[akhter]

I finally had a chance to drive the car hard. I have to say the air suspension is just fantastic. No matter how hard I did turns the car stays pretty flat. The suspension handles what ever thrown at it with ease.

This is a night and day difference from my f15 with m suspension. There is a little less road feel maybe due to narrower tired and air suspension but the steering is precise and the car flat and so light footed and planted that it feels more like my e90 335i.

For those crying about no dhp on 40i, please drive an air suspension in sport mode. It will not disappoint. Unless tracking this Suv (lololol) I cant imagine needing more hardcore suspension. And to add to all the above it is ridiculously comfortable as well under comfort setting.

Loving this car more everyday!!!!

[Hernasty]

Originally Posted by akhter

I finally had a chance to drive the car hard. I have to say the air suspension is just fantastic. No matter how hard I did turns the car stays pretty flat. The suspension handles what ever thrown at it with ease.

This is a night and day difference from my f15 with m suspension. There is a little less road feel maybe due to narrower tired and air suspension but the steering is precise and the car flat and so light footed and planted that it feels more like my e90 335i.

For those crying about no dhp on 40i, please drive an air suspension in sport mode. It will not disappoint. Unless tracking this Suv (lololol) I cant imagine needing more hardcore suspension. And to add to all the above it is ridiculously comfortable as well under comfort setting.

Loving this car more everyday!!!!

I couldn't agree more. I love my air suspension. You're right about running in sport mode the car is so different and with the roads here in North Texas, I really don't feel every little imperfections in the road. Comfort and Sport modes do drive different, but I find the Sport mode more appealing.

[Ilyam5]

Nice review. Good tomknow about air suspension. Difficult to find cars to drive with it

Now we need a road course test race. Air suspension vs regular head to head

[AndroidRobot]

I didn't drive one with an air suspension too hard but losing the sport diff would be a deal breaker for me. Body control is one one part of the equation and I wish the DHP had an air suspension option

[2019x5User]

Time to experience sport mode with air now

[bichoo]

Originally Posted by akhter

I finally had a chance to drive the car hard. I have to say the air suspension is just fantastic. No matter how hard I did turns the car stays pretty flat. The suspension handles what ever thrown at it with ease.

This is a night and day difference from my f15 with m suspension. There is a little less road feel maybe due to narrower tired and air suspension but the steering is precise and the car flat and so light footed and planted that it feels more like my e90 335i.

For those crying about no dhp on 40i, please drive an air suspension in sport mode. It will not disappoint. Unless tracking this Suv (lololol) I cant imagine needing more hardcore suspension. And to add to all the above it is ridiculously comfortable as well under comfort setting.

Loving this car more everyday!!!!

I have the M adaptive suspension without DHP on my 40i (Canada configuration) and I found the difference to be night and day compared to the Air, in sport modes. I really really really wanted to like air but no matter how many times I test drove to compare, it always pissed me off on how numb the car felt, the body roll, lessened road feedback, etc etc....

I drive spirited 80% of the time so a well handling vehicle is my priority, everything else is secondary, but for that 20% of time when i'm with the family coasting down the highway on a road trip, Air would have been magnificent, BMW has done a great job on it. I'm also a short guy and i welcomed the ability to lower the car to get in, but alas I couldn't pull the trigger on it.

I really wish DHP was available. I was running late yesterday for appointment and for the 1st time drove the X5 HARD in sport plus for close to 10 minutes, really pushing it around turns...hard braking and that is when I felt the need for DHP and M Diff..i'm like damn...there is still a lot of body roll...it's time like this when you just need more...I really wish DHP would have been available on the 40i.

Anyways, I'm happy to hear you love the Air because it is really nice, I just wish I did and some days I miss it, especially now during pothole season.

[Voltron]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

I didn't drive one with an air suspension too hard but losing the sport diff would be a deal breaker for me. Body control is one one part of the equation and I wish the DHP had an air suspension option

I just picked up my 50i with DHP this week. Night and day compared to my F15 35i without DHP on many fronts. Aside from the power, the handling is so composed, and the body roll/wobbiliness that was my main criticism of my F15 is completely absent. Very pleased.

IAS is also huge... something I didn't think I would notice, I'm a city dweller and steering in tight garages I have to deal with— now a different world.

Kudos to AndroidRobot and others— thanks for your posts as they helped inform my decision to go with this beast.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Voltron

I just picked up my 50i with DHP this week. Night and day compared to my F15 35i without DHP on many fronts. Aside from the power, the handling is so composed, and the body roll/wobbiliness that was my main criticism of my F15 is completely absent. Very pleased.

IAS is also huge... something I didn't think I would notice, I'm a city dweller and steering in tight garages I have to deal with— now a different world.

Kudos to AndroidRobot and others— thanks for your posts as they helped inform my decision to go with this beast.

Glad it all worked out! IAS is great for tight turns, I still get a weird feel when turning at slow speed then hitting the gas but I enjoy the option.

Yeah, the F15 has more body roll than an old Cadillac without DHP. 50i + DHP has the composure if a sports sedan while being taller.

[JCZ5]

Does anyone have any long term experience with the last generation of air suspension? I decided against it cause I read reliability is a serious concern from a few threads.

Really hope this generations durability has increased. But I didn't want to take the risk if I'm keeping it for awhile