2009 BMW M3: Damping Control Too Aggressive For My Tastes

+100

U said it yourself Ed,
Dial in the stiffest setting and the whole car turns into an unyielding piece of aluminum and steel.
Which is great if you're on a track.

When I read that, I said to myself, this post has no sense.

+1 felonious. People do take M3's to the track so the stiffest setting is there for that purpose. And there's the beauty of adjustable damping. I virtually never use the stiffest setting on public roads, I'm not really sure why you would. So what's there to complain about?

Although I agree that this blog post is pretty much useless, the sport setting is in fact useless. The Comfort and Normal are pretty much all you need. The best time on the Nurburgring was done using the Normal setting. The BMW M Driving School also advocated using the Comfort and Normal for better compliance and feedback through the corners.

Does everyone else notice that Edmunds seem to be posting unfounded negative claims on the M3 lately?

The sport setting is there so when reviewers like IL do track tests the numbers look better

In agreement with all these posts. The M3 is partially a track car (the chassis alone speaks to that) so of course there are stiff settings for M3 owners who like to have track days.

Track is what this M3 is for.
Thanks to this post, now we know the M3 is really track ready in stock form.

"It feels like your very own NASCAR stock car. "
Comparing to NASCAR? it's an insult to such a technologically advanced and wonderful piece of machine.

A NASCAR stocker would probably have more roll and dive in road-course specification...

the M3 has performance technology from 2009, NASCAR is still stuck in the '70s with 4 speed manuals and carbureted cast iron engines.

@pyo_s65
"The best time on the Nurburgring was done using the Normal setting."
interesting point, probably beacause Nurburgring has severe undulations, need a more compliant setting. if on smooth track surface, probably it can make use of the stiffer setting for the best laptime
a normal setting should be more "fun" to drive, but stiffer setting could give you the best laptime at the right surface

That's an interesting point, Ed. It's amazing how many auto news outlets test their cars on tracks only; particularly the more hardcore enthusiasts magazines like Evo and DR (RIP). Many of their reviewers would likely knock the M3 for being too soft in anything other than "sport," but in the real world, one probably doesn't need seventeen settings for everything.

If you were ordering an M3 tomorrow, would you check the "M drive" box on your order sheet?

Sounds like the M3 could use the magnetic adjustable shocks from Delphi that the CTS-V has. It's the best of both worlds. Ferrari liked the system enough that they put it on their 599. I think BMW should suck up their pride and go to the American's engineering for the dampers. It's the least they could do for $70k.

I think the M3 should use the CTS-V from the CTS-V. Then it would be a CTS-V, which is the best of ALL worlds. Ferrari might as well replace the 599 with the CTS-V. BMW should suck up their pride and just build CTS-V's. It's the least they could do for $70K.

bimmerjay, while I agree with the intent of your sarcasm, I actually also agree with stingray454 on this one. The magnetic shocks are pretty freaking cool and work very well.

From reading several magazine reviews, the M3 is usually quickest on track in the "normal" mode. I believe I have read that the M3 can adjust the stiffness on the fly when in normal mode as it senses cornering loads, g-force, etc.

I do have M-drive now and frankly I'm not sure I would order it again. I rarely use the more aggressive throttle settings or suspension settings. The less intrusive stability control is nice although I wish there were a way to shut off traction control and keep stability control on. GM has that right as well by the way. I'd have to drive the base car to know for sure but I'll bet BMW tuned it just right.

Heaven forbid that someone critisize a BMW!!!! Get over it BMW fanboi's....it is just a car.

@mmmmmmmm3,

Yes, the magneto rheological dampers are impressive. Still, the CTS-V is downright punishing in Sport mode on Michigan roads, enough to cause interior noises. Which is probably no different than the M3, save for the interior creaks and squeaks. I don't live on the surface of the moon so I can't say for sure. But unless you live where the roads are very good, the CTS-V is best left in Tour mode. It's ignorant to think that the magnetic shocks are night and day with other semi-active systems. By the way the Audi TT and R8 also use the Delphi system.