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      07-27-2012, 01:18 PM   #45
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So VSS only available on the 335? at least that is what I see on the Canadian configurator....
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      07-27-2012, 02:31 PM   #46
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Couldn't agree more

Quote:
Originally Posted by remvs View Post
I have been driving my F30 320D for 4000 KM's now. i can not get used to the EPS /steering characteristics.

1. The F30 steers much lighter then my E90. On its own, thats not so much of a problem

2. The artificial feel close to the centre is what bothers me. I get the feeling the EPS provides road/ride feedback actively in some way. It makes for a vague steering sensation, especially at higher speeds

3. also what i do not like is that the car has a slower 'return to a straight line' response. I really think they reduced the KPI on the steering setup compared to the E90.

For me this takes away at least 30% of the 'Freude am fahren'...

I have the standard powersteering and i notice hardly any difference in steering when i go to sport or sport+ mode.

I wonder if i can do anything to improve the steering. any suggestions?

Thanks
I just got back from my Team USA drive event where I took out their sport line 335i. The marketing rep told me that the car had the adaptive suspension and variable steering. I believe he was mistaken. Overall, the steering was much lighter in weight (even in Sport+ mode) than my 2008 sport package 335i, and feedback was almost non-existant, particularly around center. I'll have to get a hold of a Variable-steering equpped sport line car to see if there is any difference in the feedback/weight. While I think just about every other aspect of the F30 is a step up from my E90, the car just wasn't as "confidence inspiring" when I hustled it through some high-speed sweepers on my test ride. Also, the N55 engine does not have the same feel as the N54. The N55 sounded a bit "wheezy" when pushed and does not have quite the same level of grunt as the true twin-turbo design of the N54. It also felt a bit harsher to me, but they could be a result of the almost 5,000 punishing test miles on the Team USA test car.
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      08-01-2012, 07:32 PM   #47
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The steering system on the F30 had the exact same developers for the E90. The F30 may seem distance, but infact it is so in tune you perceive the difference to be negative. The steering shaft is connected directly to the wheel column. There is no breaks between shaft and column. The electronic steering assist motor is connected externally and is powered as needed for comfort and sport modes. The steering feels lighter due to the motor assistance but the feedback is only precieved compromised by the chassis since the F30 is 30% stiffer. In the E90 the chassis was softer, so the steering seeming to give more feedback. But in the F30 the chassis is stiffer. So now in the F30, the steering feedback and chassis feedback are more in tune with each other which is overall more helpful driving fast!

Last edited by wayman519; 08-02-2012 at 10:42 PM..
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      08-02-2012, 12:25 PM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
...The e90 the chassis was softer, so the steering seeming to give more feedback. but in the f30 the chassis is stiffer...
Exactly the opposite about the chassis. F30 is way softer than E90 was. That's why F30 is more comfortable and indifferent to bad road surface.
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      08-02-2012, 09:30 PM   #49
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bold Vitalic View Post
Exactly the opposite about the chassis. F30 is way softer than E90 was. That's why F30 is more comfortable and indifferent to bad road surface.
No, the chassis is stiffer. The suspensions and tires may be softer though.
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      08-02-2012, 09:35 PM   #50
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Like the steering, dont like the vibration.

Also, i wish i could get sport mode steering in eco pro mode
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      08-03-2012, 02:15 PM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mapezzul View Post
It is leaps and bounds over the F10 but it is also a different customer- the Z4 35IS has the best EPS rack and if they replicate that in the F30 it would be sensational.

-M

E9X line only had the different rack steering with the M3 and the horrendous Active Steering system.
I have the e89 z435iS and even though the steering feel is better than the F30 328i I test drove, it is still an EPS rack at the end of the day. My e36 m3 steering feels much more direct, more raw, and more connected. Yes its an older car, but at the end of the day, my preference is still a hydraulic rack. I test drove the 2012 e92 328i and felt that while the steering was not as good as my e36 m3, it was still better than the z4.
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      08-03-2012, 05:16 PM   #52
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I have zero complaints about the steering in any mode (incl'd EcoPro). I have the VSS which I'm sure contributes something to this conclusion but I truly can't complain. Thats not to say the steering effort doesn't change depending on the driving mode but even in EcoPro its not overly light or lacking any information I would hope for. I have had a 2006 E90 w/Sport and I still have the above opinion on the F30. Its a totally personal thing I suppose but I love it (though I do agree it would be nice to be able to independently control the various paramaters from the driving mode like Audi does (my wife's new A6 does this and its a convenient feature)...
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      01-20-2013, 10:00 PM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwickers View Post
No, the chassis is stiffer. The suspensions and tires may be softer though.
Could you show any proof? Reason I am asking is I really wanted to read about this, just didn't come across anything credible.
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      01-20-2013, 11:19 PM   #54
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I have a f30 base with the M Perf Suspension and enjoy the steering...clearly much heavier in Sport, but perfectly fine in Comfort/Eco Pro.
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      01-21-2013, 11:39 AM   #55
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335i M Sport with VSS

I'm very satisfied with the VSS in my F30-335i M Sport, especially when driving in Sport mode.

