Sport vs SE ride
- Thread starter MikeyH
- Start date
Devon
I'm pretty sure the Sport suspension makes the car sit 15mm lower, so it has to be stiffer to make up for having less travel.
But the M-Sport seats are so much better suited in what is after all a sports car. Which is probably why used ones can sell for up to £1,000 if heated and electric!
Looking back if I could spec my ideal 3.0Si Coupe I'd look for an SE with the M-Sport seat option.
But the M-Sport seats are so much better suited in what is after all a sports car. Which is probably why used ones can sell for up to £1,000 if heated and electric!
Looking back if I could spec my ideal 3.0Si Coupe I'd look for an SE with the M-Sport seat option.
My car was SE specified when i bought it, almost entirely down to the Henry Catchpole EVO review of the car which suggested sticking with SE springs! It was softer than the sport versions I’d tried, but truthfully not massively so. I’ve since swapped to sport springs and B6 dampers for tighter control - i initially swapped the original (by then knackered) SE dampers for the B6s but it didn’t seem quite right. Moving to the sport dampers, comfort was not massively altered but it seemed more controlled - the sport springs working better with the B6 dampers. My guess is that the SE dampers are notably softer valves than the sport dampers, and that probably makes the bigger different to comfort than the springs themselves, noting they do sit 15mm higher.
Southwestz4
Member
I believe all the 3.0L are on m sport lower suspension... even if they are an se model
It was always an option to 'downgrade' to SE springs. So you can have si trim with SE springs.Southwestz4 said:
Probably made more sense in the German marketing department...!
If you want a soft ride just buy a good car and swap it out, rather than limiting your search to standard springs only.MikeyH said:
Southwestz4
Member
I ditched the run flats as soon as I got my z4, went for Michelin pilot 4s...much better.
Any car of this type is going to be firm.
I also binned the run flats on our x5 too !
Any car of this type is going to be firm.
I also binned the run flats on our x5 too !
The car I bought eventually was from someone on this forum and it had new shocks and non runflat Avons and the ride is just right. Firmish but okay over bumps, I can feel them but it's not uncomfortable and not crashy. The mind boggles at why BMW put runflats on in the first place, marketing I suppose.Southwestz4 said:I ditched the run flats as soon as I got my z4, went for Michelin pilot 4s...much better.
Any car of this type is going to be firm.
I also binned the run flats on our x5 too !
MikeyH said:The car I bought eventually was from someone on this forum and it had new shocks and non runflat Avons and the ride is just right. Firmish but okay over bumps, I can feel them but it's not uncomfortable and not crashy. The mind boggles at why BMW put runflats on in the first place, marketing I suppose.Southwestz4 said:I ditched the run flats as soon as I got my z4, went for Michelin pilot 4s...much better.
Any car of this type is going to be firm.
I also binned the run flats on our x5 too !
I read years back that BMW designed the car with 'normal' tyres in mind but opted to RFTs at a late stage. My 3.0SE has sports suspension, Goodyear F1 Asy's and the ride is fine.
Mr Tidy's right about the seats, the SE seats not only lack support but don't have much padding. I've read some comments that people thought the sports seats are too narrow. It's all relative I suppose.
Yes mine has the sport seats but in an SE 2.2i car and they are a bit narrow but luckily I'm small so no problem but they are not easy to get comfortable in. The backs seem to lack a roundness to them so my back doesn't have much support. But I'm getting used to them and it is a small price to pay for owning such a nice car.Sticks said:MikeyH said:The car I bought eventually was from someone on this forum and it had new shocks and non runflat Avons and the ride is just right. Firmish but okay over bumps, I can feel them but it's not uncomfortable and not crashy. The mind boggles at why BMW put runflats on in the first place, marketing I suppose.Southwestz4 said:I ditched the run flats as soon as I got my z4, went for Michelin pilot 4s...much better.
Any car of this type is going to be firm.
I also binned the run flats on our x5 too !
I read years back that BMW designed the car with 'normal' tyres in mind but opted to RFTs at a late stage. My 3.0SE has sports suspension, Goodyear F1 Asy's and the ride is fine.
Mr Tidy's right about the seats, the SE seats not only lack support but don't have much padding. I've read some comments that people thought the sports seats are too narrow. It's all relative I suppose.
MikeyH said:
You say you have the sport seats, but BMW confused things no end by calling the standards seats (and in SE facelifts) as "Sport seats", whereas the ones in facelift Sport models or optional in pre-facelifts are described as "M-Sport seats" - and there is a world of difference!
If you have "M-Sport" seats and don't get on with them you could get good money for them on here.
These are "Sport" seats.
These are "M-Sport" seats.
Tired Sport suspension on these tends to feel really harsh. Whilst mine was wasn’t completely worn out (according to Ross @ RBM), I used to wince at speed bumps and pot holes. I’m on Yokohama Run Flats, installed by a previous owner.
As many others have done, I changed to Suplex Sport Springs and B4 dampers and the harshness is significantly reduced, even with the run flats. It’s now good, if not better than my ‘14 F56 Mini Cooper on non-RFT 17s for comfort and I no longer live in fear of bumps and holes. I have no desire for SE now in any circumstances.
Despite retaining the more aesthetically pleasing Sport ride height, the fresh damping also seems to help prevent bottoming out on steep speed bumps which is another downside of the Sport suspension. Note that Sports suspension also comes with slightly thicker anti-roll bars.
As many others have done, I changed to Suplex Sport Springs and B4 dampers and the harshness is significantly reduced, even with the run flats. It’s now good, if not better than my ‘14 F56 Mini Cooper on non-RFT 17s for comfort and I no longer live in fear of bumps and holes. I have no desire for SE now in any circumstances.
Despite retaining the more aesthetically pleasing Sport ride height, the fresh damping also seems to help prevent bottoming out on steep speed bumps which is another downside of the Sport suspension. Note that Sports suspension also comes with slightly thicker anti-roll bars.
TheRealMCoy
Member
Resurrecting an old thread because the content is relevant…
SE / standard springs are linear whereas Sport springs are progressive. I imagine that means the Sport springs might be more supple over the smaller bumps but harder further through their travel?
Might it be true that replacing standard springs with progressive but at the same height may make the ride even softer?
Lesjofors seem to offer both constant and variable for non Sport Z4s. I fitted the constant but may change to variable.
SE / standard springs are linear whereas Sport springs are progressive. I imagine that means the Sport springs might be more supple over the smaller bumps but harder further through their travel?
Might it be true that replacing standard springs with progressive but at the same height may make the ride even softer?
Lesjofors seem to offer both constant and variable for non Sport Z4s. I fitted the constant but may change to variable.