[superflysocal]

I have a 23 iX50 with the 21" aero wheels, air suspension and 4-wheel steering and I love the ride on my car, probably the smoothest ride I have ever had in a car and for sure in an suv/crossover.

I recently had to take my car in and got another iX as a loaner. This car had no air suspension and the 22" aero wheels (which looks fantastic btw).

The loaner definitely did not ride as nice as my car. On medium to larger bumps, you can definitely feel a difference.

So do you think this is predominantly because of lack of air suspension or the bigger wheels?

The reason I am asking is because I am thinking about switching to the bigger wheels but not if there's a very noticeable difference in ride that air suspension cannot overcome.

[bmwix1]

Wheel makes some difference, but not that significant. The smoothness is mainly from air suspension and shock absorb.

[mikedb]

I just drove a non-air-suspension iX40 for six weeks while my iX50 (with air suspension) was getting several issues addressed. Both vehicles had the same rims.

I was surprised at how much I noticed the missing air suspension. The little bumps were slightly more jarring, but over large bumps it was as though I was driving a completely different vehicle. Over large speed bumps, I needed to drive much slower to avoid bottoming out the vehicle, and medium sized potholes upset the vehicle much more significantly.

For my money, the difference you noticed was the air suspension, and not (significantly) the larger wheels.

[zipity]

Thank you for this thread. I have an iX50 in the Newark VPC on stop sale. After a month of waiting, I found almost the exact build on a BMW lot 40 miles away. The only difference between my custom build and this car on the lot is it lacks air-suspension. Thanks for your opinions, I think I'll give the stop sale another week or two.

[07e92]

had my M60 (22” tire) in for recalls, got an iX50 (21” tire) loaner without air suspension, the ride quality is much worse and harsher than the M60

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by mikedb

I just drove a non-air-suspension iX40 for six weeks while my iX50 (with air suspension) was getting several issues addressed. Both vehicles had the same rims.

I was surprised at how much I noticed the missing air suspension. The little bumps were slightly more jarring, but over large bumps it was as though I was driving a completely different vehicle. Over large speed bumps, I needed to drive much slower to avoid bottoming out the vehicle, and medium sized potholes upset the vehicle much more significantly.

For my money, the difference you noticed was the air suspension, and not (significantly) the larger wheels.

I drive an ix40 on 22 non air and pretty horrible roads around here..I find it handles potholes big and small and speed bumps with no issues..not once did it bottom out in the months of ownership.

[Kief]

We’ve had my wife’s 2024 iX 50 w/22” and without air suspension since late August 2023. The car was a dealer locate and MSport and 22” wheels were non-negotiable. I initially thought the ride was smooth, and I couldn’t understand how folks were complaining about the ride being rough—thought they were all a bunch of Lexus converts LOL jk; however, after living with the car for a few months, you definitely feel the road imperfections. Not enough for us to want to get rid of it, but if given the option, definitely go with the air suspension without a doubt. It’s a shame BMW removed the air suspension from being standard equipment on the iX 50.

[MetricMan]

Different suspensions different amounts

[DemoZ]

I have a 24 22” model with no air suspension. Ride is incredible and is one of the best thing about it. (and teonir my prior car were bmw 750i.). I remember test driving a 23 ix50 and the ride was really nice (presumably had AS).
Of course- I’m coming off of a Tesla model S …::…

[superflysocal]

Originally Posted by mikedb

I just drove a non-air-suspension iX40 for six weeks while my iX50 (with air suspension) was getting several issues addressed. Both vehicles had the same rims.

I was surprised at how much I noticed the missing air suspension. The little bumps were slightly more jarring, but over large bumps it was as though I was driving a completely different vehicle. Over large speed bumps, I needed to drive much slower to avoid bottoming out the vehicle, and medium sized potholes upset the vehicle much more significantly.

For my money, the difference you noticed was the air suspension, and not (significantly) the larger wheels.

Yep, this is exactly how I feel about the loaner w/o air. I think it wouldn't have been so bad if i wasn't so use to having air suspension.

