Wanted: A smoother ride - replacement shock/spring suggestion?

[WULFFZA]

Most suspension posts relate to lowering and improving handling.

I have a 2012 X5d sport package with style 214 20s on regular tires with standard suspension and self-leveling rear. The ride is terrible, bounces and rocks at the slightest undulation or imperfection in the road.
I find it exhausting and unsettling to drive due to poor road surfaces we have on my daily commute, but since I still have warranty left and mileage is quite low I am not ready to get rid of it yet.

Yeah, I'm getting old, I want a smoother ride and don't carve corners the way I used to.

Suggestions?

Also considered finding a used set of the stock 19inch wheel and tire setup, non runflat - not sure that will make enough of a difference?

[Leonelm3-X5M]

whats available for the X5D?

are they not the same offerings from H&R / EIBACH / DINAN / Voghland for all E7x ?

[mitch808]

Fatter sidewalls, and non-RF-tires.

So that would mean 18-19" wheels, from your 20" wheels.
Of course some tires naturally have firmer or softer sidewalls too...

[TKR]

19" with non runflats is quite a ok. 18 inch even smoother.

But, there is a solution also for your 214's. New Continental Extreme contact DWS06 tires. Smoothest tires on earth in 275/315 size.

And swap your front tensions struts to new ones. Parts 31126773949 and 31126773950. The rubber mounts get loose over years and make steering/suspension feel harsh and "clunky".

[argento]

Your description sounds like the time I blew a rear bladder. Maybe check to see if yours aren't compromised. Also check to see if your 214's are cracked, probably wouldn't affect the ride though...unless it's really bad. My 214's kept cracking, eventually replaced them all. $0.02 Good luck.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by TKR

19" with non runflats is quite a ok. 18 inch even smoother.

But, there is a solution also for your 214's. New Continental Extreme contact DWS06 tires. Smoothest tires on earth in 275/315 size.

And swap your front tensions struts to new ones. Parts 31126773949 and 31126773950. The rubber mounts get loose over years and make steering/suspension feel harsh and "clunky".

That's the tires I'm on! It was a significant improvement over the runflats, night and day and I switched over to them within a month of buying the vehicle, but I just don't think there is enough for the broken surfaces of my local roads.

I think you may be on to something on the worn mounts. It doesn't take much on these vehicles to be slightly out of sync and the handling and stability fall apart, even less forgiving on low profile tires - I've experienced similar with all my BMWs.. Going to price this out, but I am only at 52,000miles. Is that fair game mileage to have bad enough wear to make a difference.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by argento

Your description sounds like the time I blew a rear bladder. Maybe check to see if yours aren't compromised. Also check to see if your 214's are cracked, probably wouldn't affect the ride though...unless it's really bad. My 214's kept cracking, eventually replaced them all. $0.02 Good luck.

You may be on to something. I noticed a few months ago the rear seems to drop ever so slightly when its been standing. I also noticed on one diagonal dip I pull through each morning that the left to right wobble is worse first thing in the morning - perhaps that too is sign of a leak, like it is not fully inflated and allowing more sway. I'm hoping that would be covered under CPO warranty if there is a leak?

I tried something else yesterday, I pumped the tires above recommended pressure by ~4 psi over, and the ride smoothed out some (and of course turn in improved!). That seems counter intuitive?