[BossBeamer]

Hey everyone, I'm kind of confused on this matter.

My brother is buying a '11 F10 535i m sport.

Does this car have the m suspension? I looked up the vin and I think it said it has adaptive suspension, so that isn't the M right? Which is better? Should he still get it, or should he find one with the m suspension if this doesn't have it??Does it make a difference?

[AP]

adaptive suspension isn't Msport suspension.
as to which to buy , only your brother can make that call. I've got msport suspension and am mostly happy with it (bar runflats but that's another conversation!), haven't driven one with adaptive so can't comment on that. search the forums here as there will be plenty of debate over these two but at the end of the day its the owner that needs to decide which they prefer.

[The X Men]

The adaptive suspension on sport is about the same as the m suspension as far as performance. The adaptive suspension is adjustable and the M suspension is not. You will find adaptive suspension just on the X-drive equipped 5 series and the M suspension on the RWD.

[BossBeamer]

Originally Posted by The X Men

The adaptive suspension on sport is about the same as the m suspension as far as performance. The adaptive suspension is adjustable and the M suspension is not. You will find adaptive suspension just on the X-drive equipped 5 series and the M suspension on the RWD.

This one is rear wheel drive. But that VIN search told me it has adaptive suspension, which is why we are confused.

Is the ride the same quality?

[ezmaass]

It depends on what your brother values.

The M Sport Suspension is a "passive" system while the adaptive suspension is "active." After driving the adaptive (dynamic handling package), I decided to go with it over a passive suspension. I like the idea that you can "dial-in" your comfort level. Sport on the adaptive system should give you a like-feeling firmness of the passive system. However, you can also dial it back down to Normal or Comfort if you're going into a city area or otherwise an area with poor road quality.

He should really drive both options and consider what he values.

[The X Men]

I agree ^

[Vinfast]

Passive M-sport suspension wasn't offered until 2013 on M-Sport packages.

[SonicEndeavor]

If he hasn't bought it yet yet he should really avoid the 2011's and go for a 2012. Owners have reported lots of problems with the 2011's.

[pillpusher84]

I have the adaptive suspension on my 2011 & 2014 5ers ... love it ... wouldn't buy another BMW without it

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by BossBeamer

I looked up the vin and I think it said it has adaptive suspension, so that isn't the M right?

When you say 'adaptive suspension' do you mean VDC - Variable Damper Control (or Dynamic Damping Control in the US) or Adaptive Drive (Dynamic Drive in the US)? I had the latter on my 2013 pre-LCI F10 M Sport (UK version) and it drove nothing like a passive M Sport (with M Sport suspension) in any of the adaptive (eco pro or comfort) or non-adaptive (comfort+ or sport/sport+) modes.

Passive M Sport suspension can at times display unwanted traits such as tramlining, understeer, etc., the Adaptive Drive removes these traits and does provide a generally smoother ride (although not perfect), but introduces it's own unwanted traits (IMO) such as even less road feel (especially when cornering), dampers do not always respond as you want them to or as fast as you want (e.g. when driving sedately and changing to more sporty driving), can feel underdamped say when taking it easy on motorway/highway, etc. (disengages the roll bars).

I'm pretty sensitive to such things, your brother may not be (and the road conditions may make a difference), however, I would seriously recommend that he test drives the various set ups before committing to anything (and ensures he tries all the settings).

HTH.

[ezmaass]

The Dynamic Handling Package includes adaptive drive and anti-roll stabilization. The DHP, if the car has it, is much more than just comfy / adjustable dampers, but it will also actively control roll in a corner. I'm not sure if you can order just the variable dampers here in the US without the DHP? Perhaps.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

The Dynamic Handling Package includes adaptive drive and anti-roll stabilization. The DHP, if the car has it, is much more than just comfy / adjustable dampers, but it will also actively control roll in a corner. I'm not sure if you can order just the variable dampers here in the US without the DHP? Perhaps.

Agreed that VDC/DDC may just be a non-US option.

