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      02-20-2014, 12:36 PM   #1
LBH23
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Forgive me, still need help with Adaptive M Suspension

Forgive me in advance, I know this has been discussed, just not sure I am understanding correctly. I have search and read and remain confused.

Anyway, I am ordering an M3. Not sure if I want, or need, the Adaptive M Suspension. As I understand it, the Drivelogic allows for 3 settings, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus - but these will only apply to gear ratios and throttle response, not suspension settings? Thus, the ONLY way to change from comfort, sport and sport plus in the suspension settings would be to get the Adaptive M - otherwise, the car comes as is with one suspension setting? Am I correct?

I am a low mileage driver, 4 miles each way to work. I am planning on keeping this car for at least 10 years. I will not be tracking the car, and my roads are in pretty good shape here in PHX. Never had a car with suspension settings and I was planning on not checking this box in the M3, but seems many deem this as a must have. Any advice is greatly appreciated! I know it has been discussed before, but I look here for expert advice explained in a way that a guy who loves fast cars but doesn't understand them...can, you know, understand this! Thanks again.

LBH
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      02-20-2014, 12:55 PM   #2
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I have had both and will order without if that's any help.
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      02-20-2014, 12:59 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LBH23 View Post
Anyway, I am ordering an M3. Not sure if I want, or need, the Adaptive M Suspension. As I understand it, the Driving Dynamics Control allows for 3 settings, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.
Close. I fixed it for you.

But forget the stuff you said about throttle response and gear ratios. It has nothing to do with the suspension. The only thing those two things have in common with the suspension is that all three can be adjusted - either using MDrive or M Driving Dynamics Control.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=946048

Quote:
Thus, the ONLY way to change from comfort, sport and sport plus in the suspension settings would be to get the Adaptive M - otherwise, the car comes as is with one suspension setting? Am I correct?
Yes. And not just one setting, but a passive (traditional) suspension rather than an active one.
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      02-20-2014, 01:21 PM   #4
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good rule of thumb on options: get as many options as you can afford bc it will greatly help down the road when you go to sell it, just my 2 cents.
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      02-20-2014, 02:50 PM   #5
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I fairly recently made a thread about this. Got some really good info. To answer your question, you are correct: the only way to change the suspension to comfort/sport/etc is to have the Adaptive suspension. And as mentioned above, if you don't get it, the suspension is passive, not active. To clarify, in theory, you COULD have an active, but non-adjustable (comfort/sport/ect) suspension, but that is not what you get on the M3/M4. TBH, if I were in your shoes, I'd just get it. It's realtively cheap ($1000), and you will probably have a nicer ride overall. To me, I don't know a TON (just a little) about suspensions, but the best suspensions, whether active, passive, adjustable, coil-overs, re-bar, whatever, are ones that just get out of the way, so you don't even notice they're there. They're not too harsh/soft/etc, they are just RIGHT for your purposes.
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      02-20-2014, 04:11 PM   #6
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and please get up early and drive more than 4miles each way to work. Do not drive the car unless you can drive far enough to get all fluids up to temp. This is the reason engines get gummed up, never driven right or hard.

T
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      02-20-2014, 05:04 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mangler View Post
and please get up early and drive more than 4miles each way to work. Do not drive the car unless you can drive far enough to get all fluids up to temp.

T
Nah, his commute is his commute. My wife's is 1.5 miles. It's not ideal but these cars are designed for such use, only thing is not to over rev when cold. We've never had an issue in any of our cars, perhaps because they get taken out on the weekend too...

On topic- I fell in love with the Adaptive sups 6 years ago and wouldn't want an M car without it now. Loved the E46, but man was it a rough ride. $1,000 gives the best of all worlds.

Last edited by Carl L; 02-20-2014 at 05:10 PM..
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      02-20-2014, 05:09 PM   #8
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Funny having this discussion. When I had my Cayman, I used to find alternative routes to the office so I could enjoy the car in the morning and evening - I am sure I will do this with the M3. I should make clear though that the 4 miles can take 20 minutes - so usually the car gets warm.

