125mm=12.5'm

 

Um. I think either your your math or your units may be off.

125mm = 12.5cm = 0.125m = 4.92 inches = 0.410 feet = 0.136 yards

 

I think that the actual ground clearance number can be misleading, though.
If the lowest point of clearance is at the differential / between two wheels, you can miss a lot of scraping by taking obstructions square-on. If the clearance height in-between front and rear axles and small though, you can scrape on everything.
I know that what hits ground most often for me (and everyone else with my car) is the heat shield on the bottom of the catalytic converter, and when moving forward, it strikes ground after the front wheels clear the highest point. In reverse, it strikes after the rear wheels are well clear, just before the front wheels go over. That stupid cover is the most common source of rattling sounds, and the first thing to start corroding on this model. Worse, it's welded in place, so removing it or replacing it is a significant endeavor.

 

The suspension travel distance is also important. My 5 series I never scrape anywhere, driving quite fast over bumps. Even my other car which has 96mm was quite ok on the very bumpy road up to my cabin.

 

I drive an early Infiniti G35 coupe-6MT which purportedly has 6.3” (16cm) of ground clearance.
I scrape bottom in and out of my driveway, the driveway to my work, and just about everywhere else.
I can’t even imagine how driving a car with 1.4” (3.5cm) LESS ground clearance will go over. The bottom better be armoured like a tank.
That, or I hope the stat for my car that I found is wrong.

 

If it works like my 5 series, it raises it based on the load. You can’t raise it manually of course, because then the car wouldn’t be level. The front is white constant, the back is where the extra passengers and weight go, so it makes a lot of sense. Or else the designers would have to make the suspension setup optimal for only one single load configuration. Ever tried driving a van without load in the back? Pretty awful stuff.

 

All I’m saying is that it would have been nice to have that option. They put air suspension in the rear so they are half way there! Combined with the 4x4 it would be nice for gravel roads. And in the city for curbs and driveways it would be a nice addition.

Mercedes C class which is in the same car size of i4 has air suspension as an option.

 

They put air suspension in the rear

i dont believe they do - asked my dealler and it is only a stiffness option not the lower/rise one

 

It’s a pity that they didn’t put air suspension also in the front, so that the car could raise and lower as needed - as the etron or taycan. Maybe that will be an option for the i5 or upper segments in the future.

 

i don't agree at all - look at the prices of the two you mentioned - it is 2-3 orders of magnitude lower - plus a similar charging speed and better single range

 

Indeed the adaptive suspension is controlled by the ride modes. So there are 3 settings:

1. Firm suspension which will be activated by sport or sport plus mode. Sport plus is called sport boost in the i4.
2. More comfortable suspension which will be activated by eco pro or comfort mode.
3. An adaptive damper setting where the car will continuously choose between firm or more comfortable suspension depending on the circumstances of your ride, activated by the adaptive mode.

And if you will there is a fourth setting which is the manual override than can be set in eco pro individual or sport individual. Here you can manually choose between either sporty or comfy suspension.

The comfy setting can be compared to the setup of i4's with the standard suspension.
None of these settings have anything to do with ride height. That is preset in your configuration, once your order is taken into production it can not be changed.

 

I don't believe this is correct. There are two options with Adaptive suspension, Comfort or Sport. The suspension continuously adapts in both settings depending on the road conditions and your driving style. You can't switch this off. If you select Comfort, the algorithm continuously adjusts between, say, Soft and Medium and if you select sport, it will adjust between Medium and Firm. I don't actually no how much overlap there is between the Mediums but you get the idea.
This is how Porsche operate their PASM suspension system which is fantastic.

 

I'm curious about the impact of Adaptive Suspension with its three modes. Where does the suspension fall in terms of mode on an i4 eDrive40 without Adaptive Suspension? Does it fall in the Comfort zone, in the Sport zone or in some other zone?

 

I just hope these impressions from the configurator are realistic.
In many photos that BMW used, mostly during the first formal presentation, the car seems to be a bit too high, especially at the rear...

The i4 M50 that I saw for real during a preview was even higher than the car in the picture below. The BMW genius explained that the car was still in transport mode. Hmmm, let's wait and see

 

I just hope these impressions from the configurator are realistic.
In many photos that BMW used, mostly during the first formal presentation, the car seems to be a bit too high, especially at the rear...

The i4 M50 that I saw for real during a preview was even higher than the car in the picture below. The BMW genius explained that the car was still in transport mode. Hmmm, let's wait and see

View attachment 1235

Interesting...do you know what "transport mode" is? Does this mean for when it is being transported on a truck or train so it is raised a bit incase a big bump is hit or is this something that can be turned on and off and then driven...basically lifting the car when needed? That would be fantastic but I think unlikely.

 

40 (first photo) versus 40 with M Sport package (second photo).
In this case no difference in ride height.

The i40 idrive40 with M Sport package does not get the adaptive suspension as standard so the ride height is the same. Maybe this is different in your country or maybe you have ticked the option box for adaptive suspension?

 

40 (first photo) versus M50 (second photo)
The M50 is visibly 1 centimeter lower.

 

AhAhAHAh, your eyes are better than mine

 

According to this is 12,5 cm (or 12.4 if you do 4.9*2.54)

2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 - Specifications and price

Specifications of 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40. Electric motor: 250 kW @ 8000 - 17000 rpm, 430 Nm @ 0 - 5000 rpm, Top speed: 118.1 mph / 190.0 km/h, Battery: 83.9 kWh. Market-dependent prices, MSRP. Market-dependent prices, MSRP.

www.evspecifications.com

I've noticed that the regular version vs the M-sport have a significant difference in height (and in clearance?) when they are visualised in the configurator.

 

I've noticed that the regular version vs the M-sport have a significant difference in height (and in clearance?) when they are visualised in the configurator.

What difference do you see?
The M50 is equipped with the adaptive suspension and is supposed to be 1 centimeter lower to the ground. But that may not be the same as ground clearance though.