335i sedan standard suspension

[r shackleford]

anyone driven the standard suspension and the sports suspension? what are your thoughts on standard vs sports suspension. i see a good deal on a 6speed 335i sedan online. don't know if i want to waste my time going to test drive it if the suspension is lame.

thanks.

[mryakan]

It is not lame but not as compliant as the sports suspension. You would not notice it until you start pushing the car. In back to back testdrives you will notice it, but you might not otherwise. I had a loaner without the sports suspension and could feel the difference when I was cornering hard, but other than that the only difference I felt was that it was not as bumpy on bad road, not that it is too bumpy with the sport suspension.

[r shackleford]

thanks. i'll go give it a test drive then to see how it handles.

[Jhunter]

I think you will find the standard suspension to be superior to a Mustang or Civic in handling and ride quality.

[r shackleford]

I think you will find the standard suspension to be superior to a Mustang or Civic in handling and ride quality.

wow, thanks sherlock. i'm not trying to compare a 335i to a mustang. and i'm obviously not comparing a 335i to a civic. can you provide any input regarding the original question?

fyi, my mustang isn't stock. i'm not buying the 335i for speed because it would be a downgrade (both handling and powerwise) from my mustang.

[E92!Dreier]

ZSP (sport package) equipped cars benefit from more than just more aggressive springs. In addition to suspension changes, these cars (in the case of "i" models) come with staggered, larger wheels, and more aggressive tires (as well as sport seats).

The benefits of the suspension enhancements, when evaluated separately from the rest of the package, are realized aesthetically ( there is less wheel gap) and in hard cornering and/or high speed situations. However, as a package with the more aggresive wheels and tires, the difference is immediately obvious (IMHO).

I drove a 328i and 335i without ZSP. I would not recommend it to someone who drives aggressively -- unless they are planning to upgrade wheels and tires on their own (or suspension components). Adding some aggressive wheels and tires to a stock (non-zsp) suspension has immediate drastic benefits.

The best thing to do is to go and find a friendly, all-knowing salesman. You need to drive examples of each to find the pluses and minuses as you see them.

Good luck.

[Jhunter]

wow, thanks sherlock. i'm not trying to compare a 335i to a mustang. and i'm obviously not comparing a 335i to a civic. can you provide any input regarding the original question?

fyi, my mustang isn't stock. i'm not buying the 335i for speed because it would be a downgrade (both handling and powerwise) from my mustang.

Whether a suspension is "lame" is subjective and dependent on your frame of reference. Your frame of reference appears to be a Mustang and a Civic, I was just pointing out that the standard suspension on a 335 is superior to both. That is all. I can't speak to the current state of your Mustang.

I have only driven a standard suspension 3 series as a service loaner. It has a little softer ride over bumps, etc., and a little more body roll in corners. Still, it is outstanding compared to other cars in its class.

Go to a dealer and test drive one, even if you don't intend to buy one from them.

[Babagnush]

In my opinion: Non sports=4, sport=6. The sports package has it's other benefits though. Such as seats, steering wheel, 18 inch rims, and a 155mph top speed. The sport suspension leaves a lot to be desired when your really push it. The standard is only that much worse.

[r shackleford]

Whether a suspension is "lame" is subjective and dependent on your frame of reference. Your frame of reference appears to be a Mustang and a Civic, I was just pointing out that the standard suspension on a 335 is superior to both. That is all. I can't speak to the current state of your Mustang.

I have only driven a standard suspension 3 series as a service loaner. It has a little softer ride over bumps, etc., and a little more body roll in corners. Still, it is outstanding compared to other cars in its class.

Go to a dealer and test drive one, even if you don't intend to buy one from them.

actually, the question was to compare the difference between sport and non-sport models. i thought i made that obvious. i like the sport suspension but hadn't tried the non-sport models when i originally started the thread. anyways, i test drove the non-sport model and found it not aggressive enough. i'll stick with looking for a good deal on a sport model.

