520D M Sport Suspension

[stumpage]

I've just ordered a 520D M Sport with M Sport+ Pack.

I tested both the M Sport and Luxury Models both on 19" wheels. The M Sport felt a lot more planted to the road when making progress and the Lux felt better on the motorway.

I am reading a lot about the M Sport suspension not being good on 19", tramlining etc, so am wondering if I got the wrong impression on the test drive. I'm sure I'll be able to delete the M Sport suspension if I make the decision quickly.

So is the way to go Standard suspension on these cars? I know the VDC is the way to go but that is out of my budget.

[smashy]

re autocar and this car

quote Our car came fitted with optional (£985) adaptive dampers, as well as 17-inch wheels, and this combination means it rides beautifully. quote


For the amount your paying id put adaptive on,Pushing on I reckon the SE standard suspension is truly awful.

[stumpage]

smashy said:

re autocar and this car

quote Our car came fitted with optional (£985) adaptive dampers, as well as 17-inch wheels, and this combination means it rides beautifully. quote


For the amount your paying id put adaptive on,Pushing on I reckon the SE standard suspension is truly awful.

It's a company car and I'm up to budget so adding VDC is not an option. So it's either SE or M Sport suspension.

[anonymous-user]

stumpage said:

smashy said:

re autocar and this car

quote Our car came fitted with optional (£985) adaptive dampers, as well as 17-inch wheels, and this combination means it rides beautifully. quote


For the amount your paying id put adaptive on,Pushing on I reckon the SE standard suspension is truly awful.

It's a company car and I'm up to budget so adding VDC is not an option. So it's either SE or M Sport suspension.

That's a shame. Isn't there anything you can drop to afford the VDC? Having said that, my 530 has the full adaptive, but it is brilliant. Not sure how that compares to VDC.

I tested the M sport and found it too firm and a lot of tyre noise on anything but the smoothest surfaces.

[knitware]

stumpage said:

I've just ordered a 520D M Sport with M Sport+ Pack.

I tested both the M Sport and Luxury Models both on 19" wheels. The M Sport felt a lot more planted to the road when making progress and the Lux felt better on the motorway.

I am reading a lot about the M Sport suspension not being good on 19", tramlining etc, so am wondering if I got the wrong impression on the test drive. I'm sure I'll be able to delete the M Sport suspension if I make the decision quickly.

So is the way to go Standard suspension on these cars? I know the VDC is the way to go but that is out of my budget.

I have a 3 series (F31) with the M Sport suspension and 19” alloys, 18” winters are on at the moment, it rides beautifully with the 19” alloys. It remains flat, doesn’t crash in potholes and is simply lovely, if anything it could be a little firmer but overall a very comfortable ride.

I think some people comment on hearsay about the older generation M Sport, the new cars are different.

Drive a 5 series with M Sport again to help with your decision.

[Roo3Stuart]

stumpage said:

I've just ordered a 520D M Sport with M Sport+ Pack.

I tested both the M Sport and Luxury Models both on 19" wheels. The M Sport felt a lot more planted to the road when making progress and the Lux felt better on the motorway.

I am reading a lot about the M Sport suspension not being good on 19", tramlining etc, so am wondering if I got the wrong impression on the test drive. I'm sure I'll be able to delete the M Sport suspension if I make the decision quickly.

So is the way to go Standard suspension on these cars? I know the VDC is the way to go but that is out of my budget.

I have standard M Sport suspension on my 535d and it is absolutely fine - I have 19" wheels too. I think people forget that BMW can still make a very well set-up car on passive suspension. I have done 45k miles in mine and wouldn't change it - I suspect you might get sea sick with SE suspension. I deliberately didn't choose VDC as I don't like things you have to change because I just forget they are there, and adaptive didn't seem worth £3k. I don't doubt these clever systems are good but the standard suspension is not the disaster many like to suggest. I came from an e60 on M Sport suspension and 18" wheels and the f10 is night and day better. The only short coming is when the front wheel hits raised drain covers and the like under turn in load but that is the run flats more than anything. I would stick with the M Sport suspension, your conclusion ifrom the test drive is not wrong.

[stumpage]

Roo3Stuart said:

stumpage said:

I've just ordered a 520D M Sport with M Sport+ Pack.

I tested both the M Sport and Luxury Models both on 19" wheels. The M Sport felt a lot more planted to the road when making progress and the Lux felt better on the motorway.

I am reading a lot about the M Sport suspension not being good on 19", tramlining etc, so am wondering if I got the wrong impression on the test drive. I'm sure I'll be able to delete the M Sport suspension if I make the decision quickly.

So is the way to go Standard suspension on these cars? I know the VDC is the way to go but that is out of my budget.

I have standard M Sport suspension on my 535d and it is absolutely fine - I have 19" wheels too. I think people forget that BMW can still make a very well set-up car on passive suspension. I have done 45k miles in mine and wouldn't change it - I suspect you might get sea sick with SE suspension. I deliberately didn't choose VDC as I don't like things you have to change because I just forget they are there, and adaptive didn't seem worth £3k. I don't doubt these clever systems are good but the standard suspension is not the disaster many like to suggest. I came from an e60 on M Sport suspension and 18" wheels and the f10 is night and day better. The only short coming is when the front wheel hits raised drain covers and the like under turn in load but that is the run flats more than anything. I would stick with the M Sport suspension, your conclusion ifrom the test drive is not wrong.

