Ride quality trade off between 18's, 19's and 20's

[JoshGM]

London Lad & ARD

You both dont seem to answer my question. Its OK I dont mind you guys saying there is no SPORT in X5, well that is your opinion.

My question is X5s so called SPORT (which you deny) that comes with ALL Sport Package including 20" WHEELS from assembly plant, do they have "compromised" performance just because they are fixed with 20" wheels????

Iam not talking about X5s which comes with standard 18" then somebody feels he needs to "upgrade" it to 20", NO!

Would BMW make such an error of making a more extra cost X5 by Sporting it (Sports Package) including lowered suspension on the expense of its performance???!

Can we talk about this!?

[anzer]

There's no doubt that lowered and firmer suspension, 20's rims and sports seats, make handling performance better and more responsive in the twisties at speed than non sport ..... and adding adaptive drive is certainly for the enthusiast who wants to push bulk through the twisties at speed without wobbling all over the place

but lets face it ..its not a SPORTs car .. and that's perhaps what these guys are thinking ... for example ..you'll never shake off a VW GTI in real world driving conditions in any X5 apart from X5M - and even then you'd need to be careful as that's a lot of mass to push around sharp bends etc ....

People like X5 sport option because it does give slight improved cornering performance and better driver oriented feel .. and arguably with 20's and flared arches looks better than standard ...

but most people use their X5's for lugging kids to soccer/school, putting dog in back for weekenders, towing the small trailer/boat or motorcross bikes, taking to the skifields, long motorway/freeway driving, safety/rideheight advantages, and finally badge snobbery ... nobody really buys an X5 to 'drag' or 'track' ... not saying you still cant have fun though and frighten some drivers off the line even I do that at times.

I love my X5 for the utility, looks, safety, road height, 'keep up with most cars' performance, and lets face it badge value - but I'm also saving now for a real sports car e.g. Boxster S or secondhand 997 - now that's a sports car.

X5 Sport offers marginal performance lift when you push things to limit, and adaptive drive takes it up another level again (I've driven all of them) - but I reckon its more marketing than real world performance lift over standard .. especially given the price premium ...but each to their own.

As I said - just my opinion.

[jamesboags]

I got my 3.0d with 19's Style 212 moved to Style 213 19's with 285 at the rear... Have now moved to 20" Style 227M with Conti Non Run Flats.. I do not notice a discernible difference... The look of the 227M's is what I like simply put the ride difference is not that great for me but the looks are everything.. with the 227M's I sneak a look at my car evry now and then and say "Great CHoice"...

[JoshGM]

Originally Posted by jamesboags

I got my 3.0d with 19's Style 212 moved to Style 213 19's with 285 at the rear... Have now moved to 20" Style 227M with Conti Non Run Flats.. I do not notice a discernible difference... The look of the 227M's is what I like simply put the ride difference is not that great for me but the looks are everything.. with the 227M's I sneak a look at my car evry now and then and say "Great CHoice"...

If you dont sneak up your car or catch yourself admiring it then you have a problem with your ride! If i say i do they say... oh! its VANITY! Anyway others buy X5s for pulling caravans... I JUST LOVE MY CAR!

[London Lad]

Originally Posted by JoshGM

London Lad & ARD

You both dont seem to answer my question. Its OK I dont mind you guys saying there is no SPORT in X5, well that is your opinion.

My question is X5s so called SPORT (which you deny) that comes with ALL Sport Package including 20" WHEELS from assembly plant, do they have "compromised" performance just because they are fixed with 20" wheels????

Iam not talking about X5s which comes with standard 18" then somebody feels he needs to "upgrade" it to 20", NO!

Would BMW make such an error of making a more extra cost X5 by Sporting it (Sports Package) including lowered suspension on the expense of its performance???!

Can we talk about this!?

OK to answer your question:-

"My question is X5s so called SPORT (which you deny) that comes with ALL Sport Package including 20" WHEELS from assembly plant, do they have "compromised" performance just because they are fixed with 20" wheels????"

IMHO Yes.

As far as I am aware the X5 sport only has cosmetic changes over the SE other than 20" wheels and stiffer suspension.

IMO these changes add a very small benefit to the handling (if any) and take a lot away from the comfort and utility of the SUV.

I think adaptive drive with 19s on an SE is a far better bet all round than a sport.

Sorry, I have just re read your question: would a sport be better with 19s ? I think yes, but I would dump the hard suspension before the 20s

Its horses for courses but I would recommend a buyer just to get test drives in all the combinations and see for themselves. I did and an SE with 19s and adaptive drive was best for me. To be honest I think 18s may have been just as good.

[JoshGM]

Originally Posted by London Lad

OK to answer your question:-

"My question is X5s so called SPORT (which you deny) that comes with ALL Sport Package including 20" WHEELS from assembly plant, do they have "compromised" performance just because they are fixed with 20" wheels????"

IMHO Yes.

As far as I am aware the X5 sport only has cosmetic changes over the SE other than 20" wheels and stiffer suspension.

IMO these changes add a very small benefit to the handling (if any) and take a lot away from the comfort and utility of the SUV.

I think adaptive drive with 19s on an SE is a far better bet all round than a sport.

Sorry, I have just re read your question: would a sport be better with 19s ? I think yes, but I would dump the hard suspension before the 20s

Its horses for courses but I would recommend a buyer just to get test drives in all the combinations and see for themselves. I did and an SE with 19s and adaptive drive was best for me. To be honest I think 18s may have been just as good.

Now you have answered my question. Your opinion can not be re-examined by me as the only X5 I have test driven and bought is mine (4.6iS Quadpiped in chromes)! So it will be silly for me to challenge that 18" feel better than 19" and even better than 20" in terms of perfomance, even to say yes 20" wheeled X5 has a compromised performance from the factory!

Why? I just DONT feel the compromise, my car handles my rough and speedy style of driving. Its like praising your mom as the best cook in the world (since you have not tasted food cooked by your neighbor friend's mom!).... maybe guys who change wheels according to seasons can say something (mine is all year round!) as long as its the same car, same driver different 18s changed to 20s - Remember the comparison is on performance NOT comfort.

[ard]

Originally Posted by JoshGM

My question is X5s so called SPORT (which you deny) that comes with ALL Sport Package including 20" WHEELS from assembly plant, do they have "compromised" performance just because they are fixed with 20" wheels????

Yes. They come compromised from the factory.

Just like the Porsche 997 is likewise compromised with 19" rims from the factory. (Serious track applications delete the factory 19s and use 18" rims.)

All due to market pressure for oversized metal in to "fill out" the wheel wells.

Why do people think that because a marketing twit at BMW says "Hey, lets throw 20 inchers on there and call it a sport package" this means that the BMW engineers also said "For better 'sport handling' lets use 20 inch rims"????

BMW spends gobs of money to convince people that performance is their primary goal. It is not. Sales is. And big wheels sell to the current crowd.