[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Driven one once but should have paid more attention. I wonder if air suspension in sport mode might be a nice setting then!

Depends on what you like. I've never driven an air ride I liked. But I like a firmer ride.

[fepstein]

Bought a 45e with 14k miles (1 year old car). Love the ride. No complaints with the air suspension so far (1 week with the car). And really satisfied with the drive train. It is a just perfect combination of the EV motor with the B58 engine. Smooth, well tuned. I imagine the 50e is even more interesting!

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

It has softer spring rates. It will ride better because of that. It will however not control body motions as well. It won't be night and day, but it should ride a bit softer.

40i with adaptive m suspension (only in the rear)with suspension in sport (engine can stay in comfort mode) handles turns better (less leaning) than the 50e with air suspension in sport mode. In a straight line bumpy road 50e with air is smoother. All of the above imo of course.

[jad03060]

A huge part of how a vehicle rides is made up by the tires selected AND the shock settings. Springs are important, but the other two will tend to have more effects overall on the same vehicle designed for the same loads - the springs must be selected so they don’t bottom out when in normal use with a load within specs. An air spring is pretty much linearly progressive…a steel spring can approximate that. As a result, it seems like the initial first movement is because of the softer initial spring rate, but it rises as the air bag is compressed, and the end result on any of the suspensions is more about the shocks. Tires are also part of the spring rate in the overall composite related to how it feels. Other than when an air spring eventually ruptures, it should remain consistent over its life whereas a steel spring will change over its life some.

[njdangelo]

Ive driven a 50i with both air suspension and m sport suspension. Honestly not much difference between 'comfort' setting on the m sport and air suspension. I prefer the sport suspension personally. I had gone into my test ride with the air suspension thinking it would feel like a cloud but that is not the case, it's almost identical in feel and when you do want it to get rigid and sporty it does not do that well... personal opinion of course.

[Jen4BMW]

OP have you considered a 2025 X6 xDrive40i with M Sport Professional and 2 axle air? You can’t get air on the X5 40i but you can on the X6 and I wouldn’t touch a X5 50e with a ten foot pole given all the CEL issues.

I am in a 2022 X3 M40i myself and your wife’s right. The suspension is pretty harsh on bumpy roads. It’s almost intolerable in sport.

If your wife doesn’t care about 4 second acceleration I’d check out a Porsche Macan Base too which can be comparably built for around $75K.

[redhot47fla]

Originally Posted by Jen4BMW

OP have you considered a 2025 X6 xDrive40i with M Sport Professional and 2 axle air?

Our LCO X6 xDrive40i with M Sport Pro and nearly all other options is one month old, and we couldn't agree more. The engine is powerful, the ride is comfortable without being land boat, and the air suspension is super, especially when you want to lower the trunk by a few inches for COSTCO boxes of water and such.

[kungpaocow]

I want to thank everyone's input on this topic. I'm planning to hold off until dealers get more of the 25 inventory in stock and I can test drive and get a better sense for myself. The input was very helpful! I know for sure my next car will be an X5 but at this point, the consideration is between the 50e and m60i.

[Aussiejem]

Anyone know if the air suspension has been recalibrated/changed for the LCI?

[BMPHIL]

Originally Posted by Aussiejem

Anyone know if the air suspension has been recalibrated/changed for the LCI?

Feels same to me on M60i as it was on M50i, both stiffer than it was on my 40i

[Aussiejem]

I read somewhere that BMW had recalibrated it for LCI as a few reviews on pre LCI being a bit floaty at higher speeds on Freeway's etc

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Aussiejem

I read somewhere that BMW had recalibrated it for LCI as a few reviews on pre LCI being a bit floaty at higher speeds on Freeway's etc

No reason to think that it has been changed.

[BeEmVee]

I think the decision can be heavily influenced by your wheel/tire choice. The 40i rides very comfortably on 20” wheels. Highly recommend the M sport design which includes M sport suspension. It’s compliant and a nice sweet spot. The sidewalls are large enough to provide natural comfort in the 20” wheels. I’d consider air suspension for 22’s in any car however, given the thinner sidewall and less natural cushioning. Air suspension decreases handling ability slightly in exchange for added smoothness over road imperfections. Naturally you’ll get better handling with 22s but less comfort, hence the appeal of air suspension with larger wheels.

[mnx5er]

Adding to my previous comments. I have now driven the 50e and 40i from Minnesota to South Carolina. 50e had the air suspension and 40i the standard suspension.