[superflysocal]

Originally Posted by DemoZ

I have a 24 22” model with no air suspension. Ride is incredible and is one of the best thing about it. (and teonir my prior car were bmw 750i.). I remember test driving a 23 ix50 and the ride was really nice (presumably had AS).
Of course- I’m coming off of a Tesla model S …::…

Not all 23' had AS. It was part of a package that came with 4 wheel steering.

[superflysocal]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

I drive an ix40 on 22 non air and pretty horrible roads around here..I find it handles potholes big and small and speed bumps with no issues..not once did it bottom out in the months of ownership.

From reading people's responses on here, I wonder if the discrepancy between people who is OK with no AS vs people who find it rough is that the former group has not ridden with AS for a lengthy amount of time so they are not used to it.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by superflysocal

From reading people's responses on here, I wonder if the discrepancy between people who is OK with no AS vs people who find it rough is that the former group has not ridden with AS for a lengthy amount of time so they are not used to it.

Perhaps so...I like the feel of the road..my other car is an x7 on air with DHP. in all honesty I like the ix on springs better. I would no doubt love the ix on air too.

[darylp310]

Originally Posted by superflysocal

From reading people's responses on here, I wonder if the discrepancy between people who is OK with no AS vs people who find it rough is that the former group has not ridden with AS for a lengthy amount of time so they are not used to it.

I’d say this is very true. I’m so spoiled now I can’t even rent another car without air suspension (and ADAS too!)

[Barry123]

Originally Posted by darylp310

I’d say this is very true. I’m so spoiled now I can’t even rent another car without air suspension (and ADAS too!)

The modern version of "The Princess and the Pea"?

[mikedb]

Originally Posted by superflysocal

From reading people's responses on here, I wonder if the discrepancy between people who is OK with no AS vs people who find it rough is that the former group has not ridden with AS for a lengthy amount of time so they are not used to it.

This is absolutely the case for me. By my fourth week with the iX40, I was completely used to the non-air suspension, and it still rode very nicely (nicer than my first loaner, a 2024 330).

But it was pretty noticeable going back to my iX50 with air suspension. Even my wife, who had no idea about the difference, commented that our car seemed smoother than the loaner.

[Ginger Jay]

I have not completed a test drive yet but there are two vehicles I like. 22” with air versus 21” no air. Will I notice any difference? Mostly smooth paved roads.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by Ginger Jay

I have not completed a test drive yet but there are two vehicles I like. 22” with air versus 21” no air. Will I notice any difference? Mostly smooth paved roads.

Can you get to a dealership to drive a couple with and without? When I was I initially test driving, I drove a few, and only one had air suspension. I did not know they were different until later and did not notice the difference on my smooth roads.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Ginger Jay

I have not completed a test drive yet but there are two vehicles I like. 22” with air versus 21” no air. Will I notice any difference? Mostly smooth paved roads.

Definitely try to test drive both. I will say the air suspension is truly sublime and the smoothest riding car I've ever experienced. The ability to raise and lower manually with the push of a button is a cool feature too, but the ride is amazing.

[JSTARR]

Depends on personal taste, driving style & your usual road type choices. Staying on good pavement & optimizing speed, probably the iX M60 setup followed by the non-air iX 50.
Myself, when we test drove the three possible options, I went looking for bad potholed old pavement & gravel & dirt & snow. The kid "genius" along thought I was insane, taking their loaner cars out to farm country.
But thats what I tend towards, and I fell head over heels for the adaptative air setup.
They were rare on dealers inventory, so I built an iX 50 w/air and I still adore the way it rides & handles for brisk travel on bumpy back roads.

[Ginger Jay]

Thanks everyone. I prefer the color scheme of the iX50 with 21” wheels and no air. The 22” when Air looks good too but it’s my 2nd favorite lol

[drbluedevil]

I've driven nearly every combination of this vehicle's wheel+suspension options (owned 2, dad owns one, and I've driven countless loaners). I'll say the 20 and 21" wheels ride noticeably more comfortably than the 22" wheels and that air suspension is markedly more comfortable than non-air. For comfort, air suspension is much more important than wheel size. The difference between the "stiffer" m60 vs the xdrive50's is imperceptible to me in daily driving.

I'm writing since you indicate you live in DFW, so I suffer the same horrible roads you do.