[Boulder Bill]

These are mutually exclusive options on BMW's website. Can anyone tell me why? Sorry if this is a particularly lame questions. I tried searching the archives and couldn't find anything.

Thanks,

Bill

[HighlandPete]

Two different suspension systems, you specify one or the other.

M-sport is passive suspension with simple parts, vs the active suspension with completely different components. DDC with ARS still gives the option of a sport suspension setting.

I've the M-sport package (UK market) with Adaptive Drive (DDC + ARS), it's a superb suspension system, better than a passive sport suspension, IMO.

HighlandPete

[Boulder Bill]

Thanks Pete,

With the DDC, would one of the settings likely correspond with the passive M suspension?

Bill

[numbersguy]

The M sport suspension is new to the US for 2013 although it has been available longer in most other markets including the UK. That's why our UK friends know all about it and most US owners don't know what the hell it means.

The setup is slightly lower so it uses different springs. The visualizer actually shows this.

If you want the benefit of adaptive dampers along with stiffer springs you would have to order DDC and change out the springs, which some contributors to this forum have done.

[Boulder Bill]

So if I want a more robust or stiffer ride, go with the M suspension. If I want to wallow, but be able to adjust my wallow, go with DDC?

Bill

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Boulder Bill

So if I want a more robust or stiffer ride, go with the M suspension. If I want to wallow, but be able to adjust my wallow, go with DDC?

Bill

Opinion in the UK has been the passive M-sport is a similar ride stiffness to the sport setting in the Adaptive Drive package (DDC & ARS). But it will be different as AD is a more refined quality, than a passive system.

I've not had a chance to try the passive M-sport, (just standard passive systems), went straight for the AD package, as I wanted a more refined quality, the variable settings and a normal 'mid range' for most of my driving on poor quality surfaces.

My own view, it is the ARS part that gives the car the finer control, far better than a passive ARB (sway bar), as it works even with a softer damping setting, corners flat and very controlled.

F10/11 M-sport stiffness is a softer setting than the E60/61 anyway, hence why some have changed the springs to get a stiffer ride than F10 stock, passive or active suspension. So we have to be careful on whether comparisons are all F10, or is there an E60 influence.

I don't find my car wallows at all, even in normal mode, certainly stiffens up in sport, but I drive most of the time in normal, for the blend of suspension qualities. Will depend on what we define as wallow, some want 'rock hard' suspension, so anything else gets classified as wallow.

HighlandPete

[pharding]

I personally prefer the E60 M-Sport suspension to anything offered on the F10.