[bluecrabby]

M Sport with 20-inch wheels... bad idea for areas with rough roads? (for example: NYC, Cleveland, Chicago)

A couple of years ago, I borrowed a 330i with M Sport suspension and 20-inch aftermarket BBS(?) wheels from a friend of my MIL who was out of the country at the time. My bones still ache just thinking about that week of driving around NYC. When that thing was driving across unavoidable minor potholes, I slowed down as much as possible and braced for the airbags to go off... However, it was definitely a blast to drive when out of the city all the way to Upstate New York.

just wondering if I order the X1 with the same setup, how bad can it be?

[RigaTony1982]

I live in Chicago and am from the Cleveland area, so I do a lot of driving in both areas.

I have an M340i with 19" wheels. If the M Sport suspension on the X1 is anything like that on my car, it's rough. My wife consistently makes comments about how it rides. If I was doing it again I would have found a car with the adaptive suspension.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by RigaTony1982

I live in Chicago and am from the Cleveland area, so I do a lot of driving in both areas.

I have an M340i with 19" wheels. If the M Sport suspension on the X1 is anything like that on my car, it's rough. My wife consistently makes comments about how it rides. If I was doing it again I would have found a car with the adaptive suspension.

I had a Lincoln Town Car back in 1988.(the old boxy one) That thing drove like a small boat. However, on the really bad roads around DC, it was the best car ever. Sometimes I drove over big speed bumps without slowing down because I felt almost nothing.

[Stealth658]

I had 19s on my 340i, and the number of tires I went through because of NYC potholes was unbelievable. I went with 18s on the M-Sport X1 because without runflats, I feel like my wife would have trouble getting to work consistently.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by Stealth658

I had 19s on my 340i, and the number of tires I went through because of NYC potholes was unbelievable. I went with 18s on the M-Sport X1 because without runflats, I feel like my wife would have trouble getting to work consistently.

ok... that's it, I'm staying with the 18s. if I can't stand the looks, I can always just get a set of different aftermarket 18-inch wheels later on. perhaps even put on some good winter tires on the original 18-inch wheels.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by bluecrabby

ok... that's it, I'm staying with the 18s. if I can't stand the looks, I can always just get a set of different aftermarket 18-inch wheels later on. perhaps even put on some good winter tires on the original 18-inch wheels.

Why wouldn't you split the difference with the 19"s?

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by tex2670

Why wouldn't you split the difference with the 19"s?

because I'm not into the looks of the 19s that BMW offers with the X1... (but that's just personal preference)

I had a set of these BBS RSII 18" wheels several years ago...PITA to wash/polish, but I always loved them... perhaps I'll get something like it for the X1.(in 18")

[saws]

If you are asking the question means you prefer ride quality over looks.
I used to own a X3 with M-Sport package and hated teh harsh ride so much that I sold it for a loss and it took me more than 7 years to return to BMW.
I developed vertigo and back pain from all the rough riding...

For me personally, I will never go more than 18" on a BMW and no more M-Sport for me either.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by saws

If you are asking the question means you prefer ride quality over looks.
I used to own a X3 with M-Sport package and hated teh harsh ride so much that I sold it for a loss and it took me more than 7 years to return to BMW.
I developed vertigo and back pain from all the rough riding...

For me personally, I will never go more than 18" on a BMW and no more M-Sport for me either.

last year, I rented from Enterprise and they gave me a BMW X3 with almost 30k miles. I had reserved a luxury-class car, but they had none, so gave me the X3. I was on business and didn't really pay any attention to see what the X3 had or what model year... I drove it for about 2 weeks and put on 3000+ miles.

However, I did remember thinking that it had a really plush, comfortable ride, but was not very good at weaving in and out of traffic or corners.... almost like a Cadillac XT6, which I frequently get as rentals at airports (although I was in Charlotte and the roads were mostly smooth)

I did remember playing with the comfort and sport modes... and for some reason, it absolutely made no difference in how the X3 drove or handled. I'm pretty sensitive about such things, so it was kind of surprising to me. perhaps it just had so many miles that the shocks/springs were pretty worn out and mellow?

below is the picture that I took of the X3's odometer. I always do that when I return a car at the airport so I dont' have to remember the mileage.

[FlashMonkey929]

I think the biggest difference would be the tire sidewall height. I'm thinking a 20" wheel on the X1 will not be as harsh as a 20" wheel on the 3 series because from what I can tell the X1 would have a much beefier tire compared to running low profile tires on the 3 series. I had 19" BBS LM-R's on my '11 335i 19x8.5" all around with Ohlins coilovers, and while it was a lot harsher than the factory wheels, they weren't too bad as long as I didn't hit a major pothole. But then again, up till now I've always had lowered cars and low profile tires so I'm pretty sure anything the X1 comes with at this point will be much softer lol.

[bluecrabby]

went on a test drive today....

the ride was already a little on the stiff side, so I will most likely not opt for the 19" or 20" wheels.