Has anyone driven an E70 with both sport and non sport suspensions back to back? - Page 2

xdrive · #11 07-16-2007, 12:57 AM

Have you by any chance driven one with adaptive drive and one with sport suspension (stiffer set-up but w/o adaptive drive)? Wondering how much difference (in terms of driving pleasure) between them in reality?

Sponsored Links

jamesboags · #12 07-16-2007, 01:03 AM

I haven't driven one with the standard sports suspension. ... the adaptive drive is apparently worth it if you can afford it.. it was just too much $ for me...$6000 AUD) but apparently the car tracks like a train with it... lots of technology in it which is very impressive... I am getting the standard stock suspension as I do not do a lot of driving and I figured that the standard suspension would do me... must admit I was convinced not to get sports suspension from previous reviews and the previous x5 model...but it appears it is MUCH better now and not as firm ...only thing that BMW seem to have not significantly fixed is the feel of the sports seats e.g poor adjustable headrest...

xdrive · #13 07-16-2007, 02:18 AM

Have seen quite a lot of good comments about the adaptive drive feel here. However, if you don't do a lot of high speed cornering, wondering if a less-$$ sport suspension setting is good enough? The only thing is the adaptive drive give you comfort and sport setting, whereas the ride of the sport suspension setting will be firm all the time. Only worry is whether the all-time firmness of the sport suspension setting will make the ride uncomfortable.

jamesboags · #14 07-16-2007, 04:33 AM

It was also a case of too much technology for me in a newly released car.. I also thought about after 3 years when the warranty ran out what it would cost if something went wrong... as well as the software running all that stuff !!! Might get it in my next car but not this one ..!

ryan5446 · #15 07-16-2007, 05:20 AM

I have my 4.8i with adaptive drive now for a little over one week. When I ordered it, I ordered it without the adaptive drive. During the wait I read a lot of postitive things about it (also on this forum). I finally decided to go for it after all and managed to add it to the option list at the last moment.

Now after a week and about 700km I can say that the Adaptive Drive is one of the best features of the car. It is an example of technical evolution and development. Especially when taking the longer on/off ramps, the car sticks almost like a go-kart. I have the 20" and sport seats too and I really like them. Coming from an M3(E46) and a 325i(E90) both with sport suspension, the X5 is also a sporty ride and it certainly doenst feel like driving a heavy vehicle. It is very agile (if I can use that word). Unlike driving a Q7 which despite the air suspension still drives like a heavy vehicle.

In the end it is also a matter of taste of course. I m used to sporty suspensions and for me the X5 is exactly to my likings. An amazing vehicle.

jamesboags · #16 07-16-2007, 07:12 AM

I'm sure it' sgreat .. you need to weigh up the cost versus the gain.. for me the standard suspension is expected to perform if it doesn't I'll be in at my dealer to explain... there has been a suspension change on the E70 and I'm sure it's improved... I love the term "self levelling suspension" all standard suspension should by nature be self levelling that's what it is designed to do !!

xdrive · #17 07-16-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesboags

It was also a case of too much technology for me in a newly released car..

It is a concern especially when hearing some members here complaining about the faults and glitches. However, the question is how does the Adaptive Drive affect the driving pleasure for "normal" drivers (i.e. those who don't really push their cars to its limits)? If a sport suspension setting is not affecting the comfort level of the vehicle or the standard suspension is already giving the driver pretty good control over the day-to-day manovering of the vehicle, then one may not really need to order this expensive option. I may be wrong but it seems that this adaptive drive option woud be required or nice to have if the driver likes to do high speed manovering with this 5000 lb vehicle.

ryan5446 · #18 07-16-2007, 12:46 PM

I think I gave the wrong impression. By no means am I pushing the car on the limit. I dont think the Adaptive Drive is designed to safely "race" the car.

I doubted a long time before choosing Adaptive Drive. The best way if you want to know the difference is to try and test drive it.

stephanegx5 · #19 07-16-2007, 05:14 PM

My wife and I just tested a:
4.8 with no Sport Package,
4.8 with Sport and a
3.0 with Sport.

We ordered the 3.0 with Sport.

Tracks like a train- indeed. She drives like Danica Patrick so she noticed that with the sport, the 3.0 drove better than the 4.8 without it. During the test drive we slamed the brakes at 70mph and the car barely tilted forward. No loss of control.
We gunned it and the car barely kicked back, the only noticeable sense of speed is the needle sweeping across the dash! haha.
Weaving in and out of traffic is a breeze and you can do it with absolute confidence and grace- and of course style.
Of course the 4.8 with Sport package drives like a bat out of hell and sounds like a beast but we just couldn't justify 2 more cylinders for our majority of driving. Not so much the price of gas but the hassle of pumping. Rather be driving! Ours comes in a few weeks.

X5FX · #20 07-16-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanegx5

My wife and I just tested a:
4.8 with no Sport Package,
4.8 with Sport and a
3.0 with Sport.

We ordered the 3.0 with Sport.

Tracks like a train- indeed. She drives like Danica Patrick so she noticed that with the sport, the 3.0 drove better than the 4.8 without it. During the test drive we slamed the brakes at 70mph and the car barely tilted forward. No loss of control.
We gunned it and the car barely kicked back, the only noticeable sense of speed is the needle sweeping across the dash! haha.
Weaving in and out of traffic is a breeze and you can do it with absolute confidence and grace- and of course style.
Of course the 4.8 with Sport package drives like a bat out of hell and sounds like a beast but we just couldn't justify 2 more cylinders for our majority of driving. Not so much the price of gas but the hassle of pumping. Rather be driving! Ours comes in a few weeks.

Yea, I am very pleased with my 3.0 Sport....I keep reading posts from non-owners stating the 3.0 is underpowered....They've never driven with me. My 3.0 flys!

BTW- when the dealer slammed on the brakes on my test drive, I was SOLD!

Sponsored Links