[Protocol_10]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I just placed my order for a 2021 X5 M50, COMPLETELY fully loaded (without Driver's Assistance Package), and I had a question about the suspension

I ordered 22" black non-run flat wheels and optioned for the Dynamic Handling Package. I really wanted the air suspension, but BMW removed the option until later this year (And I don't want to wait).

I don't like "floaty boaty", but I don't want a harsh or stiff ride. I'm hoping the ride is still comfortable. Did I make the right choice?

[john1200c]

Following. I ordered basically the same build as you.

[TurtleBoy]

In my opinion no, you should have waited for the air suspension to come back. But then again, my opinion doesn't matter since it is your car. The air suspension is a good balance of comfort and sportiness and not floaty (of course as with any suspension, it is a matter of personal perception). DHP will offer a much flatter, sportier ride without harshness. If a sporty ride is your priority then you definitely made the correct choice.

As an aside, I consider the Driving Assistance Professional package a must have option. Not only for the driving assistance items but also the additional safety features.

[john1200c]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

In my opinion no, you should have waited for the air suspension to come back. But then again, my opinion doesn't matter since it is your car. The air suspension is a good balance of comfort and sportiness and not floaty (of course as with any suspension, it is a matter of personal perception). DHP will offer a much flatter, sportier ride without harshness. If a sporty ride is your priority then you definitely made the correct choice.

As an aside, I consider the Driving Assistance Professional package a must have option. Not only for the driving assistance items but also the additional safety features.

Was air suspension available WITH DHP? It's bugging me that nobody at BMW or dealership can tell me when if it will come back...

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by john1200c

Was air suspension available WITH DHP? It's bugging me that nobody at BMW or dealership can tell me when if it will come back...

Not on the X5, it is on the X7. It was supposed to return in Week 27 but that could have changed. Given the current problems with the supply chains, I can see how they can't give a firm date.

[john1200c]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Not on the X5, it is on the X7. It was supposed to return in Week 27 but that could have changed. Given the current problems with the supply chains, I can see how they can't give a firm date.

Thanks so if I am understanding correctly, even if I were to wait for air suspension to come back it still would not be an option for me if I want the DHP? Unless I got an X7 which I don't want...

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by john1200c

Thanks so if I am understanding correctly, even if I were to wait for air suspension to come back it still would not be an option for me if I want the DHP? Unless I got an X7 which I don't want...

That is correct. DHP does not include air suspension, as standard or an option, for the X5.

[sahajesh]

Not fully-loaded then, if you skipped DAP

Re air, I ordered my 40i with it (and with shock horror IAS) without trying - very glad I did. No floaty boaty here and U.K. roads are shit.

[MatthewDavid]

Originally Posted by jtrock97

I truly wanted air suspension, but I can't wait another 5-6 more months. I know the ride is firmer with the DHP, I'm just hoping that the ride isn't punishing (especially with 22" wheels). I'm hoping someone here has an X5 with the same wheel size and DHP so I could know firsthand!

Just by watching the forum I think many people do. Also I don't know that DHP is necessarily considerably harder as a ride. Btw I had the 21s on my outgoing X5, which was the largest you could get at the time, and the tire profile isn't much different than the 22s, it appears, and I was totally happy on some of the worst roads in all of America (Bay Area, CA).

[john1200c]

Originally Posted by jtrock97

UPDATE: I made a modification to the chassis and added the Driver's Assistant Pro, so now it's 100% fully loaded

Still crossing my fingers for a comfortable ride with DHP and 22"s

Yeah me too as that's what I got with DHP and the roads in MA suck....

[keving75]

Is there any update on when the air suspension will be available? I am wanting to order a new M50, but not without this option.

Looking at used M50's I see none with this option, so I will wait until I can order what I want.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by keving75

Is there any update on when the air suspension will be available? I am wanting to order a new M50, but not without this option.

Looking at used M50's I see none with this option, so I will wait until I can order what I want.

For awhile "they" were saying Week 27 but there have been some folks mentioning that has been pushed back until after MY22 starts. My guess is that BMW doesn't know at this point.

[FloatingBob]

Originally Posted by keving75

Is there any update on when the air suspension will be available? I am wanting to order a new M50, but not without this option.

Looking at used M50's I see none with this option, so I will wait until I can order what I want.

I'm a month in from receiving my otherwise normal spec'd 40i - I got the air suspension and if I'm being honest its VERY floaty-boaty. Now don't get me wrong this suits my driving style completely - I love a big barge of a car but even in sport mode there's a softness that wasn't there in the regular sprung cars that I test drove. For me this is a positive but YMMV.

Oh and the ability to adjust the ride / car height is cute but basically a gimmick. Makes no difference IRL

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by FloatingBob

the ability to adjust the ride / car height is cute but basically a gimmick. Makes no difference IRL

In LA that's probably true - but for anyone who'll do any type of off-roading (i.e, farm/ranch car, literally "land"/property cruiser, deep snow, back woods camping, BLM land stomping, mobbing, et al) it's way more than a gimmick.

But, to your point, that's likely a small minority of X5 buyers.

[FloatingBob]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

In LA that's probably true - but for anyone who'll do any type of off-roading (i.e, farm/ranch car, literally "land"/property cruiser, deep snow, back woods camping, BLM land stomping, mobbing, et al) it's way more than a gimmick.

But, to your point, that's likely a small minority of X5 buyers.

You're very right in that the most off-roading a driver in LA is likely to do is navigate an ill-raked gravel parking lot, but to put my previous comment in more context - I grew up on a farm, my first car was a 1991 Land Rover Defender, parents had Range Rovers (with adjustable air suspension, natch) and I spent most of my younger days driving axle-deep in mud.

With that in mind, and with respect to the poster above, I don't think the 1.5inch increase in ride height when the X5 is set to its maximum is going to make the difference between "oh that looks treacherous I'd better not" and "f*** it Leroy Jenkins". Esp now the off road package with its under-plating isn't offered as an option.

The X5 will make it across terrain where a normal sedan would struggle. The difference in terrain where a normal X5 won't make it and an air sprung X5 will would be vanishingly small. I assume it might make a driver feel a little more confident taking a premium car like these over rough ground. But as for increased real world capabilities, I still think it's not much more than a nice button to press. So if it's not available and you're not looking for a softer ride, then I wouldn't feel racked with anguish if you don't option it.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by FloatingBob

The difference in terrain where a normal X5 won't make it and an air sprung X5 will would be vanishingly small.

Maybe. I had an allroad with air suspension (and mutha feckin Nokian hakkas) in MN for 3 years and every winter I had a least 2 or 3 occasions where the lift got me unstuck ... that said, those time were usually because rather than blow out the snowplow berm at the end of my driveway I'd just ram into it at speed ... the lift got me unstuck that way a lot

One time my wife got stuck in downtown Minneapolis in a storm so bad they shut down all bus/transit and everything came to a stop - I drove in from a southern suburb, blasting snowplow berms that would appear as the plows plowed across the main roads and used the lift to get unstuck about 10 times in just that run.

For me, no gimmick, but YMMV.

For anyone interested, this is good video about what makes a Farmer's Car (the roll in the land is where the inches can make the difference)