Hi all, I currently drive a 2016 BMW 328i xDrive and live in North Jersey. My current car is not M-sport and is fairly balanced in terms of comfort vs stiffness, IMO. I am looking at picking up a 2023 BMW 330i xDrive with M-package and it has M-sport suspension. After reading online I have seen many contradicting opinions as to overall stiffness and comfort and while I understand it is subjective and based on opinion, I was wondering if anyone is familiar with both cars and provide further insight? I purchase my cars and drive a lot so comfort is important to me and therefore I also intend to keep the runflats on the new car for the added security/convenience. The car I’m looking at is used with a few thousand miles and is 2 hours away so it’s not practical for me to go just to drive it and there don’t seem to be any available near me for a test drive. If I were in a position to be ordering brand new I would of course spec m-adaptive but since that is not an option, I wanted to hear what people who live with m-sport suspension and runflats have to say. TIA!
I have a pre-LCI G20 330i with the m sport suspension as my daily, and a LCI G01 m40i with adaptive suspension for road trips. I also recently drove a base LCI G20 330i as a loaner. All with run flats. Here were my thoughts:
LCI G20 base loaner: somewhat boring, wallows like a boat (bad), soft and soaked up bumps well, too much body roll for my liking, hated the steering wheel and curved screen
My G01 in Comfort Plus setting (coded): wafts like a land yacht (good), soft, soaks up bumps very very well, body roll is acceptable
My G01 in Sport Plus setting: medium+ stiff, soaks up bumps, tighter but bumpier, not at all spine shattering, body roll well controlled, does not hop over high speed construction bumps.
My pre LCI G20 with m sport suspension: medium+ ++ stiffness, feel more bumps but not spine shattering, rear occasionally hops going over construction bumps at freeway speeds, body roll is good. Having driven with adaptive/adjustable suspension in the G01 though, I do miss it, but I don’t need it. Acceptable daily comfort on the sportier side which is what I prefer.
I’ve never been in full M cars but have driven JCW Minis on RF, and I find those to be more spine shattering. YMMV on the G20. Good luck!