I love my 228i but...

recycledAlva · 04-24-2015, 06:50 PM

The steering feel is so lifeless. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's incredibly accurate and responsive. However, 90% of the time you can't feel anything through the wheel. Granted, i'm not a very experienced driver, but it's unsettling how it feels like the car is 'floating' along the road.

That's my only complaint about my 2er. I've mostly gotten over it, but every once in a while I am reminded of how disconnected from the wheels i really am.

Oh well. It's still a blast to drive and drift around, so there's that.

mmmmm235i · 04-24-2015, 07:29 PM

Go drive a mercedes or lexus and you might fall asleep at the wheel. The electric rack has certainly grown on me and I think the weighting with increased speed is pretty well done. Next gen will be seamless.

wjones14 · 04-24-2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycledAlva

The steering feel is so lifeless. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's incredibly accurate and responsive. However, 90% of the time you can't feel anything through the wheel. Granted, i'm not a very experienced driver, but it's unsettling how it feels like the car is 'floating' along the road.

That's my only complaint about my 2er. I've mostly gotten over it, but every once in a while I am reminded of how disconnected from the wheels i really am.

Oh well. It's still a blast to drive and drift around, so there's that.

Is it really that horrible compared to most other cars? Maybe if you're coming from a Porsche or something like that I could see the complaint.

DanG · 04-24-2015, 11:10 PM

I've gotten use to the steering and it is much more responsive than on the 328i loaner car I drove.

horsepower_and_hounds · 04-25-2015, 08:31 AM

I have to run the car in sport all the time since I came from a 1 series. I need the steering effort

drivethemachine · 04-25-2015, 08:31 AM

I know it's not going to help you at this point, but to any future buyers: Track Package is the best answer to that problem.

Dan Brown · 04-25-2015, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycledAlva

The steering feel is so lifeless. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's incredibly accurate and responsive. However, 90% of the time you can't feel anything through the wheel.

Come here to New York. With all our potholes, you'll certainly be able to feel something through the steering wheel!

All jokes aside, I know what you mean. My E70 has heavy hydraulic steering, which I really love. I prefer that feel 95% of the time. The 2 does much better in parking lots and side streets (partly due to its size, but mostly due to the electric steering).

MichaelL · 04-25-2015, 09:05 AM

I have the track pack and I still don't think the steering is great... Doesn't have any real feel and doesn't feel as good as my 2010 GTI. I also wish the suspension was firmer in sport mode. Otherwise I really like the car, those are my two gripes in my first month of ownership.

Sportstick · 04-25-2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelL

I have the track pack and I still don't think the steering is great... Doesn't have any real feel and doesn't feel as good as my 2010 GTI. I also wish the suspension was firmer in sport mode. Otherwise I really like the car, those are my two gripes in my first month of ownership.

That's the challenge for any car-maker to resolve when selling in such diverse markets. I love the handling of the Sport setting, but on most deteriorating roads around here, it does chatter our teeth. Even once-smooth asphalt, now rippled with mini-buckling, can make it uncomfortable. I have to reserve Sport for some remaining good concrete, when I can find it.

MichaelL · 04-25-2015, 09:20 AM

I hear you. I use comfort mode all the time in the city of SF, I think it is great for the purpose or for any bad pavement. My gripe is when you find a good road and you want to have a little fun, I think sport mode is too soft and a little bouncy. It doesn't feel as locked down as it could. In my opinion the steering doesn't feel great in any mode...

silverado · 04-25-2015, 10:02 AM

I have an m235i and I agree. The lack of steering feel is rather disappointing. I won't discount the steering's accuracy and quickness, but I really miss how my E90 steering felt.

I'm slowly getting used to it though, so I think I'll ultimately be able to live with it in the end. I just really wish it was better for such an otherwise great car.

hyperzulu · 04-25-2015, 11:17 AM

The car itself communicates well enough that I don't need more of it through the wheel. If the car is under steering, something I could previously feel through the wheel because of the front tires chattering, I'll know because the steering angle of the wheel doesn't match the car's rotation. I can always count on the wheel to be precise and gauge the car against that.

The old car was too lumbering to get that kind of precision. It was an e92 though. The e82 guys may feel differently since that was already a small and agile car.

