Abnormally Hard Suspension???

I have a 2008 335xi pre LCI and the suspension seems to be really hard!! I have stock 17'rims and when i go over any medium size pothole or bump it feels like a ran over a cement block!!!

I don't get it! Is it time for new tires? (bought the car this last June from VOB BMW) Or is there something wrong with my suspension? Are all 335xi's like this??

I've driven several newer models 09' 328is and a 2011 335i convertible (with sports package) and they seem SO SMOOTH compared to mine. I hate the roads here in the D.C. area, Maryland. I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for me to do

Search the forum for "pothole explosion" and you'll see that this is a common complaint. Unfortunately.

It's all part of BMW's goal of having the driver, "feel the road"!

Originally Posted by Bamafn1

It's all part of BMW's goal of having the driver, "feel the road"!

Ain't that the truth! You get used to avoiding potholes.

Completely normal for the early years of the E90. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by Spartan Eagle

I have a 2008 335xi pre LCI and the suspension seems to be really hard!! I have stock 17'rims and when i go over any medium size pothole or bump it feels like a ran over a cement block!!!

Do you have sport suspension?

I don't get it! Is it time for new tires? (bought the car this last June from VOB BMW) Or is there something wrong with my suspension? Are all 335xi's like this??

The runflat tires certainly don't help.

I've driven several newer models 09' 328is and a 2011 335i convertible (with sports package) and they seem SO SMOOTH compared to mine. I hate the roads here in the D.C. area, Maryland. I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for me to do

If the 328is you drove were the non-sport version, that explains the better ride.

Starting in the 2011 models I believe (based on what I read and what I test drove) the sport suspension in the 3 has been much improved.

BTW, the BMW road feel should be received by our hands through the steering wheel, not by our teeth through our aging spines.

Even BMW agrees with you, which is why they changed the suspension in the LCI convertibles and coupes (2011 and later). The ride is significantly better. Edmunds Inside Line said:

One more subtle change to be seen first in this 2011 BMW 335i is the use of Sachs dampers at all corners. The objective is a more linear cycle of compression and rebound across the low-speed bumps in town, as well as over the high-speed bumps of the highway. The system of coil spring and piston within the dampers has given way to a stack of thin washerlike discs that produce more progressive fluid flow and less vibration over everyday pavement imperfections. (GM has used this technology in the U.S. for years.) We can attest that we felt the difference and also that none of the goodness on the sporty side of the equation has been lost.

Originally Posted by dtc100

Do you have sport suspension?



The runflat tires certainly don't help.



If the 328is you drove were the non-sport version, that explains the better ride.

Starting in the 2011 models I believe (based on what I read and what I test drove) the sport suspension in the 3 has been much improved.

BTW, the BMW road feel should be received by our hands through the steering wheel, not by our teeth through our aging spines.

It's a 335Xi, so it doesn't have sport suspension by definition. The 328s being non-ZSP doesn't explain anything (suspension-wise), except that the stock 16s would have more sidewall

Originally Posted by 1985mb

It's a 335Xi, so it doesn't have sport suspension by definition. The 328s being non-ZSP doesn't explain anything (suspension-wise), except that the stock 16s would have more sidewall

I know you'd have loved to tell me I was wrong about the 2011 sport suspension being improved

There was a huge difference between a 2011 328i non-sport, and a 2010 328i sport, both had 17" wheels, when I drove them back to back, so we are even

Sorry, but Bmw is not for you then.

I heard Lexus is having great end of the year sales.

Originally Posted by dtc100

I know you'd have loved to tell me I was wrong about the 2011 sport suspension being improved

There was a huge difference between a 2011 328i non-sport, and a 2010 328i sport, both had 17" wheels, when I drove them back to back, so we are even

The OP talks about 09 328s so any MY11 differences are moot. I'm not denying improvements were made, but it's irrelevant to the discussion unless they were made by MY09

Wtf are we even about? And how did a non-zsp 328 demo have 17s?

Originally Posted by BMWFTW91

Sorry, but Bmw is not for you then.

I heard Lexus is having great end of the year sales.

Yeah, that's right. If somebody has a complaint about the BMW ride quality tell them to buy a Lexus. Not too much of a fanboy response...

My personal opinion about ride comfort, at least prior to the 2011 (I understand there were changes, but I've honestly not driven one long enough to notice) is that the xi ride quality is actually less pleasant than either the ZSP or base suspension. I can't prove it, and this is purely a subjective personal impression, but I've been totally unimpressed by the brittle feel of the xdrive over bumps. That is in a sedan vs. sedan comparison.

My wagon is a different issue, because I think the base suspension on the wagon is not a whole lot more supple than the xdrive or ZSP on the sedan. I'm not complaining because the car is ideal for my needs, but the ride quality is a bit meh.

