Is the ssuspension on the diesel different from the 3.0?
 

Sorry if this has been discussed to death before but I've searched and I'm still very confused on the suspension options on the three different engines available for 2010. Is the base suspension on the diesel engine X5 different from the base suspension of the 3.0? Does the diesel X5 have a higher suspension height? Does the sport activity package make any changes to the ride height on either model? On the 2009 models, did the sport package change the suspension height? Does the adaptive drive change the ride height?

Thanks!

You can't order active steering on the diesel X5. I don't know if there is a difference in suspension with the diesel. If there was, it would be struts...

Craig

Sorry, I meant adaptive drive not active steering.

yes you can... its a 3500 dollar option and i have it on my x5 35d

Thanks! Do you know if the adaptive drive changes the ride height as compared to the standard suspension system?

Not sure about suspension but brake rotor sizes are different (4.8 and 35d are bigger).

I think the springs on the diesel might be a little bit higher than the 3.0. I have the 3.0 and there was a diesel X5 parked right beside mine and I actually compared between the two, especially the fender gap in the front because I sort of noticed that the diesel had a slightly wider gap. You have to look really really hard, but the diesel's front suspension looked like it was slightly higher up than a 3.0. Maybe the spring's different, due to the diesel engine's weight. But I might be imagining it so don't take it too seriously.

i haven't compared directly with a 3.0 side by side per se but i do agree the gap between the wheel and the wheel well looks very big.

before I settled on the 35d w/ adaptive drive, I test drove the 30, 35d, 48, and 48 w/ adaptive drive... the 30 and 35d was very soft, the 4.8 was responsive but harsh... the 4.8 adaptive drive was responsive but the bumps didn't transmit through like the standard... it was the best compromise out of all of them. I ended up going with the 35d becasue my SA said the 35d w/ adaptive drive will be the same...

that being said... I have to say the 35d adaptive drive also isn't as "responsive" as my old 745Li's Adaptive Drive or the 4.8 that I test drove. Yes, you definately know that its there and it hugs... but there's a fraction of a second delay on the thing... you feel the body start to roll then it kicks in and holds it in place... I'm guessing the springs are different betwen the 35d and 4.8 and the programming isn't tuned to the 35d... I'm hoping a software update in the future will address it. though i'm not too concern as i'm not exactly going to autocross the x5.

-john

That was my impression too. It seems like the 35d sits higher than the 3.0.