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      09-14-2014, 09:51 AM   #1
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Passive Suspension.. lets hear from you guys that have it

My order is in for an f82 I have about a week to change suspension. I have edc on my e92, currently have the f82 specd with out adaptive. I have read racer20 review on adaptive. lots of posts about the adaptive
Would like to hear feedback from you guys that have the passive suspension. How is it on the track? can you live with it on the road...too stiff? Anyone driven both the passive and adaptive on the f80s? Any regrets getting the passive and not adaptive? Can anyone compare the passive suspension manors to the adaptive on the e90 generation
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      09-14-2014, 01:18 PM   #2
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I have everything on my F80 except for moonroof, rear parking shade, and EDC. I don't miss EDC at all. I planned to replace the suspension anyway, though - I did coilovers on all 5 of my E9x M3s and the F80 won't be any different (although I'll likely do H&Rs while I wait)

I would say that the F80 is stiff. It's not aftermarket feeling, but it is definitely stiff. Small bumps are where I notice it more and the adaptive did take the edge off them. The Passive suspension is pretty close to in between Sport/Sport Plus. Definitely doesn't feel like the car whacks over small bumps like it does on Sport Plus, but is a bit stiffer than sport.

The adaptive suspension is definitely good on this car - I'd say it makes more of a difference than it did on the e9x - the e9x felt like you could feel bumps more but it really didn't have better control in the stiffer modes. If I was happy with the stock ride height I'd probably have gotten EDC.
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      09-14-2014, 01:50 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kitw View Post
I have everything on my F80 except for moonroof, rear parking shade, and EDC. I don't miss EDC at all. I planned to replace the suspension anyway, though - I did coilovers on all 5 of my E9x M3s and the F80 won't be any different (although I'll likely do H&Rs while I wait)

I would say that the F80 is stiff. It's not aftermarket feeling, but it is definitely stiff. Small bumps are where I notice it more and the adaptive did take the edge off them. The Passive suspension is pretty close to in between Sport/Sport Plus. Definitely doesn't feel like the car whacks over small bumps like it does on Sport Plus, but is a bit stiffer than sport.

The adaptive suspension is definitely good on this car - I'd say it makes more of a difference than it did on the e9x - the e9x felt like you could feel bumps more but it really didn't have better control in the stiffer modes. If I was happy with the stock ride height I'd probably have gotten EDC.
I have also read where the passive was designed to be between sport/sport+ thanks for confirming that. Interesting that you would have gone edc if it wasn't for the right height, ride height is not an issue for me, just I just want to choose the best set up for road & track ...I was thinking I would go passive maybe coils down the road, however if the adaptive really that good I'm having second thoughts???? . I assume you do some track days ? Have you had a opportunity to drive an f80 with adaptive to compare directly to your passive ?
BTW - I always appreciated your exhaust reviews on the e92
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      09-14-2014, 02:51 PM   #4
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If ur ok with ride height. GET THE ADAPTIVE
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      09-15-2014, 08:58 AM   #5
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the adaptive suspension on this car is the only option i ordered and entirely because of the development effort put into them. for example the required damping and rebound force is measured and adjusted at each corner 400 times every second. on a 2 minute lap the suspension has adjusted 96000 times. i think its hilarious to compare the passive system as being the middle setting on the M adaptive suspension.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...php?p=16219521

read that article if you haven't already. i only scratched the surface. no need to repeat.

as far as being limited to lowering the car the new KW HAS is designed to work with adaptive suspension. i will be comparing it to oem springs on various conditions including track in the next few weeks.

I drove an M4 with both passive and adaptive suspensions on the track. subjectively i really couldn't tell which suspension was faster as I wasn't there for that purpose. the car is fun to drive either way. where i notice real world the adaptive suspension really working is on highways and rough patches of road in and around the city at all different speeds. even on sport+ it does not feel overly damped. particularly in inclement weather the car feels very planted as well.

so if you plan to drive anywhere that may have an unplanned variance then i would say its likely the adaptive suspension will outperform the passive system. as for a fixed rate adjustable coilover compared to the adaptive suspension i will still say i highly doubt it will improve lap times and then you still variance in every lap you drive regardless of how much you know that particular track. just hit the sport+ button and done.
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      09-16-2014, 06:34 PM   #6
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I ordered the adaptive and I plan on pushing the sport+ button everyday as I start the car. I prefer a stiffer and more jarring ride.

