Smart lift and speed bumps

[Tino82]

I'm waiting for my taycan delivery, but had a couple questions about air suspension and smart lift functionality:

1) I take it raised suspension is a must for driving over UK speed bumps?
2) If you're driving over a speed bump but forget to raise the suspension, does this equate to requiring a new bumper and underside to the car?
3) Is smart lift good in practice? I have multiple speed bumps around my parking area at work and I'll likely not remember to press the raise button every time!
4) How far before a speed bump will the car raise its suspension (once programmed in smart lift)?
5) Does the pcm tell you the car is activating smart lift?
6) Does the car know where other taycan drivers have raised their cars, and raise yours too?
7) Is smart lift easy to program and does it work well?

Thanks!

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[legataycan]

There are a lot of bumps in my area too.

Smart lift is good but not always reliable. I’ve put raised suspension on the individual mode and use the selection wheel on the steering wheel to select it whenever I’m approaching bumps.

This also firms up the suspension to sport which I find reduces the bounce and increases the overall clearance. When the mode is so accessible on the steering wheel you get used to changing it whenever there are bumps coming up, so much of the car is automated I find I don’t mind doing this one bit manually.

To answer some of your other questions: Smart lift is very easy to use, it will automatically prompt you when you raise the height asking if you want to save this location. The PCM does tell you it is activating smart lift. It does not remember other drivers’ stored locations, only yours. The unreliable part is how accurate it is, sometimes I find I am passing a bump and only then will smart lift activate. Also it will only activate at below 20mph so if you’re someone who likes to slow down just before the bump it won’t have enough time to activate.

Finally I would say the default ride height is often sufficient to clear most bumps if you are driving with care (especially with a stiffer suspension). I would *not* recommend taking any bumps while in a lowered state.

 

[W1NGE]

I'm waiting for my taycan delivery, but had a couple questions about air suspension and smart lift functionality:

1) I take it raised suspension is a must for driving over UK speed bumps?
2) If you're driving over a speed bump but forget to raise the suspension, does this equate to requiring a new bumper and underside to the car?
3) Is smart lift good in practice? I have multiple speed bumps around my parking area at work and I'll likely not remember to press the raise button every time!
4) How far before a speed bump will the car raise its suspension (once programmed in smart lift)?
5) Does the pcm tell you the car is activating smart lift?
6) Does the car know where other taycan drivers have raised their cars, and raise yours too?
7) Is smart lift easy to program and does it work well?

Thanks!

1. No - not essential, depends on the size and height but always approach at low speed and don't brake on the bump.
2. No - if you do bottom out there will be a slight scraping sound on the under side of the front bumper (invisible to you).
3. Excellent - used it this weekend given the 5" of snow we had (absolutely flawless and the car negotiated ruts and all sorts without a single wheel slip. Regen is great for slowing the car down without using the brakes when in snow. You should not need to use it in all situations - raise it once to learn that location and as long as you keep below 15 mph (I think, or lower) then it won't lower) - useful if multiple bumps in close proximity.
4. Need to approach slowly to allow the NAV to catch-up with your location.
5. Yes - once programmed then it won't but for all new ones you are asked if you want to save the Smartlift location or not.
6. No - it's not that clever (thankfully!)
7. Yes - a doddle, 100% reliable and a bonus of having air suspension

Note that you can raise / lower the suspension without using Smartlift - via PCM - bear in mind that it is speed sensitive and so no all settings are permanent.

 

[Tino82]

1. No - not essential, depends on the size and height but always approach at low speed and don't brake on the bump.
2. No - if you do bottom out there will be a slight scraping sound on the under side of the front bumper (invisible to you).
3. Excellent - used it this weekend given the 5" of snow we had (absolutely flawless and the car negotiated ruts and all sorts without a single wheel slip. Regen is great for slowing the car down without using the brakes when in snow. You should not need to use it in all situations - raise it once to learn that location and as long as you keep below 15 mph (I think, or lower) then it won't lower) - useful if multiple bumps in close proximity.
4. Need to approach slowly to allow the NAV to catch-up with your location.
5. Yes - once programmed then it won't but for all new ones you are asked if you want to save the Smartlift location or not.
6. No - it's not that clever (thankfully!)
7. Yes - a doddle, 100% reliable and a bonus of having air suspension

Note that you can raise / lower the suspension without using Smartlift - via PCM - bear in mind that it is speed sensitive and so no all settings are permanent.

Thanks to both of you!
W1NGE, I don't think you live too far from me. Hope you're enjoying the snow!

 

[W1NGE]

Thanks to both of you!
W1NGE, I don't think you live too far from me. Hope you're enjoying the snow!

Ha ha - super impressed with the car in the snow and all on STD tyres - it shouldn't be this good!

 

[Fish Fingers]

Also worth noting.

You have to programme it in for both directions of travel.

So if you store a speed bump going from A to B, you will also need to programme the same speed bump going from B to A.

The 19mph or less is the one to remember, otherwise it won't function.

 

[AV7]

Finally I would say the default ride height is often sufficient to clear most bumps if you are driving with care (especially with a stiffer suspension). I would *not* recommend taking any bumps while in a lowered state.

I would add that the lowest area is just in front of the wheels (designed to help with air flow) - mentioned here I particularly drive in 'lowered' mode and having had the car for a month now this is the area that gets the most beating (and not particularly the front or directly under the front end of the bumper) - depending on the size of the bump

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