[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Danddd

Took my car in today to Bill Jacobs in Naperville today to be looked at for the steering. Made sure I got Don for my adviser as he's an enthusiast. Drove a 328 on the highway and noted much improvement at 80 MPH. I'm hoping they can get to the issue on my wagon. The 328 had 17" wheels and my wagon has 18" wheels, but the difference seemed bigger than that, but who knows.

Good luck!

[Posull78]

I recently purchased 2014 335i with Dynamic Handling Package. It is a CPO.
The steering feel is really strange and inconsistent, most noticeable in "sport mode". The best way to describe is "notchy" or uneven, as in the resistance is there, but inconsistent and not smooth when I'm turning the wheel.

Still trying to determine if this is normal (hope not). I'm taking the car in tomorrow morning to have it looked at, but would love some feedback before I do that.

Can someone do this and tell me what they experience?
Put in "sport mode" and while driving between 30 & 40 mph, start swerving back and forth in your lane with a very light touch on the steering wheel. This will be even more noticeable when slowing down from 35 down to about 25.

At least for me, it seems like the car is hesitating on the amount of resistance to give the wheel. It's uneven and not smooth as I keep turning the wheel back and forth.

[anotheran]

Originally Posted by Posull78

I recently purchased 2014 335i with Dynamic Handling Package. It is a CPO.
The steering feel is really strange and inconsistent, most noticeable in "sport mode". The best way to describe is "notchy" or uneven, as in the resistance is there, but inconsistent and not smooth when I'm turning the wheel.

Still trying to determine if this is normal (hope not). I'm taking the car in tomorrow morning to have it looked at, but would love some feedback before I do that.

Can someone do this and tell me what they experience?
Put in "sport mode" and while driving between 30 & 40 mph, start swerving back and forth in your lane with a very light touch on the steering wheel. This will be even more noticeable when slowing down from 35 down to about 25.

At least for me, it seems like the car is hesitating on the amount of resistance to give the wheel. It's uneven and not smooth as I keep turning the wheel back and forth.

That's probably the Variable Sport Steering. The amount the car's wheel turns varies in a non linear way to the amount you turn the steering wheel

[arvi604]

The Comfort steering is super light, but very precise and predictable. I don't mind it very much. Punch it into sport mode though and its a different story. It's beefy and feels awesome.

[thakid22]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Tire selection will have zero impact on steering weight.

This is incorrect.

Tires can and will change effort required at the wheel.
Tread design, compound, shape, and size will all effect the weight of the steering.
In addition, stiffer sidewalls will also firm the steering up a bit, in both effort and response.

My back to back comparisons on my own car...
Michelin PS2 RFT ZP - Most weighty and most responsive.
MIchelin PSS - slightly less weighty and a bit duller steering response.
BFG Comp 2 A/S Sport - lighter steering and less sharp response.
Continental DWS - Ultra light, fluffy, and dull steering response.

Some tires physically put more tire on the ground, even in the same figment size. PSS and PS2 are good examples. In addition, their sticky tread creates more friction between the road surface and the tire. The stiff sidewalls remove a bit of play in the actual tire when you turn the wheel, leading to less slop and firmer steering.

Tires do change steering effort. You can even find this fact referenced in several tire rack reviews/tests. I remember replacing the Michelin MXV4's on my Accord back in 98 to Dunlop SP Sport 8000 performance tires. The steering firmed and sharpened drastically with the change.

If you switch between two similar tires, you may not notice the difference. But it is there and more noticeable when your tire change is more dramatic. A lot of people also note winter tires having grossly light weight and accuracy.

[Danddd]

After a go around with the dealership, basically need a software update for the steering. Dealers definitely understand it's an issue, takes more complaining from owners.

I have found the comfort steering configured in the sports mode is more precise. The stiffer steering in sports mode is just stiffer, but also twitchy on center and more understeer at higher speeds. I've never had a car with this light of steering having started driving with man-power steering )

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Danddd

After a go around with the dealership, basically need a software update for the steering. Dealers definitely understand it's an issue, takes more complaining from owners.

So there is a reprogram for the steering? Is this free of charge?

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Danddd

After a go around with the dealership, basically need a software update for the steering. Dealers definitely understand it's an issue, takes more complaining from owners.

I have found the comfort steering configured in the sports mode is more precise. The stiffer steering in sports mode is just stiffer, but also twitchy on center and more understeer at higher speeds. I've never had a car with this light of steering having started driving with man-power steering )

Whatever vintage in the F30, the steering is ridiculously light. I don't see any need for it to be this extremely light. I think it's a knee jerk reaction to people coming to BMW from Japanese cars that it was too "heavy" in previous models. Unfortunate. But honestly I could live with that if the feedback hadn't disappeared.

[Danddd]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

So there is a reprogram for the steering? Is this free of charge?

Not for the 2016 models yet. I've seen some posts for older models, say 12 and 13.

[Danddd]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

Whatever vintage in the F30, the steering is ridiculously light. I don't see any need for it to be this extremely light. I think it's a knee jerk reaction to people coming to BMW from Japanese cars that it was too "heavy" in previous models. Unfortunate. But honestly I could live with that if the feedback hadn't disappeared.

It is amazing they gave up the best selling point for their cars reason for being.

