ZCP suspension stiffness?

[Adcampo]

There's a pretty comprehensive ZCP video review around. It was a Brit. I recall the guy saying ride comfort was exceptionally good. No difference to the standard F8X.

[Invictus]

How is the ride on the gentlest settings with the Competition Package?

[Audio Fan]

Crazy not to get ZCP. The ZCP will tweak the car to what it was always designed to be and should be. Having an M4 and having had a ZCP E92, the comp packs adds a lot to the standard car. The std M4 is great, but definitely could be improved: wider tires, tuned suspension, better traction, better exhaust, better stability control, and the black-out accessories. The extra horsepower, cool seats, and 20s are a bonus.

[bringbacklsb]

Originally Posted by Audio Fan

Crazy not to get ZCP. The ZCP will tweak the car to what it was always designed to be and should be. Having an M4 and having had a ZCP E92, the comp packs adds a lot to the standard car. The std M4 is great, but definitely could be improved: wider tires, tuned suspension, better traction, better exhaust, better stability control, and the black-out accessories. The extra horsepower, cool seats, and 20s are a bonus.

I think the blacked out accessories and wheels are atrocious. They should have offered all of the performance improvements with a bit more horsepower and torque as the competition package, while providing the wheels and blacked out whatever as an option anybody can order separately since it's so subjective. I would definitely have opted for the competition package if they would have left the look of the car alone and just focused on performance enhancements.

[duky]

Not saying you're crazy not to get ZCP but if you're already questioning it I would suspect that that feeling won't go away. When we got our car, ZCP was announced but we still opted for the non-ZCP and I have no qualms with that decision. This is mostly because I'm sharing the car with soon to be wifey and already had to do some convincing that ride comfort, exhaust sound etc would be ok for her. Having said that, from a performance standpoint the standard car is already way more than I'm used to so the costs (unhappy SO, extra $$, extra time waiting) outweighed the performance benefits. Make sure you're getting what works for your life but nagging feelings have a tendency to stick around especially after the initial honeymoon period ends

[Throttleblip]

Originally Posted by diesel1879

I managed to snag an allocation for one of the last 2016s which begins production on week 22. I didn't order my m3 with the comp pack, not because of cost but because of ride stiffness. I sold my last m3 because I was going into back surgery, now that I'm done and better I wanted to jump into another m3. I was considering the comp pack but saw the reviews saying it was a more jarring ride. Am I wrong in not checking the zcp box? maybe swapping the 20s for the 18s could fix that? for those that have the zcp and the non zcp did you see a difference in ride comfort? I took a ride in a zcp and it was stiffer, but I'm comparing it to my car that had the 18s. Your feedback is greatly apprecatied! I read the other reviews so far but none that say definitively that the ride is harsher.

Here is my review of the zcp just to help you answer the question:
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1248411&page=5

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Audio Fan

Crazy not to get ZCP. The ZCP will tweak the car to what it was always designed to be and should be. Having an M4 and having had a ZCP E92, the comp packs adds a lot to the standard car. The std M4 is great, but definitely could be improved: wider tires, tuned suspension, better traction, better exhaust, better stability control, and the black-out accessories. The extra horsepower, cool seats, and 20s are a bonus.

I think everyone has their own opinions of what the car "should be". For me I think the car "should" have 18x11 wheels with r tires and full coilovers.

It doesn't but whatever, those are easy fixes in the aftermarket.

Lots of reason why you would and wouldn't get competition pack

[Devilzmantis]

To each their own like others have said. But to not pick the ZCP because you don't know the whole story is crazy. Performance and handle improves while there absolutely no difference in comfort. This alone should be a no-brainer. The ZCP seats actually hugs you more so in corners it's much more comfortable.

The only way I would not choose the ZCP is I don't really care about performance, i don't like loud exhaust and those wheels are weird to some.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by Devilzmantis

To each their own like others have said. But to not pick the ZCP because you don't know the whole story is crazy. Performance and handle improves while there absolutely no difference in comfort. This alone should be a no-brainer. The ZCP seats actually hugs you more so in corners it's much more comfortable.

