Adaptive Drive - Is it Worth it?
 

Can you UK members with adaptive drive option give me some help and let me have some feedback.

Does it make a difference on UK roads? If so how much of a difference? ( I ask as our roads are so different from US roads) Do you notice the difference between Normal and Sport?

Is it worth the extra money?

Would you recommend it?

I would appreciate your comments, Thanks in advance.

Adaptive drive is far more than just the Normal and Sport button....worth every penny imo.

Look at the video about 1/3 of the way down this page for an explainaton of exactly what the adaptive drive is in the E70. Dont be fooled by posts from those with the E53...the E70 is a totally different animal.

http://paultan.org/archives/2006/11/...ive-in-athens/

Adaptive drive..
 

Hi pete

I had it on my 730d and still crashed!

Based on the sales literiture with adaptive drive and what you read in the manuals it said it should make the car go flat rather than striaght on.....in sharp bends.

Nope it didnt in reality. Came up to so traffic lights a little fast turned right and the car went striaght on into the traffic light on the other side of the road.....rahter than driving flat round the corner as the book says it will. So they lied.

However I had a 4.6is with sports suspension which was very hard, the 730d/745i sport both had sports suspension but there was a setting on the edc (part of adaptive drive) which made it lovley and soft for driving on motorways...

If the dynamic drive on the x is like that then its worth every penny....

Any body got a comparison between an x with the sports suspension and one with dynamic drive (on both comfort and sports settings)?

Thanks for the replies and the link, very interesting.

From my understanding then, adaptive drive is constant in the vehicle, the Sport button allows for a harder riding style, is that right?

If so, what if you were to pick up your driving into a sportier mode without switching the Sport button? Would the vehicle recognise and compensate for that? Would it act differently than if you had switched the Sport button?

???

The button only chages the ride characteristics from a very smooth ride to a stiffer more responsive ride. Otherwise the adaptive drive is still doing its thing regardless of position.

Thanks again, but just to be clear. If your in normal mode, but working the car, (IE you overlooked hitting the Sport or your reacting to a situation) does the adaptive drive just keep the 'levels' {X,Y,Z} so to speak but remain soft or does it harden up the drive as well.

Thanks Again.

I took the adaptive drive, previously had a 3.0d with sport suspension. The new 3.0d 2007 with adaptive drive is so much better, goes into bends like a dream. Having said that I have not tried without. from what I have read in editorials adaptive drive has been very positivley accepted. I think go for it, :thumbup:

Adaptive drive
 

pete

in the e70 reference manuals section of this site is a pdf on verticial systems which includes Adaptive drive...some of its a bit techy but it does explain how it all works and when....

http://www.xoutpost.com/pdf/e70/04c_E...%20Systems.pdf

Hope that helps

I dont think so.

correction...for example if you suddenly made a quick turn to avoid an accident, yes the adaptive drive will make radical adjustments.

Don't walk, but RUN to your dealer and check the Adaptive Drive (or Sports Pkg) option! Initially when I had no intention of getting a Sport Pkg x5, and in fact, based on the rather harsh ride quality of my old E53 4.4 sport, I thought I'd get a non-sport X70. I was wrong!

I was so surprised at how well the X5 w/ Adaptive Drive rode. While the handling was great as always, it has to be the best riding of the sport SUV (or SAV for BMW). :) I've had Adaptive Drive on my 7 and ABC (similar system) in my old CL 55 and current S550, and I the X5 is the system that makes the most difference in terms of body control and ride.

The difference in ride quality make it a must get option!

:iagree:

as I said earlier, on the E70 its pretty amazing. Test drive both and you will instantly see the difference. It is an expensive option, but imo it really isnt an "option".

I cannot comment on Adaptive drive, but I do have an E70 on sports suspension - and in comparison to the E53 it is chalk and cheese. The E70 suspension has a much better ride. The choppiness of the E53 has gone. It is a lot more comfortable. I even had my E70 on a forestry track at the weekend - it dealt with it so much better than the E53.

I agree. I love the feature. You need to drive with it to appreciate the technology.

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate you taking the time.

I have it on my car. If you have the £££ get it. It makes the car go round corners like you car`nt believe!
It does make ride slightly stiffer, but just switch it off for a smoother ride.
My brother has my old ML, an `06 with Airmatic suspension and back to back the X5 rides as good as the ML in `comfort`, but walks away in the handling department. With the ML, you need to change the suspension settings before you go to attack mode, the X5 is there straight off, then if you really want to go for it hit `SPORT` button. With the sport setting on the ML, it just seems to make the ride very stiff, but with X5 in sport the ride is still quite complient and much more passenger friendly.
It really is an impressive car, but not miles ahead of the ML in any department. The ML has some nice features over the X5, but I would`nt swap.....

This seems like a great feature when you are talking about luxury cars, but this sounds kinda scary too. I mean...it tries to eliminate any feel of the car's body and it's flex. If that's true, it seems it would be easy to lose control of the car (if you push it too hard), and crash...am I wrong on this?

yes, it is just the opposite. It makes the vehicle safer.

AT $6700 in AUS I let it go through to the keeper .. looked at the mechanics of it - pretty awesome... I keep my cars for longer than the warranty period also, so repair costs should anything go wrong were also a factor (not that it ever would it's a BMW right ?)...I'm sure it drives extremely well.... I do city driving so it wasn't that important for me...

Hi Mate,

My car arrives in Brisbane on the 10th June (Sunday), I should get it about 10-14 days later once the Aero kit gets do. Will let you what the adaptive drive is like as I am looking forward to it.

At the risk of sounding stupid, I'll ask the question: Is "adaptive drive" not a name used on U.S. vehicles? I don't see it as an option when building the vehicle, nor do I see mention of it on BMW U.S.A.'s site.

My 4.8 has the sport button, but there is no mention of Adaptive Drive on the sticker.

Joel

Its part of the Sports Package, and the only way to buy it in the US.

From the US website:
Sport Package:
19 x 9.0 Star Spoke (Style 212) light-alloy wheels, and 255/50R-19 run-flat all-season tires
10-way power-adjustable front sport seats with 2-way manual thigh support adjustment, and memory system for driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors
Power tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel
Adaptive Drive: includes Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Dampening Control
Anthracite headliner
Shadowline trim