[ruczko]

I'm digging the i4M50 and considering it… how hard will it be to lower the thing? It's a 4x4 in its current state. The air suspension in the rear scares me.

I'm not worried about warranty issues regarding suspension or how long the dampers will last, so let's skip that ha ha.

[spool twice]

The rears should be programming, front would need shorter springs.

[ruczko]

Originally Posted by spool twice

The rears should be programming, front would need shorter springs.

Originally Posted by spool twice

The rears should be programming, front would need shorter springs.

Is it really that simple? BimmerCode and front springs?

[4monks]

I doubt it very much.

[spool twice]

On any air suspension platform, including current BMWs, it's simply a matter of software, either a module to "trick" the default ride height, or coding a new default ride height.

So yes, the rears will be software, while the fronts will be shorter springs.

In any case, we would have to wait for kits (software and hardware) to become available that will allow us to lower the vehicle.

[Rich9600]

How is the ground clearance vs 'normal' cars?

Yesterday I took my son to visit Santa at a local farm/Lama experience... My standard F31 340i bottomed out on the track to the car park and the front air dam dragged. This was with the standard 15mm drop for MSport vs SE springs. Other family cars seemingly had no issues…

With the battery slung underneath I will be very nervous of a standard i4 in similar circumstances.

I thought I had read that the ground clearance of the i4 was already about 1" less than a similar 3 series due to the battery.

[hotrod182]

Yes, scraping a $40,000 battery pack might not be a good idea.

[Encanto]

Originally Posted by spool twice

On any air suspension platform, including current BMWs, it's simply a matter of software, either a module to "trick" the default ride height, or coding a new default ride height.

So yes, the rears will be software, while the fronts will be shorter springs.

In any case, we would have to wait for kits (software and hardware) to become available that will allow us to lower the vehicle.

That is what I expect.

[Hansn]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

How is the ground clearance vs 'normal' cars?

Yesterday I took my son to visit Santa at a local farm/Lama experience... My standard F31 340i bottomed out on the track to the car park and the front air dam dragged. This was with the standard 15mm drop for MSport vs SE springs. Other family cars seemingly had no issues…

With the battery slung underneath I will be very nervous of a standard i4 in similar circumstances.

I thought I had read that the ground clearance of the i4 was already about 1" less than a similar 3 series due to the battery.

Problem with the i4 is that it may have lower ground clearance due to the battery. But the car sits higher than the ICE model also. Thats why it looks wierd and has to big gaps in the wheel arches.

Im looking forward to seeing if this can be solved without ruining warranty first and foremost. Then the ride. Its for sure easy to get it lower with the rears being software like in the 5 series wagons we have in EU, and front being springs only. The impact of changing springs on the adaptive m suspension struts is not a thing i found a definitive answer to either as thats something people are already doing on other models.

I have 5 years/200.000 KM warranty in Norway and it cant be screwed up as i will probably sell it in 3 years. But i want to fix the stance on this car abit..

My biggest problem with the look is the gaps, so from my thinking maybe more rubber is a better solution to the problem. Higher side walls etc. I have no idea but it seems like a better solution than lowering the car when the risk to the battery can be pretty big. Just a thought.

[4monks]

The G26 BEV is only 6mm taller than the G26 ICE (1448mm vs 1442mm) so there's really nothing in it between the G26 i4 M50 and the G26 M440i ICE - their height and wheels gaps are virtually identical.

Changing overall diameter of the wheels and types will mess up the final drive ratio so you can't simply increase the type side wall size.

[Hansn]

Originally Posted by 4monks

The G26 BEV is only 6mm taller than the G26 ICE (1448mm vs 1442mm) so there's really nothing in it between the G26 i4 M50 and the G26 M440i ICE - their height and wheels gaps are virtually identical.

Changing overall diameter of the wheels and types will mess up the final drive ratio so you can't simply increase the type side wall size.

The answer is not that its impossible to increase overall diameter. There is room for it in the odometer and speedo, while 550hk/800NM will not have a problem with it. Its more of a question of getting it approved for the car or just doing it without approval as the car wont be required to have any checks by the authorities before i am done with it anyway.