I drove both back to back and couldn't tell the difference but because I read passive was in between I figured adaptive would be the more harsher ride
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      09-18-2014, 12:39 AM   #7
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Passive is the way to go.
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      09-21-2014, 09:05 PM   #8
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He also prefers the i8 to the m3/m4....and he's planning on walking off a cliff too....
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      09-21-2014, 10:35 PM   #9
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I went with passive and I love it. It feels stiff like a sports car but not uncomfortable. On the highway it feels like it is on rails. You do notice it a bit on real bumpy roads, but I don't think any setting would be much help in that case. My wife has active I her 5 series, which we both hate. That is what prompted me to go passive, but now I'm very happy that I did.
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      09-21-2014, 11:22 PM   #10
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i guess you can think of it this way: whats the benefit of getting the passive over the adaptive?

its only a $1000 option which however way you look at it adds around $30 a mo to your pmt. Is that really expensive to the point where its requiring this much thought and decision making to get it or not get it? if the perfect car except for EDC was at the dealership, then i would get it regardless. but given you ordered the car and its your choice, unless you can come up w a reason for not getting it, i would get it. if you can't afford $30 a mo extra, then maybe you shouldnt be buying the car, unless, like i said, theres a reason to not get it...
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      09-21-2014, 11:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRSSIIM3 View Post
i guess you can think of it this way: whats the benefit of getting the passive over the adaptive?

its only a $1000 option which however way you look at it adds around $30 a mo to your pmt. Is that really expensive to the point where its requiring this much thought and decision making to get it or not get it? if the perfect car except for EDC was at the dealership, then i would get it regardless. but given you ordered the car and its your choice, unless you can come up w a reason for not getting it, i would get it. if you can't afford $30 a mo extra, then maybe you shouldnt be buying the car, unless, like i said, theres a reason to not get it...
Not everyone has a monthly payment (my M4 is paid for) so that is not necessarily an argument for everyone. I read many reviews that said that the passive suspension was great and that the adaptive was not really necessary. I got the passive. Had nothing to do with the money. I am happy with the passive. Would the adaptive have been better? I don't know - I don't have it.
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      09-21-2014, 11:47 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmcconn535 View Post
Not everyone has a monthly payment (my M4 is paid for) so that is not necessarily an argument for everyone. I read many reviews that said that the passive suspension was great and that the adaptive was not really necessary. I got the passive. Had nothing to do with the money. I am happy with the passive. Would the adaptive have been better? I don't know - I don't have it.
Mine is paid in full too, and I truly wanted the button. Never driven the thing without it being on sports plus in all.

But the button is a must to have!
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      09-22-2014, 01:27 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmcconn535 View Post
Not everyone has a monthly payment (my M4 is paid for) so that is not necessarily an argument for everyone. I read many reviews that said that the passive suspension was great and that the adaptive was not really necessary. I got the passive. Had nothing to do with the money. I am happy with the passive. Would the adaptive have been better? I don't know - I don't have it.
i know i know...but then okay, so even better: if youre paying 70k cash for a car, whats another k?

not saying its better or not, but im just saying it cant be worse given standard mode on the active is the same as passive mode. so it gives you two other options that may or may not do anything useful. but for 1k, especially if hes building it to order, why not get it?

80% of the reason i got it was because i cant stand the button being empty
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      09-22-2014, 03:37 PM   #14
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He also prefers the i8 to the m3/m4....and he's planning on walking off a cliff too....
Hey "Joey bag of Donuts from PA" thanks for contributing something of value
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      09-22-2014, 03:44 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by MRSSIIM3 View Post
i if you can't afford $30 a mo extra, then maybe you shouldnt be buying the car, ...
Has absolutely nothing to do with what I can afford I'll be stroking a check for this car thank you very much for your .02
Some people just don't get it! This point of this thread was to have an informative/intelligent discussion about the Passive Set up.
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      09-23-2014, 09:23 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by kitesurfer View Post
Has absolutely nothing to do with what I can afford I'll be stroking a check for this car thank you very much for your .02
Some people just don't get it! This point of this thread was to have an informative/intelligent discussion about the Passive Set up.
what im saying is theres been several threads about this same thing and other than what bmw M engineers have said during interviews, nobody really knows whats better!!! theres not really a better option. one offers you the ability to adjust while one is always sport mode. why is that so hard to understand? and my point was for only $1k youre thinking into it way too much just order the damn option so you dont regret not ordering it later
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      09-23-2014, 09:36 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kitesurfer View Post
Hey "Joey bag of Donuts from PA" thanks for contributing something of value
Hehehe, my point was that going off someone else's preference is not always a smart choice. Some people prefer the s65's character, but it wasn't for me.

