Suspension is too stiff on Air Pure RWD

[Wilber]

I purchased my Air Pure RWD three months ago. On the drive home i noticed the suspension seemed to feel every little bump. This was quite different from my test drive in an Air Pure RWD where i noticed it seemed buttery smooth even on rough pavement. So, a couple days later I did the test drive route in my new car and the new car clearly had stiffer suspension. My car has 20 inch wheels and the test car had 19s, so I would think the test car would be slightly smoother but not this much. I am thinking i will just lower tire pressure by 2 pounds in all tires and see if that helps. Does anyone have other ideas on how to smooth out the ride? I would prefer to not buy new wheels (19 unless it is clear they make a big difference). I always drive in Smooth mode. Is it possible it is somehow stuck in Swift mode?

 

[Blue Lectroid]

I purchased my Air Pure RWD three months ago. On the drive home i noticed the suspension seemed to feel every little bump. This was quite different from my test drive in an Air Pure RWD where i noticed it seemed buttery smooth even on rough pavement. So, a couple days later I did the test drive route in my new car and the new car clearly had stiffer suspension. My car has 20 inch wheels and the test car had 19s, so I would think the test car would be slightly smoother but not this much. I am thinking i will just lower tire pressure by 2 pounds in all tires and see if that helps. Does anyone have other ideas on how to smooth out the ride? I would prefer to not buy new wheels (19 unless it is clear they make a big difference). I always drive in Smooth mode. Is it possible it is somehow stuck in Swift mode?

19’s make a VERY big difference.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

@Wilber this doesn't sound right.. Since the suspension is computerized, you might try a reset and see if that helps.

You didn't say where you live, but don't rely on the TPMS for tire pressures if you have a big daily swing in temperature. I've seen 40 degree swings in temperature in 24 hrs. here ( SE Pennsylvania), especially in the late fall. Low temps can drop your tire pressures as much as 4 psi.

Running on under-inflated tires is much worse than running on slightly over-inflated tires. I run my 21"s at 44-45 psi, and 19s at 49 psi.
I much prefer the 21s and don't really care about a ride quality difference. The 21" summer rubber absolutely transforms my car.
I don't think you will see a ride quality difference between the 20" A/S and the 19" A/S tires but I'm just guessing.

I keep one of these in the door pockets of all my cars:

I have found the pressure readings to be accurate on the Lucid tire inflator / shaving cream kit, even though its analogue and hard to read.
Don't take the shaving cream hose out unless you really need it = you will never get it back in the groove.

 

[scal_air]

Have you switched to swift mode to see if you can feel a difference? If not, perhaps you are stuck in swift mode. But I suspect it's the difference between 19" and 20" tires...

 

[Wilber]

19’s make a VERY big difference.

Thanks for your input. but, i checked how much it costs to buy and install 19s with tires from Lucid and it is almost $5k! too much. I realize i could try selling my old wheels and tires but that seems like a real hassle. So, I will stick with the 20s unless you can recommend a way to switch to 19s for minimal expense and hassle.

 

[Wilber]

@Wilber this doesn't sound right.. Since the suspension is computerized, you might try a reset and see if that helps.

You didn't say where you live, but don't rely on the TPMS for tire pressures if you have a big daily swing in temperature. I've seen 40 degree swings in temperature in 24 hrs. here ( SE Pennsylvania), especially in the late fall. Low temps can drop your tire pressures as much as 4 psi.

Running on under-inflated tires is much worse than running on slightly over-inflated tires. I run my 21"s at 44-45 psi, and 19s at 49 psi.
I much prefer the 21s and don't really care about a ride quality difference. The 21" summer rubber absolutely transforms my car.
I don't think you will see a ride quality difference between the 20" A/S and the 19" A/S tires but I'm just guessing.

I keep one of these in the door pockets of all my cars:
View attachment 25980
I have found the pressure readings to be accurate on the Lucid tire inflator / shaving cream kit, even though its analogue and hard to read.
Don't take the shaving cream hose out unless you really need it = you will never get it back in the groove.View attachment 25981

Thanks for the ideas. I'll try the reset thing to see if that helps . the door jamb recommends 42 for all tires. and today i paid attention to the TPMS and it shows the tires are about 40 when cold - so about 2 lbs low. fine with me.

 

[Wilber]

Have you switched to swift mode to see if you can feel a difference? If not, perhaps you are stuck in swift mode. But I suspect it's the difference between 19" and 20" tires...

OK - I'll try Swift mode to see how that rides.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

Thanks for your input. but, i checked how much it costs to buy and install 19s with tires from Lucid and it is almost $5k! too much. I realize i could try selling my old wheels and tires but that seems like a real hassle. So, I will stick with the 20s unless you can recommend a way to switch to 19s for minimal expense and hassle.

Used sets come up on here from time to time. You could also post to do a trade of your 20’s to someone wanting 19’s…

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

Used sets come up on here from time to time. You could also post to do a trade of your 20’s to someone wanting 19’s…

I recommend this. I found a pristine set of 21" wheels and tires locally. They were advertised here.

