[mlai]

I have a 550i with dhp. I am considering replacing the springs just to get rid of the boat ride feeling in normal mode, and to drop may be an inch off to reduce the wheel gap.

Which of the RD/ACS/H&R is better for me? I don't want to sacrifice too much of a ride comfort. Any comparison between the three?

Many thanks in advance

[Vinfast]

H&Rs are too low and don't work well with adaptive drive in my opinion.
RDs are lower than the ACS, but the ACS seem to be lower in the rear than the front while the RDs are the same height --- both work well with Adaptive Drive, but only Sport Mode feels even remotely close to the previous 550i.

[mlai]

Thanks for the comment! Maybe I will try the ACS then. I noticed that RD has different springs for AD and non-AD. Does ACS have separate springs for AD and non-AD as well?

[delvek]

I have ACS with AD, I am very satisfied with every aspect.

[mlai]

Great! I may go with ACS, then.

[Dez550]

I checked directly with Racing Dynamics (RD) about the exact spring setup for the F10 XDrive M Sport and the Managing Director of RD, Federico Pavoncelli, called me and asked for the VIN# of my F10 so he could contact BMW directly. His repsones was the RD Part #1960410631 (Sport Springs F10 550 xDrive SA-CODE 2VA Adaptive Drive) was made specifically for this car and specified by BMW. They ship from Germany and I am just waiting for my installer to let me know if he needs BMW install data. RD will provide proper alignment specs. Let me know if anyone else has tried this route. I plan to order the springs this week. RD will not discount the springs ($895) but will pick up the cost of shipping to a US dealer (CA) Fedex to my installer for $47 US

[Dez550]

One other thing mentioned by RD. They said the RD F10 XDive Adaptive Drive spring is made specifically for this car whereas Eibach or H&R sell one spring that fits almost all F10 variants

[Vinfast]

Originally Posted by Dez550

I checked directly with Racing Dynamics (RD) about the exact spring setup for the F10 XDrive M Sport and the Managing Director of RD, Federico Pavoncelli, called me and asked for the VIN# of my F10 so he could contact BMW directly. His repsones was the RD Part #1960410631 (Sport Springs F10 550 xDrive SA-CODE 2VA Adaptive Drive) was made specifically for this car and specified by BMW. They ship from Germany and I am just waiting for my installer to let me know if he needs BMW install data. RD will provide proper alignment specs. Let me know if anyone else has tried this route. I plan to order the springs this week. RD will not discount the springs ($895) but will pick up the cost of shipping to a US dealer (CA) Fedex to my installer for $47 US

I would like to know what those proper RD alignment specs are. My BMW dealer said they couldn't do it because the springs altered the OEM alignment. I just had my 550 aligned at my tire shop electronically and they said it was fine. I'm still curious if the Active Sway Bar settings have to be changed since the RD springs lowered the car's initial settings.

Could you let me know what those alignment specs and BMW install data consists of if you get your hands on them?

Thanks. I'm just curious. I've put about 2k miles on mine since my RD springs were installed and the tires are wearing very normal. I'm still curious if the Active Sway Bars are working properly on cornering, but I haven't gotten any error codes yet.

[Dez550]

Did not get my hands on the alignment specs. But the installer aligned all four wheels after the RD Spring installation and everything appears fine and car handles very well.

[jlgwu]

Originally Posted by delvek

I have ACS with AD, I am very satisfied with every aspect.

I agree 100% I have a 535 and have AD and ACS and and very happy with the way the car looks and handles. Perfect in my opinion.

[ferrarif1]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread.

Did the handling change after you did an alignment / reset the AD ride height?

I just installed the ACS springs on a 2013 550xi and have more drop than expected (1.3" front 1.1" rear) and the suspension only seems to work well in sport+ which I suspect has something to do with not having an alignment/AD reset yet.

[alextremo]

That size drop should not have changed your suspension geometry enough to notice a difference after alignment. I did not notice any difference after I had mine aligned.

I don't think ride height is impacted by adaptive drive, you should feel an improvement in all settings, but obviously Sport+ will be the tightest.

[Blkthght]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread.

Did the handling change after you did an alignment / reset the AD ride height?

I just installed the ACS springs on a 2013 550xi and have more drop than expected (1.3" front 1.1" rear) and the suspension only seems to work well in sport+ which I suspect has something to do with not having an alignment/AD reset yet.

Interesting. I have an appointment to get these springs installed tomorrow. You are the second person to say that the drop is actually more than the advertised 1" all around. If true, then at least the front will be dropped a little more than the rear. Are you dissatisfied with the way it looks? And what do you mean by saying that "the suspension only seems to work well in sport+"? Are you referring to the electronic dampers during aggressive driving? Or the stiffness of the ride? Or are you just referring to normal everyday driving? I was also unaware of an "AD reset". Is this something that is done with the alignment? I'm getting the alignment right after the spring install and I would hope that they also reset the adaptive drive if necessary. Thanks in advance for taking my questions.

[ferrarif1]

I am happy with the drop as it now has the proper "2 finger" gap in front and about "1.5 finger" gap in rear.

The springs are definitely much firmer than stock, this is the first thing you notice after picking up the car. They are not firm in a bad way but it makes you realize what a marshmallow the car is from the factory. The standard valving/settings in the DDC do a good job controlling the factory springs but I think the comfort+/comfort settings are too relaxed for the new springs and in particular the rebound damping is a problem. Sport/Sport+ are great but I am now seriously considering the Dinan Shockware upgrade to match the new springs.

[alextremo]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

I am happy with the drop as it now has the proper "2 finger" gap in front and about "1.5 finger" gap in rear.

The springs are definitely much firmer than stock, this is the first thing you notice after picking up the car. They are not firm in a bad way but it makes you realize what a marshmallow the car is from the factory. The standard valving/settings in the DDC do a good job controlling the factory springs but I think the comfort+/comfort settings are too relaxed for the new springs and in particular the rebound damping is a problem. Sport/Sport+ are great but I am now seriously considering the Dinan Shockware upgrade to match the new springs.

Do it, you will like the results...

[BKK 5]

You should also look into KW springs - I have them and think the drop is perfect. It's like ACS, but more even from the front and rear and not as low as H&R

[VirtualMayhem]

I'm considering doing springs on my 550i that I will pick up the end of April. I am looking around Phoenix but Babbitt below seems to install ACS springs based on other posts on the board I have read.

http://www.babbittmotorwerks.com/

How much should I expect to pay for the springs and install? I have read before about alignment issues and that worries me a bit.

Final question - I am leasing my 550i, does that have any impact on installing the springs and returning the car at end of lease? Will BMW expect me to have the stock springs back on the car?