller but having tried Merc E class and BM 5 series they just seemed a bit wasteful and lumbering day to day vs the 3 series
Re the insurance, thanks, hadn't realised the difference was so little
Re 335D vs 340 I am concious that I am also trying to man maths a reason to get a 6 cyl petrol while they are still available and probably being a bit first world about the "problem".
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