Tuxedo · 04-25-2015, 01:03 PM

I had a 228i loaner while in for the VANOS recall and to say BMW did a great job on the car is true. Steering feels like poop, I would turn a corner and fear curbing the rear rim like I was driving a dually the steering is so bad. Mrs. Tux described it as the 1970's Cadillac boat steering on a small BMW.

04-24-2015, 06:50 PM	#1
recycledAlva First Lieutenant 290 Rep 356 Posts Drives: MY17 BSM M2 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Riverside, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	I love my 228i but... The steering feel is so lifeless. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's incredibly accurate and responsive. However, 90% of the time you can't feel anything through the wheel. Granted, i'm not a very experienced driver, but it's unsettling how it feels like the car is 'floating' along the road. That's my only complaint about my 2er. I've mostly gotten over it, but every once in a while I am reminded of how disconnected from the wheels i really am. Oh well. It's still a blast to drive and drift around, so there's that. __________________ @vaia.f87 SoCal M2s http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1374428
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04-24-2015, 07:29 PM	#2
mmmmm235i Captain 104 Rep 835 Posts Drives: 440xi GC Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY -> CO iTrader: (12)	Go drive a mercedes or lexus and you might fall asleep at the wheel. The electric rack has certainly grown on me and I think the weighting with increased speed is pretty well done. Next gen will be seamless. __________________ 2020 X3M Comp., Alpine White on Black/Beige RETIRED: 2018 440xi GC, Carbon Black on Black/Blue 2014 M235i Black on Black, DINAN Stage 2
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04-24-2015, 11:10 PM	#4
DanG Major General 10662 Rep 6,938 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [7.68]	I've gotten use to the steering and it is much more responsive than on the 328i loaner car I drove.
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04-25-2015, 08:31 AM	#5
horsepower_and_hounds Brigadier General 1836 Rep 4,203 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	I have to run the car in sport all the time since I came from a 1 series. I need the steering effort
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04-25-2015, 08:31 AM	#6
drivethemachine Lieutenant 193 Rep 404 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 530e Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1)	I know it's not going to help you at this point, but to any future buyers: Track Package is the best answer to that problem.
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04-25-2015, 09:05 AM	#8
MichaelL Private First Class 42 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2015 228i MSport Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (0)	I have the track pack and I still don't think the steering is great... Doesn't have any real feel and doesn't feel as good as my 2010 GTI. I also wish the suspension was firmer in sport mode. Otherwise I really like the car, those are my two gripes in my first month of ownership.
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04-25-2015, 09:20 AM	#10
MichaelL Private First Class 42 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2015 228i MSport Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (0)	I hear you. I use comfort mode all the time in the city of SF, I think it is great for the purpose or for any bad pavement. My gripe is when you find a good road and you want to have a little fun, I think sport mode is too soft and a little bouncy. It doesn't feel as locked down as it could. In my opinion the steering doesn't feel great in any mode...
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04-25-2015, 10:02 AM	#11
silverado Captain 288 Rep 874 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I have an m235i and I agree. The lack of steering feel is rather disappointing. I won't discount the steering's accuracy and quickness, but I really miss how my E90 steering felt. I'm slowly getting used to it though, so I think I'll ultimately be able to live with it in the end. I just really wish it was better for such an otherwise great car. __________________ 2018 F87 M2 \| LBB \| Executive \| Moon Roof \| Apple CarPlay [2018 F22 M240 (sold) ; 2015 F22 M235i (sold); 2006 E90 330i (sold); 1983 E30 Coupe 320i (sold)]
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04-25-2015, 11:17 AM	#12
hyperzulu Colonel 701 Rep 2,337 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	The car itself communicates well enough that I don't need more of it through the wheel. If the car is under steering, something I could previously feel through the wheel because of the front tires chattering, I'll know because the steering angle of the wheel doesn't match the car's rotation. I can always count on the wheel to be precise and gauge the car against that. The old car was too lumbering to get that kind of precision. It was an e92 though. The e82 guys may feel differently since that was already a small and agile car.
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04-25-2015, 01:03 PM	#13
Tuxedo Bowties r cool ▶:◀ 1409 Rep 796 Posts Drives: 09' 128i MT e88, 24'G05 X5 50e Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i e88 [0.00]	I had a 228i loaner while in for the VANOS recall and to say BMW did a great job on the car is true. Steering feels like poop, I would turn a corner and fear curbing the rear rim like I was driving a dually the steering is so bad. Mrs. Tux described it as the 1970's Cadillac boat steering on a small BMW.
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