Will I miss the ECS on the base GT???

[FredsStinger]

Hi everyone, new to this site. I currently have a BMW 328xi M Sport (trading for the Stinger) and a 2017 BMW M2 manual that I bought in October because it was such a great deal. I will be selling it soon (hopefully for a tidy profit).

I am planning on purchasing a 2021 Stinger GT
AWD. I am up to speed on all the differences between the trim levels.

However, can anyone tell me if the ECS or Electronically Controlled Suspension is critical to the handling of the Stinger? I see it’s not on the GT base, so wondering if I’m seriously missing out on something by opting for the base trim?

Thank you very much!

Fred

 

[Revvdmedia]

Hi everyone, new to this site. I currently have a BMW 328xi M Sport (trading for the Stinger) and a 2017 BMW M2 manual that I bought in October because it was such a great deal. I will be selling it soon (hopefully for a tidy profit).

I am planning on purchasing a 2021 Stinger GT
AWD. I am up to speed on all the differences between the trim levels.

However, can anyone tell me if the ECS or Electronically Controlled Suspension is critical to the handling of the Stinger? I see it’s not on the GT base, so wondering if I’m seriously missing out on something by opting for the base trim?

Thank you very much!

Fred

I only drove a 2018, but I don't think there was much if any revision on the ECS in latter years. I will say compared to BMW, the difference between comfort and sport is really barely noticeable. This also differs by locale, but for the Canadian models I can speak of, the sport mode is barely more stiff than the comfort mode. The non ECS is supposedly tuned somewhere between ECS comfort and sport, and I didn't find either uncomfortable nor overly soft, so I think you're not missing out.

I can attest it is substantially different in a BMW, my M240i is MUCH more stiff in sport suspension than comfort.

 

[turboAWD]

Agree - it's barely there. The Mando ECS10 module allows much better control over it, but it's you may have to reset it every time you want to drive it in a given way. Sometimes I think the settings are permanent, sometimes I think they reset after a while. But, if I set it before driving a given road / situation, you can easily go from very stiff to very soft, etc..

So it depends on how hands-on you want to get. If you like to mod, and fiddle with suspension, you will miss it. If you leave things stock, you won't miss it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Frankly, the ECS doesn't make a noticeable difference to me. I drive with Sport selected as my Custom suspension setting. When I happen to not select Custom/Sport, as for instance when I select Smart for driving in the snow/slush, I don't feel any difference in suspension. When I happen to leave it in Comfort for a while, it isn't any "softness" in the suspension that alerts me to the fact that I didn't yet select Custom/Sport. This observation over nearly three years, plus what was repeated above about the base GT without ECS having a tuned suspension between Comfort and Sport mode, makes me believe that you should not worry about missing the ECS.

(By the way, in 2022 models, only the GT2 gets ECS from now on; the GT1 gets a tuned or base-like static suspension; personally, if I were buying a Stinger out of the new year trimmed trims I'd not worry about the ECS in making my decision.)

And, welcome to the forum.

 

[FredsStinger]

All of you, thank you for your insights and responses! Looks like it’s probably not a dealbreaker. Really looking forward to test driving it tomorrow and if it’s excellent, I will probably purchase provided I get a decent trade.

I was hoping to get the 2022 for that amazing interior, but sounds like I’ll be forking out at least $10k more from what I’m looking at currently.

 

[Charlestokes]

Hey just wanted to clarify that the base 2.0 2018 does not come with the ECS I am buying coilovers and was worried I would need the code canceler too.

 

[Deviate]

Hey just wanted to clarify that the base 2.0 2018 does not come with the ECS I am buying coilovers and was worried I would need the code canceler too.

Correct no ECS

 

[Charlestokes]

Correct no ECS

Sweet thank you so much.

 

[RogueIV]

I don't have ECS on mine and it handles just fine.

If it was Magneride the story would be different though and it would definitely be something to get, sadly it isn't though.

 

[Charlestokes]

Has anyone on this thread heard of the Gecko racing coilovers. I just recently purchased an unused set from a previous stinger owner and they look good but have never really seen any reviews. They fit the 2.0, 3.3, in rwd and awd.

 

[RogueIV]

Has anyone on this thread heard of the Gecko racing coilovers. I just recently purchased an unused set from a previous stinger owner and they look good but have never really seen any reviews. They fit the 2.0, 3.3, in rwd and awd.

Heard of them but have no first hand experience with them.

 

[Deviate]

Has anyone on this thread heard of the Gecko racing coilovers. I just recently purchased an unused set from a previous stinger owner and they look good but have never really seen any reviews. They fit the 2.0, 3.3, in rwd and awd.

From all the high speed research I did on them there's not a lot reviews period. You did get a good deal, i was looking at them as well. I did see that. Are you having second thoughts??

 

[isuzuperforma]

I know this post is a bit old but I been trying to figure out if I have ECS on my stinger. Someone told me if you can customize your steering setting in custom mode to sport then you have ECS, does that sound right?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I know this post is a bit old but I been trying to figure out if I have ECS on my stinger. Someone told me if you can customize your steering setting in custom mode to sport then you have ECS, does that sound right?

I don't know about that. But I do know that the 2018 GT did not come with ECS.

 

[stoopid]

I know this post is a bit old but I been trying to figure out if I have ECS on my stinger. Someone told me if you can customize your steering setting in custom mode to sport then you have ECS, does that sound right?

Steering feel and throttle response (shifting) are the only parameters we can adjust in the GT, adjustable suspension was only available with the GT1 and GT2. You would see a separate suspension setting in custom if you had ECS.

 

[keplaffintech]

For anyone asking this question about a new Stinger, the new Stingers have quite a noticeable difference between comfort and sport modes.

I've driven an old and new model and there has definitely been a revision. In the new Stinger sport mode firms up the suspension significantly and significantly reduces roll and weight transfer. Comfort has the soft, floaty sort of feel in comparison.