BMW air suspension plans? (Eni, scott?)

[bmer]

What are BMW's plans on air suspension? Which models of the current line-up have it as standard or optional? And which models will get it in the future?

 

[Deutsch]

Air suspension filters out road contact, something that would really go against BMW virtues. In other words, don't count on it.

 

[Centurion]

Air suspension filters out road contact, something that would really go against BMW virtues. In other words, don't count on it.

What about the magetism suspension audi is using in the TT, would that be something for BMW?

 

[Deutsch]

What about the magetism suspension audi is using in the TT, would that be something for BMW?

Possibly, but BMW typically uses steel and aluminum... so I wouldn't bank on it.

 

[Mr. M]

I am interested to know too. Will BMW ever use air suspension?

Through personal experience I think spring sets are still easier to maintain, and are just as good if not better than air suspension, especially if the springs have varying degrees of stiffness.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Air suspension filters out road contact, something that would really go against BMW virtues. In other words, don't count on it.

Even MB droped it after a while.

I would like those fancy F1 suspentions witch now to the job of the mass damper.

 

[EnI]

Some current models (eg. E60 5er Touring, E70 X5, E65/6 7er) have self-regulating rear air suspension which contributes to more comfortable ride when eg. rear axle is fully loaded (eg. when carrying a lot of cargo), while the only model with full air suspension on both axles was E53 X5 - optional feature. But this option was not as desirable as BMW thought it would be.

Right now full air suspension is on agenda of F02 LWB 7er development. Some kind Adaptive Drive Ver. 2.0


MagneticRide: this is not an equivalent to air suspension. Air suspension chambers with compressed air replace the springs, while MagneticRide are active dampers / shock absorbers - just like BMW's EDC system. The main difference is that EDC uses hydraulic (pneumatic?) pressure to regulate damper's stiffness, while MagneticRide uses magnetic field for regulation. In theory MagneticRide has a bit faster reaction time due magnetic field can be changed faster than hydraulic / pneumatic pressure.

Air suspension is more required for an excellent ride comfort, and less for a dynamic ride. Also air suspension is needed for ground clearance regulation in SUVs.

 

[bmer]

Thanks, Eni! I almost guessed that the F01/02 (or the new X-series models) will get full air suspension.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Some current models (eg. E60 5er Touring, E70 X5, E65/6 7er) have self-regulating rear air suspension which contributes to more comfortable ride when eg. rear axle is fully loaded (eg. when carrying a lot of cargo), while the only model with full air suspension on both axles was E53 X5 - optional feature. But this option was not as desirable as BMW thought it would be.

Right now full air suspension is on agenda of F02 LWB 7er development. Some kind Adaptive Drive Ver. 2.0


MagneticRide: this is not an equivalent to air suspension. Air suspension chambers with compressed air replace the springs, while MagneticRide are active dampers / shock absorbers - just like BMW's EDC system. The main difference is that EDC uses hydraulic (pneumatic?) pressure to regulate damper's stiffness, while MagneticRide uses magnetic field for regulation. In theory MagneticRide has a bit faster reaction time due magnetic field can be changed faster than hydraulic / pneumatic pressure.

Air suspension is more required for an excellent ride comfort, and less for a dynamic ride. Also air suspension is needed for ground clearance regulation in SUVs.

But why ?!
Shouldn't magnetics be a better choice ?!
Isn't BMW suposed to be The Ultimate Driving Machine not the Ultimate Sitting Machine ?!

 

[bensmatt]

Some current models (eg. E60 5er Touring, E70 X5, E65/6 7er) have self-regulating rear air suspension which contributes to more comfortable ride when eg. rear axle is fully loaded (eg. when carrying a lot of cargo), while the only model with full air suspension on both axles was E53 X5 - optional feature. But this option was not as desirable as BMW thought it would be.

Right now full air suspension is on agenda of F02 LWB 7er development. Some kind Adaptive Drive Ver. 2.0


MagneticRide: this is not an equivalent to air suspension. Air suspension chambers with compressed air replace the springs, while MagneticRide are active dampers / shock absorbers - just like BMW's EDC system. The main difference is that EDC uses hydraulic (pneumatic?) pressure to regulate damper's stiffness, while MagneticRide uses magnetic field for regulation. In theory MagneticRide has a bit faster reaction time due magnetic field can be changed faster than hydraulic / pneumatic pressure.

Air suspension is more required for an excellent ride comfort, and less for a dynamic ride. Also air suspension is needed for ground clearance regulation in SUVs.

here is a possibility:
Maybe BMW plans to use parts of the F02 suspension architacture to implement the full air suspension on E70. Since E65/66 suspension is spring only for front, and E70's suspension is partly based on E65/66. So instead of develope something entirely new for E70, just wait a few years and jack F02's.