Dif between all the "sport suspensions"?

They are all the same w/ the exception of the M3-- it has its own suspension. the Xi also has a different SP suspension due to its higher ride height. BTW, the 325 w/ sp or 325ci are also the same suspension. Sport paket 2 is a euro-only option- but I'm pretty sure its just the other options that get included (like black headliner, M steering wheel, etc), and the suspension is still the same. Not sure what you mean by "marketing hype" since I don't think BMW tries to say that they have different suspensions. I guess the sport package on all 330s is a little hyped since its really an appearance package- all 330s already have a sport suspension (but regular 330s come w/ all season tires as opposed to high performance ones). Hope this helps.

Note that the M Sport package is available here in Canada.

Also don't confuse sports package with sport suspension (which is often quoted as an included item in a "sports package").

Here is what I have found published on the web and in my brochure...

"Sport Suspension Calibration (lowered by 15mm RWD only)" - standard on 330i
"Sport Suspension" - part of the sp for the 325i, 325Cic, 330cic
"Sport Suspension" - as part of the M sp for the 325Cic, 330Cic
"Sport Suspension II" - as part of the M sp for the 325Ci, 330Ci
- There is no mention of any sport suspension for the 325/330xi (sp or otherwise)

So I still don't think I've gotten to the bottom of this. If robg is correct, then there is no difference, but according to the literature, they lead you to believe there are four different setups:
1. No sport suspension
2. Sport suspension (lowered by 15mm?)
3. Sport suspension II (?)
4. M3 suspension

Is it marketing speak or are there some real differences?

I am particularly interested in the sport suspension II since that is apparently included with my 330ci with M sport package.

Well-
I fully agree that 1,2 and 4 exist and are separate. I'd also add 1 more-- XI suspension-- I can't remmebr if there is also a separate sport suspension for the XI- or if the XI sports package is just an appearance package.

The main question is if there is a sport suspension II. I've read vague things about that before-- but nothing conclusive.

robg said:

I'd also add 1 more-- XI suspension-- I can't remmebr if there is also a separate sport suspension for the XI- or if the XI sports package is just an appearance package.

Click to expand...

No sport suspension for xi's. The package is just 17" wheels, sport seats and 3 spoke steering wheel. Plus on 330 you get aero package.

robg said:

Well-
The main question is if there is a sport suspension II. I've read vague things about that before-- but nothing conclusive.

Click to expand...

Yes... what is the Sport Suspension II? Can anyone with a parts CD lookup the suspension parts for a M-sport package equipped car (UK or Canada) and determine if there are any differences?

VirtualRain-

You might try sending a private messge or email to VinceTopasBlau (I think that's his handle). He has the ETK parts CD. You sound like you're really curious about it. You may also want to buy this CD--- I believe Bavarian Auto sells it-- but just search this boards archives you'll come across a link for a site that sells the CD-- its only about $50 if I remember correctly. Good luck finding out about the Sport Suspension II-- share what you find. My hazy memory is starting to come more into focus on this issue and I'm about 98% sure that there is such a beast and that it IS different than the regular sport suspension. I"m positive this has been discussed at one point on .org-- try giving those archives a search.

Thanks Robg. I will look into it further and I will share what I find with the rest of the group.

I'm amazed that I have found a subject that is not widely discussed or known (a search of the archives reveals no useful facts).

In fact, I find it shocking that on some boards, suspension mods are a rampant subject, but not a single person there has any clue as to what the various stock suspensions consist of or how they are tuned. Perplexing.

Alex Baumann said:

@virtualrain

Did you get my e-mail ? sent it to your hotmail account.

Alex

Click to expand...

Yes. Thanks. I hope you don't mind if I share your findings here...

Alex wrote....

Here's the information I got :

1-Sport Suspension is standard on Coupes.

2-There's an optional sport suspension (Order Code 226) which is more stiffer than the standard sport suspension (I don't know if it's available in the USA & Canada)

3-The sport suspension which is a part of the M II Sport package is the same as the sport suspension with the order code 226. (You mentioned M Sport Package in your post. I'm not sure if you referred to M II Package)

No prob sharing it.

