Do German cars in America have different suspension tuning etc than they do in Germany?
Posted by imaboringdude@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 39 comments
I am not asking German vs American cars, but I’m wondering if for example a BMW sold in Germany, which has the autobahn and higher speeds, has stiffer suspension tuning and other slight mechanical differences than an identical BMW model sold in America?
Would the German BMW feel more locked in at higher speeds than the equivalent American BMW? I would think a slightly softer tuning makes more sense for poorer road quality and lower speeds here in the states?
LemonPaper914@reddit
US Jetta is much different from EU. Completely different suspension configuration in rear. It does vary model to model. I think usually USA M3 vs EU M3 should be the same, but most EU market 3 series should be a little stiffer than USA and the other thing is EU 3 series will likely have completely different engine not offered in USA. Lots of small diesels. That would absolutely have different spring rates.
srekkas@reddit
USA jetta is on different platform, more like Polo, not Golf. Or something like that
geneparmesan31@reddit
What? NA Jettas are built on the MQB Evo platform, same as the GTI.
srekkas@reddit
Mk6 was somehow cheaper built than EU
Brief_Influence_9601@reddit
The Jetta has not been sold in Europe since 2020.
BlueMonday2082@reddit
Usually, yeah. Even the foam in the dash can vary by region.
NeedleGunMonkey@reddit
It depends. It costs a lot of money to develop a well balanced suspension for each market and it’ll depend on the volume
It also won’t be “US vs EU” but whether that particular model code is a more balanced refined car or more on the track side.
I doubt there’s ANY mainstream BMW sold anywhere in the world that feels squirrelly at 160kph. But there’s definitely models that aren’t pleasant to drive on gravel or roads with a lot of transitional melt refreeze cycles.
porchprovider@reddit
I made a TLDR for your answer.
Definitely no difference. It costs a lot of money to develop suspension.
that_dutch_dude@reddit
Its also wrong, most cars have different suspentions. You do not want german style suspention is something like new mexico or oklahoma for example. Neither the car nor the person in it would survive.
Equana@reddit
Except that is wrong.
All Euro, Japanese and Korean carmakers do development work in the US and change their shock, bushing and spring tuning for the US market.
I did vehicle development and tuning for a US supplier of electronic shock absorber systems. The German customer tuned the system differently for the US market. It was easier with electronic shocks because that change was nothing but software calibration. The same for the Brits and the Italians.
A buddy developed cars for Hyundai for the cars they sold in the US. Hyundai built a testing grounds and offices in California to tune the cars.
Nissan did the same in Arizona. Honda the same in Ohio.
Mortenubby@reddit
Toyota and Subaru have different suspension in their twin cars. It's definitely possible to change suspension depending on the market.
Cynyr36@reddit
Except VW did it with the Passat...
puskunk@reddit
Most BMWs sold in the US are built in the US and BMW is the largest car exporter in the country by money. I can tell you that the suspension parts are the exact same by model no matter where they are gonna end up, and yes we can see the final destination on the build sheet.
skibbin@reddit
Are you calling Americans fat?
OldeWorldWays@reddit
Americans are typically Fat and Lazy hence fewer and fewer manual transmissions, soft suspensions on everything including trucks, more gadgets like those lane change indicators for those with little to no neck don't need to use a side view mirror to merge into an occupied lane.
skibbin@reddit
I'll have you know I resemble that accusation
OldeWorldWays@reddit
Me too - except for the gadget part! After my serious leg injury in the military-i have become fluffy and less mobile.
It sucks.
3rdreprieve@reddit
The only noteworthy difference between European German cars and American German cars are their top speeds. For the most part, you’re limited to 210km/h (130mph) on all-seasons and 250km/h (155mph) on summer tires. In Europe, you’re limited to 250km/h regardless of what type of tire is on the car.
SatanVapesOn666W@reddit
The speed limiter is 155 regardless of tires unless they've implemented tire detection since my 2005 330xi.
JJ_Was_Taken@reddit
M340i is 130mph with all seasons and 155mph with staggered summers or performance tires. It's set at the factory and I don't believe it can be changed by a dealer. Also Gen 3 ECU can't be unlocked (yet).
SatanVapesOn666W@reddit
What a wild way to make extra profits.
JJ_Was_Taken@reddit
Staggered summers are a no cost option, FWIW
Max_Downforce@reddit
Many all seasons are are rated for 250kph. The speed rating is a separate rating from tread type and rubber compound.
