Is there anything i can do to make my X5 handle better

[autoque]

Some people have slapped one of these on their vehicles and claimed to have experienced much better performance all around. It's very cost effective only if it works

[SJCFlyer]

If it has runflats - swap for traditional tires. The difference in ride, especially cornering will be amazing!

[syhr]

Originally Posted by elvism

i have the std suspension but with the 20"s all around?

What exactly are your X5 handling issues ?

If you have run flats, increasing the tyre pressure above spec makes the ride a little smoother.

As others have said, and if you have the $$$ to spend,
- adaptive drive
- air suspension (if your running heavy loads in the back)

[m5james]

Originally Posted by autoque

Some people have slapped one of these on their vehicles and claimed to have experienced much better performance all around. It's very cost effective only if it works

Hell yeah!!! It made one of my friends' 323ci into a 11 sec. car When I see people do that, I literally laugh and want to go peel the badge right off their cars.

To the OP, I got the same comments and suggestions when it came doing this to my 740iL. It comes down to taking as much weight out as possible (spare tire, loose stuff inside...the sky is the limit), swapping in a different suspension (stiffer but not too stiff), lowering (helps a LOT), proper alignment and a good set of rubber. If I recall correctly (it was years ago when I took it to a weigh station), my 7 weighs in at 4320...the X weighs even more, so all can do it try to lighten her up.

[StanF18]

Careful though: Suspension is one of those things where if you do not know EXACTLY what you're doing (or your shop doesn't know what THEY are doing), you could make thing worse than what you started with. I have read some tales of woe here about installing shocks so stiff that the X5 owners felt like every vertebra in their spine was being re-arranged. If you do not have the appetite for lowering and swapping the suspension, start with something less invasive: a strut bar and high-quality tires.

As far as folks harping on Adaptive Drive...Isn't it a bit late for that? I am far from certain that it can be retrofitted AFTER the fact...This is a BMW factory install consisting of both hardware and software portions...And even if it could be, I would bet it will be a lot more expensive to retrofit it after the fact than the initial build.

[m5james]

I agree about going too hard and/or the wrong combination of parts. For my 7, I went with tested and proven parts from well known aftermarket supplies that others have used with success, and then I dipped into BMW's own stock parts bin. I did Bilstein HD shocks (OE supplier), H&R Stage II springs (slightly lower than Stage I), upgraded to the larger Euro diameter sway bar in the front and then custom brackets were made to add the Euro sway bar in the rear (which only come on 740is and 750's in the US), 750iL brakes (direct bolt-on for a dual piston caliper) and a good set of tires. Poly bushing are a coin toss for trade offs of longevity vs ride. Stan made a good point that it also takes competent shop that knows what it takes to install BMW suspensions, ie putting the weight on the wheels when torquing bolts, weight properly placed inside the car when doing alignments, etc.

Another good way to make your car handle better is to learn how to drive it, seriously. Taking driving schools have been invaluable to me, just like taking advanced motorcycle classes. Anyone can drive/ride down the road, but it takes instruction from a pro to truly learn your form of transportation and how to make the best of it. Throwing cool parts at it is one thing, but if the operators techniques are all wrong, it all goes to waste. Ever meet a hot chick, smoking body...who didn't have a clue of what she was doing in the bedroom?

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by m5james

Another good way to make your car handle better is to learn how to drive it, seriously. Taking driving schools have been invaluable to me, just like taking advanced motorcycle classes. Anyone can drive/ride down the road, but it takes instruction from a pro to truely learn your form of transportation and how to make the best of it. Throwing cool parts at it is one thing, but if the operators techniques are all wrong, it all goes to waste.

Indeed. I believe I once hear it put as "a good driver in a slow car will beat a poor driver in a fast car any day."


Probably poorly paraphrased on my part, but there's a lot of truth in it.

[J.Belknap]

Alignment, 2nd set of rear wheels/tires up front, and seat time would be a good bang for the buck, IMHO.

[Sterling 4.4]

M5 James - How do you like the Bilstein HD's?

[m5james]

It's kind of hard to say because i did H&R Stage II lowering springs, Powerflex bushings, upgraded the front swaybar to Euro specs and had custom brackets made to add the Euro rear swaybar, so the entire car has changed. At the time I was told these would be the safest and most sturdy shock/strut on the market for going lowered, so w/ that said, i imagine theyd be perfect for use on our 800lb +/- heavier X5's, even w/ a stock supension.