X3 suspension any suggestions please.

[rob05]

I recently bought my wife a 07 plate m sport x3 which she loves apart from the suspension which she says is to hard.
Personally i don't mind it but...
Anyway I'm wanting to know if there is anything that can be done to soften things up without spending a fortune?

[arryb]

Buy her a cushion to sit on?

[Ranger 6]

Two options - fit SE suspension or smaller wheels. On the M-Sport the ARBs are thicker, the springs, dampers and bumpstops are all different.

I do find that mine is softer with the 17" M+S tyres on, but the handling is affected - find some of those on ebay?

[rob05]

Thanks.
The BMW dealer reckons that if my car has run flats changing these would make a difference?
Would it be possible just to change maybe the springs and bump stops to se spec only and if so where could i get these from apart from a bmw dealer?
Many thanks
Rob

[stockhatcher]

your dealer needs to read up on his car specs... no runflats on an x3.

[StuB]

stockhatcher said:

your dealer needs to read up on his car specs... no runflats on an x3.

[Ranger 6]

That would be a salesman then.....

It's not just changing the springs that will make the difference, if you change the springs and not the dampers you may run into wallowing issues with mismatched rates.

Edited by Ranger 6 on Friday 9th May 16:58

[Pickled Piper]

It may sound overly simplistic, but have you tried dropping the tyre pressures between half to one psi? Letting a bit of air out can often give you just the extra compliance you need to make the ride tolerable.

I would certainly try this before spending money elsewhere.

pp

[rob05]

Pickled Piper said:

It may sound overly simplistic, but have you tried dropping the tyre pressures between half to one psi? Letting a bit of air out can often give you just the extra compliance you need to make the ride tolerable.

I would certainly try this before spending money elsewhere.

pp

Good idea worth a shot
Thanks to all

[welwynnick]

stockhatcher said:

your dealer needs to read up on his car specs... no runflats on an x3.

Does everyone agree with that statement?

I thought the X3 had no spare wheel.....?

Run-flat tyres do terrible things to a cars ride.

Nick

[AW8]

Sell it and buy an X3 SE or an X5.

Too much hassle and cost ( you must also notify insurer), to mess with it

Cheaper to sell private and change IMO.

[Ranger 6]

welwynnick said:

stockhatcher said:

your dealer needs to read up on his car specs... no runflats on an x3.

Does everyone agree with that statement?

I thought the X3 had no spare wheel.....?

the X3 has a spare wheel - I know BMW don't always make the most sensible decisions, but have you ever seen a run-flat off-road tyre?

[welwynnick]

Ranger 6 said:

welwynnick said:

stockhatcher said:

your dealer needs to read up on his car specs... no runflats on an x3.

Does everyone agree with that statement?
I thought the X3 had no spare wheel.....?

the X3 has a spare wheel - I know BMW don't always make the most sensible decisions, but have you ever seen a run-flat off-road tyre?

I did read some articles that said the X3 had run-flats, but I think that may have been in the US. You're right: over here, they have spare wheels, though everyone seems to moan about the ride nonetheless.

Don't know about off-road run-flats - a friend has a new X5, and that has run-flats...?

Nick

[rob05]

Pickled Piper said:

It may sound overly simplistic, but have you tried dropping the tyre pressures between half to one psi? Letting a bit of air out can often give you just the extra compliance you need to make the ride tolerable.

I would certainly try this before spending money elsewhere.

pp

After dropping from 38psi rear and 36psi front to 30psi all round the ride has improved to such a level it really feels like a different car quite unbelievable!
Nice and firm with 90% of the bumper car ride gone

Edited by rob05 on Thursday 15th May 20:19

[Deva Link]

rob05 said:

Pickled Piper said:

It may sound overly simplistic, but have you tried dropping the tyre pressures between half to one psi? Letting a bit of air out can often give you just the extra compliance you need to make the ride tolerable.

I would certainly try this before spending money elsewhere.

pp

After dropping from 38psi rear and 36psi front to 30psi all round the ride has improved to such a level it really feels like a different car quite unbelievable!
Nice and firm with 90% of the bumper car ride gone

What are the recommended pressures? Whatever you do, don't drive while fully laden and / or at high speed with underinflated tyres.


As an aside, I just spent a few days in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, and was surprised by how many X3's I saw. One evening I caught an ad for the local BMW dealer offering X3 3.0i auto - $21999!!
OK, the $ is weakish at the moment, and there's no tax in those prices, but still astonishing. 328i (entry level there) were $297/mth personal lease.

Edited by Deva Link on Thursday 15th May 22:01

[Pickled Piper]

Deva Link said:

rob05 said:

Pickled Piper said:

It may sound overly simplistic, but have you tried dropping the tyre pressures between half to one psi? Letting a bit of air out can often give you just the extra compliance you need to make the ride tolerable.

I would certainly try this before spending money elsewhere.

pp

After dropping from 38psi rear and 36psi front to 30psi all round the ride has improved to such a level it really feels like a different car quite unbelievable!
Nice and firm with 90% of the bumper car ride gone

What are the recommended pressures? Whatever you do, don't drive while fully laden and / or at high speed with underinflated tyres.

Edited by Deva Link on Thursday 15th May 22:01

I am glad it worked but as Deva Link has stated, I wouldn't go too far away from the recommended tyre pressures. A maximum of 2psi is a good rule of thumb. You may end up with some strange or even dangerous handling characteristics otherwise.

Longer term you may want to go for some more compliant tyres. However, you would need the advice of a tyre expert to choose the correct ones.

pp