How to make CP suspension more comfortable

[JB Yang]

Hi,

First, thanks everybody. I've learned a lot from you before buying my M5 with CP. I love the handling and power of this beast.

But after driving it for a week, I found the suspension is too bouncy even in comfort mode.I've checked with my dealer that the tire pressure is 32 psi. So the tire pressure is not the cause.

Now I am considering following ways to solve the problem.
1. Change 20 inch 343M back to 19 inch wheels.

If the riding is still not comfort enough.
2. Change the spring back to standard one to decrease the damping rate by 20%, and make the car sit higher by 1 cm, too. (Is it retrofit-able?)

Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

[Poleposition]

You bought the wrong car

[Nitrous Garage]

Unfortunately the M5 is setup to drive and handle aggressively. That means a stiff ride

[JB Yang]

Thanks for the comments.

:-)
I know there is no such a car that can be both comfortable and sporty. And now I know how good M5 can handle imperfect roads. That helps me to choose right car for right purpose.

I am looking forward to having fun with the car after break in.

[CPM5]

Nooooo

[Northern X5M]

I love the CP suspension.

As stiff as it is, it is still more comfortable than the suspension on my X5M. I think the seats are what make the M5 livable. The standard seats in my X were like sitting on a park bench.

[Bluehorseshoe]

The 19" 345M wheels should do the trick.

[Spinny02]

It's is still. I enjoy the ride... My wife not so much once we hit a good road dip on the hwy going the psl.


You may try to get the dinan adjustable sway bars. Have you driven a non cp m5 ?

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Northern X5M

I love the CP suspension.

As stiff as it is, it is still more comfortable than the suspension on my X5M. I think the seats are what make the M5 livable. The standard seats in my X were like sitting on a park bench.

This is also the advantage the M5 has over the M6GC.

[JB Yang]

I've driven non-CP on track, not on public road. The non-CP is great there. But, M6 feels even more solid and sharper. Therefor I thought CP may make the handle sharper for M5.

The road I live is not as good as track. I am figuring some way to make the drive better.

I now set suspension to Sport instead of Comport. Car bounces 1.3x in comfort than sport. Such bouncing makes passengers a little dizzy.

I'll try sway bar, too. Thanks for the suggestion.

[JB Yang]

I've changed the CP spring to non-CP standard one. The bouncy feeling is gone. At the same time, the handling becomes not as sharp as before. The car becomes a very different one.

I am quite curious about the feel of other springs such as KW or H&R is. Will they improve the handling without scarifying comfort too much? It will be very interesting if I have chance to try these.

However, non-CP standard spring is acceptable so far. I'll test with more suspension settings and tire pressure PSI to find the best setting for me after break in.

[Propofoln]

You must not have had a 3 series with 19inch low profile RFTs. My 335is convertible makes my CP 2014 M5 feel like a Lexus over road bumps. The sport settings is just right

[nybimmerfan]

Originally Posted by JB Yang

Hi,

But after driving it for a week, I found the suspension is too bouncy even in comfort mode.

This is the primary reason that I stuck with the 19". During my ED, I had the 19" and found that it was fine and did a good job especially in the Alps passes, but in the back of my mind I already had planned to replace them with the 20" upon the car's reaching stateside, however, after trying a friend's 2013 M5 with the 20" wheels, I did not find it to my liking as it felt too lofty and similar to riding in a cadillac, so decided to just keep the 19" inch. What you can do if you have a chance is to try out an M5 that has 19" on and since you already have the 20", you can conclude which one would be to your liking.

[JR429]

Originally Posted by JB Yang

Hi,

First, thanks everybody. I've learned a lot from you before buying my M5 with CP. I love the handling and power of this beast.

But after driving it for a week, I found the suspension is too bouncy even in comfort mode.I've checked with my dealer that the tire pressure is 32 psi. So the tire pressure is not the cause.

Now I am considering following ways to solve the problem.
1. Change 20 inch 343M back to 19 inch wheels.

If the riding is still not comfort enough.
2. Change the spring back to standard one to decrease the damping rate by 20%, and make the car sit higher by 1 cm, too. (Is it retrofit-able?)

Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Change the springs out and go with a smaller wheel / larger tire profile. The M5's ride is certainly not pleasant but you get used to it after awhile - it's the trade off for the performance. If your wife really cannot handle it then time to get a new car unfortunately. Happy wife = happy life

[isugoo]

Not sure in the Taiwan but here in the U.S., we pay extra 7k to get Competition packages that comes with different a lot of things including different springs and wheels. So I don't know why you spent good chunk of change for competition package and spent even more to go back to non-competition.

My suggestions would be just get KW V3 and setup exactly how you like it. It'll be def. less bumpy and more smooth ride if you setup that way.

[ufgtrs2007]

I wonder how the Dinan coilover (adjustable Spring) set will ride> I would imagine similar to stock if you don't get too crazy with the lowering.

[JR429]

Originally Posted by isugoo

Not sure in the Taiwan but here in the U.S., we pay extra 7k to get Competition packages that comes with different a lot of things including different springs and wheels. So I don't know why you spent good chunk of change for competition package and spent even more to go back to non-competition.

My suggestions would be just get KW V3 and setup exactly how you like it. It'll be def. less bumpy and more smooth ride if you setup that way.

To be fair my wife is now telling me I should have bought the 535 for about half the price since the M5 is her daily driver. Couples disagree maybe HE likes the competition package hehe.

[JR429]

Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007

I wonder how the Dinan coilover (adjustable Spring) set will ride> I would imagine similar to stock if you don't get too crazy with the lowering.

Probably a whole lot worse without much improvement in performance... Using a threaded sleeve with helper spring and reducing the bumpstop (based on pictures) on stock shock is typically a half-assed solution to adjusting the ride height resulting in a compression / rebound mismatch on the spring / shock.

I've never been much impressed with Dinan stuff, mediocre engineering, mediocre build quality, premium prices. The reality is Dinan doesn't have the volume (most BMW tuners don't) to invest in the fixed cost to build premium parts compared to the muscle car or even the Japanese car world.

[mwlmd]

You bought this as HER daily driver? Ever consider asking her what she wanted to drive on a daily basis? LOL

[JR429]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

You bought this as HER daily driver? Ever consider asking her what she wanted to drive on a daily basis? LOL

Haha my wife likes sports cars so I figured why not - we've been out at the track together and we're picking up a dedicated track STI later this year. But coming from the E350 I think after a long days of work and LA traffic she's just tired of the DCT and the suspension!

[Bluehorseshoe]

I decided to go for the 19" base wheels on my '14 CP. I may be the first? Or has anyone else went this route?

[Propofoln]

Good lord people. The 14 M5 with CP in comfort rides great. This is a sports car.