sports package and daily driving (335i coupe)

[eightonezero]

I would like to hear from everyone who has the sports package and uses their 335i for commuting. I drive on I-95 everyday. Is the ride too harsh for you guys? Just right?

Thanks

[thekurgan]

No problem at all, in fact, the seats alone are worth the package, the ride is not harsh, I believe with ZSP, you also get the secondary oil cooler.

[mryakan]

Not harsh at all, but sure some would disagree. If you like floaty and disconnected don't get it.

[ssigur]

+1

[eightonezero]

Thanks, just what I needed to know

[Jhunter]

For the driver the ride of the sport package is great. Sometimes females, who don't understand that I actually opted for this, think the ride is harsh. I explain it but they don't get it. (This is not sexist, just an observation of females who have been in my car.)

[Danny 335i]

The ride is not harsh at all. In fact its a very comfortable ride on smooth roads, and on bad roads it handles them fine without any skipping around whatsoever.in fact i think its to soft coming from my last two cars being Evo,s.

[Beer Goggles]

Harsh would be over sprung, which the sport package is not. It's a nice ride. Firm and controlled. I drive on LA freeways which are far worse than the 95, and it's fine.

[sc bmw]

My last 4 BMW's have had sports package. Wouldn't do without it. Ride is firm, but comfortable. Feels controlled and responsive. You'll love it the first time you go around a corner.

[GatorM]

Not a problem at all, but my last car was an e36 M3 so anything is cush in comparison.

[carguy7]

No problem at all, in fact, the seats alone are worth the package, the ride is not harsh, I believe with ZSP, you also get the secondary oil cooler.

What do you get with the sport package: seats, tire package, other? Is the suspension lower / firmer than non-Sport?

[eightonezero]

thanks again for the feedback

[ezbmr]

Part of a car is usually getting used to the suspension, I had a car once that I thought was too tight, then I got used to the car and it felt too loose, usually BMWs are pretty well balanced. Very firm Chassis and then the shocks are tuned for the road, the cheapest thing you can do is monitor the air pressure, that is one of the best ways to smooth out a car, then you can always try to find a car with a softer sidewall. Being you probably have runflats, your sidewall is stiffer than most.

A lot of people when they have a tire go down get rid of the runflats, they are made to be much stiffer than a regular tire. If the people you drive with don't drive in the car much, they will probably never be used to the car, it is your car anyway

[forrestpilot]

I don't think the ride is bad at all, but I do think it depends on the road conditions. If the road is in bad condition, the RFTs can be a pain. What I have learned is to use the less traveled roads (i.e., interstate). I have rediscovered 2 lane roads, and they are fun!

[azhrei]

This is not sexist, just an observation of females who have been in my car.
+1

I also observer (very closely, sometimes) the females who have been in my car, too. :redspot

Nowadays, that's primarily my wife. :nono

Concerning the suspension piece of the Sport Package, I like it. My wife still thinks the ride is stiff, but she drives a mushy Acura CL-Type S ... man, the slightest pressure on the brakes and that thing is dipping into the dirt!

Of course, my last car had an aftermarket suspension on it that was set for 900# per corner. With me in it and an almost empty tank of fuel, the entire car weighed 3640#. ;) You could jump up and down on one corner and the car wouldn't dip more than a half-inch. :)

[RMcoolX]

My wife is usually not one to notice such things such as drive quality, but she surprised me shortly after I got my car. After having rode in the car for a few days, she said she was not overly impressed with the ride quality. In her mind, a pricey BMW should ride like a Cadillac or something similar. Then one day she drove it to work, and came home and said (to my surprise) "I guess this car is more of a driver's car!"

Priceless!!!, because what I interpreted from that was that the sport package was worth every penny. It is nothing special from the passenger side, but boy-oh-boy, it is a different animal from the driver's side.

This is what BMW is suppose to be about!

[harold57]

I Love It, I Love It, I Love It. I Think I'm Loving It. Wish My Drrive To Work Was Longer. Enuf Said. Get It.

[Jhunter]

What do you get with the sport package: seats, tire package, other? Is the suspension lower / firmer than non-Sport?

The O.P. was asking about the coupe which comes standard with the sport suspension. Sport package with the coupe includes seats and wheels/tires. The sedan sport package is more expensive and includes sport suspension (vs the standard suspension).

[aftp302]

The ride is firm, but that's the point. If you're used to a cushy ride, then you'll probably have to get used to it, but once you do you'll love it.

My wife thinks it's rough and she also complains that the speed at which the car accelerates makes her a little sick. I try to sympathize, but all I really want to do is :D:D:D:D:D.

[eightonezero]

The ride is firm, but that's the point. If you're used to a cushy ride, then you'll probably have to get used to it, but once you do you'll love it.

My wife thinks it's rough and she also complains that the speed at which the car accelerates makes her a little sick. I try to sympathize, but all I really want to do is :D:D:D:D:D.