Regarding the passive suspension, and giving something of value here, it's a fine suspension and it's not like tons of cars aren't out there using passive. You lose nothing going with it and it's the right choice if you plan on swapping in coilovers, dropping your suspension, or other modifying the spring/strut assembly in some way. It's also an excellent choice if you like simplicity and less things to break (as I prefer, though I did go with EDC).

You spend $1k for the EDC and, in my opinion after nearly 2,000 miles, gain two things:

1. As mentioned by Karussell, there is a really hard to define benefit to control in the EDC system through it's constant adaption in any given mode. The car is simply receiving a superior damping when it's stiff or softer, and body control improves as a result.

2. Sport plus mode is, to me, a waste unless on the smoothest track. However, comfort mode is a real gain.

......

Not sure what more you might want to know about the passive suspension. It is a well connected, firm/stiff riding classic M suspension
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      09-23-2014, 10:04 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kitesurfer View Post
Hey "Joey bag of Donuts from PA" thanks for contributing something of value
Quote:
Originally Posted by kitesurfer View Post
Has absolutely nothing to do with what I can afford I'll be stroking a check for this car thank you very much for your .02
Some people just don't get it! This point of this thread was to have an informative/intelligent discussion about the Passive Set up.
You asked for opinion, and you got it; why are you complaining?
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      09-23-2014, 11:16 AM   #19
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I believe the fact that the Head M Division Engineer has publically stated he prefers the passive is a VERY BIG STATEMENT. This Coming from a Man who certainly understands the capabilities and limits of both suspension systems better than ANYONE on this forum and SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED. (supposedly his #2 in charge also prefers the Passive I don't have the source on that).
He obviously prefers the passive system for the "Performance" over the adaptive. I think his preference says it all and punches holes in some of the Fanboy posts on this forum that the Adaptive suspension is "superior" and "performance enhancer". If all the adjustments per milliseconds as Kaursell reported (40,000 x per minute or whatever) are so fantastic why is the system not perfered by the engineers who over saw its development?? You said it yourself that sport+ is a waste and that comfort mode is the only real "gain"
I think it raises the question is adaptive on the F80 a bit of " ///Marketing Gimmick" with the real gain being a Comfort button (IMO as was on the e92)?


IMO e92 edc system sport+ was a waste, overly damped and my experience would unsettle the car when using curbing at the track.

I am buying this car for Performance first and foremost ....I am sticking with the Passive whether right or wrong, as I can't change my order anyway at this point.

I'll report back on the Passive

Joe - hope you enjoy your car

Last edited by kitesurfer; 09-23-2014 at 12:01 PM..
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      09-23-2014, 12:31 PM   #20
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I don't think biermann's preference for adaptive suspension in his own car in any ways discredits the work done to develop the adaptive shocks. and they certainly aren't a marketing gimmick. he is an old school touring car racer. less computers doing the work for him the better. i get that. its much the same reason i prefer a manual over DCT and a 997.2 GT3 over a 991. i lived in germany the entire time this car was in the development cycle. seen it on the ring and the autobahn. followed it closely. the suspension is badass when its needed the most. unpredictable shit. and for a street car that goes to the track its the predominant portion that it spends on public roads that i appreciate the suspension soaking up shit i don't want to feel while still being able to have fun. you asked for opinions and then got them, but now you made your decision and start bad mouthing before even getting the car is in poor taste.
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      09-23-2014, 01:44 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by karussell View Post
I but now you made your decision and start bad mouthing before even getting the car is in poor taste.
Haha...Chill out...I'll give you pass for being a little grumpy as I see by your posts your now based down in "Disgusta", GA (as some like to call it). I'm down there a lot for work and it makes me grumpy too when I'm there .
Clearly you have been one of biggest supporters of the adaptive, you believe its the only "Only Must Have Option" according to your post and that's fine.
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1035244

Clearly M Division Chief Engineer sees it differently and that really is the point of my last post, and maybe it makes me feel a little better that it supports my choice

Last edited by kitesurfer; 09-23-2014 at 02:28 PM..
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      09-23-2014, 08:25 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kitesurfer View Post
Haha...Chill out...I'll give you pass for being a little grumpy as I see by your posts your now based down in "Disgusta", GA (as some like to call it). I'm down there a lot for work and it makes me grumpy too when I'm there .
Clearly you have been one of biggest supporters of the adaptive, you believe its the only "Only Must Have Option" according to your post and that's fine.
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1035244

Clearly M Division Chief Engineer sees it differently and that really is the point of my last post, and maybe it makes me feel a little better that it supports my choice
we all know that you just cant afford the extra 1k for it. you dont need to come up with excuses. just admit it!

not sure why you made this thread given your mind is already made up
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