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      08-27-2012, 05:09 AM   #1
Mulberry
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Drives: X1 xDrive23d MSport
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK

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18" & 19" alloys and runflats

Before I brought my X1 I was unable to find out what the ride would be like with sports suspension and 18" rims fitted with runflats, versus the normal set up. It's quite subjective and in my opinion depends what you're used to driving, and who you speak to.

I've noticed that this issue keeps being raised in various posts so this may help:

Over the years I've been fortunate enough to have owned and driven some interesting cars. I've owned my X1 for just over two and a half years now with no problems experienced, and that's even with it being converted from xline SE to M Sport specification. All the work has been carried out by BMW (details on my post: Not for the squeamish).

The best handling car that I've experienced (my benchmark) was the actual WRC winning Subaru which felt glued to the ground and ran on rails. I was driven round a race track during a private practice session for several laps, and still am amazed at how it felt .

Then my Porsche Boxster 987 Sport Edition which was 10 mm lower than the standard car also drove and cornered on rails. It's ride was hard and you had to avoid potholes etc, but the handling was superb. I sold this car to purchase my X1 so was able to compare its handling and the X1'back to back' on the same roads. The X1 ride quality is better than the Porsche for everyday use (on sports suspension, 18" rims, and runflats), and the cornering is almost as good as the Porsche if driven in sports mode

The X1 was fitted from new with 18" BMW type 323 alloys, Good Year Efficient Run Flats, and sports suspension which is 10 mm lower than the standard springs:

F 225/45R 18 91V
R 255/40R 18 95 V

I've just changed my wheels and tyres to BMW Performance 19" type 324 Ferrick Grey V Spoke alloys fitted with Pirelli PZero Run Flats:

F 225/40R 19 89 W
R 255/35R 19 96W

In my opinion Driving the same car on the same roads the ride quality 'feels' no different between the 18" and 19" alloys, and I think that the Pirelli's are possibly smoother and produce less road noise.

Hartge have a spring conversion set that lowers the height by 30 mm from standard, and I'm currently considering this modification, but I'm not sure the car needs it as the handling is already very good, and the ground clearance really helps on 'iffy' road surfaces and in snow.
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Last edited by Mulberry; 03-20-2014 at 05:38 AM..
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