[krautmeister]

So settling into my F10 550i M Sport ownership of 4 months. I've put about 5K miles on and been enjoying it mostly. I've had some slight vibration issues, but I'm hoping its bent wheels due to replica wheels, bent OEMs, RFT etc. I should be solving that shortly as I've gotten my TSWs totally refurbished and straightened.

Anyone else here have front end wandering under heavy acceleration? It feels like "tram lining" like with wider wheels with the crown of the road, but its really noticeable when under WOT acceleration (highway speeds not TC related).

It feels like when the the front end is light, it squirrels around like if the back end were sliding around, but sadly as fast as my 550 is, I highly doubt this and I would know the feeling.

I'm wondering if the alignment is out of spec? Feels like the wheels are toe'd out? My M5 replicas are ET35s around in a staggered set up so they are a bit wider than OEM M Sports.

[DDD31]

I notice the same thing on my 550i concerning the acceleration. I think its just because it has so much power and torque combined with the soft base suspension (at least on the xdrive) that you really have to hold on when you put the hammer down.

[visualguy]

I haven't experienced this on my 550i M Sport, but my car is all stock.

[NV GUNS]

I had the same issue had 2 alignments done and now is drives straight, search the forum there is a thread about my F10 pulling to the right. On the H-way I just put the suspension in sport mode leaving the engine alone and that seemed to help the handling.

[Quicksilv3r]

I'm 4 mos. into my ownership as well and I find the F10 is just floaty in general. When I'm in it I feel like I'm driving my living room couch down the road. Handles like it too.

[ezaircon4jc]

What are you guys used to driving? A go-cart? I appreciate not having my teeth rattled out of my head and still being able to hustle around corners (took a new Camaro & Mustang on a climbing right 270º interchange). Is it a big car?? Yup. Does it handle like a big car? Not so much. And I'm currently riding on the base suspension. Once the shocks wear out I plan on upgrading to the sport shocks and maybe the springs. For what it is the F10 ain't half bad.

[xxpanipuri]

mine was quite floating when i first got it.

ACS Springs took care of that for me.

maintained factory ride while eliminating alot of body roll and dive/squat under acceleration/braking.

[gulfstream69xr7]

We've owned a 3 sedan, 3 coupe, an E61 5 series, a 4 series convertible and an F10.

The F10 is by far the softest ride. The 4 series was like driving a go cart. I loved it, but my wife didn't. When it came time to buy, she wanted to get back into a touring car because she really enjoyed the more comfortable ride. The F10 rolls more in the turns than I'd like. I don't have any issues with steering under braking or acceleration, but the feel of the car is certainly nothing like the 3, or 4. When the time comes that she wants to drive something new, I'll play with the suspending to tighten it up. Until then I'm just enjoying the Gran Tourer feel.

A year ago I did the BMW performance driving school. Spent the better part of a day flogging the Comp Spec M5, M4, M3, Z4, 235M, and the X5M on BMW's track in South Carolina. The M5 was fun because of the all out brute force. The M4 was the best track car because it handled better on every section of the track. What BMW really needs to do is to pull that 600 HP motor out of the Comp M6 and drop it in the M4. That would be a blast.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Quicksilv3r

I'm 4 mos. into my ownership as well and I find the F10 is just floaty in general. When I'm in it I feel like I'm driving my living room couch down the road. Handles like it too.

A lot will depend on wheel sizes, suspension and other related options.

When I first drove a couple of different demo F10 models in the early days, it was clear specification was going to be critical, to get what we wanted from the F10/F11.

I've got Adaptive Drive in my F11 wagon. For me it's a key option to the F10/11 ride and handling balance. Helps shrink the car's driving feel, is a sure footed vehicle, in all conditions.

[krautmeister]

I'm not trying to make a F10 something that isn't, but was just wondering why the car felt like the front meandered quite a bit under heavy acceleration. For example, merging onto the highway, goosing the car in 3rd gear, it feels like front wanted to go side to side.... like the suspension geometry is fighting the car in a straight line.

I think I can safely chalk it up to floaty handling... the rear having most of the weight on it and hitting bumps in the highway probably push the nose around. Kinda like a speed boat before it planes.

[krautmeister]

Originally Posted by xxpanipuri

mine was quite floating when i first got it.

ACS Springs took care of that for me.

maintained factory ride while eliminating alot of body roll and dive/squat under acceleration/braking.

I want to put springs in, but with my wife driving the car part time, every curb and parking block will destroy the front bumper! I'll just live with it... I'm probably going to be very conservative with mods on this car.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by krautmeister

....... the rear having most of the weight on it and hitting bumps in the highway probably push the nose around. Kinda like a speed boat before it planes.

Except the front has more weight...

[krautmeister]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Except the front has more weight...

Attachment 1478671

Yes I know the specs... Most cars favor the front.

Under hard acceleration, weight shifts to rear... Which is what is germane to this discussion.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by krautmeister

Yes I know the specs... Most cars favor the front.

Under hard acceleration, weight shifts to rear... Which is what is germane to this discussion.

I didn't know you were talking about acceleration. That would make it very, very close to 50/50... Want a light nose? Punch it on a FWD appliance!!

[Bmw doubles]

I hated my f10 handling at first. Low tread could be a problem, but there is also a dealer flash update called "steer ahead" that will correct some of the wondering. I got mine to stop wondering with just swaybar upgrades. It got a lot better when I ditched the run flats and It became the perfect gigantic street car when I upgraded shocks and springs.

[Quicksilv3r]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

What are you guys used to driving? A go-cart? I appreciate not having my teeth rattled out of my head and still being able to hustle around corners (took a new Camaro & Mustang on a climbing right 270º interchange). Is it a big car?? Yup. Does it handle like a big car? Not so much. And I'm currently riding on the base suspension. Once the shocks wear out I plan on upgrading to the sport shocks and maybe the springs. For what it is the F10 ain't half bad.

Previous cars in order of most recent:

E90 M3 6MT
W211 E55 Kompressor
E39 M5
E46 M3 6MT
E36 M3

[krautmeister]

Originally Posted by Bmw doubles

I hated my f10 handling at first. Low tread could be a problem, but there is also a dealer flash update called "steer ahead" that will correct some of the wondering. I got mine to stop wondering with just swaybar upgrades. It got a lot better when I ditched the run flats and It became the perfect gigantic street car when I upgraded shocks and springs.

Thank you. This is the sort of information I was seeking. I'll try that and see if it hasn't already been updated. I have a feeling the combination of offset, alignment, and potentially this software issue is what is bothering me.

So we're all clear here from my perspective. I'm not unhappy with cornering capabilities or the comfort of this car. I definitely chose this car because its a highway bruiser and its relative size is perfect for carting baby nugget around. I am probably the perfect consumer for BMW as I need practicality and performance in one package for this specific life stage.

I use it to commute to work and any other time, its sitting in my driveway! If we go anywhere around town, its in the LR3 (curbs, bumps, medians, zombie apocalypse). Any small amount of "sporting" driving I do is in the express lane on the way to and from work! LOL. My wife is getting a RRS or Cayenne (yuck) and then I'll be up for a 997 4S or something along those lines in 3 years. The F10 is just fine as it is... and many here have made it better to suit their needs.