[jlee]

I just got my x3m a couple of weeks ago and during my test drive it thought it was ok but I must have been on pretty smooth roads the whole time.

I'm finding the ride to be stiffer than the M3 CS I had which makes sense since they were trying to reduce body roll which a much higher center of gravity and weight but it is stiff and bouncy.

Would love to find a way to soften it up a couple of notches.

[GmanJeff]

20" wheels and tires will likely ride better than tires on the 21" wheels, if you happened to have opted for those. Tire Rack (https://www.tirerack.com/content/tir.../homepage.html) may be able to provide some insight into specific tires which might have less stiff sidewalls than others.

You may also to be able to adjust your tire pressures a bit to obtain a slightly softer ride, but probably ought not to go more than a few psi below the factory recommendations as more than that may materially degrade performance and tire life.

[gatorfast]

Short of changing suspension components, the easiest way would be to downsize wheel size and increase tire aspect ratio. You would be surprised how much the ride quality improved going from 21" wheels to 20" or below.

[itsmabs]

Are the 21s weight an issue as well, 65lbs+ per wheel sounds like a lot, but I'm no expert. I definitely am waiting to see some future suspension mods. Want it lower, but curious if they will also soften it up a bit.

There's one speed bump, the front goes over fine but the back comes crashing down like I took a jump or something. Just a touch softer and this car would be perfect.

[dazzapb]

Rumour has it the suspension beds In after a few K miles

Also I run my tyres just below spec so around 31 psi

I do believe Dinan or some other company will provide a suspension flash soon to soften comfort

[AlexFL]

You can look for aftermarket air shocks that fit.

[r33_RGSport]

I have been talking to MSS in UK.
They said that they have finalized the spring kit to make it rides better.
I have 1 on pre-order.

Once installed, I will give an update.

But, it does gets better after a thousand miles. Just not over the bump. Especially the rear.

[itsmabs]

Looking forward to see how that goes. Seems like dinan is working on springs, but didn't sound like a suspension tune.

[sayemthree]

trade it in for a Lexus

[dazzapb]

I'm at 700 miles and I noticed a improvement. Happier and so glad I took the deal she's a beast

[Waterbelly]

Driving with the suspension in "Sport" rather than "Efficient" makes it smoother. Better damping - for things exactly like your crashing over the speed bump. Try it out, you will be surprised.

[Wills2]

I find the ride and damping to be very good it's got better as a few miles have gone on, check the tyre pressures make sure they are not pumped up from the dealer as mine were to 40 psi should be 33, only thing it doesn't like are cats eyes and sharp ridges everything else it deals with.

[ricosan]

I have about 3k miles on my car now. The stiff ride did concern me when I first picked it up but after 3 months and 3k miles it “smothed out”. I thought about the 20” wheels but went with the 21s as I personally felt theylooked so much better.
Be patient, the ride gets better.
Richard

[itsmabs]

I took it for a long ride in some back roads when I first got it, very comically it reminded me of the landing in airplane 2.

It does get better, and the tips about drive mode and tires are good ones that help. That said comfort mode is a fail, and they could of done better with it. At the min better rebounding, it bounces up and down way too much. Sports is the more comfortable ride.

Personally I really like the car, but it is the harshest M suspension I've ever owned. Aftermarket parts are all about tailoring a car to your personal tastes, I look forward to some suspension upgrades in this area.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Waterbelly

Driving with the suspension in "Sport" rather than "Efficient" makes it smoother. Better damping - for things exactly like your crashing over the speed bump. Try it out, you will be surprised.

I agree with this. There's something not right about Efficient in that it's still very firm but bouncy at at speed when hitting dips and seems to crash more over rough pavement. Sport is much smoother on all surfaces especially at higher speeds.

[Thewolfbmw]

Just want to echo a few others....I have 2k on the clock and I have noticed it has slightly softened, not as jarring.

[allan1630]

I think the ride is good..way better than I was expecting.

[Influence]

Originally Posted by jlee

I just got my x3m a couple of weeks ago and during my test drive it thought it was ok but I must have been on pretty smooth roads the whole time.

I'm finding the ride to be stiffer than the M3 CS I had which makes sense since they were trying to reduce body roll which a much higher center of gravity and weight but it is stiff and bouncy.

Would love to find a way to soften it up a couple of notches.

Did you get a regular or Competition model? The Comp is definitely worse than the base, though as others have suggested changing the suspension to "Sport" while technically a "stiffer" ride is actually more composed, with better rebound characteristics.

Base X3Ms definitely ride better (more relaxed) in comfort than sport mode, at least from 2 pretty extensive back-to-back drives I did with base vs. competition models. Still borderline too rough in my opinion, but I don't have glass-smooth roads to drive on all the time.

However, I don't know if just changing springs will do the trick. The adaptive dampers will need to be reprogrammed to match those spring rates otherwise you could have additional ride/handling issues. Sort of like what Dinan has done with their spring and "Shockware" (adaptive damper software) products. I wonder if Dinan (or anyone else) is working on a combo kit.

[redcrxsi]

I don’t have extensive time in a comp model, only test drive, I found the base with 20’s much better with very little if any compromise in handling certainly not that I could feel on the street. That’s not to say it’s plush riding like a GT but deals with rough roads ok and isn’t too punishing. Tire pressure 35psi. Not much of a fan on how the 20’s look but figure I’ll make them my winter wheels next year and get some wider after market 20’s.

[itsmabs]

So there tends to be two camps, those who think it's stiff and those who think it's just fine. I'd be curious where each live. I think if you live in the Northeast you might have a different opinion due to the crumby roads. Those are the roads I find myself with a gripe, not my normal driving, and definitely not highway driving.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by itsmabs

So there tends to be two camps, those who think it's stiff and those who think it's just fine. I'd be curious where each live. I think if you live in the Northeast you might have a different opinion due to the crumby roads. Those are the roads I find myself with a gripe, not my normal driving, and definitely not highway driving.

I was in Cleveland for a few months and I wouldn't enjoy the X3M on those roads.

LA can be bad at times and the interior noise can be "boomy" but with less than 300 miles on the dock I don't want to hold judgement entirely yet. I do dig the power on tap though.

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by dazzapb

I'm at 700 miles and I noticed a improvement. Happier and so glad I took the deal she's a beast

I think you butt just got harder. 😄

This is going to be the trait of all x3 m owners. Tough Ass