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      01-22-2013, 07:09 PM   #67
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The concept is great, but I would prefer stiffer in Sport ( or maybe just Sport+ ). Comfort and Eco Pro are fine by me. Actually I wish I could dial in the level I wanted. i.e. 1-10 with 1 being Eco Pro and 10 being E46 ( I don't mean the early e46 with the initial light steering rack ).

Anyone who tracks their car PLEASE chime in on Sports steering. Steering feel aside, is stiffer better for the track? Including steering feel, how does this compare with the e90 for track use?
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      01-22-2013, 07:27 PM   #68
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woderd View Post
I actually wish the steering was lighter and easier to move the wheel. I am coming from a buick (don't ask) lol
OK, now this is funny. Even GM has gone heavier with their newer cars. My parents just got a '13 Caddy XTS and I'm (somewhat) impressed how GM is growing up. Finally! Lets see if it lasts....
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      01-22-2013, 07:33 PM   #69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
I love my steering!

I'm coming from a 2012 E92 M3, to a 2013 Active Hybrid 3 with VSS + M Adaptive Suspension.
Sam,

You love BMW. I do too, but how in the world can you say you love the F30 steering compared to a 2012 E92 M3? Like, maybe, love is a stretch. Even the F10 M5 has hydraulic steering....

I drive my Nov build F30 (with DHP and 19" wheels) daily and in Comfort and Eco Pro mode I feel like I'm driving a .....(my mother taught me to keep negatively to myself). When I click it into Sport/Sport+ I start to smile again. These Sport modes feel MUCH better. Then again I get in my wife's E90 and once again miss my E90 MSport. Miss it just slightly.
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      01-22-2013, 08:09 PM   #70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by claykin View Post
Sam,

You love BMW. I do too, but how in the world can you say you love the F30 steering compared to a 2012 E92 M3? Like, maybe, love is a stretch. Even the F10 M5 has hydraulic steering....

I drive my Nov build F30 (with DHP and 19" wheels) daily and in Comfort and Eco Pro mode I feel like I'm driving a .....(my mother taught me to keep negatively to myself). When I click it into Sport/Sport+ I start to smile again. These Sport modes feel MUCH better. Then again I get in my wife's E90 and once again miss my E90 MSport. Miss it just slightly.
The M3 steering is very good. However, its Servotronic is really optimized for higher speeds. At speeds <70mph, it can often feel too heavy. The road feedback is very good. But I have no complaints about the F30 (with VSS) road feedback.

I think the F30 w/VSS gives me 3 steering feels in one. That suits me fine 95%+ of the time. The M3 steering has one feel, which is perfect about 75% of the time.
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      01-22-2013, 08:50 PM   #71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
The M3 steering is very good. However, its Servotronic is really optimized for higher speeds. At speeds <70mph, it can often feel too heavy. The road feedback is very good. But I have no complaints about the F30 (with VSS) road feedback.

I think the F30 w/VSS gives me 3 steering feels in one. That suits me fine 95%+ of the time. The M3 steering has one feel, which is perfect about 75% of the time.
Please send me your calculations. JK.

For my taste I wish the F30 had the Sport/Sport+ steering in every mode. Its just about right for most driving. Comfort/Eco Pro is too light for my taste. I'm getting used to it, but it feels girly. Sorry, girls.

Yes, I like the VSS steering, but its really only in effect at low parking speeds.
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      01-22-2013, 09:27 PM   #72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stampchez View Post
The reviews of the steering have been all over the place so I would like to hear what other F30 owners think.

Let us know what you think of your car's steering. Also please post what suspension/tires you have.

I really don't think it's that bad. It is the best electric set up I have driven. I felt that it was a bit light at first but I have gotten used to it. The feedback isn't as good as a hydraulic set up but I don't feel like there is any trouble with placing the car on line or feeling when to make corrections.

Is it as good as a hydraulic set up? Of course not, but electric is what we're stuck with for fuel economy and emissions reasons. Is it a deal breaker? Certainly not. It's just a different feeling to get used to.

Adaptive M/19" Bridgestone S001

I will be interested to hear what everyone else thinks.
When its in sport mode I love it just fine. The regular steering has its advantages when parking and such.

I'm adaptive suspension, 18" pirellis.
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      01-23-2013, 09:06 AM   #73
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I'm in an E90 328i loaner. Steering on this is NOT as heavy as the Sport in my F30. Interesting to drive them back to back.

I do like the comfort setting around parking lots....
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      01-23-2013, 05:22 PM   #74
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shivaswrath View Post
I'm in an E90 328i loaner. Steering on this is NOT as heavy as the Sport in my F30. Interesting to drive them back to back.

I do like the comfort setting around parking lots....
The problem with F30 steering feel, its artificial.

You can setup to be super heavy in sport+ mode. But its not linear when speed builds up.

That is the problem. Heavier steering wheel does not mean improvement in road feel.

F30/F10 steering response is disaster at best.
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      01-23-2013, 05:37 PM   #75
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i actually like the steering at least compared to my last car which had hydraulic steering (2010 a4).

though i would have to say it isnt much better, i migh tjust not be used to it yet (have only had car for 2 months, and couldnt drive it for a month of that)

i've been driving a 2005 scion TC for the last 4 weeks or so (just got my bimmer back) and i dont know, maybe this is insanity but the BMW i'd have to say feels almost too refined sometimes, so the scion actualyl feels more connected. i mean the scion is 8 years old, but it has mechanical everything and isn't as insulated. not saying its better, most of the time i want a more luxurious and refinied ride, but older cars do feel more i dont know, like you are part of them more. dont think its a BMW thing, it might just be a sign of the times that newer cars are so electronic'd up and well made... its just hard to describe but maybe you can be too refined that you don't get those unsmooth jolts and nudges that make you feel like its a machine to get used to still.
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      01-23-2013, 05:39 PM   #76
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I can't see the sport variable steering improving feel of the steering. If anything it should dull the wheel due to extra gears for the variable angles at different speeds. I do know the linkage is direct but electrically assisted.

