EDC question. can you really feel the difference?

[ES_TRADER]

Sorry if this is a repost but when i searched for this specifically, nothing came up and when i did "edc," theres a million threads that dont answer my question.

So i was basically wondering if settings normal to medium to sport are even noticeable....I didnt get a chance to test them out on my test drive cuz the salesman was stingy with the miles on the car.

The reason i ask is because i have an older lexus with EDC with 4 settings and NO MATTER WHAT setting i use, the car feels the same and no different going over the same roads....is the M3 very noticeable from setting to setting?

If so, can someone please explain the variances?
thanks !

[LiM3y]

Yes you can, but if the tires are soft, it is difficult to tell as well. If it was a cold day, you might have had soft tires. You need a bumpy road too to really illustrate the difference.

[LateBraking]

Don't worry, it's a repost, but that's ok, it's a super old thread. Like LiM3y said, easiest way to notice the difference is to go over a really bumpy road.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by richpuer

Sorry if this is a repost but when i searched for this specifically, nothing came up and when i did "edc," theres a million threads that dont answer my question.

So i was basically wondering if settings normal to medium to sport are even noticeable....I didnt get a chance to test them out on my test drive cuz the salesman was stingy with the miles on the car.

The reason i ask is because i have an older lexus with EDC with 4 settings and NO MATTER WHAT setting i use, the car feels the same and no different going over the same roads....is the M3 very noticeable from setting to setting?

If so, can someone please explain the variances?
thanks !

Directly from http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...e30zOgIzrtZMu1

Electronic Damping Control (EDC) automatically adjusts the shock absorber settings to meet changes in vehicle speed, load, or road and driving conditions. The driver selects either "Sport" or "Comfort" from the iDrive "Settings" menu. EDC then modifies the shock absorbers to any degree, from the softest to the firmest setting. The result is exceptional riding comfort and fluid, responsive handling at all times. For example, the "Sport" setting increases firmness under all conditions for a sportier driving feel. With the "Comfort" setting, when sensors detect smooth roads, the shock absorbers are kept "soft" for optimum riding comfort. When the vehicle is rounding a sharp corner or curve, the shock absorbers are automatically and instantly adjusted to a firmer level. And when the vehicle encounters irregular road surfaces, such as bumps or a "washboard" surface, the shocks are instantly adjusted to the optimum level of firmness. This controls ride motions, helping to keep ride comfort at an acceptable level while maintaining road contact.

... add the Normal setting to this description, for some reason BMW forgot to include it in the website. Normal is the middle setting and actually gets firmer than even the Sport setting if the sensors determine that dynamic conditions merit the maximum firm level. Sport is set at a non-dynamic 75% of that level.

That is exactly how I feel my EDC working.

[smmmurf]

EDC is quite good. I can totally tell the difference between the modes in normal driving. I leave Sport off; Normal is plenty firm for brisk driving around town. I would only turn on Sport on a very smooth track.

[skierman64]

I can feel a difference between the settings, but my friend (who also has an E92 M3) can not tell a difference. The differences are subtle. I'd imagine if you can't tell a difference on your Lexus, then you won't be able to tell a difference in the M3.

[ES_TRADER]

thx for the input guys..

[kaykay]

Without a doubt

EDC is amazing (keep in mind EDC is programmed differently for ZCP cars)

Here in L.A. (we have terrible roads) I usually drive in Comfort when cruising since I get way too much feedback in Normal. If I'm driving spirited or on a nice road I switch to Normal. M-Button is programmed for Normal. Pulling in and out of driveways I switch to Normal or Sport (as the manual states).

[HellaFunctional]

Yeah you feel a difference
But it's not like Rolls Royce to gt3 but there's definitely a difference

[midlifecrisis]

For me, the best thing about EDC is the availability of the comfort mode. I personally prefer a firm suspension when I'm driving, but before I bought the M3 my passengers frequently complained about the rough ride of my cars. This is not the case with the M3 when EDC is in comfort mode.

Here on the rough roads of northern New Jersey, I find the difference between comfort and sport to be very dramatic. I think EDC is a must for drivers who want maximum versatility from their M3. It's one of the things that makes it both a capable track car and a "Sunday go to meeting" family vehicle.

[Leonardo629]

yes, you will feel the difference, comfort is too soft for me...so I mainly use normal and sport.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by Leonardo629

yes, you will feel the difference, comfort is too soft for me...so I mainly use normal and sport.

1

[Brosef]

I personally find it hard to tell a difference. Coming from a 997, they all feel soft to me. With the PASM suspension on the 911 (Porsche's EDC, basically), the difference between sport and comfort was incredibly different. But even comfort on that felt much stiffer than sport on the M3.

While it's usually hard to tell a difference between the EDC settings, it's easiest on highways made of cement sections that don't have bumps, but rather have a lot of unlevel surfaces. In sport mode, you can feel the car bounce up and down a lot more.

[epiphone3]

What I have always wondered is what the non-EDC version rides like? Is it like one of the EDC settings or is it more like a 335i ZSP ride quality?

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by Brosef

While it's usually hard to tell a difference between the EDC settings, it's easiest on highways made of cement sections that don't have bumps, but rather have a lot of unlevel surfaces. In sport mode, you can feel the car bounce up and down a lot more.

This is easiest way to notice the levels of EDC. We have some horrible roads around and car bounces off the cracks in sport, although I like the road feedback. Comfort is much smoother and great for long jaunts, or for fragile passengers.

[008]

I too think the Porsche system is much more discernable. I test drove the comp pack, edc and standard back to back and could barely tell a difference. I'm sure on a track where you're pushing it you would be able to feel more of a variance but on the street it was tough. I ended up ordering without.

[dimabimmer]

EDC is a must have option. If you are really pushing the car around town such as New York with fast moving traffic and uneven bumpy roads, you would find yourself going through most of settings.
I haven't used Sport setting since it is too firm for uneven road, I only use Sport to go in and out of driveway as is suggested in manual.

I tried to use Comfort on a long highway drive, but my girlfriend complained she was starting to get "car sick" ...

I use Normal setting 95% of the time as is suggested for ZCP... Normal in ZCP is "adaptable/dynamic" and I do feel the difference of ZCP EDC adjusting etc,. but at speeds exceeding 80 mph... I'm not a mechanic and not sure how it works, but I do feel as if the car lowers itself when I go 80 mph and above...

At speeds of around 80 mph, there is a huge difference between Comfort and Normal... Comfort feels more like it is a 335i,- just a touch too soft for staying in lane when a road takes a long turn...

[e90m3_6MT]

how's edc on the track, is it better than non edc,

[sameh]

I'm always on normal unless I hit the M button, I have my M settings on sport plus. Yes of course you can feel a big difference between Comfort and Sport. Normal feels the best to my liking, some times I do wanna put in Comfort but the steering becomes too mushy for me, didn't like it although it feels smoother than my old Infiniti G35 on that setting (impressive)

[raiste]

Its fairly easy to tell the difference on a bumpy road.

Even my son can tell the difference. He calls it the "unscientific head bouncing technique": Just down the road is a set of railroad tracks that we have to cross regularly. He says he can tell whether or not the car is in Sport mode by how much his head bounces on the head rest.


.

[besiktas]

EDC is great when cornering. the roll decreases alot. Yet in the city you would feel all the holes like pins sticking to your butt. You can turn on and off very easily and takes into effect quickly.

When you drive fast with EDC it makes you feel like you are driving an exotic sports car, feels great

[duk]

heck yes i can tell the diff