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      12-31-2012, 01:43 PM   #1
ManiacGT
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Active Dynamic Thingy Bob Suspension...

So, that adaptive suspension thing, does anyone else here have it, and do you think it helps reduce or heighten the harshness of the ride?

I know that normal mode is classed as comfort, but it seems like every pothole I hit, say a manhole thats perhaps 1.5-2inches deep results in a bone shaking crash sound and feel from the car. Comfy the rest of the time buy I do spend part of my time driving looking for any road imperfections, which annoys me. Perhaps its the 19"'s?

I originally plumped for this active suspension thinking it would result in a better and more controlled ride. Now in sport and sport + its as you'd expect, tighter and more fun, but in normal mode while comfy, it seems to believe that a pothole is a rapid manoeuvre and stiffens up the suspension ready for.. bang.. the pothole or manhole cover thats sunken.

Tonight due to a lane closure and traffic lights, I was guided to the other side of the road while oncoming traffic waited on a red. At 20mph the front wheel hit a manhole cover/grate (sunken around 2 inches) and made an almighty bang, very shortly of course followed by the rear wheel... all the time I'm cringing thinking '296'...

I remember test driving a 23i with normal M suspension and not feeling quite the 'bang' over sunken manhole covers... or is it my faulty memory?
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      12-31-2012, 01:55 PM   #2
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the suspension feels like you're riding on bricks because you are. They are called RFT's. Put on regular tires and your ride will be transformed.
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      12-31-2012, 03:23 PM   #3
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Probably a combination of 19s and RTFs.

I hear you about potholes though. Not many here, but every time I hit one, I pray to god for my 296s
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      12-31-2012, 08:55 PM   #4
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Agree with what other's have said ... I stuck with the 18" because of the comfort factor. Test drove both, and the 19" felt harsher.

Did not test drive with / without run flats; but many have commented on the transformation in ride quality after changing to non-run flats.
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      12-31-2012, 11:26 PM   #5
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Difference from stock RFTs to Michelin PSS is night and day.
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      01-01-2013, 04:18 AM   #6
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Well unfortunately I've just replaced the RFTs all round (P Zeros) at considerable cost so I can't do much about those... What I did want to know is if anyone here had tried the stock car over an adaptive one and what their thoughts were..
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      01-01-2013, 04:37 AM   #7
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I've had a well reputed tyre centre tell me that sometimes taking off RFT's can upset the ride. The cars are engineered with run flats in mind and if you change, the car can be known to be a bit all over the place...

RFT's have benefits too....never being caught short with blowouts, never having to be marooned....
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      01-01-2013, 09:14 AM   #8
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We test drove both a non-adaptive and adaptive suspension Z4 back in 2009. The difference was significant and steered us to the latter as a 'must have'. Both cars had 18" wheels. While non-adaptive was fine, the adaptive, even in Normal mode, seemed tighter and more controlled. There is a post from some time ago on this board that graphically explains the suspension setting differences (in terms of stiffness) between the two, and shows that the adaptive drive on Normal is actually a bit softer than than the non-adaptive suspension, but stiffens up when placed into Sport or Sport+.

As an aside, my wife insisted on keeping the stock 17" wheels on our Z4 - oops, I mean her Z4. It rides very well, even with RFTs, but probably doesn't corner as aggressively as those with 18" or 19" wheels. Cheers.
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      01-01-2013, 05:44 PM   #9
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Here's the comparison:

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      01-02-2013, 03:47 AM   #10
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Yeah I've seen that chart before. Thing is, I've no doubt that the settings are as the chart shows. BUT that potholes feel much harsher on dynamic suspension over standard suspension.
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      01-02-2013, 02:45 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ManiacGT View Post
Yeah I've seen that chart before. Thing is, I've no doubt that the settings are as the chart shows. BUT that potholes feel much harsher on dynamic suspension over standard suspension.
Well, I have a 528i loaner right now (Z4 is in the shop) that does not have sports package. It definitely soaks up road imperfections pretty well. But that's comparing apples to oranges.
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      01-02-2013, 06:02 PM   #12
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One thing I can confirm... coming from a 135i with Msport suspension... the bridge joints/ pavement seams are much softer in my Z4 in Comfort setting, than the Kidney challenging 1er. A little easier to handle once I had the 1er on non-RFT's but still jarring...
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      01-08-2013, 12:48 PM   #13
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If you swapped to non RFT or smaller wheel size the ride would soften up.

My wife's E90 328 with no sport package and 17" RFT soaks up bumps like an american car!
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