[xDrive35i]

Has anyone noticed how conservative BMW went with negative rear camber on the F25?

The last X3 had really aggressive negative camber and so does the X5, among other BMW models. I miss that cool rear stance.

I was thinking this had to do with the fact that BMW was marketing this car to more than just enthusiasts this time around, so they wanted a car with a bit more straight line stability than cornering ability.

Anyone want to weigh in?

[BMWZ4]

Maybe they didn't want to deal with customers complaining (potentially) about inside treadwear with their "usual" camber?....My z has something like a two degree negative camber and my inside tread starts to show wear pretty quickly.

Just a thought......
Dave

[n55x3]

I think in the previous X3 the chassis wasn't that great. To try and offset the squirrely chassis they threw in a some negative camber to keep the little SUV in the realm of decent handling. With the new F25 chassis being so much more improved over the previous gen, there is probably not a strong need to compliment the handling with the neg camber. Agree, it does look cool on some vehicles.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by n55x3

I think in the previous X3 the chassis wasn't that great. To try and offset the squirrely chassis they threw in a some negative camber to keep the little SUV in the realm of decent handling. With the new F25 chassis being so much more improved over the previous gen, there is probably not a strong need to compliment the handling with the neg camber. Agree, it does look cool on some vehicles.

The previous gen actually recorded better handling numbers in tests than the F25.

[n55x3]

Originally Posted by juddholland

The previous gen actually recorded better handling numbers in tests than the F25.

Wow that is surprising to me! What kind of test showed the 1st gen X3 handling better than the current gen? Is this based on personal experience or a comparison you read about? Share some links, I love reading about this kind of stuff! Would be neat to see them go head to head on a road course but that will probably never happen.

Just did a very brief search but it looks like Motor trend's numbers show the F25 performing better on the figure 8.

F25 Figure 8 - 27.3 secs* @ .64 g
* they do say the best they got was 26.5

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...est/specs.html

First Gen X3 Figure 8 - 28.1 secs @ .58 g

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...rformance.html

[carlili4190]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Maybe they didn't want to deal with customers complaining (potentially) about inside treadwear with their "usual" camber?....My z has something like a two degree negative camber and my inside tread starts to show wear pretty quickly.

Just a thought......
Dave

+1. My Z has some neg camber and the inside of my tires are pretty chewed up.

[bren]

Having to dial in a bunch of static negative camber to get a car to handle isn't really a positive.

That being said, it's glaringly obvious that BMW is going after a new clientele that is more interested in straight line stability and ride comfort over anything else.

[NYCX3]

Originally Posted by juddholland

The previous gen actually recorded better handling numbers in tests than the F25.

Yes, it recorded better skidpad numbers, e.g. 2006x3 30i came in at 0.88g, while the 2013 X3 35i did 0.80. I would say this has to do partly with the neg. camber reduction on newer models, and also the hard walled Run Flat Tires that now come standard, lessening the grip on the road. Now, if you take the F25, with it's improved chasis, put better tires on it, and rise the neg. camb, it would probably push over .93 (g). The likes of 2013 Porsche GTS.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by NYCX3

Yes, it recorded better skidpad numbers, e.g. 2006x3 30i came in at 0.88g, while the 2013 X3 35i did 0.80. I would say this has to do partly with the neg. camber reduction on newer models, and also the hard walled Run Flat Tires that now come standard, lessening the grip on the road. Now, if you take the F25, with it's improved chasis, put better tires on it, and rise the neg. camb, it would probably push over .93 (g). The likes of 2013 Porsche GTS.

The X5 with RFT summers on the 20" rims is able to pull .88, and it weighs 800 pounds more. It has really aggressive camber to accommodate softer suspension and higher ride height in sharp corners. The X3 with RFT summers on 19" rims pulls .88 also, so I don't really see it pulling that much more.

[NYCX3]

Originally Posted by juddholland

The X5 with RFT summers on the 20" rims is able to pull .88, and it weighs 800 pounds more. It has really aggressive camber to accommodate softer suspension and higher ride height in sharp corners. The X3 with RFT summers on 19" rims pulls .88 also, so I don't really see it pulling that much more.

Which year X5 and X3 are you referring to, and do you have a link you can provide to the source of your #'s? Thanks.