New X5 35d on order, had a question tho...

[Brutus07]

Can I assume that by just ordering the sport activity package you are getting the same suspension as base vehicles without it and NOT a stiffer but non-adaptive suspension setup like you get on most other BMW sedans? And to get a sportier suspension you have to go with adaptive drive at $3500?

Boy, that "sport package" must have been a pricey option in years past! No wonder so many used ones out there lack it.

[X-cellent]

Originally Posted by Brutus07

Can I assume that by just ordering the sport activity package you are getting the same suspension as base vehicles without it and NOT a stiffer but non-adaptive suspension setup like you get on most other BMW sedans? And to get a sportier suspension you have to go with adaptive drive at $3500?

Boy, that "sport package" must have been a pricey option in years past! No wonder so many used ones out there lack it.

$3,600 for the Sports Package plus $950 for the 20" 214's on my 2008....

[Brutus07]

Originally Posted by X-cellent

$3,600 for the Sports Package plus $950 for the 20" 214's on my 2008....

I guess we're the only ones paying more then! It's $2,000 for SAP, $865 for the 20", and $3185 (all invoice) for the adaptive drive. Total $6050!

That doesn't include $1320 for mandatory leather which is an option on the 35d but required to get the above.

So to get an X5 that handles "like a BMW" requires an extra $7370 plus tax. I can't argue you're getting more value but that's a lot of dough.

I'm not as into the logic of this particular vehicle w/o that adaptive suspension and past a point I start to object on principle to paying that much for even a great vehicle. I don't "believe" in financing cars anymore. Hmmm, maybe I'll try to talk the wife into a used 3 series and a used SUV of some sort for when we need the extra space instead.

[chip4]

So far based on what I have seen in these forums -3 different kinds of suspension setups on the new X5's

1. Standard: Coil springs, shocks, stabilizer bars

2. Sport suspension delete: F coil springs, R Air leveling, shocks, Stabilizer bars

3. Active Drive: F coil, R Air leveling, electronic damping shocks, Active Roll stabilizers.

Someone correct me if I am wrong. I assume 2 and 3 are available as options under SAV/Msport package? just want to get this straight.

[Richard in NC]

That could be. I don't know if there is enough info to know for sure. I couldn't find it.

Has anyone driven all 3 back to back? I've driven #1 at the BMW PC and #3 at my dealer. I never could find #2 (Sport Activity without Active Suspension). I also can only assume that Sport Activity with Active Suspension is the same as the M Sport.

[Brutus07]

What makes me chuckle a little is that on BMW's website the differences aren't really clear on the one thing that sets them apart, handling. Yet on some really crummy handling economy cars they have tons of graphics and videos touting how the suspension is set up. I guess BMW's focus is different on this model.

Salesman we dealt with locally is a kid who could barely figure out where the keys were, so no help there. Wife has an email into a presumedly more knowledgeable guy from online. Kinda hard to go see for myself though with none on the lot to drive. And when we asked for a 2011 brouchure that might have had the details, they had none. I guess BMW is weathering the economy well!

Well the order that we were going to put in today just got postponed at least a week, I'll mull it over while on vacation as to whether to go down a different road totally. Thanks for the input, this site has already saved me from making a big mistake on this issue. (ordering it sans Active Drive)

[chip4]

Originally Posted by Richard in NC

That could be. I don't know if there is enough info to know for sure. I couldn't find it.

Has anyone driven all 3 back to back? I've driven #1 at the BMW PC and #3 at my dealer. I never could find #2 (Sport Activity without Active Suspension). I also can only assume that Sport Activity with Active Suspension is the same as the M Sport.

I know I have the standard setup on my 11' X35d -found a picture on this forum of what I assume is 2 "Sport Suspension delete" and had a discussion on it -ck out BigAl's pics:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...de-photos.html

Edit: Nevermind -looks like his car doesnt have SAV or Msport -soo confused -maybe its only on the 3rd row option

[ard]

Originally Posted by chip4

So far based on what I have seen in these forums -3 different kinds of suspension setups on the new X5's

1. Standard: Coil springs, shocks, stabilizer bars

2. Sport suspension delete: F coil springs, R Air leveling, shocks, Stabilizer bars

3. Active Drive: F coil, R Air leveling, electronic damping shocks, Active Roll stabilizers.

Someone correct me if I am wrong. I assume 2 and 3 are available as options under SAV/Msport package? just want to get this straight.

I think this is wrong. All X5s have coils, all have struts, all have stabilizer bars... you are over-complexifying this, just like BMW wants.

The "air leveling" can be added to any, and comes with the 3rd row seats. This is option 220.

The adaptive drive addes an electronically changeable strut, and an electronically changeable sway bar.

So we basically have the same basic parts in each: coil and strut.



To decode BMWs confusion, one needs to look at the ACTUAL PARTS not the brochures, etc.

There appears to be three struts available on the E70 35d for 2010:

1. Standard 31326781918
2. Sport 31316781920
3. Adaptive 37116794531

(Other models have different parts, but all seem to follow this '3 flavors' design)

HOWEVER, it is not clear how a vehicle order changes with a "sport activity package" since this actually includes a "sport suspension delete" which make no sense. There is no BMW order for any X5 that actually 'adds' a sport suspension...

The sport suspension part (ie #2) says it is is for cars with option code S226A... Yet I've not seen this on any US E70 X5. I think this is just a vestigial descriptor for some reason.

None of the packages offered with the X5 alter the suspension (except the Adaptive drive of course)

My suspicion is that in the US there are only TWO suspensions:

#1

#3


My 2 cents

A

[ard]

Originally Posted by Brutus07

Can I assume that by just ordering the sport activity package you are getting the same suspension as base vehicles without it and NOT a stiffer but non-adaptive suspension setup like you get on most other BMW sedans? And to get a sportier suspension you have to go with adaptive drive at $3500?

That is my thesis.

Originally Posted by Brutus07

Boy, that "sport package" must have been a pricey option in years past! No wonder so many used ones out there lack it.

I wonder how the used market will value the 2010/2011 with the sport package now that it has been gutted.... kinda interesting. Will buyers be sharp enough to discern the value in a 2008/2009 sport versus the latter without adaptive? Hmm