As expected, the 40i was better on twisty roads, especially in the mountains of North Carolina.

Ride on good roads was very close between the two. Ride on crappy interstates such as I-65 in Indiana was better in the 50e. Both had the Bridgestone run flats and the 40i was more jarring by far. The combination of the run flats and 40i suspension was surprisingly rough on the crappy roads.

Both are also pretty noisy on crappy roads (rough asphalt or old concrete).

Indiana, please fix I-65!

[swainbmw]

[QUOTE=kungpaocow;31009695]Hello, all. Long time listener but first time caller so go easy on me if my question comes across as naive or I use the wrong terminology. I definitely would value some input and guidance.

I am currently in a '22 X3 m40i (my first BMW) and I really love it. However, the ride is a bit harsh for my wife and she routinely complains about car sickness when riding passenger. My lease is almost up and I am looking into the X5, either the 40i or 50e.

I recently rented a 40i and believe my wife would appreciate the ride much better than the X3. My preference is the 50e because of the PHEV, extra horsepower, and air suspension. However, inventory is fairly non-existent and dealers aren't doing much in terms of deals given the demand. Additionally, I have read the thread of current issues on the 50e and although I understand it's a small focused group, these issues do factor into my decision.

So the internal debate in my mind at the moment is do I go with the 40i with the options that I want (M package, driver cockpit, Harman Kardon) or look for a 50e (perhaps missing some of my desired options) with the focus on PHEV and air suspension. Does the air suspension greatly enhance the ride over the M adaptive suspension?

Stick with the 40 ! And you’ll keep yourself out of the service garage. There’s no reason to pay more money to save a few cents by plugging it in and driving it around on electric it’s gonna be worth less because at some point that batteries need to be replaced. So therefore, when you go to trade it in, they know that so you’re gonna over less money for your trade-in not to mention all the problems that you’re going to have with bmw hybrid in the service department stay away from the ev/ hybrid as far as the air suspension goes, something else to break had it for many years on a lot of Land Rovers always was a problem I’d stick with the basic suspension or the m suspension I have a 2022 x5 40! 11,000 miles no problem or dealer service except tires that keep picking up nails

[2016BlkBimmer]

[QUOTE=swainbmw;31032261]

Originally Posted by kungpaocow

Hello, all. Long time listener but first time caller so go easy on me if my question comes across as naive or I use the wrong terminology. I definitely would value some input and guidance.

I am currently in a '22 X3 m40i (my first BMW) and I really love it. However, the ride is a bit harsh for my wife and she routinely complains about car sickness when riding passenger. My lease is almost up and I am looking into the X5, either the 40i or 50e.

I recently rented a 40i and believe my wife would appreciate the ride much better than the X3. My preference is the 50e because of the PHEV, extra horsepower, and air suspension. However, inventory is fairly non-existent and dealers aren't doing much in terms of deals given the demand. Additionally, I have read the thread of current issues on the 50e and although I understand it's a small focused group, these issues do factor into my decision.

So the internal debate in my mind at the moment is do I go with the 40i with the options that I want (M package, driver cockpit, Harman Kardon) or look for a 50e (perhaps missing some of my desired options) with the focus on PHEV and air suspension. Does the air suspension greatly enhance the ride over the M adaptive suspension?

Stick with the 40 ! And you’ll keep yourself out of the service garage. There’s no reason to pay more money to save a few cents by plugging it in and driving it around on electric it’s gonna be worth less because at some point that batteries need to be replaced. So therefore, when you go to trade it in, they know that so you’re gonna over less money for your trade-in not to mention all the problems that you’re going to have to get service on a new car stay away from the ev/ hybrid as far as the air suspension goes, something else to break had it for many years on a lot of Land Rovers always was a problem I’d stick with the basic suspension or the m

I transitioned from a 21' X3 m40i. When I came into the X5 section, I've been reading that the engine in the X5 40i is very reliable. I didn't think twice when looking and placing an order for the 40i.

[Mattl0806]

Last 2 posts both good advice! We tend to over complicate our lives with the fomo syndrome, but it just leads to constant search for next best things. Often the more simple, smooth, reliable choice can be the best one!

[MarcosLepre]

Originally Posted by crackerjack15

How do we know how many have had issues vs the thousands sold? I'm at 10k miles. Zero problems.

Also 10k with zero issues!