This is just speculation, can anyone elaborate?

Also the same team who developed the E90 steering also developed the F30 steering. In sport mode they are very similar. Comfort mode the F30 is light for daily driving.
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      01-23-2013, 06:48 PM   #77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
I can't see the sport variable steering improving feel of the steering. If anything it should dull the wheel due to extra gears for the variable angles at different speeds. I do know the linkage is direct but electrically assisted.

This is just speculation, can anyone elaborate?

Also the same team who developed the E90 steering also developed the F30 steering. In sport mode they are very similar. Comfort mode the F30 is light for daily driving.
Felt different back to back when I test drove. I chose VSS based on that.
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      01-23-2013, 06:56 PM   #78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
I can't see the sport variable steering improving feel of the steering. If anything it should dull the wheel due to extra gears for the variable angles at different speeds. I do know the linkage is direct but electrically assisted.

This is just speculation, can anyone elaborate?

Also the same team who developed the E90 steering also developed the F30 steering. In sport mode they are very similar. Comfort mode the F30 is light for daily driving.
I don't know why it's different, but it is. No VSS feels like steering is loose on center.
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      01-24-2013, 04:46 AM   #79
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
I can't see the sport variable steering improving feel of the steering. If anything it should dull the wheel due to extra gears for the variable angles at different speeds. I do know the linkage is direct but electrically assisted.

This is just speculation, can anyone elaborate?
No extra gears, still a rack and pinion, just the way the rack teeth are cut, so the same component count and can produce the same precision. There is a difference in rack speed, even in mid position, the VSS being the faster rack at mid position (14.5:1 vs. standard 15:1). I imagine the software parameters will be tuned to the VSS, making it feel slightly different as well.

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      01-24-2013, 11:29 AM   #80
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wayman519 View Post
I can't see the sport variable steering improving feel of the steering. If anything it should dull the wheel due to extra gears for the variable angles at different speeds. I do know the linkage is direct but electrically assisted.

This is just speculation, can anyone elaborate?

Also the same team who developed the E90 steering also developed the F30 steering. In sport mode they are very similar. Comfort mode the F30 is light for daily driving.
From what I remember the VSS felt much better during the test drive...IMHO...I would never get an F30 without it. I just wish you could customize your settings more like Audi where I could have sport + steering in comfort mode.
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      01-24-2013, 11:57 AM   #81
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Did somebody try to switch EPS off? Which fuse should be taken out to get a pure steering?
*I got VSS and it does provide clear feedback when cornering or drifting but lacks it around zero angles. It's just not as well-defined as E90 HPS was.
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      01-24-2013, 12:38 PM   #82
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Quote:
Originally Posted by claykin View Post
Please send me your calculations. JK.

For my taste I wish the F30 had the Sport/Sport+ steering in every mode. Its just about right for most driving. Comfort/Eco Pro is too light for my taste. I'm getting used to it, but it feels girly. Sorry, girls.

Yes, I like the VSS steering, but its really only in effect at low parking speeds.
+1. Really agree
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      01-24-2013, 04:46 PM   #83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandPete View Post
No extra gears, still a rack and pinion, just the way the rack teeth are cut, so the same component count and can produce the same precision. There is a difference in rack speed, even in mid position, the VSS being the faster rack at mid position (14.5:1 vs. standard 15:1). I imagine the software parameters will be tuned to the VSS, making it feel slightly different as well.

HighlandPete
thanks makes sense
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      01-24-2013, 06:57 PM   #84
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Steering is lighter than in my former e90 335 msport- Now eventhough in sport stiffen up its not on par with the E90.
Current car is on msport suspension and mixed potenzas in 18 . but in another topic the tires suspension set up is a huge improvement over the previous one with michelin pilot sports.
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      01-30-2013, 11:27 PM   #85
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hey guys, i'm slightly paranoid i have a suspension kink thats partly due to the feedback i've been getting with my steering.

does it make sense that when i leave my car in eco pro or comfort that the steering wheel feels a bit more "loose"? May not be the best term to describe my issue but it feels like you could swerve the steering wheel for 2-5 degrees and it does not do anything...

If i put it into sport, it seems like the problem is gone, however i'm not sure if the problem is masked as a result of the steering ratio being changed to feel heavier as some of the posters have mentioned here earlier...

any of you guys that same feeling? I have the slightest suspicision that my steering or suspension is off in some way but i just wanted to confirm if im crazy lol!
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      01-30-2013, 11:44 PM   #86
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I'm the same. Do not like steering in Eco pro. It's OK I comfort, great in sport. Kind of wish it was a separate setting.
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      02-07-2013, 03:07 PM   #87
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I have a November built F30 328 xdrive with DHP, which I ordered specifically to be able to control suspension and steering only without changing the engine's mapping. To my disappointment, I do not feel any meaningful difference in steering weight/effort when switching from comfort to sport (chassis only). It kinda drives me nuts. I took the car to the dealer, they said they "recalibrated" steering and found everything to be working as designed. But in reality nothing changed. Anyone else with the same experience who has a car with DHP? Overall, with this new steering system, it feels that the car is riding on bicycle-like front wheels. No feel of solid contact with the road. Which is sometimes not comforting at high speeds. I come from 2007 e90 335i and 2010 e70 X5 3.0. The X5's steering was superb btw. Really miss it.
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      02-08-2013, 02:52 PM   #88
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Still can't decide on VSS and m adpative suspension, so many contrary opinions! Running out of time haha
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