[Foodisfood]

For the i8, is the suspension adjustable? According to the dealership when i bought the car they said no and its a fixed rate suspension. But after driving it a while i noticed in sport mode the car is a tad bumpier than both comfort and eco. Also comfort seem to be more comfy than eco, i thought it would be the other way around.

Im not sure if im dreaming this or if the suspension does really become stiffer in sport and soft on comfort and in between for eco. Lemme know if you guys notice the difference as well or im just crazy hah

Ive had other cars and the difference are seem more night and day compared to this car (if it does have adjustable suspension)

Thanks! Itll help me sleep better at night lol

[Twitch Massacre]

To my understanding it has adjustable suspension with each different driving mode.

[Nivarox]

Yes,I notice that when in Sport Mode the car is stiffer but doesn't feel like that you are driving a Land Rover Defender. I think the dealer referred to the suspension height or lowering when you put it in Sport Mode. Car always remains at the same ground clearance no matter.You can't adjust the suspension in terms of rising and lowering

[Foodisfood]

Originally Posted by Nivarox

Yes,I notice that when in Sport Mode the car is stiffer but doesn't feel like that you are driving a Land Rover Defender. I think the dealer referred to the suspension height or lowering when you put it in Sport Mode. Car always remains at the same ground clearance no matter.You can't adjust the suspension in terms of rising and lowering

Ahh okay so i now know that i am not just imaging it. Do you also think that comfort mode is more comfortable than eco? I would think its the other way cause eco should be the laid back setting? This is my first time with a bmw of any sorts.

[Longboarder]

It's just EDC (electronic damper control) at work. BMW has had this for a long time.

From what I can tell there are only two settings...comfort and sport. Pushing the Eco button doesn't affect EDC from what I can tell from the butt sensor.

[Aye-eight]

There's a difference between what the i8 has - EDC - and an adjustable suspension, which would allow you to go in and modify the setting yourself, e.g. if you're about to go out on a track. In that sense, the i8 suspension is not adjustable, although it does firm up in Sport mode.

[Nivarox]

Originally Posted by Foodisfood

Ahh okay so i now know that i am not just imaging it. Do you also think that comfort mode is more comfortable than eco? I would think its the other way cause eco should be the laid back setting? This is my first time with a bmw of any sorts.

I honestly use Eco Pro when in congested city traffic and if I'm not using E-Dive other than that I don't use it at all .
I feel like Comfort Mode is a tad comfortable than Eco Pro .I might be wrong too .The difference is minimal between Comfort Mode vs Eco Pro than that of Comfort Mode vs Sport Mode

[hytek]

I've also noticed that Eco Pro is bumpier than comfort. Maybe the suspension is made less active to save power?

[Foodisfood]

Yep ive been testing it and for sure comfort is much less bumpier than eco mode especially on LA roads and the freeways. Its more cushy and a lot more body roll than eco mode and it feels more floaty like especially on freeways.

[ngl1145]

What technology is used to firm up the suspension in sport mode? Is it a magnetic ride suspension or a valved control?

[mikikuki7]

You know what I think te crazy? The dealers always lie and tell you things so they don't have to follow up. I learn to distrust every person at a delegar. Especially the ones at BMW. They tell you what you want to hear.

[stressdoc]

The adaptive suspension micro-adjusts to data from wheel movements. Fantastic technology that is infinitely programmable, including individualized learning and GPS capabilities (the i8 does not presently have that software). The i8 has several 'modes', similar to the adaptive suspension in the f80 M3 and some other models. The dampening algorithms are different when in sport, eco, comfort. Unlike the M3, the programs for throttle response, shifting, and dampening are not selected independently, but instead are 'packaged' together.

[Ghetto2315]

Originally Posted by mikikuki7

You know what I think te crazy? The dealers always lie and tell you things so they don't have to follow up. I learn to distrust every person at a delegar. Especially the ones at BMW. They tell you what you want to hear.

Easy there! You just haven't worked with the right person at a dealer. Not every person at a BMW dealer is bad, dishonest or unknowledgeable . I hope one day, just one day, you get to work with me

[NGR]

I used to have a Bangle-Butt 745i with the dynamic suspension - different approach to the i8 in that it altered the anti-roll bars (sway bars I believe you would call them in the US) - the result was a still comfortable ride but body roll much reduced in sport mode and the car wouldn't 'dive' even under the hardest braking.

BMW claimed they could eliminate roll completely but didn't because the driver needed a sensation of being near the edge when cornering!

I can't help thinking adjustable dampers is a cheaper way of doing things but the i8 doesn't really have body roll anyway

[patsgarageonline]

Originally Posted by ngl1145

What technology is used to firm up the suspension in sport mode? Is it a magnetic ride suspension or a valved control?

By default, the suspension is firm. In sport mode, the electromagnet in the top of the shock is not energized, and only 1 valve is active, slowing the hydraulic fluid from passing the valve. In Comfort/Eco-Pro/eDrive, the electromagnet in the top of the shock is energized, opening another valve, in addition to the "Sport" valve, to allow more hydraulic fluid to flow.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by PaddyMac

By default, the suspension is firm. In sport mode, the electromagnet in the top of the shock is not energized, and only 1 valve is active, slowing the hydraulic fluid from passing the valve. In Comfort/Eco-Pro/eDrive, the electromagnet in the top of the shock is energized, opening another valve, in addition to the "Sport" valve, to allow more hydraulic fluid to flow.

Makes sense. 2 modes, as I understood. And a pretty simple setup.

[ghaffari46]

Originally Posted by mikikuki7

You know what I think te crazy? The dealers always lie and tell you things so they don't have to follow up. I learn to distrust every person at a delegar. Especially the ones at BMW. They tell you what you want to hear.

Because most of the people at dealerships are not car freaks like people on this forum. Most of them are just salesmen or saleswomen whose job to sale as much as they could as fast as possible. In more than one case I ended up to educate them about the specifics of the car that I'm buying from them!