Anyone that has seen the i4 on a picture knows that it does not look like in the configurator btw. The gaps are way bigger.

There is threads discussing the solution of using higher sidewalls to fix gaps on this forum where people have done it sucsessfully on xdrive 3 series etc.

[Nahlem]

Yeah the wheel gap is kinda huge here is a picture from someone who posted earlier at a showroom. It is so huge at first i thought this one is standing on shipping blocks but geeeeh it really needs a lowering.

[4monks]

Originally Posted by Hansn

The answer is not that its impossible to increase overall diameter. There is room for it in the odometer and speedo, while 550hk/800NM will not have a problem with it. Its more of a question of getting it approved for the car or just doing it without approval as the car wont be required to have any checks by the authorities before i am done with it anyway.

Anyone that has seen the i4 on a picture knows that it does not look like in the configurator btw. The gaps are way bigger.

There is threads discussing the solution of using higher sidewalls to fix gaps on this forum where people have done it successfully on xdrive 3 series etc.

What you mean like these pictures? Sometimes the angles and hard shadows make it look worse, but they are the same bar the 6mm (less the 0.25") mentioned. The additional lip added to the quarter panel to accommodate the 285 section 20" rims also adds to this shadow. Good luck if you're seriously thinking about changing the overall diameter of the wheels+tyres.

[spool twice]

The M50 pictured above is definitely not standard ride height in the rear suspension, however it does show it is possible to just lower the rear end via programing.

how high the vehicle is from the ground to the center point up top is different than how high the vehicle is from the ground to the center point at the bottom since there is a battery pack.

The i4 has a ground clearance of 4.9in, while the 4 series is 5.1in (approx 6 mm lower). So if the i4 is indeed also 6mm taller from the top center point, then that would tell me the battery pack sticks below the body 12mm, or almost 1/2in.

Not bad to be honest, but yeah lowering any vehicle is a risk.

Here are "normal" ride height M50

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by spool twice

The M50 pictured above is definitely not standard ride height in the rear suspension, however it does show it is possible to just lower the rear end via programing.

how high the vehicle is from the ground to the center point up top is different than how high the vehicle is from the ground to the center point at the bottom since there is a battery pack.

The i4 has a ground clearance of 4.9in, while the 4 series is 5.1in (approx 6 mm lower). So if the i4 is indeed also 6mm taller from the top center point, then that would tell me the battery pack sticks below the body 12mm, or almost 1/2in.

Not bad to be honest, but yeah lowering any vehicle is a risk.

Here are "normal" ride height M50

[IMG]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N2Ls_flMrqg/maxresdefault.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://icdn.digitaltrends.com/image...-i4-m50-14.jpg[/IMG]

I suspect the first image from @4Monks is from a show. Likely ignition off and 4 adults onboard and squatted down. So, air suspension compressed, not pumped up and levelled.

A bit of checking and my sDrive F31 340i has a ground clearance of 140mm vs 125mm for the i4. So, 15mm or about half an inch of clearance lost.

This shouldn't be an issue most days. Though, I may have to avoid that Lama experience again!…

However, from my own experience above, 125mm it is notably less than most other family cars. Certainly something I will bear in mind.

I guess this is why it gets air suspension! Keeps it level and trimmed when loaded up with family and baggage for a road trip. Both air resistance and ground clearance hits minimised.

I have a M50 test drive next Tuesday. I may have to check I can get it on and off my drive! My driveway goes up and crowns onto the road…

[spool twice]

Good point, I didn't even see the adults in that M50 to compress the suspension.

[4monks]

Had an i4 M50 test drive booked this Friday but sadly can't make it now.

[jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69]

I don't know how BMW measures air spring ride height, but usually there's a little plastic arm that attaches to a sensor. A longer or shorter arm will adjust the height, though that can cause camber issues depending on the suspension.

Fronts would just need lowering springs or coilovers. You can probably take 1/2 to 1" off without significant issues. That seems to work on most cars.

I'll see how it is with my first set of tires then consider going to a taller sidewall.

[GranCoupay]

Now that you mention it... all the i4 M50s I've seen online seem to have a bigger wheel gap compared to my ICE.