The only way I would not choose the ZCP is I don't really care about performance, i don't like loud exhaust and those wheels are weird to some.

I agreed with you until "you don't care about performance". Are we to believe that prior to the ZCP coming out, the M3 was not a performance car and the people that bought them didn't care about performance. A bit of a stretch and we still don't know how much the ZCP added to performance to the basic software updates that many 2016s have. It "could" be negligible.

In the previous generation, the ZCP wheels were nice and I'm betting most people had no issue getting a ZCP because of the looks alone. Here the wheels may not be a driver but rather a hindrance so the increase in performance needs to be noticeable and significant to win people over.

[Frank_NJ]

I couldn't agree more about the black out accessories which was another thing I was not a fan about with the ZCP. I am among the few that really do like the wheels.

Originally Posted by bringbacklsb

I think the blacked out accessories and wheels are atrocious. They should have offered all of the performance improvements with a bit more horsepower and torque as the competition package, while providing the wheels and blacked out whatever as an option anybody can order separately since it's so subjective. I would definitely have opted for the competition package if they would have left the look of the car alone and just focused on performance enhancements.

[JoeyBananas]

You are not crazy. All of these people talking about the improved suspension probably can't drive the car within a 10th of its limits anyway. The wheels aren't the most attractive and the black emblems can be puchasedz the exhaust is def better but you can fix that a number of ways with aftermarket

[Who's on first]

Originally Posted by Invictus

How is the ride on the gentlest settings with the Competition Package?

I feel there's zero difference in the ride harshness.

Had 19's on the other one. Maybe that's why I cannot notice it being rougher?

Just my opinion.

[CEDWARDS35]

I still hate the ZCP 20 inch wheels. And yes I saw them in person and still feel the same way. Not only are they fugly but the size is wrong. I wish the just kept the 19 size but made a wider wheel on the ZCP package. Say 10.5 rear and 9.5 front. That would help with grip more than going to a 20 wheel with rubber band 30 profile tires. If you live in big cities with shitty roads you are going to love those bent looking 20's

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Has anyone tried to fit the 359M wheels on the F80? I wonder how it looks?

[Egrunt]

I have back problems (L-5 and S-1) as well and ride comfort is important. At age 50 and after spending 20 years in the military my back has seen better days. There has always been a trade-off for car handling versus ride comfort. I read an article on BMW blog and they stated: "Admittedly, the stiffened ride that comes with the Comp Pack isn’t all that welcome, considering that the M4 already rode quite stiffly, but it doesn’t seem too bad if you keep it in comfort on the road. However, significant wind and tire noise are present in the video, something unbecoming of a BMW at that price range. This is largely due to the new large 20″ wheels and wider, harder tires. But the stiffer ride is a minor quibble for an overall excellent package which turns the M4 into a much sharper and much more enjoyable car. Sutcliffe claims, and we can’t disagree, that, with the Competition Package, the BMW M4 is possibly the best sports car for the money."

I purchased my M3 in July of 2014 with the 19 inch wheels and I was considering changing to a set of 20 inch wheels strictly for appearance change of the vehicle. I had a chance to drive an M4 with 20" HRE wheels with Michelin PSS tires and the ride quality was stiffer but bearable. It was enough for me to stay with 19" wheels. I was only considering the 20" wheels due to a set of 20" HRE wheels being sold at a steep discount. Looking at a tire size calculator when comparing a 285/30/20 (Competition size tire) vs 275/35/19 (Standard 19" M3 tire size for the rear) there is a 3.37" height difference between the competition and the 19" standard tire with the competition one being the lower profile.

I use the lumbar on my M3 seats every time I drive it. Driving from San Diego County to Las Vegas (300 miles) towards the end of the trip I am ready to get out of the M3 and stretch a bit. So I would also consider the seat comfort on the competition package.