[MMOTION]

I have a E90 2006 330xi with ZSP. Our XI with the ZSP package get everything except the ZSP suspension (for obvious reasons). I have driven both a 330i and a 335i both with ZSP suspension, along with my car, on a local track. From my personal experience, you don't really feel the difference until you push it through the corners. Over normal roads, slight bumps, you feel the subtle difference that the ZSP suspension has over the normal non-M suspension. The ZSP suspension definitely feels more composed when pushed, I just wish BMW gave us the option of having the ZSP suspension on our XI models.

[StigNV]

Dinan Stage 3 suspension ordered. Be at the dealer's door on Wednesday. I should have my car back on Saturday the 14th.
Want to buy my sports suspension? Mine is an xi model, not sure if it will fit an I. I'll make you a screaming deal on it.

[mryakan]

Dinan Stage 3 suspension ordered. Be at the dealer's door on Wednesday. I should have my car back on Saturday the 14th.
Want to buy my sports suspension? Mine is an xi model, not sure if it will fit an I. I'll make you a screaming deal on it.
#1 xi doesn't come with sports suspension
#2 xi suspension is steel not aluminum like i, so handling will be probably compromised that is if it fits
#3 probably will not fit
Unless someone broke their suspension, unfortunately I don't see how you'd be able to sell it unless I am totally wrong on this ;).

[StigNV]

Xi does have the sport package. I had to order it. But I think you are probably right about the fit. It seem like none of the chassis mods are interchangeable. Only the engine and driveline stuff is. I'm not totally sure on struts, but Dinan is specific on their xi and i kits and fitting.

[mryakan]

Xi does have the sport package. I had to order it. But I think you are probably right about the fit. It seem like none of the chassis mods are interchangeable. Only the engine and driveline stuff is. I'm not totally sure on struts, but Dinan is specific on their xi and i kits and fitting.
Sports package does exist for x-drive models, but it DOES NOT come with the sports suspension, only upgraded wheels/tires, seats and steering wheel, or are you saying you were able to special order yours with a sports tuned suspension?

[StigNV]

They didn't specify a difference between I and xi in the brochure. Bot come as the Sport Package. It says 18" rims (it's 2008), seats, sports steering wheel, and sports suspension.
OK Mryaken, now you made me look at the brochure, and it doesn't even talk about the 335xi, only the 328xi.......
Now I'm OCDing and calling my dealership. OK, the service rep said that the xi has a lightly sport tuned suspension with a sport package. It has stiffer springs than the base model. I'm going to throw Bill Pearce BMW under the bus on this one if it's wrong, but that's my official word on this. Oh, and the suspension package is different that the I model, so disregard my offer :)
Obviously I want more handling, that's why I'm going with the Dinan Stage 3 package. I'll let you know next Monday how the Stage 3 fares compared to what I had. I'm going to ask to drive a 335xi without a sport package while I'm there. I want to see for myself if there is a difference.

[mryakan]

They didn't specify a difference between I and xi in the brochure. Bot come as the Sport Package. It says 18" rims (it's 2008), seats, sports steering wheel, and sports suspension.
OK Mryaken, now you made me look at the brochure, and it doesn't even talk about the 335xi, only the 328xi.......
Now I'm OCDing and calling my dealership. OK, the service rep said that the xi has a lightly sport tuned suspension with a sport package. It has stiffer springs than the base model. I'm going to throw Bill Pearce BMW under the bus on this one if it's wrong, but that's my official word on this. Oh, and the suspension package is different that the I model, so disregard my offer :)
Obviously I want more handling, that's why I'm going with the Dinan Stage 3 package. I'll let you know next Monday how the Stage 3 fares compared to what I had. I'm going to ask to drive a 335xi without a sport package while I'm there. I want to see for myself if there is a difference.
:) always good to get clarification. Thanks and let us know how your upgrade works. Good luck.

[kla335]

FWIW--this is my understanding of the sport package available on 2008 models.

Ordering the coupe gets you the sport suspension and steering wheel.

Adding the sport package simply gets you different wheels, seats and paddle shifters (if the car is step obviously). No suspension changes with sport package.

Copy of the 2008 brochure is at attached link.

www.rasmussenbmw.com/images/2008/2008_3series_coupe_catalogue.pdf

[AirPower]

I read somewhere that BMW cannot put the sports suspension in the X because of the front transaxle. There simply isn't the room for it.