Steering wheel efforts in low speed

Eternum · 01-11-2010, 09:44 AM

Hi everyone,

I totally enjoy my first BMW for a few days already. Great example of automotive engineering beauty

But since you're here, you already know that

I noticed that steering wheel requires, I'd say, considerably more efforts operating at low speed than any other car I had experience with (mine has ZSP if that matters). Is this something BMW-specific or it might indicate to potential issues?

Thanks!

Insider · 01-11-2010, 10:26 AM

That's just the way BMW's are.

oilfighter · 01-11-2010, 10:45 AM

My last car was an Acura TL, and my 335d with zsp takes a good deal more force to turn the steering wheel. I'm not complaining, it's just different the first few days, then I got used to it.

Brey335i · 01-11-2010, 11:10 AM

I just drove my girlfriend's Accord Coupe and let me just say... I almost shat myself when I turned the steering wheel. After driving a BMW, everything else just seems too light and not communicative enough

gary88 · 01-11-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brey335i

I just drove my girlfriend's Accord Coupe and let me just say... I almost shat myself when I turned the steering wheel. After driving a BMW, everything else just seems too light and not communicative enough

Same here. Now I'm surprised at how overboosted the power steering is on most other cars.

lcs · 01-11-2010, 11:28 AM

I feel the E46s are even more heavier to turn the steering wheel.

lesha · 01-11-2010, 11:39 AM

don't complain, it's a good workout

NiVeDh · 01-11-2010, 11:44 AM

That's the point.

JIM E92 · 01-11-2010, 12:32 PM

BMWs have a lot of caster by design. You actually raise the front of the car slightly when turning. They don't seem to compensate by over boosting the power steering so that's price you pay for straight-line stability and road feel on the highway.

moveswiftly · 01-11-2010, 01:02 PM

I love the feel....when it gets loose at higher speeds i get mad!

JayKay335i · 01-11-2010, 01:35 PM

Work on your guns.

c_jeong89 · 01-11-2010, 02:30 PM

This is the first thing I noticed when I switched from a MB to a BMW. I love the firm steering, it feels like I am in more control. When I drove my friend's MB loaner car I forgot how loose the steering was and hated it

.

Gavin@MMW · 01-11-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIM E92

BMWs have a lot of caster by design. You actually raise the front of the car slightly when turning. They don't seem to compensate by over boosting the power steering so that's price you pay for straight-line stability and road feel on the highway.

I love it, it makes me feel safer and more in tune with the road. Especially in the canyons or tracks.

2kaccordocoupe · 01-11-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

Work on your guns.

+1 All BMWs are the same way.

lucas.kent · 01-11-2010, 02:59 PM

When I drive my GF's new GLK it really takes me a while to adjust to the light steering feel. The first few minutes can be preeeeetty shaky.

R608 · 01-11-2010, 08:07 PM

+1 for "Normal". Tires can have a slight effect as well. I can palm it more easily with snows than summer tires. It may feel a little cumbersome at first, but once you get used to it, you'll wonder why everything else's steering feels so wimpy.

cfabluenose · 01-11-2010, 08:38 PM

The steering effort is perfect! Love it.

Kroy · 01-11-2010, 08:44 PM

+1 love the steering

asian010 · 01-11-2010, 08:53 PM

steering is stiff, i think gas pedal is stiff too

mmm def · 01-11-2010, 09:20 PM

Love my steering.

Oulixes · 01-11-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternum

Hi everyone,

I totally enjoy my first BMW for a few days already. Great example of automotive engineering beauty

But since you're here, you already know that

I noticed that steering wheel requires, I'd say, considerably more efforts operating at low speed than any other car I had experience with (mine has ZSP if that matters). Is this something BMW-specific or it might indicate to potential issues?

Thanks!

The high steering effort is how BMWs are designed. If you like the other attributes of your car, you will not only get used to high steering effort, you will grow to like it.

mkato13 · 01-11-2010, 11:15 PM

Steering effort is so much nicer. Sure yo have to turn the wheel more but yo also have to put a little more force on the shifter too. Its a pain to get used to but after a few days its so much better. Plus the variable steering ratio and active steering is so much better. At higher speeds you barely have to turn the wheel at all to move. There is no play at 70+mph. Its a nice change.