M II package, which is available in Europe, includes the #226 sport suspension. On the other hand, it can be ordered here in Germany & Europe without the M II package too.

In both cases it's stiffer than the 'standard' sport suspension.

Alex

EDIT : However, they told me at the dealer that one can order other setups with more stiffer suspension from the BMW program. I didn't ask about the details though.

I just checked my BMW Canada order sheet...

924 M Sport Package (includes...)
- 226 Sport Suspension
- 481 Sport Seats
- 710 M Multi-Function Leather Sport Steering Wheel
- 716 M Aerodynamic Package
- 760 High-Gloss Shadow Line
- 772 Black Aluminum Cube Trim
- 775 Antracite Roof Liner
- 788 68M Wheels

So, it looks like my M Sport Package has this stiffer 226 suspension. Alex (or anyone else), can you comment on the difference in feel between the 226 and normal sport suspension? What about ride height?

Hi,

Yes, it will definitely have the stiffer suspension.

since I have never driven one with the 'standard' sport suspension, I can't speculate on that.

If you want to see how the ride height looks with 18" wheels check the pics on my website.

Alex

PS: I like the 226 suspension. Most people found it stiff, but I like the way it drives.

Alex

EDIT : Since you're in Canada, I would like to have the guys in the US to check their order sheets, to see if they have the 226 suspension. just being curios.

Has anyone monitoring this thread driven both a standard sport suspension and a #226 suspension (which appears to be part of the M Sport Package in Canada and Europe)?

I would be very interested in your subjective views of the stiffness and handling.

(Mean time, I am going to investigate the actual parts - stay tuned).

Sorry to have to resurrect this thread, but after a search of the archives this is the best post I could come up with , but there are still some holes.

My question: SP vs. SPII. what is the difference in components? Is it just stiffer springs?

Reason I ask is a friend really liked SPII so he is leaning towards the 325Ci //M package instead of the 330Ci without //M. I think that this should (based on it just being a difference in springs) be a really easy after market upgrade (and relatively cheap?), so I would be inclined to push him to the 330.

What would I need to do to a stock coupe to get SPII equivalent and how much would it cost?

Thanks!!

virtualrain said:

Has anyone monitoring this thread driven both a standard sport suspension and a #226 suspension (which appears to be part of the M Sport Package in Canada and Europe)?

I would be very interested in your subjective views of the stiffness and handling.

(Mean time, I am going to investigate the actual parts - stay tuned).

Click to expand...

I drove the M-Sport Pkg equipped 330CIC yesterday and it sure felt a HECK of a lot tighter than I remember my sport suspension being. It felt great, but it's been awhile since I've been in a new sport suspension equipped car.

(My car currently has RD sways, UUC springs & blown OE shocks so it's no comparison) But if memory serves me correct, it really felt stiff... In a good way. This should be offered as an option.

Visually it wasn't any lower.

- JP

I just checked with my Sales dude, and he confirmed that the only difference between the Sport Suspension, and the Sport Suspension II is that the springs are different/tigher on the ///M version.

He also went into gory detail about how the Camber/Castor is very different between the M3 and the 330, but these differences are not part of the ///M package for the 3 series.

Hope that helps.

Sports Suspension

Well, after reading all posts on this subject, I have no idea how I can check the number of my suspension on my 330ci sans SP. The ride is sufficiently hard to suit me. I would have liked the seats on the
SP but dislike odd size rims and tires. So I settled for the standard sports suspension.

The leading edge or front of seat cannot be adjusted in vertical plane (uo and down) like on my 528. This I find somewhat annoying and uncomfortable..

That and the unfriendly and unreliable Nav unit are my only thumbs down after 2,000 miles and a little over a month of use. I am sure BMW NA will get the Nav units working sooner or later. This is one heck of a fine piece of machinery. Beats the 528 all hollow. Sometimes smaller is better.