[clivem2]

This is an intensely personal decision. I can only relate my personal thoughts which may or may not chime with yours.

BTW, my last car was a 335i. The suspension was way too hard for comfort and fast driving on anything but good roads. I like firm setups but this was way too hard.

For the X3 my personal preference is:

1) Sport suspension
2) VDC
3) Standard (European) suspension

The standard suspension was not controlled enough if I enter a roundabout or corner fast.

Sport suspension is fine in this respect and in reality only a little firmer (not remotely like my 335i). BTW I have 18 inch wheels.

VDC is great in sport but I would very, very rarely use in in normal. The cost of VDC for me is therefore totally unjustifiable, hence it's my 2nd choice.

Standard suspension is my 3rd choice because I couldn't live with it.

I've moved from a sports car to the X3 so my perspective is different from someone else who may be moving from a dull handling 4x4 to the X3.