Do I need to spend $3500 on adaptive drive?

[14bmws]

Hello all,

My 2008 M3 is coming off lease in Oct and I will be replacing it with an X5 sport. The M car was so sweet but after 3 years as an everyday driver it has left me longing for something bigger.

If I understand things right, the only way to get a sport suspension is to go with the M-sport set up. The wheels and tires make that car look a little bit boy racer for my taste, and living in CT I definitely need the traction of a 9 inch tire width (you can opt for this with the sport) for ice and snow.

Do I NEED the adaptive drive option to keep the ride controlled? It's a $3500 stand alone option. I would love to hear opinions from those that have it as well as those that do not. My dealer says coming out of an M3 I would be better served to get it. Is he trying to get me to spend money unnecessarily?

Thanks so much for any answers you could offer.

[Michael_s]

I would. I have 2 X5's (mine and the wife) and mine is the 35i which I am looking to upgrade to an X or 5.0. I will only get the 5.0 with adaptive drive. I didn't think I needed/wanted it and unfortunately didn't try it before I bought mine. What a difference it makes. If I did it over again, 3 things I would do different:

1) 5.0 instead of 35i
2) Adaptive Drive
3) Premium Sound

Go try both and see for yourself.

[D.B.S]

I got adaptive drive on mine... I upgraded from a 335 to the X5 and what sold me on getting A.D was the fact that it handles almost as good as my 335 did... I keep my X in sport mode all the time and it handles great... But that's my .02 cents

[14bmws]

Thanks for the answers guys. I can't find one on any dealers lot that has the AD. I suspected it was worth the extra $$ because the difference in settings makes a remarkable setting in the M3.

Are there 3 settings? The M3 has comfort, sport, and them M mode, or stiff, stiffer and stiffest.

The premium sound is a must have in any BMW.

I drove both the 35 and the 50 and felt, like in most BMWs, the 6 cylinder car to be the better balanced, sweeter drive of the two. That's just me. While the M3 engine was an absolute beast when you wanted it to be, the best thing about that car was the impeccable handling and road manners. The suspension on that car is just sublime.

So you two guys just cost me $3500... LOL So happy I didn't order it the other way and spend 3 years rolling onto corners.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

Thanks for the answers guys. I can't find one on any dealers lot that has the AD. I suspected it was worth the extra $$ because the difference in settings makes a remarkable setting in the M3.

Are there 3 settings? The M3 has comfort, sport, and them M mode, or stiff, stiffer and stiffest.

The premium sound is a must have in any BMW.

I drove both the 35 and the 50 and felt, like in most BMWs, the 6 cylinder car to be the better balanced, sweeter drive of the two. That's just me. While the M3 engine was an absolute beast when you wanted it to be, the best thing about that car was the impeccable handling and road manners. The suspension on that car is just sublime.

So you two guys just cost me $3500... LOL So happy I didn't order it the other way and spend 3 years rolling onto corners.

You can read more about AD here. It's related to EDC on your m3, but has only two settings. Normal and sport mode. Thus AD Is always on.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ive_drive.html

[eythappy]

well...why not install KW V3 ??? for better performance and less cost

[richard in NC]

My 50i MSport has the Adaptive Drive. The difference between normal and sport is very subtle, but I'd still pay for it again. You get to choose between a very compliant ride, and one a bit more firm and controlled. I wouldn't call the X5 handling sublime but it will suprise you with its grip and toss-ability. I also have the Active Steering and like how well it deals with parking lots AND twisty roads.

[14bmws]

How do you like the beige nappa? I'm leaning that way. always get black cause I thought is looked richer, but the tan Nappa looks nice. hard to keep clean?

[SteveJ]

Adaptive Drive is certainly important for sprited driving. M Sport Package, X5M and Alpina versions include it.
It is clear that contemporary BMWs need electronic tweaks to the chassis for optimum performance.

G

[SteveJ]

Adaptive Drive is certainly important for sprited driving. M Sport Package, X5M and Alpina versions include it.
It is clear that contemporary BMWs need electronic tweaks to the chassis for optimum performance.

G

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

How do you like the beige nappa? I'm leaning that way. always get black cause I thought is looked richer, but the tan Nappa looks nice. hard to keep clean?

I love it and always get compliments. It still is clean after one year. The ivory white on the Z4 definitely needs a good cleaning after 2 years.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

So you two guys just cost me $3500... LOL So happy I didn't order it the other way and spend 3 years rolling onto corners.

Not to dip into the bank but... consider active steering as well. You won't regret it. I went from the M5 to the X6 with adaptive drive and active steering and I LOVE the way this car handles. Just wish I could say the same about the new iDrive, distorted rear window, and other nuances. I'm starting to suspect it really does matter where a car is made.

[snowsurfer]

I've got adaptive drive and active steering on mine, handles like my 328, almost better as far as "flick-ability".

I have the Sand Nevada also, hasn't been that hard to keep clean, here and there needs a little bit of love but it's been better than I thought (especially for my first tan interior).

[spmd11]

eythappy, is the KW V3 available for the X5 5.0?

[spmd11]

14BMWS, I was in the same boat as you early in 2011. I traded my 2009 X5 4.8 for an M3 sedan, thinking we could do without an X in our family. Disaster. So, several months later, I traded the M3 (bawling all the way to dealer) on a 2011 X5 5.0 that was on the lot. The 5.0 was loaded with every single option except Active Steering and Adaptive Drive.

I bought the car cause it had everything else that I wanted. Huge mistake! I hate not having Adaptive Drive (which was on my 4.8). You MUST, MUST get this option, unless you drive like an old lady.

[14bmws]

spmd11...

ordered the car, got the adaptive drive. Thanks for the detailed response. Got the staggered 20s... hope they don't ruin the ride.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

spmd11...

ordered the car, got the adaptive drive. Thanks for the detailed response. Got the staggered 20s... hope they don't ruin the ride.

Did you get active steering too? The steering feel in the X5 we drove at the Performance Center was TERRIBLE. Molasses would be a good term.

[14bmws]

Doug 999

No active steering. Had it on a 550 sport and hated it. I'm so used to the way bmws steer the AS just made everything feel artificial.

Funny, I drove a couple non AS X5's and they all felt great. The worst steering BMW I have driven to date is the new 5 series. That car felt like a Buick.

[kgclark]

Definitely get the AD. Like someone else said, the difference between "Normal" and "Sport" is very subtle - the real difference is between either mode and a car WITHOUT AD. Yeah, I expected the high-speed turns and body roll to be much better, but what's really amazing is how much better AD negotiates rough roads and potholes.

As for the snow, I got the 20's on my x6 and was extremely happy with my snow tires in the nasty Syracuse winter.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by 14bmws

Doug 999

No active steering. Had it on a 550 sport and hated it. I'm so used to the way bmws steer the AS just made everything feel artificial.

Funny, I drove a couple non AS X5's and they all felt great. The worst steering BMW I have driven to date is the new 5 series. That car felt like a Buick.

Interesting. Loved the AS on my 550 (2006) and drove a 550 without AS back to back and the feel was the exact same (to me).

The good news is you are saving the cash. But if it were me, I would find a X5 with AS and at least drive it. Since the only way you can really get AS is to order a X5/X6, and you are ordering one, I would at least make sure you tried it on the X5. I will admit, at least in the X5, the steering was much lighter with AS. I did dream of the huge guns I would have if I had gotten an X5 without AS because damn, that steering was heavy (interestingly enough the X6 without AS did not seem as heavy?).

[ring007]

YES!