I started looking for a 535 M-sport a few months ago and part of my interest was the article I read here at Jalopnik:

10 Reasons The E60 535i Is Better Than The M5

It talks about the active suspension and how it actively engages/disengages sway bars and even includes a cool diagnostic video from Youtube.

I purchased a 2010 535 M-sport 6MT just this weekend. I don't seem to have any options/buttons for enabling or disabling active suspension and the seller didn't seem to be aware of such a feature. The car handles well, so I'm not complaining or going to suddenly sell it, but I would like to get clarification on the topic. What can you all tell me?

thanks,
Ben

 

The active suspension is always enabled, but it is only present on RWD cars (since you have an Msport I would assume it is probably RWD). Automatics get the option for a SAT transmission which includes a sport button near the shifter. This tightens up the steering and changes the throttle input (less linear and more aggressive). I'm assuming your MT doesnt have the sport button but you should be able to retrofit it as many have done so even on older models that didn't have the Sport AT trans (just need to wire a momentary switch to a couple pins). There are a few DIY's on here if you do a search.

 

Interesting. So when and how does the car decide to engage the system and change the sway bar behavior?

 

'active suspension' is not user switchable, it engages and disengages automatically based on how much lateral load is being placed on the car. if you have the car connected to BMW diagnostic software such as INPA, ISTA, etc you can engage and disengage the sway bars via laptop, which is what you saw on youtube. when you drive the car, all of that is handled for you by the car.

 

Very cool, thanks guys. So it sounds like as long as this car has "M Sport Suspension" listed as a feature (for example when I plug it into bmwvin.com), I'm good to go.

 

actually the correct wording is Dynamic Drive or ARS. M Sport Suspension is different shocks and springs. All USA Sport and MSport e60s will have dynamic drive/ARS.

 

Cool. Thanks for the additional info and clarification. I checked my VIN for the list of options and it does include that, along with all the M sport specific stuff:

229 DYNAMIC DRIVE
337 M SPORT PACKAGE
704 M SPORT SUSPENSION
710 M LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
715 M AERODYNAMICS PACKAGE

The car definitely feels impressively flat through the twisties for as big and heavy as it is (compared to my previous E90 ZCP M3)

Thanks everyone!

 

Youd be suprised at the real weight figures

E60 535i curb weight 1680kg
E90 M3 curb weight 1625kg

Not much weight differense!

 

Surprised is right! Wow. Feels so much heavier. That must be completely perceived because I have been used to a high HP / low torque lagless NA motor, and now with the twin turbo 6 bringing in power so differently, it just seems heavier. I wonder how JB4 will change my perception

 

Just jumping in to say that he bought my car and that A) he was a totally stand up guy and I miss it.

that is all.