Is the Adaptive M Suspension worth $500

songboyd4 · 07-25-2023, 04:55 PM

I have a 2020 BMW X50 40i. It does not have air suspension, but it does have built-in settings that can be switched between "Comfort," "Sport," or "Adaptive."

I recently received an email from BMW offering me the opportunity to spend $500 to upgrade my car to include Adaptive M Suspension. My questions are: 1) How is the "Adaptive M Suspension" any different from the "Adaptive" setting that I already have on the car? 2) If it is different, is it worth the $500 they would charge me to upgrade?

Any insights would be appreciated.

TurtleBoy · 07-25-2023, 06:01 PM

Welcome to the forum. If you are looking for a sportier/stiffer ride then you can get it. If not, then skip it.

gadgetfreak2024 · 07-25-2023, 06:22 PM

Out of curiosity is that a hardware upgrade or just some software tweak? I’m assuming just software if it’s $500? Hard to imagine any hardware product + installation for that money from BMW.

aaaaaaaaaz · 07-25-2023, 06:32 PM

it is a software tune. It is same as the "m-sport adaption suspension" included in m-sport package. It is just a different tuning. Same hardware.

gadgetfreak2024 · 07-25-2023, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanzyy

it is a software tune. It is same as the "m-sport adaption suspension" included in m-sport package. It is just a different tuning. Same hardware.

Got it. Thanks

songboyd4 · 07-25-2023, 08:47 PM

Thank you!! We would be looking for a softer, smoother ride, so we'll save the money and skip the software upgrade. Thanks for the replies!

Jimocan · 07-26-2023, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

Out of curiosity is that a hardware upgrade or just some software tweak? I’m assuming just software if it’s $500? Hard to imagine any hardware product + installation for that money from BMW pizza tower

The 'M Adaptive Suspension' option opens up the possibility of configuring the dampers from inside the car, is it ok?

2020540 · 07-26-2023, 08:02 AM

Here is what I think the OP is asking. Earlier this week I posted asking is someone with Adaptive suspension has used Bimmercode to set Comfort + and if it made a difference. I was imprecise in my language and Turtleboy corrected me. All X5s have an adaptive suspension in that there is Electronic Damper Control. Hardware is the same for 40i and Msport. Software is different. The hardware difference between a std 40i and Msport (Adaptive M) is the ability to change the damper settings in Idrive. You can do it with Msport and cannot do it with the base 40i.

A year ago, before the option from BMW to download the software to allow 40i to get Adaptive M (and therefore adjust the dampers) I emailed Bimmercode (which I have). I asked if the Comfort + adjustment was available on the base 40i that does not have dampers that can be adjusted in Idrive. The answer at that time seemed to be no. I tried to code it in my vehicle and it did not seem to help at all.

The question now arises (probably best posed to Bimmercode) is that IF someone with a 40i without Msport downloads the Adaptive M suspension which allows adjustment of the dampers via IDrive, can Bimmercode enable the theoretical Comfort + option which is not otherwise available for any X5 except possibly the air suspension. I will ask Turtleboy if his air suspended vehicle has that as an option.

So if the OP wants a better ride (like I do) one of us should ask Bimmercode support if we were to download the Adaptive M suspension for $500 would we then be able to enable the Comfort + adjustment in Bimmercode and improve the ride comfort.

I will probably do so and report back if I get an answer.

2020540 · 07-28-2023, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songboyd4

I have a 2020 BMW X50 40i. It does not have air suspension, but it does have built-in settings that can be switched between "Comfort," "Sport," or "Adaptive."

I recently received an email from BMW offering me the opportunity to spend $500 to upgrade my car to include Adaptive M Suspension. My questions are: 1) How is the "Adaptive M Suspension" any different from the "Adaptive" setting that I already have on the car? 2) If it is different, is it worth the $500 they would charge me to upgrade?

Any insights would be appreciated.

