M Sport suspension option on new 3 series?

[edc]

What does this option actually comprise of? Lowered springs? Re-tuned dampers? Both? Also, any one care to comment on whether this would go well with 17s or 18s?

[dumbfunk]

In my view this option absolutely makes the car. I've had it with 17s on and E46 and with 18s on an E92 and honestly, I much preferred the 17" wheels (although the later car has run-flats so it's not a clear comparison).

Either combination with the sport suspension kit makes it a really great handling car.



df

[studog]

I have 18s and std suspension on my 320Ed and tested a std 320d with 19s and M-sport suspension.

Mine has non runflats and rides very well but the std setup feels rather under damped and wallowy on country roads where the M-sport didn't. That said the M-sport with 19s and run flats rode worse than my Lotus 7 replica. Pays your money I guess, but if the suspension had been an option on the Ed i would definately have had it and stuck with my wheel tyre combo.

[gizlaroc]

If you take wheel size out of the equation the M-Sport is the more comfy of the two set ups, just that most SE cars have 16 or 17" wheels and most M-Sports have 18" or 19".
The M-Sport uses a nice Bilstein strut and an Eibach spring, the SE uses a pretty cheap Boge/Sachs set up, the m-sport handles poor UK roads far, far better.

[edc]

Thanks guys. How much lower than a standard set-up is it? I am looking at something like an SE spec with the M Sport suspension. If memory serves me right it is about £215 option so a reasonable price considering it's off an options list!

[dumbfunk]

edc said:

Thanks guys. How much lower than a standard set-up is it? I am looking at something like an SE spec with the M Sport suspension. If memory serves me right it is about £215 option so a reasonable price considering it's off an options list!

Never had any grounding problems with either of mine so I'd assume the ride height is not going to be an issue; at a couple of hundred quid it's a huuuuge bargain. Something else to consider if you ever travel in Germany is just how amazingly stable cars equipped with this set up are at or around their maximum speed.


df

[gizlaroc]

One thing I would definitely get is the sport seats, the SE seats are pretty pants where as the sport seats are the best seats I have even used, beating Recaros and far comfier than the seats in the 5 series and even the 7 series.

Also, the M-Sport retains a far better residual, with Lombard the same spec. 320d touring was cheaper in m-sport guise than it was in SE due to this fact.

Edited by gizlaroc on Tuesday 1st June 13:38

[Ranger 6]

edc said:

What does this option actually comprise of?
Lowered springs?
Re-tuned dampers? Both?

More actually, ARBs and bump stops are different too.

It's been said but better to buy M Sport spec than putting sports suspension onto an SE

[edc]

M Sport spec not available to me on the list unless I have a 1 series. I'm thinking SE spec with the standard 17s, M Sport suspension and perhaps sports seats?