Ride Quality

ElHeffe · 11-12-2021, 09:43 PM

As a former owner of a M2 Competition, I suggest you drive one of these for a week or so and then ANY other car you drive seem very soft by comparison!

I grew to love the firmness but it's not for everyone. As others have mentioned, there's a difference between a very firm ride and a bad ride. Ultimately it's your money and you should go with your gut and pick what works best for you.

zambarossa · 11-12-2021, 10:02 PM

Disclaimer, this is how I feel it at my current age. A decade or two ago I may have felt different.
In Sport+, M3 suspension can be punishing on bad roads, but heck it is fun in corners. Sport is not too bad, but on long rides it can also become uncomfortable on bad roads. Comfort is pretty good, but still not as comfortable as my previous F30 340 xDrive Msport even though that one had runflats. That car was pretty capable, but the M3 is a different class in terms of handling, so I guess you have to pay for it somehow.
That being said, I drive in Sport most of the time and when I want to be aggressive I use Sport+. I use comfort only on long drives when it is mostly straight roads with cruise control on.

mlc50 · 11-13-2021, 12:44 AM

Not as bad as a stock STI, but ride quality is pretty firm though not uncomfortable. 20" in the rear 19" front.

Since OP mentioned the 6MT ride quality - kinda feel bad for my passengers when shifting under throttle lol. Seeing their head lurch forward with each shift.

Just part of life driving a ~500HP M car with a MT. You won't regret it OP.

bri1042 · 11-13-2021, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElHeffe

As a former owner of a M2 Competition, I suggest you drive one of these for a week or so and then ANY other car you drive seem very soft by comparison!

I grew to love the firmness but it's not for everyone. As others have mentioned, there's a difference between a very firm ride and a bad ride. Ultimately it's your money and you should go with your gut and pick what works best for you.

ElHeffe - I came from an M2 Comp to my '21 M3. The M3 is MUCH more pleasant ride than my M2 was, and without sacrificing all the good things about a sport suspension. The M2 Comp needed adaptive dampers. I still think it managed to stay off the "bad ride" side of things, but the M3 and M4 adaptive setup is vastly better in pretty much every way.

mzcp · 11-13-2021, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlc50

Not as bad as a stock STI, but ride quality is pretty firm though not uncomfortable. 20" in the rear 19" front.

Since OP mentioned the 6MT ride quality - kinda feel bad for my passengers when shifting under throttle lol. Seeing their head lurch forward with each shift.

Just part of life driving a ~500HP M car with a MT. You won't regret it OP.

Try the CDV delete. Better and smoother 1-2 shift

nathanm4 · 11-13-2021, 11:53 AM

Stiffer ride is what you want for a better handling capability.

I have been daily driving my 6MT M4 for 20,000+ miles. Never felt uncomfortable. Sometimes I was doubting if the suspension wasn't firm enough.

Hood · 11-13-2021, 12:11 PM

I found driving on comfort is fine most of the time, the drive does not feel uncomfortable at all. However driving on sport, depending on the road, can get quite bumpy sometimes but not back breaking bad.

coaxddddkkk · 03-07-2023, 08:16 PM

Coming from the m340 to my G80 this year.

My two cents:

G80 comfort mode is a little bit softer than 340 sport mode, but with more cabin noise.

Overall I think G80 is definitely more harsh ride than m340. If you can live with the sport mode in the 340 for everyday usage, then the comfort mode G80 is a little better than that.

But for the handling, power, responsive, the G80 is another level.

wtwo3 · 03-07-2023, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coaxddddkkk

Coming from the m340 to my G80 this year.

My two cents:

G80 comfort mode is a little bit softer than 340 sport mode, but with more cabin noise.

Overall I think G80 is definitely more harsh ride than m340. If you can live with the sport mode in the 340 for everyday usage, then the comfort mode G80 is a little better than that.

But for the handling, power, responsive, the G80 is another level.