[englishguy84]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

Whatever vintage in the F30, the steering is ridiculously light. I don't see any need for it to be this extremely light. I think it's a knee jerk reaction to people coming to BMW from Japanese cars that it was too "heavy" in previous models. Unfortunate. But honestly I could live with that if the feedback hadn't disappeared.

All three German makes are doing this. Mercedes used to have numb but heavy steering; no longer. Audi has ridiculously light steering. Some apparently prefer it to BMW because they say it has more feedback. I thought it was so light and disconnected that it was unenjoyable buy ymmv.

[Humdizzle]

Originally Posted by Danddd

It is amazing they gave up the best selling point for their cars reason for being.

Enthusiasts and people on forums are a very small % of buyers for these cars. For every 2-3 people they lost because the steering was to light they gained another 10.

Steering has gotten progressively worse in BMWs as time goes on. People here act like the e90 setup was awesome. But compared to the e36 and e46 it's feedback is tragic

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Danddd

It is amazing they gave up the best selling point for their cars reason for being.

Best selling point for who? Not for the typical BMW owner. I loved the E90 steering but there is no question that it was heavy just off center. Probably too heavy for that typical buyer. They went too far in the F30 IMO.

[Danddd]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

Enthusiasts and people on forums are a very small % of buyers for these cars. For every 2-3 people they lost because the steering was to light they gained another 10.

Steering has gotten progressively worse in BMWs as time goes on. People here act like the e90 setup was awesome. But compared to the e36 and e46 it's feedback is tragic

My '06 E91 was very similar to an E46 I had driven previously. Then later in the model years, say 2010, I got an E90 loaner and was surprised how much they had lightened the steering.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Best selling point for who? Not for the typical BMW owner. I loved the E90 steering but there is no question that it was heavy just off center. Probably too heavy for that typical buyer. They went too far in the F30 IMO.

We had users in the U.K. complaining about the heavy steering weight of the E9x models. Plus we need to remember BMW fitted EPS to many European E9x models, so many users got used to EPS and lighter steering ahead of the F3x models. Hardly any complaints to my knowledge. I guess BMW didn't anticipate the 'hate' from some users.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Danddd

Not for the 2016 models yet. I've seen some posts for older models, say 12 and 13.

I have a 2012 and I have never heard anything about a steering reprogram...... I have to look into it.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

We had users in the U.K. complaining about the heavy steering weight of the E9x models. Plus we need to remember BMW fitted EPS to many European E9x models, so many users got used to EPS and lighter steering ahead of the F3x models. Hardly any complaints to my knowledge. I guess BMW didn't anticipate the 'hate' from some users.

I had no idea BMW put EPS into some E90 models in Europe. Looks like it was predominantly in diesel powered vehicles.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

I had no idea BMW put EPS into some E90 models in Europe. Looks like it was predominantly in diesel powered vehicles.

Diesel is the volume market over here, so not surprising EPS got into the popular models first. When you are limited to (or choose to) drive a 320d, steering is not necessarily going to be the biggest issue anyway.

[Bimmerforlife]

I have a 2011 but was built Sept 2010 335i w sport pkg and I still own it, it's out of warranty. I recently had work done on my car at the dealership and they gave me a 2016 328 w sport pkg as a loaner and the steering is totally different than mine, the loaner steering is super light, I barely had to turn the steering wheel but worse there was no steering feel on the highway or around town. My car the steering is much heavier but it's felt more precise on the highway.

[donkey]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

In my experience this is wrong. Go flat tires with softer sidewalls definitely affect the steering weight. I would also think that the softer the compound the heavier the effort although this may be incremental.

Interesting that a poster above had the opposite experience.

Overall, I hated the F30 steering. The worst part was the lack of feel just off center. There's nothing there and it only gets slightly better at higher speeds. I now drive a 2017 VW GTI and it's EPS is far better than that of my F30. It's progressive and just off center it's excellent.

I have both a 2017 GTI SE and an F30 and agree 100%. I also prefer the suspension and overall road feel in the GTI. The factory LSD works wonders too.

It's a great car that makes for an interesting perspective. A well optioned GTI can be had for under 30k brand new, or a well optioned 330i or 340i could be had for 50-60k. I love BMW, but in this case I don't think the extra price is justified.

[nanceman]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

Enthusiasts and people on forums are a very small % of buyers for these cars. For every 2-3 people they lost because the steering was to light they gained another 10.

Steering has gotten progressively worse in BMWs as time goes on. People here act like the e90 setup was awesome. But compared to the e36 and e46 it's feedback is tragic

I think this is memory playing tricks, driving my dad's E46 back to back with my E92 the E92 100% has the pinnacle of assisted steering feedback. The E46 is over boosted. That said they were both great and the F30 was garbage, better now but still garbage by comparison, more resistance does not mean more feedback. I'm hopeful the G20 will resolve some of this but I doubt it, its probably another 2-3 generations for electric racks to get to the level of the last hydraulics. I mean it's obvious considering it took decades for hydraulics to become what they ended as and it's only been 10 years (more or less) for mass market electric racks.

[nozydog]

Strange that so many on this discussion seem to like the VSS as all the motoring press test reviews I've read seem to suggest leaving it off the options list because it actually doesn't work that well (as a few people have said above it seems to give a strange feeling to the steering at certain speeds and under certain conditions) I therefore found it a no brainer to give it a miss! I suppose any attempt to electronically recreate the feel of traditional hydraulic steering is going to fail to some degree!