 

[chris]

This is honestly why I was happy to get my Pure with the 19s.... especially given our road conditions in the Chicagoland area. I love the ride quality and have absolutely no complaints

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

This is honestly why I was happy to get my Pure with the 19s.... especially given our road conditions in the Chicagoland area. I love the ride quality and have absolutely no complaints

Same. I ordered my GT with the 19"s. Then I read the bit in the owner's manual that basically says stay out of Sprint mode unless you have the 21" summer rubber, so I got a set. Yep. Huge improvement. I love them. I don't mind doing a bi-annual swap.

The car is way more capable than I ... the nanny has saved my buttock more than once. In the first week of ownership (on the 19s) I lost the rear end pulling out of the neighborhood onto a busy street. The wife was with me, so I used it as an excuse to get the 21" summer set. It worked. She believed me (it was entirely my fault = a weird drainage dip with a bit of gravel, the crown on the x-road and underestimation of all the instant torque). Trying to think of a similar reason to get her to ditch her Mazda so I can get another Lucid air.

 

[Wilber]

Just a brief update. I tried switching back and forth between default mode and Swift mode and not sure if i can tell the difference. I'll keep testing this. I dont drive this car every day. I have another car as an everyday driver. I did notice that all tires are bout 2lbs pressure lower than recommended. So, I am not going to lower them anymore to help with cushioning bumps. Please stay tuned. thx

 

[Steveinarizona]

Just a brief update. I tried switching back and forth between default mode and Swift mode and not sure if i can tell the difference. I'll keep testing this. I dont drive this car every day. I have another car as an everyday driver. I did notice that all tires are bout 2lbs pressure lower than recommended. So, I am not going to lower them anymore to help with cushioning bumps. Please stay tuned. thx

Interesting. If I am reading your post correctly, you have both an IX and a Lucid Air and use the IX as your daily driver. They are both obviously very different type vehicles but there are still some similarities/differences with features such as software that can be reasonably compared. I would not expect the IX to handle anywhere near a Lucid nor would I suspect a Lucid could be as easy to get in and out of as the IX. Both are relatively high end EVs so I will be interested if you will share your experiences and thoughts.

 

[Wilber]

Interesting. If I am reading your post correctly, you have both an IX and a Lucid Air and use the IX as your daily driver. They are both obviously very different type vehicles but there are still some similarities/differences with features such as software that can be reasonably compared. I would not expect the IX to handle anywhere near a Lucid nor would I suspect a Lucid could be as easy to get in and out of as the IX. Both are relatively high end EVs so I will be interested if you will share your experiences and thoughts.

OK, but since this isnt a BMW forum i will be brief. The iX handles very well for a midsize SUV. Not much body roll. and steering seems precise. The car is superfast and handles bumps with aplomb. I prefer its regen to Lucids. Very quiet inside thanks to sound deadening materials throughout the body, and double pane glass. It is surprisingly efficient also. The Lucid handles a little better. And today i noticed that Swift mode pretty much eliminates any body roll. But it is a noisy car - you really hear the road noise and loud vehicles and you feel lots of bumps. The more upright seating and higher position in the iX makes visibility excellent. And i suspect the iX has better glass in the windshield. So, I consider my Lucid Air Pure RWD my Econocar for around town trips.

 

[Lucken]

OK, but since this isnt a BMW forum i will be brief. The iX handles very well for a midsize SUV. Not much body roll. and steering seems precise. The car is superfast and handles bumps with aplomb. I prefer its regen to Lucids. Very quiet inside thanks to sound deadening materials throughout the body, and double pane glass. It is surprisingly efficient also. The Lucid handles a little better. And today i noticed that Swift mode pretty much eliminates any body roll. But it is a noisy car - you really hear the road noise and loud vehicles and you feel lots of bumps. The more upright seating and higher position in the iX makes visibility excellent. And i suspect the iX has better glass in the windshield. So, I consider my Lucid Air Pure RWD my Econocar for around town trips.

Your experience with noise & ride quality in the RWD version make me wonder if it’s the 20” wheels, a suspension difference or both that make my experience in a 23 AWD Pure with 19” Pirellis so different. My experience is that road imperfections are soaked up and although I wouldn’t call my Air the quietest EV I’ve ever owned, I would still describe it as quiet and certainly not noisy.

 

[Cabonzhp]

My wife has an iX with standard spring suspension and I feel that its ride is absolutely atrocious compared to my 24 Pure. After only 15 minutes in the iX, I have zero doubt that I’d rather take my Air on a long journey. We currently have an iX loaner with the optional air suspension and it’s definitely a large improvement in comfort, but still not as good as my Air.

I’ve had my Air for about 5 months now and I recall about 3-4 weeks in, I suddenly felt like everything was stiffer. From the previous day, Smooth now felt like Swift, and Swift felt like Sprint and so on. I asked the dealer if a suspension mode de-sync was possible and I was ignored. I’ve learned to get over what is probably my own imagination, but I won’t let go of my theory.