BMW Crew: Adaptive Drive

Originally Posted by grilodan

I'll just point out that, again, some people here confuse Adaptive Drive with the Sport button being lit up. Adaptive Drive is ALWAYS on. When the Sport light is off, that just means it's in Comfort mode, not Sport. If you drive a car with AD, leave the light off, and you compare the quality of that ride with any other X5, you can't tell me with a straight face that the ride is better in the non-AD car. When you do turn Sport on, it's definitely sportier, but never harsh like the Sport or M suspension. The reality is that AD controls vertical motions - that busyness you feel on highways when bumpy" and because it includes Active Roll Stabilization, it just corners flat.

Sales people will tell you "why do you need to take corners flat in your SUV? Are you racing your SUV" and they are idiots for saying that. Adaptive Drive changed my perspective on the X5, I could never buy another BMW without Adaptive Drive again. It's optional all the way up to the 7-series, it's that good, and it's worth every penny. Especially in the X5. Get it.

That is very interesting and thank you for letting me know. I was advised that with AD, when the sport light is off, it will act the same as a NON AD vehicle. I was told this by the dealership.

That being said, I agree the ride on the AD is really good and probably the best of all worlds. The one I test drove had AS as well and so that's what I truly enjoyed about the vehicle/ride. But now that I know it's about a ~$5k option, I feel very content with our new lease that does NOT have AD and AS.

I do think that from now on I will look for a vehicle with AD and AS but still wonder if for around the same $, wouldn't the v8 be a better option? Of course we're now getting into preferences and opinions.

Thanks!

The dealers are worthless when it comes to AD. I have a very good friend who didn't listen to me, listened to the dealer, and believed that the new car he was buying without AD would drive the exact same as the car with AD he was trading in when the light was off. He was so disappointed that he sold the car at a huge loss 2 months later. It is not even close to the same ride.

Originally Posted by specialist23

if for around the same $, wouldn't the v8 be a better option?

Thanks!

I buy the car I want. Period. I dont spread around a pile of money most 'efficiently'.

If you want the power of a V8, buy the V8- if you want AD handling, buy that. But IMO it is really inappropriate to consider options as fungible and just seek to get 'the most of them' for your defined $$$. (Actually a big V8 impresses for the first couple of hundred fee, whereas AD impresses every mile you drive!)

I have other cars when I need to feel pressed into the seat, the diesel with AD is- for me a pretty perfect SUV.

Now, if you want to ask "what will retain the most value", it will be the V8- but that isnt a concern with a least. (And this is precisely why no dealer ever orders AD on a car they intend to sell off the lot)

GL,

Originally Posted by specialist23

I do think that from now on I will look for a vehicle with AD and AS but still wonder if for around the same $, wouldn't the v8 be a better option? Of course we're now getting into preferences and opinions.

Thanks!

Or just set your sights on an X5M. with AD, DPC, and servotronic, I think it offers the most dialed-in driving experience of all the E70 variants. M-Sport with AD and AS comes close but not harmonious as in the M, IMO.

AD rides incredibly smooth. Finally drove it today and is WAY smoother than the standard sport suspension delete. Both cars had 19inch Michelin RFTs.