[AJS]

I optioned VDC/EDC mainly to avoid any future remorse over not having it. I can feel a modest difference between comfort and sport, particularly when cornering hard. It may be all in my mind, but I'm pleased I have it.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by hlothery

I have M Adaptive Suspension as a standard item on my M550i. I can tell you that, while I can feel a difference when I activate Sport or Sport Plus mode, it is not as dramatic in the M550i as it was in my M4, which I previously owned. That being said, and despite the fact that I enjoy the smooth ride Comfort setting affords, any time I can stiffen the suspension on demand when I want to drive in a more spirited fashion on Texas Hill Country roads would be very welcome, and worth the expense, in my opinion. Unless you push the limits a little, you may never feel the difference. When you do, it will be worth it. The Adaptive Drive setting, however, is new to me. I will have to experiment with it to see if we are talking about the same thing happening by the car sensing what I want, or not.

Agree, when you work it the changes become more evident.

One of the issues with assessing adaptive suspension, is how it drives across changing conditions. Some find it hard to feel the difference as they drive. Partly our sensitivity levels, but also expectations of what we think it should be like.

I look at it this way. Take a standard suspension (like BMW's SE suspension), as conditions change or you drive harder, the suspension reaches its 'softer' limitations, you notice it lacks precision, poise and stability. May become floaty, even lurch during load transfer. It's limited abilities start to show.

Now take that same 'supple' suspension with adaptive damping. As you push harder, or roads deteriorate, it copes better across a wider working envelope. That's what we expect, it may not feel as if it has firmed up, or changed its characteristics, from the lesser loads and demands. But that is its advantage, it hasn't deteriorated as a passive suspension system would do in the same driving situations.

Add in Adaptive Drive and that widens the envelope even more, without compromise. You have a similar comfort level, with chassis control you'd have lost at much lower demands with a passive setup.

The same should apply with the Adaptive Mode. Car control will stay more constant, over a much wider working envelope, plus there is the predictive features integrated into the mode.

If you can't judge how adaptive is working, to keep the car under better control than a passive setup, try to picture what would be happening if you had a passive setup in the same conditions. Would it be as stable, as predictable, as planted on the road? I've back to back tested passive and adaptive in the past, pushed the cars the same way, over demanding roads. That is where you see how adaptive widens the comfort/handling envelope. Whether Comfort or Sport settings, how it functions similarly applies, just that the baseline firmness is different.

[ArchieV]

Hey guys, bringing up an older dead and buried thread (sorry).

Shopping around and found a 17 540i with Adaptive. Based on my preferences and daily driving habits just wanted to get some additional input and thoughts.

I think my main priority with regards to suspension is definitely a tighter handling feel at speed & turns. Percentage wise what would you say the difference is between the Adaptive and M Sport Suspension in Sport Mode?

Also my daily commute takes me through some really poorly paved roads that feel like it's more pothole than road. Trying to gauge how the comfortably the M Sport Sus handles this in comfort mode vs the Adaptive Sus.

Trying to gauge if getting the additional softness outweighs the decrease in handling with M sport sus or vice-versa.

[bimmer_335]

save the $$$ .... passive msport suspension is superb. Unless you've a new born riding the backseat and you need ultra plush ride, you absolutely dont need it.

[crew09]

Went through the same decision process recently and went for standard MSport. My research found that in terms of tighter handling most felt it went MSport > Adaptive > Standard.

[SW19]

Is the ride height the same on a M550i x drive,where the car comes standard with the Adaptive M Suspension and a 540i x drive with the standard M Sport Suspension?

[matbl]

I'm also debating if I need this on my next G31.
Because this is EDC you're discussing right?
Does the G3x have the comfort+ setting? Or is that 7-series only?

[AP]

no comfort+ on my 2017 msport with VDC.

Happy to be corrected but the only G30 I know of with comfort+ are those from Alpina.

So referencing the technical documents host on this website,
https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1364915
as regards height :-

SE Normal
VDC Normal
Msport (passive) 10mm lower
Adaptive M suspension 10 mm lower

[SW19]

Originally Posted by AP

no comfort+ on my 2017 msport with VDC.

Happy to be corrected but the only G30 I know of with comfort+ are those from Alpina.

So referencing the technical documents host on this website,
https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1364915
as regards height :-

SE Normal
VDC Normal
Msport (passive) 10mm lower
Adaptive M suspension 10 mm lower

Thanks for posting this.Great info.

So just to confirm,a 540i with M Sport and a M550i with the standard Adaptive M Suspension will both have the same ride height?