:D

[bootay]

Wish My Drrive To Work Was Longer. Enuf Said. Get It.

That's the truth - I wish my drive was longer too! 20 minutes max just isn't enough. Wish I had 45 each way with some twisties. This car is just amazing.

[LonghornBob]

I would like to hear from everyone who has the sports package and uses their 335i for commuting. I drive on I-95 everyday. Is the ride too harsh for you guys? Just right?

Thanks

It is amazing that anyone would let another person make a decision for them that is completely subjective. I hate the sport package, particularly with the roads in and around DC, which suck major. I bought my car to match my driving style and comfort for 98% of the use of the car, not the 2% drive it like you stole it time. Over the period of a very long test drive, or owning the car for a couple of weeks, the SP seats and suspension are not comfortable for me (and a lot of other people). SP is a jihad, like manual tranny's and black.

[carguy7]

It is amazing that anyone would let another person make a decision for them that is completely subjective. I hate the sport package, particularly with the roads in and around DC, which suck major. I bought my car to match my driving style and comfort for 98% of the use of the car, not the 2% drive it like you stole it time. Over the period of a very long test drive, or owning the car for a couple of weeks, the SP seats and suspension are not comfortable for me (and a lot of other people). SP is a jihad, like manual tranny's and black.

Do you have the coupe or the sedan? Per earlier post, if you have the coupe, the suspensions are the same for SP and non SP.

[eightonezero]

It is amazing that anyone would let another person make a decision for them that is completely subjective. I hate the sport package, particularly with the roads in and around DC, which suck major. I bought my car to match my driving style and comfort for 98% of the use of the car, not the 2% drive it like you stole it time. Over the period of a very long test drive, or owning the car for a couple of weeks, the SP seats and suspension are not comfortable for me (and a lot of other people). SP is a jihad, like manual tranny's and black.

Thanks for the feedback. Thats interesting to hear about the seats. Comfort is a big thing for me. It has just as much importance as performance.

[aftp302]

Thanks for the feedback. Thats interesting to hear about the seats. Comfort is a big thing for me. It has just as much importance as performance.

I feel like I need to chime in on the Sport Package seats. I find them VERY comfortable. Remember that every car takes getting used to. Also, if you go test drive, make sure to fully adjust the seat to your liking. A poorly adjusted seat (especially one with SO many adjustments like ours) can lead to an impression of "uncomfortable" seats. One comment I saw was related to them being narrow. There is a power adjustable side bolster which if set all they way in does make the seats very narrow. Nice for smaller framed people to hold them in on the twisties, but a larger framed person trying to sit in their seat (without readjusting) would think the seats were god-awful.

That said, even properly adjusted I'm sure there are some people who still would not like (or do not like) the sport seats. As my mother-in-law says, that's why they make Chocolate and Vanilla! :)

[eightonezero]

I feel like I need to chime in on the Sport Package seats. I find them VERY comfortable. Remember that every car takes getting used to. Also, if you go test drive, make sure to fully adjust the seat to your liking. A poorly adjusted seat (especially one with SO many adjustments like ours) can lead to an impression of "uncomfortable" seats. One comment I saw was related to them being narrow. There is a power adjustable side bolster which if set all they way in does make the seats very narrow. Nice for smaller framed people to hold them in on the twisties, but a larger framed person trying to sit in their seat (without readjusting) would think the seats were god-awful.

That said, even properly adjusted I'm sure there are some people who still would not like (or do not like) the sport seats. As my mother-in-law says, that's why they make Chocolate and Vanilla! :)

Thanks for that clarification my fellow Delawarean

[joeygott]

Ok, here we go again with another debate on the seats. WE have covered this in great detail on the forum already. Most people that are thinner, lighter, with more narrow frames LOVE the sport seats. It's not coincidence that MANY of the people that complain about them, are maybe a little wider, heavier (like I am). I've had MANY MANY cars, and I've never once had a complaint about a car seat, but I did and still do to a limited extent, complain about the sport seat in the 335. I'm 5'11 and 215lbs. It's not terrible or anything, but it's NARROW and pretty hard and can get uncomfortable after a while. I have noticed that over the last 5k miles, the seat is a little more comfortable than it used to be. So I'm hoping it keeps going that direction. The seat does have tremendous lateral support, thight support, and many different adjustments, but it's too narrow and on the firm side. I believe the NARROW part is the problem, not the firm part.
In that forum w here many piped in on the seats, seemed like those that LOVE them were 150-200lbs and 5'6 to 6'1. The people that had negative comments were almost all wider and heavier.
As far as the ride goes, you can't get a sportier car with a more supple and forgiving suspension. Granted, if you are on some pothole covered road or driving around a city with bad roads, you will not be happy in ANY sports car. Especially if you are coming from driving some generic sedan or luxury car that has a softer suspension.