I got a response from Bimmercode. They said it does not change the damper settings that come on the. Not sure what Comfort + is then but it appears if you download the Adaptive M suspension adjustments it will not change the ride for the better. I am guessing that since the 7 series (air suspension) had a Comfort + mode it may allow X5s with air suspension to get that setting. But for us who has the base model and were unable to get air suspension, we are stuck with a harsh ride.

Given how many people on the forum that highlight the poor ride and the fact that the dampers on all models are theoretically adaptive, you
would think there would be an aftermarket software based solution to improve the ride.

07-25-2023, 04:55 PM	#1
songboyd4 songboyd 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW X5 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: North Carolina USA iTrader: (0)	Is the Adaptive M Suspension worth $500 I have a 2020 BMW X50 40i. It does not have air suspension, but it does have built-in settings that can be switched between "Comfort," "Sport," or "Adaptive." I recently received an email from BMW offering me the opportunity to spend $500 to upgrade my car to include Adaptive M Suspension. My questions are: 1) How is the "Adaptive M Suspension" any different from the "Adaptive" setting that I already have on the car? 2) If it is different, is it worth the $500 they would charge me to upgrade? Any insights would be appreciated.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-25-2023, 06:01 PM	#2
TurtleBoy General 13531 Rep 20,170 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i,2021 M340i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Welcome to the forum. If you are looking for a sportier/stiffer ride then you can get it. If not, then skip it. __________________ 2021 BMW G20 M340i xDrive - Verde Ermes/Black - 03/2024.40 2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i - Phytonic Blue/Cognac - 11/2023.50
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-25-2023, 06:22 PM	#3
gadgetfreak2024 First Lieutenant 222 Rep 348 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 50e, 2011 X5 50i M-Sp. Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: NY State iTrader: (0)	Out of curiosity is that a hardware upgrade or just some software tweak? I’m assuming just software if it’s $500? Hard to imagine any hardware product + installation for that money from BMW.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-25-2023, 06:32 PM	#4
aaaaaaaaaz Captain 577 Rep 909 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 50e (CB/Coffee) Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: sf bay iTrader: (0)	it is a software tune. It is same as the "m-sport adaption suspension" included in m-sport package. It is just a different tuning. Same hardware.
	Appreciate 2 gadgetfreak2024221.50 WagonFan271.50 Quote

07-25-2023, 08:47 PM	#6
songboyd4 songboyd 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW X5 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: North Carolina USA iTrader: (0)	Thank you!! We would be looking for a softer, smoother ride, so we'll save the money and skip the software upgrade. Thanks for the replies!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-26-2023, 08:02 AM	#8
2020540 Private 82 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW 540 Xdrive Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Plymouth Meeting, PA iTrader: (0)	Here is what I think the OP is asking. Earlier this week I posted asking is someone with Adaptive suspension has used Bimmercode to set Comfort + and if it made a difference. I was imprecise in my language and Turtleboy corrected me. All X5s have an adaptive suspension in that there is Electronic Damper Control. Hardware is the same for 40i and Msport. Software is different. The hardware difference between a std 40i and Msport (Adaptive M) is the ability to change the damper settings in Idrive. You can do it with Msport and cannot do it with the base 40i. A year ago, before the option from BMW to download the software to allow 40i to get Adaptive M (and therefore adjust the dampers) I emailed Bimmercode (which I have). I asked if the Comfort + adjustment was available on the base 40i that does not have dampers that can be adjusted in Idrive. The answer at that time seemed to be no. I tried to code it in my vehicle and it did not seem to help at all. The question now arises (probably best posed to Bimmercode) is that IF someone with a 40i without Msport downloads the Adaptive M suspension which allows adjustment of the dampers via IDrive, can Bimmercode enable the theoretical Comfort + option which is not otherwise available for any X5 except possibly the air suspension. I will ask Turtleboy if his air suspended vehicle has that as an option. So if the OP wants a better ride (like I do) one of us should ask Bimmercode support if we were to download the Adaptive M suspension for $500 would we then be able to enable the Comfort + adjustment in Bimmercode and improve the ride comfort. I will probably do so and report back if I get an answer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote