M3 suspension too stiff for some streets?

PGabriel · 11-20-2011, 06:34 PM

I noticed that driving the M3 in some paving-stoned streets is just unbearable, the whole car shakes (along with the passengers) as if it would fall apart. Even driving slowly in D1/Power on normal/DCT to comfort won't make it better.

Is that normal for the model?

GIdriver · 11-20-2011, 06:49 PM

In my opinion ride is firm but not unbearable even in sport. Don't know for how long you have had the car but may want to check if it still has the shipping blocks in place. Do a search about it in the forum.

bobbyd1961 · 11-20-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIdriver

In my opinion ride is firm but not unbearable even in sport. Don't know for how long you have had the car but may want to check if it still has the shipping blocks in place. Do a search about it in the forum.

what are shipping blocks

SeeYaLater · 11-20-2011, 06:51 PM

My street is bumpy as hell, so i always turn off the M button when i turn on my street, but its still no Camry soft ride (thank god).

-=Hot|Ice=- · 11-20-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

what are shipping blocks

They're white blocks over the suspension to prevent damage during transport. I don't think the drive on the M is all that bad.

gthal · 11-20-2011, 07:01 PM

My car is not at all uncomfortable but that is somewhat subjective. Maybe you are just overly sensitive to a firmer suspension... maybe you still have the shipping blocks in? I don't think you can easily see them and would have to take the car to the dealer to check. IMO, the car is NOT overly firm and is actually fairly comfortable in "comfort" mode on the EDC.

Foodle · 11-20-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGabriel

I noticed that driving the M3 in some paving-stoned streets is just unbearable, the whole car shakes (along with the passengers) as if it would fall apart.

Drive faster and skim over them

rye m3 · 11-20-2011, 08:54 PM

The threads here are endless... Why did you buy an M3 in the first place? Did you test drive it before you bought it? Really, useless threads like this just pollute this forum...

piloto · 11-20-2011, 08:56 PM

I find the ride to be quite good in comfort mode, and that's on a zcp equipped car fwiw. As someone said, maybe it's due to still having shipping blocks in there or anything this side of an old school Caddy or Buick is not for you.

BMW Fanatic · 11-20-2011, 09:10 PM

Post a side-view pic of your car from a distance where you can actually see the whole car, we should be able to determine if still have shipping blocks or not.. If it's the latter then BRO this car is not for you. Maybe you should take a pic of the road you're describing too.. Hmm..

Ateam · 11-20-2011, 10:52 PM

People are missing the most obvious and likely answer which is tire pressure. Especially if you just got the car many dealers forget to drop the PSI from 50 which is used to ship down to 35 on all 4 corners which is reccomend. Change psi to 35 first.

Second shipping blocks can be checked for and they are in the front. You simply have to crank your wheel all the way to one side so you can get a good look at your front suspension/strut. You can then look UNDER the rubber cover that the shipping blocks fit into. They will be white or white green

smmmurf · 11-20-2011, 10:54 PM

Tires are key. The car is rough on bad streets. Just think about what kind of streets the car was designed on/for. The f-ing Autobahn. During European Delivery I realized this. A car optimized for stability and response at 140MPH regularly is going to make some sacrifices in comfort to a Camry or something designed for pedestrian speeds in the USA.

FYI If you switch to all seasons the NVH is GREATLY REDUCED.
But so is the grip and steering response in the dry

MienAce · 11-20-2011, 11:53 PM

buy a Camry, you'll have a smooth ride.....1 of the best.

LarThaL · 11-21-2011, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIdriver

In my opinion ride is firm but not unbearable even in sport. Don't know for how long you have had the car but may want to check if it still has the shipping blocks in place. Do a search about it in the forum.

Agreed. If the ride is truly "unbearable" the shipping blocks might have been left in. Happened to me. Also, your front end will be sitting a little high by about and inch. There is no way to see the blocks from the outside. They are located INSIDE the rubber shroud of the front shocks. They can be popped out easily in a few seconds, however.

ES_TRADER · 11-21-2011, 11:08 AM

comfort mode is still way stiffer than a sport package non-M 3 series

knifegun · 11-21-2011, 11:25 AM

Are you kidding me? If you are on a stock suspension and think the ride is stiff, then you may want to consider a different car. I think the stock ride while stiffer than others is way within a comfortable margin.

gblansten · 11-21-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knifegun

Are you kidding me? If you are on a stock suspension and think the ride is stiff, then you may want to consider a different car. I think the stock ride while stiffer than others is way within a comfortable margin.

The M3 is pretty comfortable to me. I just changed over from a C63 which had a stiffer suspension. Didn't mind the C63 suspension either though.

rhouck · 11-21-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGabriel

I noticed that driving the M3 in some paving-stoned streets is just unbearable, the whole car shakes (along with the passengers) as if it would fall apart. Even driving slowly in D1/Power on normal/DCT to comfort won't make it better.

Is that normal for the model?

The car was not designed for paving-stoned streets. /thread

gthal · 11-21-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knifegun

Are you kidding me? If you are on a stock suspension and think the ride is stiff, then you may want to consider a different car. I think the stock ride while stiffer than others is way within a comfortable margin.

I agree... the comfort setting is still sporty and firm but by no means rough or uncomfortable. It is actually surprisingly comfortable... unlike Richpuer's comments above, to me, it is very similar to a 335i with the sport suspension. One thing to remember, tire choice and tire pressure play a BIG role in ride comfort too. A set of PSS at 35PSI and it's like driving a Caddy... well, kind of.

saeyedoc · 11-21-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richpuer

comfort mode is still way stiffer than a sport package non-M 3 series

I totally agree, alot has to do with the run-flats on the non-M cars.

PGabriel · 11-21-2011, 05:40 PM

Ok took some pics and did measurements. Front fender clearance to ground is 27.48". Rear is 26.57". I can stick just about four fingers in the front fender gap. In the rear gap a bit over one finger.

Here go the pictures. I´m bringing the car in for the 1,200 miles service next week.

Does it look like the shipping blocks are still in place?

BTW in the last pic, the rubber cover seems to be dettached from the structure above it. I checked the right wheel and it´s totally closed. Is that something I should worry about?

Black Gold · 11-21-2011, 05:49 PM

I never had shipping blocks on my car, or seen it in person. But what I can tell you is that doesnt look right to me.

My car looks identical to yours, but my gap is maybe two fingers in the front, not four and looks much lower than your car.

11-20-2011, 06:34 PM	#1
PGabriel Private 15 Rep 55 Posts Drives: M3 E90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	M3 suspension too stiff for some streets? I noticed that driving the M3 in some paving-stoned streets is just unbearable, the whole car shakes (along with the passengers) as if it would fall apart. Even driving slowly in D1/Power on normal/DCT to comfort won't make it better. Is that normal for the model?
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11-20-2011, 06:49 PM	#2
GIdriver Major 68 Rep 1,359 Posts Drives: 2014 E63 AMG-S Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Somewhere in Time iTrader: (0)	In my opinion ride is firm but not unbearable even in sport. Don't know for how long you have had the car but may want to check if it still has the shipping blocks in place. Do a search about it in the forum.
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11-20-2011, 06:51 PM	#4
SeeYaLater Private 17 Rep 85 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Florida iTrader: (1)	My street is bumpy as hell, so i always turn off the M button when i turn on my street, but its still no Camry soft ride (thank god).
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11-20-2011, 07:01 PM	#6
gthal Major General 1903 Rep 5,678 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (2)	My car is not at all uncomfortable but that is somewhat subjective. Maybe you are just overly sensitive to a firmer suspension... maybe you still have the shipping blocks in? I don't think you can easily see them and would have to take the car to the dealer to check. IMO, the car is NOT overly firm and is actually fairly comfortable in "comfort" mode on the EDC. __________________ 2020 X3 M40i \| Black \| Current DD 2020 C8 Corvette \| Z51 \| Torch Red ... built and waiting for delivery 2016 M2 \| Long Beach Blue \| 6MT 2015 M4 \| Austin Yellow \| DCT 2012 MB C63AMG \| 2011 E92 M3 \| 2010 E92 M3
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11-20-2011, 08:54 PM	#8
rye m3 Lieutenant 33 Rep 489 Posts Drives: 2011.75 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	The threads here are endless... Why did you buy an M3 in the first place? Did you test drive it before you bought it? Really, useless threads like this just pollute this forum... __________________ E92 M3 MR on Red/Black ZCP Sound Carbon 2007 997S - sold 2003 E46 M3 Steel Grey on Red- sold 1997 E36 M3 Arctic Silver on Black- sold
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11-20-2011, 08:56 PM	#9
piloto Captain 28 Rep 843 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	I find the ride to be quite good in comfort mode, and that's on a zcp equipped car fwiw. As someone said, maybe it's due to still having shipping blocks in there or anything this side of an old school Caddy or Buick is not for you.
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11-20-2011, 09:10 PM	#10
BMW Fanatic Banned 135 Rep 3,293 Posts Drives: slow Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (11)	Post a side-view pic of your car from a distance where you can actually see the whole car, we should be able to determine if still have shipping blocks or not.. If it's the latter then BRO this car is not for you. Maybe you should take a pic of the road you're describing too.. Hmm..
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11-20-2011, 10:52 PM	#11
Ateam Banned 88 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	People are missing the most obvious and likely answer which is tire pressure. Especially if you just got the car many dealers forget to drop the PSI from 50 which is used to ship down to 35 on all 4 corners which is reccomend. Change psi to 35 first. Second shipping blocks can be checked for and they are in the front. You simply have to crank your wheel all the way to one side so you can get a good look at your front suspension/strut. You can then look UNDER the rubber cover that the shipping blocks fit into. They will be white or white green
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11-20-2011, 10:54 PM	#12
smmmurf Colonel 309 Rep 2,189 Posts Drives: E92 M3 DCT 353k+ miles Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Half Moon Bay, CA iTrader: (7)	Tires are key. The car is rough on bad streets. Just think about what kind of streets the car was designed on/for. The f-ing Autobahn. During European Delivery I realized this. A car optimized for stability and response at 140MPH regularly is going to make some sacrifices in comfort to a Camry or something designed for pedestrian speeds in the USA. FYI If you switch to all seasons the NVH is GREATLY REDUCED. But so is the grip and steering response in the dry
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11-20-2011, 11:53 PM	#13
MienAce gotAWD? 1 Rep 55 Posts Drives: E85EvoIX Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hell iTrader: (0)	buy a Camry, you'll have a smooth ride.....1 of the best. __________________ CornFedEvo
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11-21-2011, 11:08 AM	#15
ES_TRADER Colonel 344 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: 328i, 335i, M3, 535i, X5, 36M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2012 328i E92 [10.00] 2013 X5 [0.00] 2013 335i F30 [8.00] 1990 Toyota Previa [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2011 E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 535i [0.00]	comfort mode is still way stiffer than a sport package non-M 3 series
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11-21-2011, 11:25 AM	#16
knifegun Major 83 Rep 1,108 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: May 2008 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Are you kidding me? If you are on a stock suspension and think the ride is stiff, then you may want to consider a different car. I think the stock ride while stiffer than others is way within a comfortable margin.
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11-21-2011, 05:40 PM	#21
PGabriel Private 15 Rep 55 Posts Drives: M3 E90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	Ok took some pics and did measurements. Front fender clearance to ground is 27.48". Rear is 26.57". I can stick just about four fingers in the front fender gap. In the rear gap a bit over one finger. Here go the pictures. I´m bringing the car in for the 1,200 miles service next week. Does it look like the shipping blocks are still in place? BTW in the last pic, the rubber cover seems to be dettached from the structure above it. I checked the right wheel and it´s totally closed. Is that something I should worry about?
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11-21-2011, 05:49 PM	#22
Black Gold Major General 590 Rep 5,396 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (15)	I never had shipping blocks on my car, or seen it in person. But what I can tell you is that doesnt look right to me. My car looks identical to yours, but my gap is maybe two fingers in the front, not four and looks much lower than your car. __________________
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