[Chris93]

Has anyone driven an sdrive and xdrive back to back? The steering in my 330d xdrive feels light and very little to no feedback in comfort, feels a bit tighter in sport mode but never heavy.

I have read reports of the sdrive cars steering becoming really quite heavy in sport mode and wondered if there was anymore feedback?

[Postcab]

Afraid I can't answer directly as I haven't driven an Sdrive, but I agree the Xdrive steering isn't very heavy in Sport, and I believe it's way better than the super light steering in Comfort.

Problem for me is that I don't like the drive train being in Sport all the time...

[pdk42]

I've had both an xdrive and now an sdrive and I didn't detect any difference. It's still a bit light for me even in Sport mode - but it's ok.

[R0B]

The steering does become heavier in sport mode but to really good effect. At very low speed and parking it would be too heavy, but that's not what sport mode is for. You can also configure it - at a touch of a button - to use sport mode suspension but without changing the steering profile. I sometimes do that in bad weather, if I want the can more planted but not the extra grunt in throttle response.

[ewanmac]

Just had a 5 series as a loaner while my 3 was getting two tyres replaced. One of the first things I noticed when driving off was the difference in steering weight.

The 5 has much weightier steering as standard and I think has more feedback as well. I'm sure I could feel the road better than I do in my 3.

Am I right in saying the 5 still has a hydraulic setup whereas the 3 has electric power steering?

I agree that the weight in comfort is too light and the 5 was definitely better.

Probably the result of electric pas - better emissions but you feel less connected to the road.

[AlfaM]

I've got a XDrive with VSS and i find it very heavy in sports mode - Ford escort without powersteering sort of heavy.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ewanmac

Just had a 5 series as a loaner while my 3 was getting two tyres replaced. One of the first things I noticed when driving off was the difference in steering weight.

The 5 has much weightier steering as standard and I think has more feedback as well. I'm sure I could feel the road better than I do in my 3.

Am I right in saying the 5 still has a hydraulic setup whereas the 3 has electric power steering?

I agree that the weight in comfort is too light and the 5 was definitely better.

Probably the result of electric pas - better emissions but you feel less connected to the road.

5-series has EPS, so not a HPAS vs. EPS issue. Simply the tuning of steering weight across the models.

My 5-series steering weighting it pretty good, not quite as much heft as the E91 I had, but nicely weighted in Sport mode. In fact I prefer the Comfort/Normal mode weighting, as it is more connected to the road, less damped feeling.

Heavy steering does not necessarily directly relate to the degree of road feel, as it partly depends on how the 'weight' is achieved. Steering weight can isolate you from the road.

[ewanmac]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

5-series has EPS, so not a HPAS vs. EPS issue. Simply the tuning of steering weight across the models.

My 5-series steering weighting it pretty good, not quite as much heft as the E91 I had, but nicely weighted in Sport mode. In fact I prefer the Comfort/Normal mode weighting, as it is more connected to the road, less damped feeling.

Heavy steering does not necessarily directly relate to the degree of road feel, as it partly depends on how the 'weight' is achieved. Steering weight can isolate you from the road.

That's good to know. I'd agree that the weight is pretty good on the 5 and better than the 3 IMO.