01-11-2010, 09:44 AM	#1
Eternum Private 5 Rep 69 Posts Drives: X1 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	Steering wheel efforts in low speed Hi everyone, I totally enjoy my first BMW for a few days already. Great example of automotive engineering beauty But since you're here, you already know that I noticed that steering wheel requires, I'd say, considerably more efforts operating at low speed than any other car I had experience with (mine has ZSP if that matters). Is this something BMW-specific or it might indicate to potential issues? Thanks!
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01-11-2010, 10:26 AM	#2
Insider Captain 14 Rep 710 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 4,500 feet above sea level iTrader: (0)	That's just the way BMW's are. __________________ http://www.insiderpicks.com - The world's best stock picks.
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01-11-2010, 10:45 AM	#3
oilfighter Private First Class 2 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 335D Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	My last car was an Acura TL, and my 335d with zsp takes a good deal more force to turn the steering wheel. I'm not complaining, it's just different the first few days, then I got used to it.
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01-11-2010, 11:10 AM	#4
Brey335i Banned 112 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	I just drove my girlfriend's Accord Coupe and let me just say... I almost shat myself when I turned the steering wheel. After driving a BMW, everything else just seems too light and not communicative enough
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01-11-2010, 11:28 AM	#6
lcs Lieutenant 30 Rep 522 Posts Drives: 328i LCI Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: GTA iTrader: (2)	I feel the E46s are even more heavier to turn the steering wheel.
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01-11-2010, 11:39 AM	#7
lesha Lieutenant 79 Rep 399 Posts Drives: 2009 - 335 coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (1)	don't complain, it's a good workout
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01-11-2010, 11:44 AM	#8
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	That's the point.
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01-11-2010, 12:32 PM	#9
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	BMWs have a lot of caster by design. You actually raise the front of the car slightly when turning. They don't seem to compensate by over boosting the power steering so that's price you pay for straight-line stability and road feel on the highway.
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01-11-2010, 01:02 PM	#10
moveswiftly Colonel 381 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: Cayman GT4, 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (12) Garage List 2012 335iS [0.00]	I love the feel....when it gets loose at higher speeds i get mad! __________________ Current: M2CS Gone but not forgotten: Cayman GT4, M2C, 2011 135i, E83 X3 6MT, 2016 SO M3, 2012 335iS, 2010 135i and 2006 e90 325xi
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01-11-2010, 01:35 PM	#11
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	Work on your guns.
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01-11-2010, 02:30 PM	#12
c_jeong89 Banned 85 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: E90 TiAg Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Irvine/Bay Area iTrader: (16)	This is the first thing I noticed when I switched from a MB to a BMW. I love the firm steering, it feels like I am in more control. When I drove my friend's MB loaner car I forgot how loose the steering was and hated it .
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01-11-2010, 02:59 PM	#15
lucas.kent Major 143 Rep 1,173 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	When I drive my GF's new GLK it really takes me a while to adjust to the light steering feel. The first few minutes can be preeeeetty shaky.
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01-11-2010, 08:07 PM	#16
R608 Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 284 Posts Drives: 2011 328i M-Sport (RWD/6MT) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WNY iTrader: (0)	+1 for "Normal". Tires can have a slight effect as well. I can palm it more easily with snows than summer tires. It may feel a little cumbersome at first, but once you get used to it, you'll wonder why everything else's steering feels so wimpy.
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01-11-2010, 08:38 PM	#17
cfabluenose Lieutenant 38 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	The steering effort is perfect! Love it. __________________ 2009 328i
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01-11-2010, 08:44 PM	#18
Kroy Brigadier General 173 Rep 3,032 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	+1 love the steering
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01-11-2010, 08:53 PM	#19
asian010 Brigadier General 120 Rep 3,236 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: bay area iTrader: (6)	steering is stiff, i think gas pedal is stiff too
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01-11-2010, 09:20 PM	#20
mmm def Colonel 144 Rep 2,610 Posts Drives: 21 330, 19 ND2 RF, 11 RX350 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Love my steering.
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01-11-2010, 11:15 PM	#22
mkato13 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 2010 Jet Black 335xi Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	Steering effort is so much nicer. Sure yo have to turn the wheel more but yo also have to put a little more force on the shifter too. Its a pain to get used to but after a few days its so much better. Plus the variable steering ratio and active steering is so much better. At higher speeds you barely have to turn the wheel at all to move. There is no play at 70+mph. Its a nice change.
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