[CrazyLatte]

Does anyone here have a car with Adaptive Suspension?

Is there anything in the car that actually tells you that the car is equipped with adaptive suspension?

And what is the difference between one without adaptive suspension? Can you feel it "adapting"

[kon]

With adaptive suspension, the car is lowered 10mm, so you'll need to pull up to another car with stock suspension to check if your car is indeed lower

Without adaptive suspension, the car chasis remain the same even if you change driving mode to sport/sport+

But, unless you drive 2 car with/without adaptive suspension back to back, you won't be able to tell, coz you're "used to it".

[Dabaitu]

In order: Yes (on order); Yes (central display when you change modes); Normal or M-sport is your typical strut and spring setup.

OP - do you understand how suspension works and what the Adaptive M running gear does?

[Robin_NL]

I have adaptive suspension and 8 out of 10 times I leave it in Comfort mode. When I switch to Sport the suspensions stiffens (doh we already know that) but what I don't understand is what the 'adaptive' thing does.

It stays stiff(er) on bumpy roads/bends, it doesn't 'adapt' so to speak.

The only adaptive thing is the driver(me) who switches from Comfort to Sport and back now and then.

[kon]

From catalogue:

Adaptive Suspension lowered by 10mm, with dynamic damper control. The Driving Experience Control can be used to choose a comfortable or sporty chassis set-up.

So it sound like it doesn't adapt to anything on it's own. You need to set it either as 'comfort' or 'sport'. This is different from other models/make where you can set the damper control independent of other controls

[HighlandPete]

The adaptive suspension system is real time adaptive, not just a switched 'stiffness' level.

"Quote BMW: F30"
Adaptive M Sport suspension with electronically controlled damping. Based on incoming information about body and wheel acceleration, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, vehicle speed and steering wheel position, an electronic control unit adapts the damper mapping to the road surface and driving situation. At the same time the driver can use the Driving Experience Control switch to vary the basic suspension characteristics between more comfortable or sportier settings.

It may feel all very subtle, but is giving higher levels of comfort at the same time more primary control, whatever 'stiffness' programme you select.

HighlandPete

[Dabaitu]

^ this

[Robin_NL]

Fair enough.
Example: The other day I was driving in Sport mode on let's say an Autobahn with a rather wobbly surface doing > 100mph.
The suspension had a very hard time adapting to the wobbly parts and my buttfeeling(...) gave me the idea the whole suspension got stiffer and stiffer (and not softer which I preferred at that moment). I almost jumped off the road.

A rule of thumb is: Softer suspension:More grip. Stiffer suspension: More control(to some extent)

[CrazyLatte]

Cool! I guess the primary motivation for my question is how can I confirm that the dealer has delivered a car with adaptive suspension...
I suppose variable steering you will know through how many turns before locking up... but adaptive suspension I've got no idea how you could confirm it

[Zirenz2006]

I have it and I like it. There is a bump I hit everyday going to work that in my E90 with sport suspension was very noticeable. If I go over it in comfort it is much less noticeable. It's nice to have the option if you want to switch.

I was not going to get it but in the end it made such a small difference in my payment I figured I'd go for it.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by CrazyLatte

Cool! I guess the primary motivation for my question is how can I confirm that the dealer has delivered a car with adaptive suspension...
I suppose variable steering you will know through how many turns before locking up... but adaptive suspension I've got no idea how you could confirm it

Besides the configuration option in the iDrive, the physical way to tell is swing the steering on lock, get out and look at the suspention strut, there will be the sensor/valve sticking out of the strut body with wires attached.

Similar to this illustration.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E8...bng_wheel_bng/

HighlandPete

[KneeDragr]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

A rule of thumb is: Softer suspension:More grip. Stiffer suspension: More control(to some extent)

Unless you are cornering. The aim of the stiff suspension when cornering is to have equal weight and equal grip on all corners. With a soft suspension you will have a harder time doing that.

[Ron Scott]

I've ridden it, and as stated above it's "subtle". My assessment is unless you really, really need itsy bitsy touches of refinement to make your personal life truly happy--refinements that are hard to discern, like mildly-heated toilet bowl seats, then forget it.

BMW is at its best, IMO, at its raw basic self. Let a new BWM kick your ass--not kiss it.

All the add ons yield very steep diminishing returns.

Others will differ....

[Dabaitu]

Originally Posted by KneeDragr

Unless you are cornering. The aim of the stiff suspension when cornering is to have equal weight and equal grip on all corners. With a soft suspension you will have a harder time doing that.

Or at high speed. Getting rebound/ dampening/ compression wrong for high speeds can make the car unstable.

Having an intelligent adaptive suspension set up is a great idea. You get what you want, when you want it.