[The X Men]

Originally Posted by chrisny

You already ordered the car, do yourself a favor and stop reading reviews about it... You drove it (I'm assuming) and liked it enough to order and wait for it, that's all that matters.

I agree, most posters on here already own the F30, so its pretty obvious they are happy with the car, no need to justify their decision.

[Nedmundo]

Car and Driver apparently didn't mind the 335i's steering, but they have been very critical of the 328i in this respect. In a comparison involving the usual suspects from the May 2012 issue, Tony Quiroga wrote:

"The most glaring difference between 3-series new and old is the new electric power steering's feedback. First, it's far lighter than before. That's not necessarily a bad thing. That the electric power steering doesn't offer much feedback or feel is a bad thing, though. At least it is accurate, allowing you to place the car precisely in a corner without lost motion. Our beef is that the primary communication between driver and road -- the steering -- is now pleading the Fifth. Please, BMW, remedy this fault."

Then, in the October 2012 comparison between the 328i and ATS, Jared Gall wrote: "It's just too bad Cadillac couldn't come up with a chassis like this before electric power steering exterminated road feel. While the ATS's steering proffers heavy weighting and linear buildup, we'd be lying if we said feel wasn't muffled. At least there's some; the BMW's steering is even more artificial."

Despite this, the 328i won both comparisons. But in their long term test, they have again complained about the lack of steering feedback, so their views on the matter, at least with respect to the 328i, are pretty clear.

[enriquejose]

Originally Posted by jwilly

There is no FEEDBACK from the F30 electric steering!! None, nada, zippo, zilch. That's the point all the reviews are making.

Feedback has nothing to do with steering effort or mode setting. Feedback is information about what the front tires are doing or not doing. The F30 has no feedback.

Don't believe me? Go drive an E30 and let me know what you feel in your hands. The F30 doesn't even provide feedback to the steering wheel when you run over lane reflectors.

Joel

+1 !!! (standard)

[HighlandPete]

At least the steering will please many of the BMW owner/drivers who want precision, but are not wanting sport car dynamics.

We can debate steering feel all day long, but not all steering feel is positive in the modern BMW. BMW appear to have pitched it right for the bigger segment of the BMW market. After all the 3-series is pretty much a 'rep mobile' in the UK, has good tax advantages, compared to other brands and drives pretty much the best of the bunch.

If we want the sportier edged BMW, spec' the car to taste, play with the built in modes. Specification, wheel size, etc., does change the steering feel, same as it does in the other series BMW cars. If nothing is good enough and you want a BMW, drive an M model.

HighlandPete

[xspeedy]

Originally Posted by jwilly

There is no FEEDBACK from the F30 electric steering!! None, nada, zippo, zilch. That's the point all the reviews are making.

Feedback has nothing to do with steering effort or mode setting. Feedback is information about what the front tires are doing or not doing. The F30 has no feedback.

Don't believe me? Go drive an E30 and let me know what you feel in your hands. The F30 doesn't even provide feedback to the steering wheel when you run over lane reflectors.

Joel

Thanks. I think all the kids that have grown up driving at Dave & Busters don't understand what steering feel is.

[J Tiberius]

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

Car and Driver apparently didn't mind the 335i's steering, but they have been very critical of the 328i in this respect. In a comparison involving the usual suspects from the May 2012 issue, Tony Quiroga wrote:

"The most glaring difference between 3-series new and old is the new electric power steering's feedback. First, it's far lighter than before. That's not necessarily a bad thing. That the electric power steering doesn't offer much feedback or feel is a bad thing, though. At least it is accurate, allowing you to place the car precisely in a corner without lost motion. Our beef is that the primary communication between driver and road -- the steering -- is now pleading the Fifth. Please, BMW, remedy this fault."

Then, in the October 2012 comparison between the 328i and ATS, Jared Gall wrote: "It's just too bad Cadillac couldn't come up with a chassis like this before electric power steering exterminated road feel. While the ATS's steering proffers heavy weighting and linear buildup, we'd be lying if we said feel wasn't muffled. At least there's some; the BMW's steering is even more artificial."

Despite this, the 328i won both comparisons. But in their long term test, they have again complained about the lack of steering feedback, so their views on the matter, at least with respect to the 328i, are pretty clear.

It's the same steering in both the 328 and 335. It's the engine that is different. Not sure why so many people think there are drastic differences between the two in that regard.

[xspeedy]

Originally Posted by J Tiberius

It's the same steering in both the 328 and 335. It's the engine that is different. Not sure why so many people think there are drastic differences between the two in that regard.

Weight over the front wheels does affect handling and steering. Lighter front end means sharper turn in.

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by J Tiberius

It's the same steering in both the 328 and 335. It's the engine that is different. Not sure why so many people think there are drastic differences between the two in that regard.

I'm not sure either, but someone on another forum posted that the two actually have different steering racks. Regardless, Car and Driver have been more critical of the 328i.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

I'm not sure either, but someone on another forum posted that the two actually have different steering racks. Regardless, Car and Driver have been more critical of the 328i.

328 And 335 eps is different. Part numbers on realoem aren't the same. Not sure what the exact differences are though.

[S-Dot]

Depends on the part and date of manufacture. For example, 32106857282 is on both models. Same with the variable unit 32106859248 - used on 320, 328 and 335. And both of these are quite new units.

Looks like there are a handful of different versions within each line, depending on date of manufacture. That may help explain some of the variations in opinion.

For the xDrive models, both the 328 and 335 use the same rack - 32106859273 for regular and 32106859274 for variable.