US seems to get all the nice options bundled into cost effective packages, the rest of us (or UK at least) have to just cough up through individual options

[Vinfast]

I've had DDC on my 2011, and now passive M-sport on my 2014 550i. I very much prefer the passive M-sport suspension on the 2014. It handles much better than the sport setting on the DDC, and you don't have the huge fender gap as with the DDC. I never used the comfort and normal settings on my 2011 and had to put lowering springs to get the handling I wanted from the 2011 550i.

[BossBeamer]

Look at 2, 3, and 6. I don't understand if it has the passive m sport suspension or not..

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by BossBeamer

Look at 2, 3, and 6. I don't understand if it has the passive m sport suspension or not..

3 & 6 would imply that this car has adaptive dampers & active anti-roll bars (i.e. Adaptive Drive). That option deselects m sport suspension on f10 M Sport models (at least when m sports suspension is fitted as standard). Adaptive Drive is based on SE spec suspension, hence, the comment about ride height from Vinfast above (doesn't quite look right with M Sport body kit, as shown below).

This is the most advanced suspension technology BMW offer on the f10 - this car will handle better than one on SE spec suspension and will ride better than one on passive m sport suspension, what it may lack at times is consistency of response from the chassis, if that is of concern.

[remmib]

Originally Posted by BossBeamer

Look at 2, 3, and 6. I don't understand if it has the passive m sport suspension or not..

No m-sport suspension on that car.
If the car has EDC/VDC/DCC/Adaptiv drive/Dynamic drive/Dynamic handling package it will never have the 704 m-sport suspension.

Also US didn't get the 704 m-suspension until MY2013.

[JamRWS6]

I would take a DHP car over an M Sport suspension car. To me the ride quality is too harsh and rebound of the dampers is too quick for comfortable driving on the vaunted M Sport suspension cars.

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

3 & 6 would imply that this car has adaptive dampers & active anti-roll bars (i.e. Adaptive Drive). That option deselects m sport suspension on f10 M Sport models (at least when m sports suspension is fitted as standard). Adaptive Drive is based on SE spec suspension, hence, the comment about ride height from Vinfast above (doesn't quite look right with M Sport body kit, as shown below).

This is the most advanced suspension technology BMW offer on the f10 - this car will handle better than one on SE spec suspension and will ride better than one on passive m sport suspension, what it may lack at times is consistency of response from the chassis, if that is of concern.

I have a 2011 M-Sport .... in 2011 .. if you opted for M-Sport $6500 US package ... it included DHP by default. For 2012+ M-Sport & DHP were 2 separate options.

Therefore if you have a 2011 with M-Sport that you are considering purchasing, it DOES NOT have the passive m-sport suspension, it has the dynamic suspension, which is better in my opinion.

[ezmaass]

The DHP is excellent... I would definitely suggest it for anyone who values adjusting the ride comfort, but don't also overlook the anti-roll which is equally amazing in the DHP cars.

[fung0001]

The more you can choose
The more you need to pay for repair

[stampeder]

I agree with fung0001. The more adaptive equipment you have especially in equipment such as suspension, the more reliable the vehicle will be and less things can go wrong. For suspension, I would personally prefer passive equipment as the car would be more predictable and more connected to the driver. It is a personal taste though.

[ezmaass]

I would drive both cars. The DHP with adaptive drive and anti-roll is quickly becoming one of the things I love best about my 550. I was on the fence about this (always drove passive sport suspension cars, so habits die hard...), and during a test drive I really couldn't push the DHP (without scaring the CA!). Having been in the car for a few days now, and pushing it a few hundred miles today over various types of road conditions, I'm more impressed with this suspension than any other I've ever driven - hands down.

It's like having two cars in one - the car's steering, dampers, and throttle will all adjust when you switch modes (e.g. Comfort --> Sport). The dampers, on poor roads, proved they were every bit as comfortable as you'd expect from a luxury sedan in Comfort mode, and the car was stiff and well behaved on twisty back-roads when put into Sport mode.

But this isn't just about the dampers. The anti-roll stabilization that's part of DHP, especially on a car that weighs 4400lbs, is really amazing. The system will actively counter the forces of body roll when you corner in spirited driving, allowing the car to remain relatively flat through corners. It's almost an odd sensation at first, but I think it truly makes a relatively large car feel and behave much "smaller" than it is.

At the end of the day - drive them both.