jijioben wrote

OK, I guess I should try to put this item to rest. First, please see the attached picture: it is the official word from BMW.

Now, about how it feels, at least to me.

The dampers in the car without VDC feel a bit softer than the ones in the Sport setting of the car with VDC. The level of softness to me is as follows:

soft

hard

+ + +
VDC Normal

No VDC

VDC Sport

Please keep in mind this is subjective. Also, the change is noticeable but not dramatic.

As for the throttle control, this is exactly as indicated in the brochure. In Sport mode, a car with VDC reacts immediately to changes in pressure on the accelerator pedal, whereas a car with VDC in Normal mode or a car without VDC behave identically - with some amount of throttle lag.

Finally, the steering. I think that the attached chart is again correct here. I must say as an aside that centering of steering forces in the X3 seems a bit off when accelerating. Sometimes the stiffening of the wheel happens while making a control movement and this may lead one on the outside of a turn, which I think is the only less than optimal behaviour I found so far. But this is for another post.

I hope this helps!

thanks a mill for cracking this one i can finally order without VDC and know the ride will be smooth still. This info would make a great post for tons of people have asked and noone has had acomprehensive answer as this with charts and all.

Thanks for this. Where did you get that table at the end? I'm not sure where this leaves me on servotronic with the UK Dynamic Package. Does this mean my servotronic is actually set to sport, I wonder?

Also, is that soft - hard chart to scale?! Does that mean there is a much bigger difference between VDC Normal and No VDC than between No VDC and VDC Sport?

Sorry for the annoying questions.

sfax wrote

Thanks for this. Where did you get that table at the end?

The table is taken from the 2011 BMW Product Planning Bulletin for Canadian X3s. I have been given some parts taken from that document by my CA to ensure I had accurate information before making my choice.

sfax wrote

I'm not sure where this leaves me on servotronic with the UK Dynamic Package. Does this mean my servotronic is actually set to sport, I wonder?

Servotronic in Canada is standard on both models so I am not sure about how the X3 behaves without it - I would guess that without Servotronic the "stiffness" of the steering wheel is fixed (and reading other threads, it looks like it is on the soft side); with Servotronic, the "stiffness" changes as the speed changes, becoming harder as the speed increases. In that sense, the rate of change and initial level changes with VDC in Sport mode as opposed to VDC in Normal mode. I have not tried the variable sport steering as in Canada it is only available with the M Sport package.

sfax wrote

Also, is that soft - hard chart to scale?! Does that mean there is a much bigger difference between VDC Normal and No VDC than between No VDC and VDC Sport?

Yes, it is to scale - but the difference is just bigger, not much bigger. As well, subjectively the dampers do not change that much. It is not the difference between and old Cadillac and a Ferrari.

I reproduced the Normal setting in my VDC car by putting VDC in Normal and then enabling DTC with the DSC off button located near the transmission selector lever. My subjective finding is that the car is more responsive to the road but not at the level of VDC Sport. In VDC Normal, there is a bit more of a spring and a bounce when encountering road discontinuities, which filters out harshness in the ride but distances me from the road. Since the electric steering is not the best way to sense the road, I rely on the dampers to give me a more accurate feeling of the road surface, so when I want to be more responsive to road conditions I switch to VDC Sport. When I commute or I go for a longer drive on the highway, I am happy to leave the setting to Normal.

I hope I did not go overboard. Still in the honeymoon period - I like to talk about my X3 forever...

Thanks for taking the time jijioben. Much appreciated. This is interesting and I'm sure very useful to lots of people as well

Great info. Thank you!

Happy to help. This forum is an amazing source of information; it played a big role in my learning about the X3 and eventually buying it. It feels good to be able to contribute.

jijioben wrote

The table is taken from the 2011 BMW Product Planning Bulletin for Canadian X3s. I have been given some parts taken from that document by my CA to ensure I had accurate information before making my choice.

Is it possible to share with us the entire 'Product Planning Bulletin' that you have?

haldol wrote

Is it possible to share with us the entire 'Product Planning Bulletin' that you have?

I think so but as a matter of common courtesy I will confirm this with my CA, and that way I may be able to get the PDF instead of some pictures. I'm away until Monday; as soon as I'm back, if I have the OK and the file, I'll post in its own separate thread.

Thanks!

Congrats on the new X3. I really like the video your sales advisor may have made for you. On your CAD car it appears the lower part of the speedo has something called efficient dynamics. What is that? It did not look like the CAD cars have start stop, is that related? I think the feature differences between the CAD and US cars are interesting such as being able to get lumber on standard seats and different standard wheels and so forth. I really like your interior combination with the black leather and light wood. Additionally, I am impressed by the disclosure from your dealer on the light scrub on the front. I imagine this happens quite often and we never know about it. I scrubbed the front of my X3 with the garage last week where some white house paint scratched the drivers side bumper and plastic wheel house trim with only 500 hundred miles it was painful. I was able to polish the painted bumper but have a few scraps on the plastic trim. Best wishes on your new BMW.

:cool!:Very nice write up and included pictures! I love the black exterior color.

Thanks Ando - with every passing day I'm more and more satisfied with my X3.

ando wrote

On your CAD car it appears the lower part of the speedo has something called efficient dynamics. What is that? It did not look like the CAD cars have start stop, is that related?

This exists in all cars with Professional Radio + Navigation. There is a thread on it in the forum. Try

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497181

for more pictures and a video.

ando wrote

Additionally, I am impressed by the disclosure from your dealer on the light scrub on the front.

Me too. I was very happy with how all worked out. As a gadget lover, I'd always want all I own to be completely pristine, but a car is too much of a "big item" to be able to keep it that way. And in fact, how it reacts to repairs is an important component of the owner's experience. So although I'm not happy it happened to me, I've found a validation of my CA and my dealership and that is quite important considering they'll handle my car for at least he next four years.

haldol wrote

Is it possible to share with us the entire 'Product Planning Bulletin' that you have?

I've gotten the OK from my CA - and the file. Here it is; enjoy!

This line totally made my day:

"• Under “Normal” mode, suspension setting is softer than the base vehicle, providing a more comfort- oriented driving experience"

That is exactly and I mean EXACTLY - what I was hoping and looking for.

Really happy I placed the order for the DHP (in the US that is) and can have the (extra) soft setting and flick a switch and stiffen it all up.

Cool, very cool.

Thank you jijioben

Give us any files if you have more.

My pleasure! It's great to be able to learn from everyone in the forum. I did not realize how long it would take me to actually learn the accessories and features of my new X3. They are small things sometimes but they all contribute to making the driving experience one of the best I've had.

hmm is servotronic sport steering heavier than "normal"?
Can you set comfort dampeners and normal servo?

silverforumsurf wrote

hmm is servotronic sport steering heavier than "normal"?
Can you set comfort dampeners and normal servo?

My driving impression is that Normal servotronic is in fact what I get in my car with DDC in normal mode. As I accelerate, the steering wheel stiffens but I must go at highways speeds to notice it. In Sport mode, things happen a little faster and the steering is immediately tighter. At least, that is my impression.

Thanks! I sent you a PM but is there an option when you customize/configure the setting on iDrive to switch Servo between "normal" and "sport"?

With DDC suspension and steering are grouped in what they call "chassis". You can configure whether the sport setting (via the DDC controls) changes chassis and transmission, just transmission, or just chassis. No way I've found to only adjust the steering.

jigo or Nahoa any chance you could post a picture of the suspension dampener area on this thread? we're trying to put to rest whether m sport comes with it or not!

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=527515