[mlai]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Dynamic Drive (DDC) doesn't firm up the suspension, tightens the car through firmer steering response in sport, as you've found out. I notice from your original post you don't have Adaptive Drive, so you don't have the sport suspension setting, just the normal level with passive damping. We have the option for either Adaptive Drive, in sport setting, or M-sport passive suspension to get a firmer drive.

HighlandPete

That's correct. I meant Adaptive drive in my previous post....

[grimlock]

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/z4/201...full-test.html


There's plenty of freshly poured blacktop on a tourist route like Highway 1, so we don't give much thought to the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is' ride quality. Once we're back on Southern California freeways, though, it's top of mind. The Z4 sDrive35is wears standard 19-inch wheels and 225/35R19 front and 255/30R19 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run-flat summer tires. Our butts have filed a restraining order against these tires.

It has been documented that the Inside Line editors are wimps. And with this lower-profile rubber, the Z4 35is should grip better and handle better than the 2009 Z4 35i with 18s (225/40R18 front, 255/35R18 rear), and all will be forgiven, right? Sorry, no.

Apart from the tires, the suspension on these two cars is pretty much identical. Our 2011 BMW Z4 35is comes standard with the M suspension, which specifies adaptive dampers (and driver-selectable Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes) and a 0.4-inch lower ride height. Our 2009 Z4 tester had this setup as an option.


Yet, the Z4 sDrive35is is much slower than the 2009 Z4 through the slalom. Its 66.7-mph performance — versus the 2009 Z4's 68.9 mph — is closer to what we'd expect from a front-wheel-drive family sedan than a rear-drive sports car.

Blame goes to those very short, very stiff sidewalls, which don't have enough compliance to stay glued over bumps and ripples. There's a small dip at the third cone in our slalom which sends the car skittering sideways and makes our test driver late for the next cone. The more aggressive damper maps in Sport and Sport+ modes only make the car more nervous, something we also notice when picking up the pace on local back roads.

Through it all, our tester's steering stands mute. BMW hasn't changed the steering ratio on the sDrive35is model, but the electric power steering assist map has been updated. The result is a leaden heft to the wheel in Sport and Sport+, but nothing you would describe as steering feel.

If this was a full-on M car, we'd expect BMW would have retuned the springs and dampers to make them work better with the 19-inch wheel/tire package, likely dumping the run-flat rubber in the process. The Motorsport-division engineers probably would have reverted to conventional hydraulic power steering assist, too.


hey highland
have u read this article, i nicked it from the Z4 guys
whats this 'damper maps' theyre talking about? another misunderstanding? ..
anyways, since i dont really get how bmw does it im just going to go after those things i can change and optimise those
i got 19 8/9 225/255 on standard susp, now just considering if/how to drop it around 1-1.5cm for looks+a little handling, or whether its worth it at all

[mlai]

I just noticed that there is no small storage compartment underneath the trunk floor lining. when i lift up the trunk floor, only the electrical connections are visible.

Shouldn't we have a small storage underneath the trunk floor?

[grimlock]

mlai
i got a little built in plastic bucket, like the one uncovered on the right
(btw sorry for hijacking ur thread...)

[grimlock]

did your mod guy forget to put the stuff back..
i lift the flap and see no wires

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by grimlock

...i know, dynamic drive doesnt effect the suspension! i beleive it too , but having driven my car for a month, my butt disagrees with my cognitive function (i cant do the 'shrug' icon yet, sorry)
do not ask me to explain, if i were to have this debate with myself, i would be torn apart fundamentally
i dont know why?...

I totally agree with the butt feelings. The car I first tried with DDC (sport autobox), was telling me there was more to it, than just a steering tightening when selecting sport. But there wasn't, we checked it out with BMW's technical department. I'm sure the 'meatier' steering contributes to the composure of the car, man and machine coming together better, as well.

The car I tried on Saturday with Adaptive Drive, showed what that does as a stand alone system, there was no steering adjustment, and with the standard auto gearbox 'not configured' when sport was selected, feels a different sort of car altogether. Adaptive Drive and the sport auto is my choice. The steering feel does add to the sportiness of the car.

HighlandPete

[kfiend]

Originally Posted by grimlock

kfiend
i think we need to investigate how the adaptive drive actually works - then u can know where it could be improved etc.
u could get harder springs, it shouldnt affect the electronic on the shock.. ??
ur car is alreay 10mm lower than standard though right? .. u want another 25?

I haven't tried the sport + mode yet. Still running in and don't really wanna push it too hard at the moment.

As with ride height, yes, 10mm lower but only in my right hand side, actually it's 15mm lower on the right hand side. Going back to BMW this weekend to have it look at. The ride height is really bugging me. You can tell the height difference just by standing in front or behind the car.

