[pharding]

Has anyone test driven a 550i or 535i M-Sport both with and without DHP? How do they compare? Is the ride with non-DHP sporty enough? I am agonizing over this as I evaluate options on my 2014 to be ordered this week. Thanks.

[45ACP]

If you have the financial means, go for the DHP or you'll most likely regret it. Or forgo DHP and install aftermarket springs and the FSB post delivery. The F10 is a big, heavy boat and needs all the help it can get.

[ferrarif1]

I have driven both, would not consider buying an F10 without DHP. I was coming from an E60 with sport package and found the non-DHP car to drive like a floaty buick.

It really comes down to whether you prefer sportiness sometimes or a luxury ride all the time...with DHP you can have both.

[zach77]

DHP is certainly based on driver preference. I think most everyone that enjoys BMW would want the DHP.

[1HOT BMR]

DHP is a must have, no brainer kind of thing. I drove several 550i with and without it when I was ordering mine and there is a world of difference! If IAS is available for the car you are ordering, then get that too - it makes the car more tossable. Do a search on IAS and you will see that every one who has it, loves it. Oh, one more thing: get rid of the RFTs ASAP and you will improve the ride in a BIG way + you will leave behind the crashing of the suspension over small road imperfections.

[K-A]

Lots of guys say that the 2013 passive "M" suspension is sportier (and also has a lower stance) than even DHP cars. I'm really happy with the dynamics of it.

[pharding]

Thanks everyone. K-A where are you located.

[K-A]

Originally Posted by pharding

Thanks everyone. K-A where are you located.

SoCal. We have crap roads here but I'm sure not as bad as East Coast.

[tdang81]

Originally Posted by K-A

Lots of guys say that the 2013 passive "M" suspension is sportier (and also has a lower stance) than even DHP cars. I'm really happy with the dynamics of it.

Agreed. My '13 with passive M suspension is significantly better handling than the 2012's with M SPort pack I've test driven.

Both without DHP

[BimmerGuyFL78]

Originally Posted by tdang81

Agreed. My '13 with passive M suspension is significantly better handling than the 2012's with M SPort pack I've test driven.

Both without DHP

Agreed as well. The passive M-sport suspension on my 2013 535i handles extremely well and rides solid. No issues with it what so ever. We ALSO have a 2013 535i Non M-sport with the Active Shocks and it does ride slightly better however the handling is significantly different. I prefer the M-sport suspension for the 2013 Models.

[KinG12sKy]

Or go KW V3. That's another alternative.

[pharding]

What does that mean?

[remmib]

Originally Posted by pharding

What does that mean?

Are go refering to KW V3? It's coilovers.

[R N M]

Get a 2013 Msport with passive M sport suspension if u want great handling and good steering feel.
This will be as close as u will get to how the previous generation Bimmers felt.

I LOVE how my 535i drives.

My 2012 528i with DDC handled like crap.

Never had DHP - so cant comment.

[Bmwlvr60]

Originally Posted by tdang81

Agreed. My '13 with passive M suspension is significantly better handling than the 2012's with M SPort pack I've test driven.

Both without DHP

2014 M Sport come with passive suspension too, similar to 2013?

[Bmwlvr60]

Originally Posted by R N M

Get a 2013 Msport with passive M sport suspension if u want great handling and good steering feel.
This will be as close as u will get to how the previous generation Bimmers felt.

I LOVE how my 535i drives.

My 2012 528i with DDC handled like crap.

Never had DHP - so cant comment.

2013 528 with M Sport handle as well as 2013 535 with M Sport in your opinion without DDC?

[wheresmy5]

Hey folks, apologies for resurrecting an old thread but this is the exact decision I'm trying to make right now. I'm shopping for a low mileage 2016 535i xdrive against a 2016 550i xdrive. Both M Sports. Trying to decide if the additional DHP is a must in either car.

For history, I previously had-

- 2015 528i xdrive M Sport. Suspension so so. M Sport only added visual effects.
- 2017 540i xdrive M Sport. For the G30, M Sport came with the spectactular 704 suspension. I absolutely loved it. Firm, flat, planted but not too harsh for NJ roads.

