What combination would give the absolute plushest ride?

SoCalS2k · 11-07-2020, 10:57 PM

Hi all-- like some in finding the different suspension combo options confusing.

Which combination do you think would give the best absolute ride?

So far in thinking merino leather with air suspension is the way to go -- but others have said the air suspension makes the car a little too bouncy and Msport might give a better ride? Seems counter intuitive to me, but totally open to any advise

Thanks!

BHCJJS · 11-07-2020, 11:09 PM

Don't have experience with the air suspension, but the leather would make a subtle difference if you're looking for plush.

Yet again, if you're looking for plush, and frankly speaking, why not just ride a Lexus? Used to drive an ES300 back in the day and I couldn't find anything better. The LS series was like floating in air.

At any rate, I have an M Sport and switching it to Sport makes it the best ride, for me. Typically though I go Sport Individual, where I can make steering and dampening on my M sport adaptive suspension, while keeping transmission and engine on comfort to keep from killing gas mileage due to my heavy foot. This seems to be the best for me in what you're referring to as bouncy, because that's the first thing I noticed as well when started going on longer commutes. Going back to comfort, and lowering the air pressure to exactly what is recommended makes it pretty smooth. Anything lower would obviously just risk abnormal tire wear.

jayg80 · 11-08-2020, 12:35 AM

I recently picked up a 2020 msport with 20" wheels. I would say going with comfort mode and the 20s will do the trick. I find the ride in that mode to be very comfortable. Of course it won't be confused for a Lexus or Buick.

hyde · 11-08-2020, 12:57 AM

20" with Air Suspension (xLine) and it's super plush, but also a bit more rocky than I expected, not unstable kinda rocky but you can tell it's a bit softer than it should. Dropping the height to -1 helps, but I seriously wish we could keep riding on -2, it's not allowed for some reason. At first I felt like on stilts, but got used to it pretty quickly, it was a shock compared to F15.

jad03060 · 11-08-2020, 10:59 AM

The more sidewall you have, the smoother the ride, so the 19" wheels with air suspension will be the plushest. You may not like the look (I don't find it objectionable, and you can't see them while driving!), but that's always the case. It's not like this is a track vehicle where ultimate grip is critical. If you're driving it where that's necessary, probably an SUV isn't your best choice of vehicle! If you'd rather forego the RFT, then opting for conventional ones would improve on that as well. May not be a good idea if you have the 45e, as there's no place to store a spare.

TurtleBoy · 11-08-2020, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalS2k

So far in thinking merino leather with air suspension is the way to go -- but others have said the air suspension makes the car a little too bouncy and Msport might give a better ride? Seems counter intuitive to me, but totally open to any advise!

The air suspension will definitely give you the plushest ride and there will be no bouncing. It will also give you a pretty sporty ride when you drop the suspension down to Sport level.

SmartSaves · 11-08-2020, 12:26 PM

Air suspension + 19 inch square wheels with non-RFT tires + Comfort seats with merino leather.

Personally I wouldn't go anything less than 20 inch wheels.

Auricom · 11-08-2020, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalS2k

Hi all-- like some in finding the different suspension combo options confusing.

Which combination do you think would give the best absolute ride?

So far in thinking merino leather with air suspension is the way to go -- but others have said the air suspension makes the car a little too bouncy and Msport might give a better ride? Seems counter intuitive to me, but totally open to any advise

Thanks!

If you're considering either xDrive40i M Sport or M50i then air suspension will provide you with great balance of adaptive and adjustable ride height with air suspension. This is how my G05 is optioned including extended Merino leather. Even with Driving Experience Control set in SPORT mode which lowers the vehicle ride height by -20mm provides a comfort ride while still maintaining sport handling and dampening. Leaving in COMFORT or ADAPTIVE driving mode will provide you with comfortable daily driving.

Factory OEM 20" run flats are fine and comfortable until you need to replace them.

Minimum wheel size for any G05 with M Sport is 20".