Did your m340i have Adaptive suspension or just the standard m sport suspension?

coaxddddkkk · 03-07-2023, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Did your m340i have Adaptive suspension or just the standard m sport suspension?

I have the adaptive suspension. But that will only turned on in adaptive mode I think?

Adaptive mode is smooth.

wtwo3 · 03-07-2023, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coaxddddkkk

I have the adaptive suspension. But that will only turned on in adaptive mode I think?

Adaptive mode is smooth.

That would explain it. I came from an m340i but without Adaptive suspension, and the m3 feels much more compliant in comfort mode than my m340i did.

coaxddddkkk · 03-07-2023, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtwo3

That would explain it. I came from an m340i but without Adaptive suspension, and the m3 feels much more compliant in comfort mode than my m340i did.

I see. Also my 340 is 2020, probably some comfort update on that year?

wtwo3 · 03-07-2023, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coaxddddkkk

I see. Also my 340 is 2020, probably some comfort update on that year?

Mine was a 2020 as well. The suspension hasn't been changed since then.

11-12-2021, 09:43 PM	#67
ElHeffe Second Lieutenant 186 Rep 220 Posts Drives: Many Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	As a former owner of a M2 Competition, I suggest you drive one of these for a week or so and then ANY other car you drive seem very soft by comparison! I grew to love the firmness but it's not for everyone. As others have mentioned, there's a difference between a very firm ride and a bad ride. Ultimately it's your money and you should go with your gut and pick what works best for you.
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11-12-2021, 10:02 PM	#68
zambarossa Vault Dweller 704 Rep 577 Posts Drives: 2021 M3 6MT (Dravit/KO/ZPP) Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Ottawa, ON iTrader: (1)	Disclaimer, this is how I feel it at my current age. A decade or two ago I may have felt different. In Sport+, M3 suspension can be punishing on bad roads, but heck it is fun in corners. Sport is not too bad, but on long rides it can also become uncomfortable on bad roads. Comfort is pretty good, but still not as comfortable as my previous F30 340 xDrive Msport even though that one had runflats. That car was pretty capable, but the M3 is a different class in terms of handling, so I guess you have to pay for it somehow. That being said, I drive in Sport most of the time and when I want to be aggressive I use Sport+. I use comfort only on long drives when it is mostly straight roads with cruise control on.
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11-13-2021, 12:44 AM	#69
mlc50 Private 64 Rep 98 Posts Drives: G80 M3 (6MT) Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Not as bad as a stock STI, but ride quality is pretty firm though not uncomfortable. 20" in the rear 19" front. Since OP mentioned the 6MT ride quality - kinda feel bad for my passengers when shifting under throttle lol. Seeing their head lurch forward with each shift. Just part of life driving a ~500HP M car with a MT. You won't regret it OP. __________________ '21 M3 Base - Brooklyn Grey CA -> NJ
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11-13-2021, 11:53 AM	#72
nathanm4 Captain 683 Rep 738 Posts Drives: Aston Martin Vantage Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Salt Lake City, UT iTrader: (0)	Stiffer ride is what you want for a better handling capability. I have been daily driving my 6MT M4 for 20,000+ miles. Never felt uncomfortable. Sometimes I was doubting if the suspension wasn't firm enough. __________________
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11-13-2021, 12:11 PM	#73
Hood New Member 23 Rep 24 Posts Drives: G82 M4 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I found driving on comfort is fine most of the time, the drive does not feel uncomfortable at all. However driving on sport, depending on the road, can get quite bumpy sometimes but not back breaking bad.
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03-07-2023, 08:16 PM	#74
coaxddddkkk New Member 17 Rep 28 Posts Drives: BMW G80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 [0.00]	Coming from the m340 to my G80 this year. My two cents: G80 comfort mode is a little bit softer than 340 sport mode, but with more cabin noise. Overall I think G80 is definitely more harsh ride than m340. If you can live with the sport mode in the 340 for everyday usage, then the comfort mode G80 is a little better than that. But for the handling, power, responsive, the G80 is another level.
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