Looks like spending the $1k on the Adaptive M is a smart play. I think I will add that to the every-gowing list. Thought I could get out for under $65K with ED - and I was close, until the damn Exec Pack, see my other thread on this. This is the one part of the buying process that makes me want to walk away from BMW, $4300 for a bunch of crap....and then oh yeah, those two important things like rear view and sat radio....
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      02-20-2014, 05:24 PM   #9
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Yea, 1k is not much on 70k+ car, but I am still deciding if I should choose this option or not.
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      02-20-2014, 06:13 PM   #10
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M Adaptive suspension

I would definitely get the M adaptive suspension, comfort mode is much more comfortable on those bumpy sections. Sport mode tightens everything up nicely!
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      02-20-2014, 06:22 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl L View Post
On topic- I fell in love with the Adaptive sups 6 years ago and wouldn't want an M car without it now. Loved the E46, but man was it a rough ride. $1,000 gives the best of all worlds.
^ This. Exact same experience for me.

There is no such thing as a "must have". Everything depends on personal use and preferences. You don't track and the road are smooth were you live, so you will not get as much benefit from the EDC. However, for me, EDC does accentuate the flexibility/adaptability the car provides and $900, it is a bargain.
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      02-20-2014, 07:35 PM   #12
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I have it in my current car and I'm not planning to order it.

I think the key advantage is the softest for commuting and the trade offs are potential feeling that the suspension isn't predictable when driving hard, potential for $$ fix in the future when the system has a failure, need to disable the system when going to an aftermarket suspension
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      02-20-2014, 08:00 PM   #13
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if i plan on getting coils, whats the point of this option? by not getting it, i think it saves the headache of not having to by-pass a fault light that comes on when .. the edc light or whatever.. if I'm not mistaking
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      02-20-2014, 08:06 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3ryder55 View Post
if i plan on getting coils, whats the point of this option? by not getting it, i think it saves the headache of not having to by-pass a fault light that comes on when .. the edc light or whatever.. if I'm not mistaking
That is likely true.
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      02-20-2014, 08:13 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///Mangler View Post
and please get up early and drive more than 4miles each way to work. Do not drive the car unless you can drive far enough to get all fluids up to temp. This is the reason engines get gummed up, never driven right or hard.

T
that is plenty time for the engine to be warmed up....unless its freezing outside....
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      02-20-2014, 08:14 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan View Post
That is likely true.
you don't even need to bypass it....mine just says EDC!!! and i just ignore it.
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      02-20-2014, 08:20 PM   #17
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I've had the adaptive on two cars now, and I don't plan to order it on the M3. It's a gimmick.
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      02-20-2014, 08:23 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhoggm3 View Post
I've had the adaptive on two cars now, and I don't plan to order it on the M3. It's a gimmick.
Like I stated in an earlier post....


....I'm getting it for the buttons.
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      02-20-2014, 08:30 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan View Post
Like I stated in an earlier post....


....I'm getting it for the buttons.
lol.
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      02-20-2014, 08:50 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan View Post
Like I stated in an earlier post....


....I'm getting it for the buttons.
I'll join you in the 'say no to blank buttons!' club. Seeing that tiny shock icon is worth 1K, I think.
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      02-20-2014, 09:06 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pkim1079 View Post
that is plenty time for the engine to be warmed up....unless its freezing outside....
No, it's not.

Warm, as in "will blow warm air" or if the coolant temp gauge gets up to temp, is not hot enough.

You need to get the oil temp up to operating temp (which can take 10-15 minutes even in warm temperatures) and stay there to burn the water out of the oil, etc.
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      02-20-2014, 09:38 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Needsdecaf
Quote:
Originally Posted by pkim1079 View Post
that is plenty time for the engine to be warmed up....unless its freezing outside....
No, it's not.

Warm, as in "will blow warm air" or if the coolant temp gauge gets up to temp, is not hot enough.

You need to get the oil temp up to operating temp (which can take 10-15 minutes even in warm temperatures) and stay there to burn the water out of the oil, etc.
My oil reads in the idrive or dash by the time i get to work and thats less than 4 miles easy. But im in socal.
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