X3 F25 - best way to soften the ride

[connormp]

I have the F25 X3 3.0d msport with the 20" 310 alloys fitted with the original Goodyear runflat staggered setup 245/40R20 front and 275/35/R20 rear

It was OK on motorways but I am now doing far more driving on uneven roads and the ride is just far too hard..

Having read these forums, I wish it had been fitted with VDC!

So, what is the best option to soften the ride as I would like to keep the vehicle as it has loads of extras fitted

Found some 18inch 307 style wheels that I think were the standard F25 wheel being sold with run flats

Taking the msport suspension as a given, how much difference would be felt by reducing wheel size or swapping out the runflats?

Anything else to be aware of?

[Smuler]

connormp said:

I have the F25 X3 3.0d msport with the 20" 310 alloys fitted with the original Goodyear runflat staggered setup 245/40R20 front and 275/35/R20 rear

It was OK on motorways but I am now doing far more driving on uneven roads and the ride is just far too hard..

Having read these forums, I wish it had been fitted with VDC!

So, what is the best option to soften the ride as I would like to keep the vehicle as it has loads of extras fitted

Found some 18inch 307 style wheels that I think were the standard F25 wheel being sold with run flats

Taking the msport suspension as a given, how much difference would be felt by reducing wheel size or swapping out the runflats?

Anything else to be aware of?

can't say specifically X3, but it's little brother X1 rides very differently on 18s non run flat compared to 19s RFTs. that's even with the harshest VDC setting
So, and it's my experience with other BMWs too, smaller wheels and non RFT tires are the way to go.
Alternatively, either or will still help if that's your only option.

[Ranger 6]

connormp said:

I have the F25 X3 3.0d msport with the 20" 310 alloys fitted with the original Goodyear runflat staggered setup 245/40R20 front and 275/35/R20 rear

I've got a 35d with the same size wheels/tyres. Fortunately I have VDC so have the ability to change settings. I started with PZeros and now have the Good Years, which are an improvement over the Pirellis.

My winters are on 18s and my ATs are on 17s - the winters are run-flats and the ATs are not. In daily use I tend to keep the thing in comfort unless on the motorway or pushing on, when I stick it in sport.

I'd say the run-flat 18s are perfectly acceptable for day to day use anywhere. When I've got the 17s on I usually run in sport mode most of the time.

HTH

[Earthdweller]

18’s on it will totally transform it

I run them on mine, with run flats and the ride is still firm but rather pleasant

Only point to watch with the 18’s is that they are a slightly unusual size so the choice of tyres is limited

But, other than that all good

[Adambul]

connormp said:

I have the F25 X3 3.0d msport with the 20" 310 alloys fitted with the original Goodyear runflat staggered setup 245/40R20 front and 275/35/R20 rear

It was OK on motorways but I am now doing far more driving on uneven roads and the ride is just far too hard..

Having read these forums, I wish it had been fitted with VDC!

So, what is the best option to soften the ride as I would like to keep the vehicle as it has loads of extras fitted

Found some 18inch 307 style wheels that I think were the standard F25 wheel being sold with run flats

Taking the msport suspension as a given, how much difference would be felt by reducing wheel size or swapping out the runflats?

Anything else to be aware of?

I have the same 20" wheels on my X3. The previous owner did away with the run flats and I find it less harsh than my old Audi A5 which had S Line Sports suspension and 19" Rotors. One thing to be aware of though is that I found out through trial and error that you need to raise the tyre pressure of non run flats slightly or they will wear unevenly, presumably due to run flats being a stiffer side wall. Mine ended up wearing slightly more on the edges rather than in the middle.

[325iMSport]

connormp said:

I have the F25 X3 3.0d msport with the 20" 310 alloys fitted with the original Goodyear runflat staggered setup 245/40R20 front and 275/35/R20 rear

It was OK on motorways but I am now doing far more driving on uneven roads and the ride is just far too hard..

Having read these forums, I wish it had been fitted with VDC!

So, what is the best option to soften the ride as I would like to keep the vehicle as it has loads of extras fitted

Found some 18inch 307 style wheels that I think were the standard F25 wheel being sold with run flats

Taking the msport suspension as a given, how much difference would be felt by reducing wheel size or swapping out the runflats?

Anything else to be aware of?

Depends how far you want to go. A simple swap to non run flat tyres will give you an improvement.

Question is, will that be enough? If not, you will need to drop the wheel size.

We have a F25 M Sport with 18" wheels but luckily it has VDC and the ride is absolutely fine. This is on run flats though which I am hoping to get rid of in the new year.

[mekondelta]

We have a 30d SE with 17s on RFTs and I couldn't be happier with the ride. Plenty sporty enough for what I'd expect an SUV to do. Ride is good on all surfaces. Zero regrets. Also added bonus of having 5 year old rims with zero scratches on them as they're above the kerb level!

[gizlaroc]

I swapped from 17's to 19" non run flat and it was far nicer.

I would guess the 20" on proper tyres would be fine.

It is the jarring over rougher surfaces and pot holes that is horrible with run flats.

[connormp]

Thanks for all the helpful comments, really appreciated.

I've owned 5 series msports before and my previous F11 had 245/40R19s on Goodyear runflats and it was great to drive

Assuming a similar-ish msport set up on the X3, I presume it's the larger rims causing most of the issue but the run flats clearly don't help.

Think I should be OK on 18 inch run flats

What surprises me is how BMW can sell 20 inch rims, run flats and msport suspension without having VDC as standard.

[gizlaroc]

No.

I had 17" with run flats, it was shockingly bad.

I swapped to non run flats it was actually a bit too squidy but very comfy and a lot better.
I then bought the 19" wheels with proper tyres and it felt a bit more dynamic and controlled but still incredibly comfy.

[gizlaroc]

connormp said:

What surprises me is how BMW can sell 20 inch rims, run flats and msport suspension without having VDC as standard.

If you were in Germany it would not be an issue, their roads are much more suited to run flats than ours.

[crolandc]

I run 18s with run flats on se suspension...perfect for the type of car.

[gareth h]

I think I've got a set of non run flat michelin supersport tyres in those sizes off my old 6 GC, you're welcome to give them a try.

[hyphen]

Sit on a cushion?

[gizlaroc]

crolandc said:

I run 18s with run flats on se suspension...perfect for the type of car.

But so, so, so much better on proper tyres.

It rides like a proper luxury car should over pot holes and knackered surfaces, plus when pressing on they bite into corners better than the run flats which can skit about a bit at the back if the road is not perfectly smooth.

Run flats have come on leaps and bounds in the last 15 years since first experiencing them, but I have yet to be in a car that isn't considerably better not using them, and when we spend all this money on 'the ultimate driving machine' why compromise.