Just upgraded from 2007 to 2012 3.0d...
 

Finally bought a 2012 3.0d lci. After 3+ years I thought it was time to upgrade once more before the redesigned 2014 model comes out. Quick question on suspension and wheels. My old ride had sports suspension + 20 inch 214's non runflat tires, the ride was quite harsh with this setup. New car has 19" wheels with runflats non-staggered and a regular non-sport suspension. I'm thinking about upgrading the wheels to 20 inches + conti's DWS, but was wondering if the car will be as harsh as my old 2007 X5, or if the fact of having a non-sport suspension on the new car won't make it as harsh?

What makes the ride harsher, wheels or suspension? I'm willing to compromise for the looks of the 20 inchers, but I definetly dont want it to be as harsh as my old car.

Anyone has any experience going through a similar change?

Im taking delivery on thursday btw....thanks!

Silly. Drive it for a day or two, then decide!

Plus all this for 1/2" less sideway??

People underestimate the impact of sidewall on harshness- and they confuse a harsh ride for 'performance'.

Plus did not realize they are shipping the 2012 Diesel out of the US.

he never said performance - it could very well be for aesthetics alone. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with compromising like that. You always talk about practicality yet you buy BMWs.

At any rate, I honestly don't feel the "sport suspension" changes much whether on or off. It's the wheels/tires, and the fact that the vehicle is stiff to begin with.

Performance is the least of my concerns. The only reason I'm thinking about upgrading to 20" wheels is purely aesthetics, even though its only 1 inch more in my opinion the car looks so much better....I would love to try my car with 20 inch wheels, but to do that, I have to buy them, that's why I was wondering if someone in the forum had one with 20 inch wheels and no sports suspension and could relate to driving an x5 with 20 inch wheels and sports suspension vs 20 inch wheels and no sports suspension which is what I would end up with if I decide to replace my 19" style 334 to 20" 336 or 214's.

BTW, my MY2012 is the first to arrive in my country, according to the sticker on the drivers door, it was built on 06/2011.

That's what I'm afraid of. Even though my new X5 doesn't have the sport suspension, it will be as stiff as my old MY2007 with the 20" wheels and sports suspension if i decide to upgrade from 19'' to 20''. I was hoping that not having the sports suspension would make a difference regarding the car's stiffness if I decided to upgrade to the 20's on the new car. As you suggest, even if you have 18" wheels, the car is already stiff to begin with.

You confuse my perspective of form and function' for "practicality"... I have and M5 and a modified 996TT... not practical, but you will not see those cars prancing about on silly looking 'big rims'..

Not in direct response, but "Harshness" consists of a spectrum of strut/spring mediated motions AND tire damped motions. They go hand in hand.

Like I said, why guess? You'll be able to drive it yourself and then determine how it feels!!

Even if someone had done EXACTLY what you are considering, lets say TWO people did, would their opinions on "ride harshness" really drive your personal decision???? You are asking if "looks" are worth 'ride harshness"- how can ANYONE other than you make that call? Impossible.


Like I saidI was unaware they ANY "2012 Diesel" was being shipped. The 2012 MY packages for the US were just announced on July 26, 2011...perhaps OUS it is a different story?

No sport suspension. Just put on 20s with factory sized tires. Drives unbelievably great. It's not a tremendous difference from stock 18s with RFTs that come on the diesel. The handling feels better and the truck feels more solid now.

Great! Mine comes with 19" RFT's so I'm hoping that going to 20" with no RFT's is even less of an impact on ride quality, I definitely don't want it to be as harsh as my previous X5 with 20" + sports suspension...it was just too uncomfortable for daily driving.

test drive an x5 that has the 20s with no sport suspension and see how it is.

Wish I could, they have non available due to the fact that here all X5's with the 20'' wheels must have sports suspension. That's why I decided to purchase one with 19" wheels and no sports suspension and add the wheels later myself.