3rdreprieve@reddit
Most of those all-seasons are H (130mph) or V rated (149mph).
Car and Driver tested this A4 and found it was limited to 130.
They tested another A4 and found it was limited to 126, despite the fact that it had Y-rated tires.
This E550 was limited to 133.
An older E550 was limited to 131.
This C350 went 132.
This C400 went 136.
Of the German premium makes, BMW is the only one that consistently limits their cars to 155mph in the US on all-season tires, regardless of tire speed rating. Now quit downvoting me for making a true statement.
New_Breadfruit8692@reddit
I know that the BMW 740i in Germany comes in a long or shorter wheelbase but the shorter is not available in the US. Mine is considered a limousine in Germany the shorter wheelbase is not.
My 2019 is a G12 with 126.4 inch wheelbase, but in other markets outside the us there is a G11 as well with 120.9 inches.
It has adaptive air suspension at all four corners. What a joy that will be when they break. I already replaced the front thrust arm bushings, that was bad enough.
Talentless_Cooking@reddit
In my experience, any European car sold in north America has some different parts, so they are a little bit different.
Equana@reddit
Nearly all manufacturers tune their cars specifically for the US market differently than the EU market. It pisses them off, but they do it.
There are a series of testing grounds all across the US owned by various foreign automakers staffed with Americans to do this.
I used to do suspension development for a US supplier of suspension and brake components.
Hyundai/Kia in California. Honda in Ohio. Nissan and Toyota in Arizona. BMW in SC. VW in PA. Mercedes in California.
GEEK-IP@reddit
Many years ago, 1980s, I had friends trying to bring their Europe purchased cars into the US. The challenges were safety related. The US spec autos typically had larger brake pads, for example. Many foreign cars (at the time) didn't use safety glass.
I was in Greece with a US spec Mazda 323. A Greek friend had a Greek one, same year. My brake pads were a full inch longer. I had a 1.6 liter fuel injected engine, his was 1.3 liters and carbureted. The handling was practically identical, so suspect the suspension was, but the US version was noticeably quicker.
Dry-Poem6778@reddit
I will only speak of the G20+ 3 Series.
There are significant mechanical differences between the passive Comfort (standard) and M Sport suspensions on the G20 BMW 3-series, with M Sport (SA 704) offering a noticeably firmer, lower, and more direct driving experience. The M Sport setup features stiffer springs, harder anti-roll bars, more rigid bearings, and a 10mm lower ride height, increasing damping forces by roughly (20%) compared to the standard suspension.
So, I would think that BMW GmbH would ship to a region/country more of what they've ordered previously.
Difficult_Camel_1119@reddit
at least for VW, I've seen a documentary that they use cheaper parts for US cars as people don't care as much as in Germany. That leads to the cars being way cheaper in the US
Fun_Cardiologist_373@reddit
Really? What documentary? What parts are different?
Difficult_Camel_1119@reddit
it has been several years, so I don't know if it's still the case.
The example was a Passat where in Germany, the rear tires use independent suspension while in the US, it's on a common one
Fine-State8014@reddit
You'd expect the American version to use much stronger springs
Flenke@reddit
Completely depends on the model, there's no general rule of thumb. OE part numbers will tell the difference if there is one
mdramsey@reddit
I don't think so. BMWs largest manufacturing plant is the one in Spartanburg, SC, and about 60% of what gets made there is exported globally. Mostly SUVs I think, but given the scale of production, I suspect that the European plants that export to the US are built to a single specification.
Eriknonstrata@reddit
Porsche made the 911 (996) taller and softer for the usa market. All other market cars got what the Porsche people refer to as ROW suspension,or Rest of World. To further complicate things, even base cars can be equipped with standard or sport suspension for both US and ROW markets. Makes finding replacement shocks a PIA, although I guess it's nice to have options.
Lopsided_Quarter_931@reddit
Porsches are more sporty in Germany compared to the US because of different top speeds.
jrileyy229@reddit
In the BMW world, I've never heard of any differences if it's apples to apples. They might have different packages that include different bits and different tires and different speed restrictions.... But as far as I'm aware a barebones base model 330 has the same suspension stuff
TallComputerDude@reddit
Yes, cars are usually tuned differently depending on where they are sold. It usually has to do with local preferences and how curvy the roads are. The US has a lot of straight highways, so US spec is usually more plush and may have a bit more body roll in cornering as a compromise.