I also opted for the electronic (variable/adaptive) dampers
My limited understanding is as follows (but I stress I am in no way an expert)and this is trial and error on my part:
There are two settings for the dampers: Sport (or stiff) and what I am calling Soft
In both Green & Mid Mode, the dampers are Soft. I don't think you can change this
In Sport Mode, you have 3 Options under Settings (and the car needs to be in Sport mode to change this)
Drive Train & Chassis
Drive Train Only
Chassis Only
You can only select one of these. 'Drive Train' seems to be the stiffer steering, and Sport (i.e. pokier) response, as you would expect in Sport Mode. Chassis is the suspension.
So my experience is that, if you select Drive Train & Chassis, you get the stiffer steering, better response and stiffer suspension
If you select Drive Train only, the suspension stays soft, but the steering and response is Sport.
If you select Chassis Only, you get the Sport suspension, but not the stiffer steering and Sport response.
But it doesn't seem to be a continuum that you can change within a range, i.e. 1 is soft, 5 is medium and 10 is stiff. It's just Sport or Soft. And you only really get to choose which in Sport mode.
There was another post about this, (you may see it in Similar Threads below) and Centaur One seemed to be saying that you could change these settings via Voice Control, but the reference section in the manual makes no mention of this, and I tried every variation of Variable/Electronic/Damper Control wording that I could think of, and none of it worked. I asked him to clarify, but haven't seen a response as yet.
When I ordered this option I was given to understand that this was going to be variable damper option (although my Mini rep didn't actually know) but on balance I am still glad to have it. London roads are not great, pothole wise, and the F56 is nowhere near as jarring a ride as my R53 cooper was. Admittedly that was on 17 inch run flats, and I have opted for 16 inch standard this time. Elsewhere people seem to say that the larger the rim, the more necessary the adaptive dampers.
I do quite enjoy the Magical Mystery Tour element of getting to know my new car, but can't help thinking that information in the Manual itself would be a bonus.