Wish me luck.
Till I get that sorted out, I don't think I will be doing any further mods.

[RC3]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Dynamic Drive (DDC) doesn't firm up the suspension, tightens the car through firmer steering response in sport, as you've found out. I notice from your original post you don't have Adaptive Drive, so you don't have the sport suspension setting, just the normal level with passive damping. We have the option for either Adaptive Drive, in sport setting, or M-sport passive suspension to get a firmer drive.

HighlandPete

As described in the brochure, Dynamic Drive's active stabilizers at the front and rear axles minimize vehicle movement therefore body roll is significantly reduced.

No Adaptive Drive means no Dynamic Drive and no Dynamic Damping Control therefore no active chassis and suspension control system.

[kfiend]

Originally Posted by mlai

I just noticed that there is no small storage compartment underneath the trunk floor lining. when i lift up the trunk floor, only the electrical connections are visible.

Shouldn't we have a small storage underneath the trunk floor?

Nope, we don't get that storage unless we specced the storage or cargo whatever they call option. Mine the same as yours.

[juztinl]

Originally Posted by mlai

I just noticed that there is no small storage compartment underneath the trunk floor lining. when i lift up the trunk floor, only the electrical connections are visible.

Shouldn't we have a small storage underneath the trunk floor?

i have it. it's at the bumper side. not hard to find.

[grimlock]

yeah sports auto is the must, adaptive drive costs hkd50k+ on a 600k 528i so i wouldnt consider, if its proportionally so much cheaper in uk/euro/us it woul be something to thinkabout for me, but at these prices ..hehe

i think 'magic' is the best way to describe how these bmws work nowadays ...

u guys in the uk have diff roads to deal with (ala range rover) - good luck with your final choice!

[juztinl]

On the DDC front. from what i've read and heard it is just steering and transmission. which is the same as my butt experience..
i guess we'd feel the car is tighter when the steering is heavier. which might lead us to think that the suspension is tighter as well.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by RC3

As described in the brochure, Dynamic Drive's active stabilizers at the front and rear axles minimize vehicle movement therefore body roll is significantly reduced.

No Adaptive Drive means no Dynamic Drive and no Dynamic Damping Control therefore no active chassis and suspension control system.

Where are we in conflict? BMW UK doesn't use Dynamic Drive as a frontline description, in reference to the F10/11 cars due to this confusion with Drive Dynamic Control, DDC. Dynamic Drive doesn't exist as a separate entity in the F10/11 like it did in the E60/1.

HighlandPete

[grimlock]

kfiend
i posted something on the 'asia' page
mine is bent too! .. thanks for giving me another problem to deal with
i couldnt tell by look, i had to measure the damn thing
ah u dont mind those guys ruffling through your car
it dont buy me that much, but i want to know why ..

[kfiend]

Originally Posted by juztinl

On the DDC front. from what i've read and heard it is just steering and transmission. which is the same as my butt experience..
i guess we'd feel the car is tighter when the steering is heavier. which might lead us to think that the suspension is tighter as well.

Suspension is tighter if you have the full on options. Adpative Drive + Dynamic Drive. That combo will give you the choices from comfort to sport+, and you do feel the suspension getting tighter when changing between the modes.

Oh and yes, the IAS is a must have for us in HK.
I have better turning radius than my B7 S4.

[grimlock]

i wish someone would hack in bmw computers and post everything on wikileaks then we would KNOW

[kfiend]

Originally Posted by grimlock

kfiend
i posted something on the 'asia' page
mine is bent too! .. thanks for giving me another problem to deal with
i couldnt tell by look, i had to measure the damn thing
ah u dont mind those guys ruffling through your car
it dont buy me that much, but i want to know why ..

I'm bringing mine in this weekend.....
Wish me luck.

[RC3]

grimlock, off topic. Do you have the moon roof option? The dealer ripped me $30k+ for the roof. But I found the electronic floating headliner pretty cool. I don't know if this is new or not but I have not seen elec. headliner before. All my previous cars in HK are convertibles.

[grimlock]

kfiend
u still babying ur car .. im not at 1000km im driving it pretty hard (<4000rpm)
time to take it out for a workout
u have IAS also? ..damn, did u get the cameras+parkassist?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by grimlock

i wish someone would hack in bmw computers and post everything on wikileaks then we would KNOW

Basically we do know it, even the data I've in front of me, emailed via my dealer, from BMW UK's Marketing Department doesn't tell us any more, just confirms what the brochures tell us.

HighlandPete

[grimlock]

no i got ZERO opts
u mean a cloth/screen cover the glass? like on benz models.. i dun played bmw sunroof so ..
i was SO happy no sunroof on 528... $$$

[grimlock]

highland
yeah, i mean we know the answer, but we dont know underneath how all the crap works