If you are going to track the M3 then I would consider getting the competition package. I am a car enthusiast and when I occasionally do some spirited driving my non-competition package M3 gets the job done and puts a smile on my face. My M3 will not be driven on the track and is strictly a street driven vehicle.

Another thing I would consider that has been mentioned is the looks of the 20" wheels. Looks of wheels is purely subjective and only you can make that decision but for me I disliked the wheels at first and my thoughts have changed just a little bit after seeing them for the better but I would more then likely change the wheels if I where to purchase the competition package. My wife is in agreement with the looks of the wheels.

If ride comfort is important and you will not be tracking the vehicle in my opinion you made the right choose.

[CEDWARDS35]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

Not crazy at all. I'm leaning towards non-ZCP myself.

It has nothing to do with cost either. I've seen the 20" wheels in person and quite honestly just don't care for them. They don't look bad, but I personally prefer the black 19" wheels. I also don't like any of the black trim, especially the black exhaust tips (yuck!). The power upgrade and suspension modification would be insignificant in my case because I would hardly track the car.

At the moment my mind is settled on putting the ZCP money towards the MPE. That would make me more happy then anything ZCP offers.

The MPE exhaust is the best mod I ever did to my F80. To may be pricey but it is worth every penny. Plus it looks way better than the cheeesy black chrome Lexus tips

[bringbacklsb]

Originally Posted by Frank_NJ

I couldn't agree more about the black out accessories which was another thing I was not a fan about with the ZCP. I am among the few that really do like the wheels.

I just wish they would focus on performance enhancements with the competition package and offer the cosmetic choices separately, because I'm far from the only one who would have purchased the competition package if not for the aesthetic modifications that were bundled with the option.

[Devilzmantis]

Originally Posted by trey100

I agreed with you until "you don't care about performance". Are we to believe that prior to the ZCP coming out, the M3 was not a performance car and the people that bought them didn't care about performance. A bit of a stretch and we still don't know how much the ZCP added to performance to the basic software updates that many 2016s have. It "could" be negligible.

In the previous generation, the ZCP wheels were nice and I'm betting most people had no issue getting a ZCP because of the looks alone. Here the wheels may not be a driver but rather a hindrance so the increase in performance needs to be noticeable and significant to win people over.

Yes I meant people didn't care about the Performance increase... but I agree with you that we don't know how much better in handling and laptimes yet until these lazy ass car mags review them.

[CEDWARDS35]

I wish there was a comparison of the new M3/M4 ZCP with a newer 2016 non ZCP with the latest software (58.3) I know there has been people writing reviews about the difference between the early 2015 compared to ZCP 16. And I bet the car does feel different. but I wonder how much better the ZCP is from the latest update non ZCP 16. I heard the 16's with the updates have solved the traction issues and ride issues on uneven pavement.

[///M-Furby]

Originally Posted by RobbyMack

I wouldn't worry about it. The take rate (if you believe BMW) is probably 4-1 in favor of zcp so I say dare to be different. In prior generations the wheels made the whole package completely worth it. This generation the wheels are really a deal breaker for me (yes I know I could sell them but that's another PITA I wouldn't want to deal with). The wheels plus the fact that my 4 yr old could punch me in the kidneys from the back seat I would have passed as well. I do like the seat belts and they are fairly inexpensive to retrofit so I might give that a run.

That's a reason to get it if you are buying. Can you imagine, one day you want to sell your ride and can't because everyone wants comp package. It's a great package (in terms of price). I think the two most controversial aspects of it are: Wheels (meh, that's preference), and lumbar support (some say no issues, some i'm sure say issues).

For me, my back is terrible, but 1346 miles in 1 week and i had very minor discomfort. For me, that's saying a lot

If your 4 year old can punch you through the back seat, then your 4 year old has some really good aim, and reach from where he is planted in his convertible seat