[AP]

Yes

[matbl]

Hmm. No. I was referring to Electronic Damper Control (EDC).
Can't find it in the pre-LCI list but it is in the configurator for the LCI. Or it may be an error in the swedish configurator since I cant find it in any other country version incl germany.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by matbl

Hmm. No. I was referring to Electronic Damper Control (EDC).
Can't find it in the pre-LCI list but it is in the configurator for the LCI. Or it may be an error in the swedish configurator since I cant find it in any other country version incl germany.

EDC, VDC, same thing.

As far as I'm aware, only the 7-series has the Comfort+ setting.

[AP]

I think the alpina 5's have comfort+

Nice cars but rare

[richard in NC]

There are confusing differences between the models, markets, and suspension options. My understanding is the following for the US market. But I may not be 100% accurate. And don't know all markets.

VDC - vehicle dynamic control is on all models. With the settings as above. This does not mean the suspension is adjustable. Just the throttle and steering feel.
M Sport - non adjustable stiffer suspension, optional on 540i, std on M550i. Not available with EDC on 540i. (I believe as the case for 2017 & 2018)
EDC - Electronic Damper Control is the adjustable suspension, std on M550i, optional on others.
Adaptive Suspension - Optional on M550i and others, reads the road and adjusts the EDC for conditions.

In my experience, the 540i M Sport was ideal unless you have poor roads.
EDC and Adaptive are the best for a compromise, the M550i being somewhat more firm. Comfort is a bit floaty but needed if RFTs. Sport setting or Sport+ are great for the twisties. Adaptive does start somewhere in between and works well. I use it a lot unless interstate cruising.

[Alex_1985]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

EDC, VDC, same thing.

As far as I'm aware, only the 7-series has the Comfort+ setting.

I own a fully loaded BMW G32 6 Series GT 640i RWD with adaptative suspension + executive drive option and my car has comfort + settings.

[Wivenhoe]

In the UK on pre LCI G30’s VDC was option 223, cost £ 985 and was Variable Damper Control. The Drivers Guide Explains it as -
Balanced drive mode with a configuration that automatically adapts to the driving situation and driving style.
Using the navigation system, upcoming route stages are also taken into account.
The function may be limited if the navigation data is invalid, outdated or not available, for example.
If you are driving fairly sedately then it is similar to Comfort+ and if going for it then more like Sport+. It is noticeable that if you are driving fairly sedately and approach a series of bends the suspension tightens and then relaxes after you exit them. Only frustration with it is that you cannot set it as default, you have to switch it on every time.
Adaptive Drive was only available on 530d’s and cost £ 2,435. This includes VDC and adds dynamic chassis characteristics which allegedly enables faster and smoother cornering !

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Wivenhoe

In the UK on pre LCI G30’s VDC was option 223, cost £ 985 and was Variable Damper Control. The Drivers Guide Explains it as -
Balanced drive mode with a configuration that automatically adapts to the driving situation and driving style.
Using the navigation system, upcoming route stages are also taken into account.
The function may be limited if the navigation data is invalid, outdated or not available, for example.
If you are driving fairly sedately then it is similar to Comfort+ and if going for it then more like Sport+. It is noticeable that if you are driving fairly sedately and approach a series of bends the suspension tightens and then relaxes after you exit them. Only frustration with it is that you cannot set it as default, you have to switch it on every time.
Adaptive Drive was only available on 530d’s and cost £ 2,435. This includes VDC and adds dynamic chassis characteristics which allegedly enables faster and smoother cornering !

You can code the car to default to adaptive.

[IrishG30Guy]

Like Steve said you can code it, I coded mine to start up in adaptive everytime.
You can do it on bimmercode.

[Wivenhoe]

Originally Posted by IrishG30Guy

Like Steve said you can code it, I coded mine to start up in adaptive everytime.
You can do it on bimmercode.

Thanks - I’ll arrange that

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Wivenhoe

Thanks - I’ll arrange that

If you have ACC you can also code it to default to the closest position. I have done both.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

If you have ACC you can also code it to default to the closest position. I have done both.

Now that would be useful, but I normally start with position 2 and go into the closest in heavy or stop and go traffic.

[bimmer_335]

Originally Posted by Nantucket

Thanks for posting this.Great info.

So just to confirm,a 540i with M Sport and a M550i with the standard Adaptive M Suspension will both have the same ride height?

no. If i remember correctly adaptive is a few mm higher. You need to search for technical document to confirm ride height. I saw one when i was getting mine in 2017.