MystroX5 · 11-08-2020, 02:42 PM

You want 20” wheels with air suspension for the ultimate ride. The only thing missing for the G05 is DHP with air suspension and then you would be as good as you can get in the industry at any price point. Cosmetically, the ability to raise and lower ride height gets rid of that nasty tire/fender gap and is worth the up charge just for the look.

11-07-2020, 10:57 PM	#1
SoCalS2k Major 450 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: S2K! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: LA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2001 Honda S2k [8.50]	What combination would give the absolute plushest ride? Hi all-- like some in finding the different suspension combo options confusing. Which combination do you think would give the best absolute ride? So far in thinking merino leather with air suspension is the way to go -- but others have said the air suspension makes the car a little too bouncy and Msport might give a better ride? Seems counter intuitive to me, but totally open to any advise Thanks!
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11-07-2020, 11:09 PM	#2
BHCJJS Enlisted Member 21 Rep 45 Posts Drives: '21 G05 x40i M Sport, '04 E46 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	Don't have experience with the air suspension, but the leather would make a subtle difference if you're looking for plush. Yet again, if you're looking for plush, and frankly speaking, why not just ride a Lexus? Used to drive an ES300 back in the day and I couldn't find anything better. The LS series was like floating in air. At any rate, I have an M Sport and switching it to Sport makes it the best ride, for me. Typically though I go Sport Individual, where I can make steering and dampening on my M sport adaptive suspension, while keeping transmission and engine on comfort to keep from killing gas mileage due to my heavy foot. This seems to be the best for me in what you're referring to as bouncy, because that's the first thing I noticed as well when started going on longer commutes. Going back to comfort, and lowering the air pressure to exactly what is recommended makes it pretty smooth. Anything lower would obviously just risk abnormal tire wear. Last edited by BHCJJS; 11-07-2020 at 11:22 PM..
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11-08-2020, 12:35 AM	#3
jayg80 Lieutenant 217 Rep 435 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I recently picked up a 2020 msport with 20" wheels. I would say going with comfort mode and the 20s will do the trick. I find the ride in that mode to be very comfortable. Of course it won't be confused for a Lexus or Buick.
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11-08-2020, 12:57 AM	#4
hyde Lieutenant Colonel 541 Rep 1,734 Posts Drives: 2024 X3m40i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	20" with Air Suspension (xLine) and it's super plush, but also a bit more rocky than I expected, not unstable kinda rocky but you can tell it's a bit softer than it should. Dropping the height to -1 helps, but I seriously wish we could keep riding on -2, it's not allowed for some reason. At first I felt like on stilts, but got used to it pretty quickly, it was a shock compared to F15. __________________
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11-08-2020, 10:59 AM	#5
jad03060 Major General 3153 Rep 6,789 Posts Drives: X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	The more sidewall you have, the smoother the ride, so the 19" wheels with air suspension will be the plushest. You may not like the look (I don't find it objectionable, and you can't see them while driving!), but that's always the case. It's not like this is a track vehicle where ultimate grip is critical. If you're driving it where that's necessary, probably an SUV isn't your best choice of vehicle! If you'd rather forego the RFT, then opting for conventional ones would improve on that as well. May not be a good idea if you have the 45e, as there's no place to store a spare.
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11-08-2020, 12:26 PM	#7
SmartSaves X5 Enthusiast 461 Rep 762 Posts Drives: 2021 X5 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Neighbourhood of Santa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X5 [10.00]	Air suspension + 19 inch square wheels with non-RFT tires + Comfort seats with merino leather. Personally I wouldn't go anything less than 20 inch wheels. __________________ 2021 X5, Excellence, M Sport, DHP, DAP, RSE, MW, Merino.
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11-08-2020, 02:42 PM	#9
MystroX5 Major General 6284 Rep 5,319 Posts Drives: 2020 X7 M50i/ 911 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Central Pa. iTrader: (0)	You want 20” wheels with air suspension for the ultimate ride. The only thing missing for the G05 is DHP with air suspension and then you would be as good as you can get in the industry at any price point. Cosmetically, the ability to raise and lower ride height gets rid of that nasty tire/fender gap and is worth the up charge just for the look.
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