[Vk985]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking to do a custom build on an i5(xDrive40 or M60) and could use some help understanding the suspension options and their functions. My goal is to have a suspension that stiffens up (and possibly lowers the ride height) when I activate Sport mode.

Here’s what I’ve gathered so far:

For the i5 xDrive40, there’s an "M Sport Suspension" included in the $3,000 M Sport Package.

For the i5 M60, the standard features include:
- "Adaptive Suspension with electronically controlled dampers"
- "Adaptive Suspension Professional"

Additionally, the M60 has a $3,600 Dynamic Handling Package, which includes "Adaptive M Suspension Professional"

I’m trying to understand if any of these 4 suspension options are the same or if they each offer something different. Any insights into what each option does, especially regarding stiffness and ride height in Sport mode, would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[RichardInCA]

The suspension stiffens up in sport mode on the i5M60 regardless of options.

The Dynamic Handling Package gives you the electronically adjusted sway bars that both level the car and permit the left and ride side suspension to be disconnected and smooth over the ride without causing the car to jostle from side to side. It wasn’t available when I ordered mine but it is supposed to be quite effective.

[Tommy_hf]

If you can spec the suspension, definately do it. I have driven about 1000 km in a loaner with only the M-sport suspension and it felt heavy, understeered, not nimble. As if you're trying to manoeuvre an oil tanker. Day and night difference with my car which has the Adaptive M pro suspension with 48v anti roll bars and 4 wheel steering. Try one with and without, you'll notice this within the first 5 turns already.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by Tommy_hf

If you can spec the suspension, definately do it. I have driven about 1000 km in a loaner with only the M-sport suspension and it felt heavy, understeered, not nimble. As if you're trying to manoeuvre an oil tanker. Day and night difference with my car which has the Adaptive M pro suspension with 48v anti roll bars and 4 wheel steering. Try one with and without, you'll notice this within the first 5 turns already.

This might be market dependent but rear wheel steering is standard on the m60 in the US. This is the important feature that will make the car feel smaller. The active roll bars help on corners or going over large undulations in the road to keep the car flatter.

[Vk985]

Originally Posted by RichardInCA

The suspension stiffens up in sport mode on the i5M60 regardless of options.

The Dynamic Handling Package gives you the electronically adjusted sway bars that both level the car and permit the left and ride side suspension to be disconnected and smooth over the ride without causing the car to jostle from side to side. It wasn’t available when I ordered mine but it is supposed to be quite effective.

Does the $3600 option also lower the car height under sport mode then?

[Blue Sky]

Good timing, I was just going to ask if anyone had demo’ed the dynamic handling package?

The sport suspension is not adaptive if I remember correctly, and I think is not adjustable so there are complaints on the boards about it being too stiff for some.

The dynamic handling package adds the aforementioned active roll bars, which is BMW tech I had on my E60, so it’s been around for a while. It also adds “M” to the active suspension pro so presumably these are different dampers or maybe a different tuning of the same dampers. I read somewhere that it lowers the car slightly as well.

[Mattl0806]

Specific to US markets…

So adaptive dampers - which means the ability to adjust the stiffness of the ride - is standard on the m60. The optional professional setup only gets you the active sway bar- which keeps the car flatter. As already stated the rear wheel steering is also standard on the m60.

I could be wrong here bc I don’t know the lower trims as well, but I don’t believe you can get adaptive dampers on the i5 40. So the stiffness of that car would not be adjustable. You also cannot get rear wheel steering or the active sway bars. So the suspension setup on the lower trims is far less feature rich or adjustable…