Which suspension in the 2016 535/550 xdrive M Sport will give me characteristics as close as possible to the 2017 540i xdrive Msport w 704 suspension?

Is DHP a must or is the passive M Sport suspension good enough? My understanding is that the F10 M Sport package did not add any suspension modifications, but please correct me if I am wrong.

PS- I will not be modding the suspension with aftermarket coils/springs.

Thank you.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

Hey folks, apologies for resurrecting an old thread but this is the exact decision I'm trying to make right now. I'm shopping for a low mileage 2016 535i xdrive against a 2016 550i xdrive. Both M Sports. Trying to decide if the additional DHP is a must in either car.

For history, I previously had-

- 2015 528i xdrive M Sport. Suspension so so. M Sport only added visual effects.
- 2017 540i xdrive M Sport. For the G30, M Sport came with the spectactular 704 suspension. I absolutely loved it. Firm, flat, planted but not too harsh for NJ roads.

Which suspension in the 2016 535/550 xdrive M Sport will give me characteristics as close as possible to the 2017 540i xdrive Msport w 704 suspension?

Is DHP a must or is the passive M Sport suspension good enough? My understanding is that the F10 M Sport package did not add any suspension modifications, but please correct me if I am wrong.

PS- I will not be modding the suspension with aftermarket coils/springs.

Thank you.

I have no experience w/DHP, but somewhere along the line the 704 suspension became an option with the M-Sport option. When searching just use a VIN decoder and make sure the car was the 704 option.

I may very well be wrong, but I thought I read the 704 suspension wasn't available on the F10 X-Drives.

[wheresmy5]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I have no experience w/DHP, but somewhere along the line the 704 suspension became an option with the M-Sport option. When searching just use a VIN decoder and make sure the car was the 704 option.

I may very well be wrong, but I thought I read the 704 suspension wasn't available on the F10 X-Drives.

"I may very well be wrong, but I thought I read the 704 suspension wasn't available on the F10 X-Drives."

That's correct. So I'm wondering what's the closest setup to it.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by wheresmy5

"I may very well be wrong, but I thought I read the 704 suspension wasn't available on the F10 X-Drives."

That's correct. So I'm wondering what's the closest setup to it.

Without the 704 option, DHP has to be the nearest setup. Gives you the option to change the base suspension modes.

I drive an F11 wagon with Adaptive Drive, (DHP), and have driven a G30 530d xDrive with the 704 M-sport suspension. I'd say my car in Sport mode drives similar to the G30, but my car is slightly better for ride quality as road quality deteriorates.

Remember it is the active roll control in the DHP package which makes the F10/11 feel much more agile than standard suspension.

[wheresmy5]

Thanks for the responses.

So a 550i xdrive with DHP is a unicorn... extremely hard to find and really only appears in the fully loaded cars, and I'm not willing to pay $45k+ for a CPO 550. At that price point, I'd rather add $5k and get an M3.
So AWD+DHP is out.

That really leaves only two options-

1. 550i xdrive M Sport with the base suspension.
2. 550i (RWD) M Sport with the 704 suspension.

The benefit of the AWD, while no 704 suspension, you do get the hydraulic steering.

I'm in NJ and have no problem fitting winter tires. I like the idea of having a tail happy beast (I considered an M3), however I will most likely put a JB4 in, and I just think I will burn rubber off the line constantly, at every light- eh, this doesn't appeal to me. And easing into the throttle is always an approach, but what's the point of getting this beast in the first place if you can't WOT?

Thoughts?

[Damage Inc]

I went through the same decision but for a 535i.

Go w X drive to help for winters. But then no sport suspension and heavy front end.

Go w RWD M Sport then deal with winter tires.

I went RWD w M Sport and very happy with the choice. The reason is the driving balance has some old school BMW DNA in it. Yes, the car is soft big and heavy, but the M Sport makes the car have some sport feel to it.

good luck