Finally drove Adaptive Drive - Blown away

Brand new X5d, 19 inch michelin OEM RFT, Self level air suspension, Adaptive drive. Ride quality is absolutely stellar. Rolls over broken pavement extremely smoothly without tossing your head, and driving on smooth pavement literally feels like you are driving on glass. I am very impressed with the adaptive drive system and couldn't imagine getting an X5 without it. I really wasn't buying into it after I saw people say it was floaty, etc, but I am really blown away with how good the ride quality is.

And yes I had to make a new thread.

Its not floaty, like everything else, drive it yourself to formulate your own opinion

Haha. Proof of the AD pudding is in the driving.

So that pissant 'Expert reviewer' on car and drivel isn't?

A



Ps. Ya know, I wonder if all AD 19" diesels come with michelns??

The current AD is a little softer than the original version. I had AD in my 2007 X5, then 2008, 2010 & now in my 2012 model. The 2012 version is a little softer but BMW has given you more road feel thou.

Also the current model is not married as well to the Bridgestone tyres, Dunlops are the better choice for 20" rims, the Bridgestones have less grip, specially in the wet, the Dunlops seem more tuned to the AD suspension.

Originally Posted by ard

Haha. Proof of the AD pudding is in the driving.

So that pissant 'Expert reviewer' on car and drivel isn't?

A



Ps. Ya know, I wonder if all AD 19" diesels come with michelns??

Mine did.

Originally Posted by ard

Haha. Proof of the AD pudding is in the driving.

So that pissant 'Expert reviewer' on car and drivel isn't?

A



Ps. Ya know, I wonder if all AD 19" diesels come with michelns??

My 2009 X5 M-Sport Diesel came with 19" Continental RFT.

Member Grilodan got a 2013 X5 35i w/AD and he got it delivered with Conti RFTs on 19 inch wheels. The Conti 4x4 Contact is a terrible tire. Had a set in 2002 and they wore out in no time!

AD + Pirelli Scorpion Verde NON RFT tires = Heaven!

In my experience the AD on 2008 was "firmer" than on the current 2011, the later having a bit more body roll, but still can't imaging getting one without AD!

Softer AD is definitely WELCOME!

I still can't get over how well it rode.

It's pretty much a must-have option in my opinion (that, or the sport suspension). The standard setup on my father's X5 diesel is too squishy and soft. Heck, you can feel it pitch forward and back when accelerating and braking moderately.

It is just damn idiotic BMW has removed suspension out of sports package, and ask for 3K is back breaker cough another 3K

OP, what color is your D? I seem to recall we're in the same area.

Now go ahead and find and drive one with Active Steering. I was skeptical about AS, but combined with AD = complete driving harmony. Or try the X5M which has servotronic standard.

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Its not floaty, like everything else, drive it yourself to formulate your own opinion

Mine is smooth but definitely floaty. I am not a fan of that floaty feeling.

Originally Posted by tribecaX5

Mine is smooth but definitely floaty. I am not a fan of that floaty feeling.

I'm tempted to do another test drive after all these people coming out praising AD. I drove two cars with AD prior to ordering mine (without AD) that definitely had a very pronounced "floaty" feeling. One was an 09 M-Sport 30i and one was a 13 50i M-Sport. The 09 was unbearable to me. The 13 a little better but still there. Both cars had 19' Wheels with the same Continental tires.

I did Drive an 11 with AD with 20s. I didn't notice the float as much. I'm now wondering if it is possible the floaty feeling is from the tires or maybe lack of self leveling rear suspension when combined with AD. I didn't check the cars I drove for self leveling rear suspension.

Does your car have 19" M-sport staggered wheels or Self Leveling rear suspension?

Originally Posted by z51vette

I'm tempted to do another test drive after all these people coming out praising AD. I drove two cars with AD prior to ordering mine (without AD) that definitely had a very pronounced "floaty" feeling. One was an 09 M-Sport 30i and one was a 13 50i M-Sport. The 09 was unbearable to me. The 13 a little better but still there. Both cars had 19' Wheels with the same Continental tires.

I did Drive an 11 with AD with 20s. I didn't notice the float as much. I'm now wondering if it is possible the floaty feeling is from the tires or maybe lack of self leveling rear suspension when combined with AD. I didn't check the cars I drove for self leveling rear suspension.

Does your car have 19" M-sport staggered wheels or Self Leveling rear suspension?

Side note "z51vette" sent u a pm

I have only driven AD with self leveling rear suspension. All I notice is extremely good ride comfort and no lean while cornering. Love it.