Since posting I have been back for a longer test drive of the M Sport on 19" wheels. It really did feel good, better than my current C220 AMG Sport with 18" wheels. So I'm sticking to the M Sport suspension.

[shim]

Was just deciding here whether to go 18 and VCd or 19 MSport+ , it think its the later

[Buster73]

I've just taken delivery of an M sport on 18" wheels , it's a tad firmer than the SE I had on 19" wheels but nothing to worry about.

[Shezbo]

stumpage said:

Since posting I have been back for a longer test drive of the M Sport on 19" wheels. It really did feel good, better than my current C220 AMG Sport with 18" wheels. So I'm sticking to the M Sport suspension.

I have a 520d MSport on 19 wheels - it is perfect you won't regret getting that!

I also had a MB C220 AMG Sport two cars ago - truly awful and lots of (build quality) problems...BMW much much better...

[Buster73]

Shezbo said:

I have a 520d MSport on 19 wheels - it is perfect you won't regret getting that!

I also had a MB C220 AMG Sport two cars ago - truly awful and lots of (build quality) problems...BMW much much better...

I bought an E320 cdi many moons ago , had loads of warranty work done , expensive to service and questionable attitude from the dealership.

Combine that with total brake failure when my wife was driving , put me off MB for life.

The 520d se was a far better car all round.

[anonymous-user]

Buster73 said:

Shezbo said:

I have a 520d MSport on 19 wheels - it is perfect you won't regret getting that!

I also had a MB C220 AMG Sport two cars ago - truly awful and lots of (build quality) problems...BMW much much better...

I bought an E320 cdi many moons ago , had loads of warranty work done , expensive to service and questionable attitude from the dealership.

Combine that with total brake failure when my wife was driving , put me off MB for life.

The 520d se was a far better car all round.

To be fair, there are many anecdotes of the same sort about BMWs as well. I have one of each and they've both been fine so far. My son will be getting his 6th MB in January (works for them, new one every year) and has never had an issue with any of them.

I agree the servicing is more expensive on the MB . My 5 series has a service package for 5 years at £425. The MB's costs £1200 or so for 4 years.

[asfault]

holey thread resurection i know but google search brought me here.


I have a 520d 70 plate as a loan car from the dealership.
I suspect it has the M suspension but i cant see why?
its fine on glass smooth roads but just crashes over everything else especially my A road commute? 30k miles so not old either.
My 335d rides much better.
What is the point of firm suspension on the 520d which is in effect a rep mobile for long distance cruising? seats are UBER! comfy though

[Wilmslowboy]

asfault said:

holey thread resurection i know but google search brought me here.


I have a 520d 70 plate as a loan car from the dealership.
I suspect it has the M suspension but i cant see why?
its fine on glass smooth roads but just crashes over everything else especially my A road commute? 30k miles so not old either.
My 335d rides much better.
What is the point of firm suspension on the 520d which is in effect a rep mobile for long distance cruising? seats are UBER! comfy though

I have a 71-plate 530e with M sport (plus adaptive suspension) on 19-inch wheels - brilliant ride and handling.

[d_a_n1979]

asfault said:

holey thread resurection i know but google search brought me here.


I have a 520d 70 plate as a loan car from the dealership.
I suspect it has the M suspension but i cant see why?
its fine on glass smooth roads but just crashes over everything else especially my A road commute? 30k miles so not old either.
My 335d rides much better.
What is the point of firm suspension on the 520d which is in effect a rep mobile for long distance cruising? seats are UBER! comfy though

Ride & handling, suspension options are a very personal choice... What suits one, won't always suit the other

I've been out in a G30 520D and a G60 520D, both M Sport and they both drove and handled superbly (G30 on non RFTs and G60 on RFTs); both 19" wheels...

And what difference does it make having a smaller engine; are the bigger engined cars only allowed M Sport suspension?!

Makes no sense...

[asfault]

d_a_n1979 said:

asfault said:

holey thread resurection i know but google search brought me here.


I have a 520d 70 plate as a loan car from the dealership.
I suspect it has the M suspension but i cant see why?
its fine on glass smooth roads but just crashes over everything else especially my A road commute? 30k miles so not old either.
My 335d rides much better.
What is the point of firm suspension on the 520d which is in effect a rep mobile for long distance cruising? seats are UBER! comfy though

Ride & handling, suspension options are a very personal choice... What suits one, won't always suit the other

I've been out in a G30 520D and a G60 520D, both M Sport and they both drove and handled superbly (G30 on non RFTs and G60 on RFTs); both 19" wheels...

And what difference does it make having a smaller engine; are the bigger engined cars only allowed M Sport suspension?!

Makes no sense...

my point being its not a sporty car its a big heavy motorway cruiser. Why is the ride so bad. Ive had sports cars that have better ride. must just be m suspension without adaptive control?

[hilly10]

The Adaptive dampers are a must, I had them on my last 5 series 17 plate on 19” and specified them on my X3 which is on 20” they really make the ride so comfortable