I much prefer this steering to that of previous E90s that I have owned and to the steering of my wife's E93. Each time I get back behind the wheel of her E93, it seems like the car has two flat front tires when turning at low speeds.
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      01-21-2013, 12:47 PM   #56
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It's my first BMW so I don't have a comparison.

I do like the sport mode steering. comfort steering is great around the city as well.
I think it's a step up from my 09 G37x

328i xdrive no VSS
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      01-21-2013, 01:59 PM   #57
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I prefer Sport mode on the highway and Comfort mode around town. It's the best of both worlds. The steering I think is much better than e90 which is stiff all the time.
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      01-21-2013, 02:46 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkTrigger
I prefer Sport mode on the highway and Comfort mode around town. It's the best of both worlds. The steering I think is much better than e90 which is stiff all the time.
+1.

I changed my config for Sport mode to chassis only so I will use sport most of the time for the firmer suspension and heavier steering, and sport + when I want the more aggressive drive train and the 17 mpg that comes with it. May use comfort around town. Really enjoying the ability to change more than I thought I would. Thought I would just use sport every day, chassis and drive train.
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      01-22-2013, 09:58 AM   #59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by remvs View Post
I have been driving my F30 320D for 4000 KM's now. i can not get used to the EPS /steering characteristics.

1. The F30 steers much lighter then my E90. On its own, thats not so much of a problem

2. The artificial feel close to the centre is what bothers me. I get the feeling the EPS provides road/ride feedback actively in some way. It makes for a vague steering sensation, especially at higher speeds

3. also what i do not like is that the car has a slower 'return to a straight line' response. I really think they reduced the KPI on the steering setup compared to the E90.

For me this takes away at least 30% of the 'Freude am fahren'...

I have the standard powersteering and i notice hardly any difference in steering when i go to sport or sport+ mode.

I wonder if i can do anything to improve the steering. any suggestions?
I've tested two F30 328i models, and, in addition to the complete lack of road feel, this was my impression of the steering. (And yes, I tried both in sport mode.) These characteristics are common in EPS systems, including my Acura TSX's, which provides little feel and is especially numb on center. It provides more feedback than the 328i's steering though, and it's also much heavier, which I'm not crazy about in the parking lot.

Car and Driver explained some of this in its recent article about EPS, which used two 5 Series cars:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...n-test-feature

While they preferred EPS in some important respects, they noted the highway stability problem, which comes from very little resistance just off center. Ford has figured this out, so the Focus ST's steering has loads of resistance just off center, and also a strong return-to-center. This isn't the same as feedback, and it's a little artificial, but it does produce a more confident, secure feeling on the highway, which is great for high speed lane changes. I preferred its steering over that in my Acura and the F30.

Other than the steering, I loved the F30, so I hope BMW makes meaningful improvements to its EPS.
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      01-22-2013, 10:09 AM   #60
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i like it
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      01-22-2013, 10:28 AM   #61
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Coming from an E46 straight to an F30...

I love it.
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      01-22-2013, 10:31 AM   #62
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I love my steering!

I'm coming from a 2012 E92 M3, to a 2013 Active Hybrid 3 with VSS + M Adaptive Suspension.
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      01-22-2013, 12:00 PM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekS View Post
I'm very satisfied with the VSS in my F30-335i M Sport, especially when driving in Sport mode.

I much prefer this steering to that of previous E90s that I have owned and to the steering of my wife's E93. Each time I get back behind the wheel of her E93, it seems like the car has two flat front tires when turning at low speeds.
+1!

(trading in my E90 for a F30)
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      01-22-2013, 01:30 PM   #64
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Love the VSS. I got so used to the lighter feel in daily driving when I drive other cars now I end up feeling shocked and confused.
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      01-22-2013, 02:03 PM   #65
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Couple of friends of mine said my 335 F30 feels faster and sounds better than their E90 335i. I think lighter steering gives the driver more control over the car than a heavy steering wheel that requires so much more effort to turn.

My girl has an E90, everytime I drive it Im just thinking why would people prefer this unnecessary (artificial) heavy steering, specially for spirited driving.

Must say it does add to the character of the car being a BMW but practicality and ease of driving are really diminished. I think the steering feel in Sport mode is perfect..

I also hated the F30 steering wheel, you can check my previous posts. But after a week of driving it my views totally changed!
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      01-22-2013, 06:58 PM   #66
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I actually wish the steering was lighter and easier to move the wheel. I am coming from a buick (don't ask) lol
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