2004 4.4i sport suspension VS 4.8 Suspension

[DINANM3]

My dealer told me that my 4.4 sport with air suspension has the same exact suspension and setup as a 4.8. Is this true? He was the service manager. He said they are identical in every way. So with my 20 inch wheels my 4.4 should handle exactly like a 4.8. Has anyone ever heard this before?
Thanks

[Steved]

No, the 4.8is is setup using different parameters, at least that's what I learned when we spent the past six months with BMW GB fixing my air suspension. The 4.8is suspension is 'new' to BMW hence all the 'little' problems we've had with mine and a few other cars. As you would expect really, in the same way that the 4.6is had a different suspension set-up to a 4.4i Sport.

As usual most dealers know very little about the product they are servicing unless they become intimate via a complex warranty claim. BMW do not supply the kind of information that would allow a dealer to know much more than they need to, so I suspect your Service Manager is basing his views on rumour and heresay.

[DINANM3]

What was wrong with your air suspension. I am having problems with mine also. It does not look level. The front is a lot lower than the rear. and it does not look like it is always at the same hieght according to which setting i have it on. Like the lowest setting sometimes looks lower or higher than usual.

[DINANM3]

Also I have never driven a 4.8 and do no know how the suspension feels. Has anyone drive the 4.4 sport with the 4.8 wheel and tire setup and a 4.8 stock back to back. And if so how do they feel different? or do they feel the same?

[UCrewX5]

Here is the thread addressing Steve's suspension issues - http://www.xoutpost.com/showthread.php?t=91

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by DINANM3

My dealer told me that my 4.4 sport with air suspension has the same exact suspension and setup as a 4.8. Is this true? He was the service manager. He said they are identical in every way. So with my 20 inch wheels my 4.4 should handle exactly like a 4.8. Has anyone ever heard this before?
Thanks

For one thing the 4.8 came with the air suspension, i wonder how different the suspension would be if he got the air suspension option with his 4.4 and got the 20's.

[DINANM3]

I do have the air suspension and 20s that is why i am asking how close it is to the 4.8

[rangerfan]

Originally Posted by Steved

As usual most dealers know very little about the product they are servicing unless they become intimate via a complex warranty claim. BMW do not supply the kind of information that would allow a dealer to know much more than they need to, so I suspect your Service Manager is basing his views on rumour and heresay.

Not to hijack this thread here, but this is an accurate assessment, and it begs the question of why--does BMW not want an educated dealer and thus fails to supply the info, or do the dealers just not care to take the time to learn about the overpriced highly depreciating and limited life assets that they sell? Or is it somewhere in between?

[Steved]

BMW are obsessive about protecting their IPR and they've had bad experiences of dealers abusing their information. They're also concerned about fraud particularly when it concerns warranty claims and therefore they prefer to keep detailed knowledge to themselves rather than provide an opportunity for dealers to exploit a loophole. Dealer staff are becoming less and less able to describe themselves as mechanics or engineers since most problems with cars these days are due to electronics. Very rarely does an engine or other mechanical component get openend up, they're just sent back to the factory. I guess since dealers have less and less information they become less and less interested in the cars, hence confirming BMW's suspicions that there was little point informing them in the first place...

[DINANM3]

I hate to sound stupid. But what the heck do the last 2 posts have to do with my question in the thread. I have no idea what you guys are talking about