Although I don't think any of the current E9x suspensions are really uncomfortable (at least not for my needs), I do think it is fair to suggest that we don't have the ideal ride/handling compromise of some past generations. That could be a runflat issue, but I've been in ZSP sedans with GFTs and I don't think the ride is all that much better.

OP, if you are really unhappy with the ride, the tires would be a place to start. Assuming basics, like the tires not being over inflated, you could either switch to GFTs or the new 3rd gen RFTs (which, supposedly, offer a much cushier ride). Check out the RFTs Potenzas at TireRack (I believe they can be special ordered by Costco as well).

Hope the car works out well for you, one way or the other.

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Yeah, that's right. If somebody has a complaint about the BMW ride quality tell them to buy a Lexus. Not too much of a fanboy response...
.

Actually the best thing to do is to ride around in dad's Benz or mom's Cadillac

Originally Posted by 1985mb

The OP talks about 09 328s so any MY11 differences are moot. I'm not denying improvements were made, but it's irrelevant to the discussion unless they were made by MY09

This is not a final exam, people can expand on the subject. Besides, the OP was comparing his MY08 (fyi, his is not MY09) to at least one MY11.

What have you done to stay on the topic? Asking the OP to drive his mama's car, didn't seem more on-topic than the others.

Wtf are we even about? And how did a non-zsp 328 demo have 17s?

Because it was a MY11 non-sport.

Originally Posted by 1985mb

Actually the best thing to do is to ride around in dad's Benz or mom's Cadillac

I know you are an excellent poster and one of those guys that I frequently disagree with (but always admire). But, I find these kind of arguments to be just silly. It is possible to objectively recognize that the ride of the E9x (particularly in xdrive config) is not idea without being more suited for a barge luxo cruiser.

And, btw, the CTS and M-B C-class offer ride and handling that is easily on par with the 3-series so even that aspect of your post is a bit off. If your mom's caddy is a CTS, it probably handles better than some iterations of the E9x line.

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

I know you are an excellent poster and one of those guys that I frequently disagree with (but always admire). But, I find these kind of arguments to be just silly. It is possible to objectively recognize that the ride of the E9x (particularly in xdrive config) is not idea without being more suited for a barge luxo cruiser.

And, btw, the CTS and M-B C-class offer ride and handling that is easily on par with the 3-series so even that aspect of your post is a bit off. If your mom's caddy is a CTS, it probably handles better than some iterations of the E9x line.

Kilgore,

I think you missed the sarcasm.

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Kilgore,

I think you missed the sarcasm.

CA

Sigh. I do that a lot. Apology to all involved.

Some days I'm just too damn dense for my own good.

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Sigh. I do that a lot. Apology to all involved.

Some days I'm just too damn dense for my own good.

To your defense, sometimes it is difficult to determine, whether one sentence is meant to be a joke, when the next sentence starts with "wtf."

If you have run flats; changing to non run flats will make a big difference. I like it much better with the non run flats.

Originally Posted by BMWFTW91

Sorry, but Bmw is not for you then.

I heard Lexus is having great end of the year sales.

Yeah. Lexus is having its usual end of the year sale event.

Tell 'em to line up Thursday night!

BMW-harsh suspensions? Sheet. The suspension of my dd will take wimps and turn 'em into real men!!

Originally Posted by hpowders

Yeah. Lexus is having its usual end of the year sale event.

Tell 'em to line up Thursday night!

BMW-harsh suspensions? Sheet. The suspension of my dd will take wimps and turn 'em into real men!!

My Cts has the FE3 suspension, which is one of the harshest suspensions GM offers in their vehicles. You do not see me complaining.

Originally Posted by hpowders

Yeah. Lexus is having its usual end of the year sale event.

Tell 'em to line up Thursday night!

BMW-harsh suspensions? Sheet. The suspension of my dd will take wimps and turn 'em into real men!!

I actually just passed by my local Lexus Dealer and I already see people camping outside the dealer.

They all seem to be pulling into the dealer with Bmw's , so I guess they listened tp us.

Originally Posted by BMWFTW91

My Cts has the FE3 suspension, which is one of the harshest suspensions GM offers in their vehicles. You do not see me complaining

After driving a 911 with 19", the BMW with sport suspension feels like a yacht.

I take my suspensions straight up. Builds character.

Originally Posted by BMWFTW91

My Cts has the FE3 suspension, which is one of the harshest suspensions GM offers in their vehicles. You do not see me complaining.

The CTS-V with the magnetic dampers has a much more compliant ride than the 3 Series sport suspension.
BMW should license that technology from GM like Ferrari did,

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

The CTS-V with the magnetic dampers has a much more compliant ride than the 3 Series sport suspension.
BMW should license that technology from GM like Ferrari did,

CA

I was just going to say that Ferrari already has....