First disclosure, I came from a 2003 Honda Accord V6 with sports tires (18".) This is my first BMW. I picked X5 more or less because of its utility vs. 3 series vs. X3.

On most surfaces, the car is smooth and feel more comfortable than Honda Accord. I can still feel some changes in the road surfaces. It just feel more comfortable while transmitting that information to me. I do appreciate that.

I am not sure if it was just the road or adaptive drive. There is a stretch of freeway 85 near San Jose area from 17 north bound that is paved with concrete. When I drove over that section, there seem to be some side motion/wobbling happening with the X5. That is kinda strange. I need to drive it with my old car to see if that is just the road or the car. On every other road I have taken, this was not an issue. It is the only time I noticed something feel less precise and connected between the car and the road. Other than that, the car has been very smooth. I am sure that 18" Michellin has something to do with that as well.

On the plus side, I can't feel any body roll.

There is diffinetely a difference in feeling when an AD X5 is on Bridgestone RFT against Dunlops RFT.

I have had four X5 E70's with AD, all have had Dunlop 20"RFT but this one has Bridgestone's, and it does not feel as stable.

I think the sidewalls of the bridgestones give more, so there is more movement you feel under cornering giving you the feeling the X5 is floating, it dips as the sidewalls flex?

Originally Posted by watrob

There is diffinetely a difference in feeling when an AD X5 is on Bridgestone RFT against Dunlops RFT.

I have had four X5 E70's with AD, all have had Dunlop 20"RFT but this one has Bridgestone's, and it does not feel as stable.

I think the sidewalls of the bridgestones give more, so there is more movement you feel under cornering giving you the feeling the X5 is floating, it dips as the sidewalls flex?

Very interesting description of the "float". Personally I was hoping z51vette could better describe what be meant by floaty feeling. Your description does make some sense to me but I still don't feel that (I'm on 19 inch rft michelins).

Do either of your AD cars have self level suspension?

Originally Posted by Kar Don

Very interesting description of the "float". Personally I was hoping z51vette could better describe what be meant by floaty feeling. Your description does make some sense to me but I still don't feel that (I'm on 19 inch rft michelins).

Do either of your AD cars have self level suspension?

All AD X5's will have self level suspension.

The X5M V8 & X5M M50d have different bushings to the rest of the X5's that have AD, the suspension is a little stiffer in its settings.

Originally Posted by Kar Don

Very interesting description of the "float". Personally I was hoping z51vette could better describe what be meant by floaty feeling. Your description does make some sense to me but I still don't feel that (I'm on 19 inch rft michelins).

Do either of your AD cars have self level suspension?

I actually, did not come up with this word. It was another member here that mentioned it, I forget which thread about AD. His description exactly fit what I experienced driving the cars with AD.

I can describe it like this. When you are on slightly uneven pavement, it feels like the car is somewhat disconnected from the road, like you are operating it through an interface with a damper between you and the road. You still feel all the bumps, but it seems like a sensation you would get in a boat. I should know, because I fish a lot and I'm very sensitive to seas. There is an ever so slight but very pronounced side to side and front to back motion when the system is working at reducing impact harshness. Mind you the bigger impacts still come through because the system firms up on them so you don't rock or bottom out but the slight undulations and someone mentioned, concrete pavement, it just sends it to this "floaty" state. Sort of like your shocks are shot, for a short moment. It's a sensation that I find unbearable. I think the AD system in the X5 is showing it's age. I drove an X3 with EDC, and it was completely lacking this feeling while still working very well to soften the ride in Comfort mode.

I can only speak for myself, but there is absolutely no floaty feeling in my 2009 X5 with staggered 19" wheels and continental RFT tyres..

Interestingly; The famous German magazine Auto Motor Sport found the aging BMW AD system much better than the new "AD" system in the new Mercedes ML..

If anybody is interested, I can post the links to several tests performed in Auto Motor Sport, regarding the X5 compared to other SUVs...Its in German, but its possible to translate via Google translate..

Originally Posted by gjohnsen

I can only speak for myself, but there is absolutely no floaty feeling in my 2009 X5 with staggered 19" wheels and continental RFT tyres..

Interestingly; The famous German magazine Auto Motor Sport found the aging BMW AD system much better than the new "AD" system in the new Mercedes ML..

If anybody is interested, I can post the links to several tests performed in Auto Motor Sport, regarding the X5 compared to other SUVs...Its in German, but its possible to translate via Google translate..

The AD system in the new ML is using Air suspension. AD in the X5 is still oil shocks. I have no float feeling in the 2012 X5d, it uses Flex ray bus which all the new F-series cars use anyway. As far as age, I believe the EDC and ARS in the new vehicles is essentially the same design as in the X5.