[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

You have regular, m sport or m50?

2022 vermilion m sport 40 I with 22 wheels

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by swainbmw

2022 vermilion m sport 40 I with 22 wheels

Thanks. I have a similar low speed manuvering experience in my 22 m50, but only stock 20s. My opinion - These are not the best suspensions out there. But, maybe I’m just getting old and I’m curious what the air from bmw would ride like. Test drove the Porsche - The air, pasm and PDCC in the cayenne creates a phenomenal stable / confident ride.

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Thanks. I have a similar low speed manuvering experience in my 22 m50, but only stock 20s. My opinion - These are not the best suspensions out there. But, maybe I’m just getting old and I’m curious what the air from bmw would ride like. Test drove the Porsche - The air, pasm and PDCC in the cayenne creates a phenomenal stable / confident ride.

When I drive the x5 a have a passenger in the car. They all say this car ride’s horrible it rocks car back and forth side to side feeling over uneven surfaces need better a suspension. I also think I like a truck suspension better over hard and uneven surfaces that handle better and I’m not crazy about the steering in this car either. It’s a very over assisted. I think I’m talking myself into selling it unfortunately. I think what I truly need is a defender Land Rover something that’s a little more off-road.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by swainbmw

When I drive the x5 a have a passenger in the car. They all say this car ride’s horrible it rocks car back and forth side to side feeling over uneven surfaces need better a suspension. I also think I like a truck suspension better over hard and uneven surfaces that handle better and I’m not crazy about the steering in this car either. It’s a very over assisted. I think I’m talking myself into selling it unfortunately. I think what I truly need is a defender Land Rover something that’s a little more off-road.

Similar feelings, my wife really doesn’t like it. Test drive a Porsche Cayenne .

[swainbmw]

My cousin has the Porsche Cayenne, but I can’t get over the jellybean look to even try to test drive one .. plus their service is outrageous for a battery replacement. You’re looking at $2200. They rob people on service.

[mobilejo]

Air suspension w/ 22's on my 2020 X6.

In comfort mode its comfortable, and in sports mode it tightens up a lot. I'm always surprised that some people say they can't feel any difference between comfort & sport - not sure if thats a difference inherent in the X6 v X5, or with having 22's? Either way, no floatiness or motion sickness here and actually quite entertaining is sport mode.

Anyway, I would say that I definitely wouldn't want it to be any less comfortable in comfort mode, even if it did get a bit firmer in sport mode as a trade off.

I recently test drove an X6 M50i on 22's with adaptive M suspension (not pro) and it was firmer all round, but whilst I noticed the loss of comfort in comfort mode, I didn't feel a great gain in handling in sports mode. That combined with the loss of height adjustment was a bit of a dissapointment to me.

[jad03060]

Your assessment of comfort will depend on the quality of your local roads. Some places, they're smooth and in good shape, some places they're nasty. On a really smooth road, you probably won't notice much difference. IMHO, there's a lot more places where the roads are less than ideal. Throw in that some come with RFT whose sidewalls are stiffer, and the differences can be considerable.

An air spring has very little 'sticktion' so will react to a small inputs more than a steel spring. That will tend to smooth out most roads more than one without.

[rexus300]

Ive always outfitted our X5s and previous ML and GLEs with air suspension. Its way smoother on bad roads and on the highways over the standard suspension. Totally worth the extra cost.

[2001S15]

My wife has X5 45e w/ air suspension and the 19" base wheels. It's the most buttery smooth ride I've ever experienced. Yeah there's a bit more lean in the corners but you can still drive it in a spirited way. It feels way more controlled than non-BMWs I've driven with non-air suspensions. To be honest I prefer driving her car most days to my M5 the ride is so good.

[mattsrs]

What models of the 24 X5 LCI let you add air suspension as an option? I don’t see it in the configurator only shows for X6

[Jay89]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

What models of the 24 X5 LCI let you add air suspension as an option? I don’t see it in the configurator only shows for X6

You gotta go up to the m60 to add the air suspension unfortunately.

[ST3]

You do need to drive it yourself. We can only offer our experience.

I’ve had two X5s(V8 and 45e), an F80, and an F90.

The standard suspension on the X5 V8 and the air ride on the 45e are very similar in terms of “handling” yet dramatically different in ride quality. Personally I will always choose the air suspension in an SUV moving forward regardless of drivetrain.

I might be reading between the lines here but if you really want handling you need to go to a sedan or coupe. The closest will be the X5M…but even then physics wins.

Drive Em both (plus a non suv) and report back.

[buckybadger]

It’s a polarizing suspension.

The X5 is smooth and comfortable and if it’s that what you want then air is a no brainer. I want my SUV to be ultra comfy and yet sporty when needed. You can put it in sport plus and it looks bad ass, it lowers and rides stiff. Not like a M car but feels great for a SUV. Comfort mode is a little soft but that’s expected.

Also the air suspension is a little too sensitive to tire pressure. I’ve noticed a psi here and there can change the ride dramatically.

I would do it again and prefer the air. You X5 will ride like an X7 when in comfort mode setting.

[mattsrs]

BMW has one of the best implementation of air suspension in terms of providing different characters to the car. I drove a Mercedes EQS SUV with air suspension a few days ago and that suspension was junk. It handled one off bumps or imperfections well but on a continuously rough road it was way worse than spring suspension. I have air on my 760 and thinking about ordering an X5 LCI which now unfortunately looks like need to get an X6 to be able to do air suspension. X5 M60 is too much for me.

[jad03060]

People blame the air suspension, but it's more the shock tuning that is to blame if the ride and handling are poor. An air spring, like a progressive steel spring, starts out soft, then as the throw increases the resistance does as well. An air spring can start out softer, but it can get stiffer as it reaches its limits, and air doesn't wear out like a steel spring does.

[RumblePhytonic]

M Sport 45e here with air suspension and 20": Best comfortable ride I've had in a BMW and sport feels tight to me. Thing I see missing in the conversation is the ride height adjustability with air- big difference in ride when if i manually drop it lower or raise it up. Rough roads either slow or on the highway getting it up a setting or two make a big difference. Plus you can drop it down for some better handling (see photo).

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by mattsrs

What models of the 24 X5 LCI let you add air suspension as an option? I don’t see it in the configurator only shows for X6

no need to add air suspension on the X5 50e. it's standard.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by RumblePhytonic

M Sport 45e here with air suspension and 20": Best comfortable ride I've had in a BMW and sport feels tight to me. Thing I see missing in the conversation is the ride height adjustability with air- big difference in ride when if i manually drop it lower or raise it up. Rough roads either slow or on the highway getting it up a setting or two make a big difference. Plus you can drop it down for some better handling (see photo).

Very true - something I often forget myself.

Just lowering the suspension in comfort gives it another different characteristic - something between the firmness of sport and the softness of comfort mode. It essentially gives a third setting to the suspension.