M-Sport or non-M-Sport?

[Argyll Andy]

The main thing I really dislike about the SE, particularly as I drive an Msport X5 daily - the skinny steering wheel.

Totally agree on the steering wheel, I swapped mine out for a Msport one with the newer paddleshift (mines an auto) and had it refurbished by Royal Steering wheels, they thickened it also, far more comfortable

Christ, what’s that doing outside?/

[Zed Baron]

Christ, what’s that doing outside?/

never get time to use it Andy , got another two cars sitting there. She's 14 years old this year with 37k on the clock and drives like new. A bit of fun when the sun eventually comes out.

[Silverstar]

As others have said the M Sport is just a trim level. The sport seats are nice but were available as an option so many SE spec cars have them, comes with a thicker steering wheel with black spokes but I wouldn’t call the standard SE wheel thin, M sport also has M liveried door sills and a black roof lining as opposed to cream / beige in the SE. On the outside different bumpers front and back, front ones nice not so sure about the back, looks like a bit is missing unless it’s a 35is with the colour coded valance, I think most M sport cars have 19” alloys whereas SE may or may not and finally M Sport has slightly lowered stiffer suspension but from what I’ve seen and heard just makes the ride stiff and harsh without adding much to the handling to compensate. It would be very rare to find a 30i with adaptive suspension if at all, adaptive suspension do fail amd is very expensive to fix, can’t say how much better a car equipped with adaptive will ride and handle as opposed to the standard suspension though.

[jr795]

As others have said the M Sport is just a trim level. The sport seats are nice but were available as an option so many SE spec cars have them, comes with a thicker steering wheel with black spokes but I wouldn’t call the standard SE wheel thin, M sport also has M liveried door sills and a black roof lining as opposed to cream / beige in the SE. On the outside different bumpers front and back, front ones nice not so sure about the back, looks like a bit is missing unless it’s a 35is with the colour coded valance, I think most M sport cars have 19” alloys whereas SE may or may not and finally M Sport has slightly lowered stiffer suspension but from what I’ve seen and heard just makes the ride stiff and harsh without adding much to the handling to compensate. It would be very rare to find a 30i with adaptive suspension if at all, adaptive suspension do fail amd is very expensive to fix, can’t say how much better a car equipped with adaptive will ride and handle as opposed to the standard suspension though.

Thanks for the info, sounds like a 30i SE is the best option for me