02-10-2013, 03:05 AM | #23 | |
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02-10-2013, 05:19 AM | #24 | |
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All because of the Yanks. It really got a bit stupid on the General Forum. Yanks would not buy BMWs because of the smaller cup holders! I thought I was hallucinating when I read it. Crazy.
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02-10-2013, 06:19 AM | #25 | |
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02-10-2013, 06:24 AM | #26 | |
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02-10-2013, 06:57 AM | #27 | |
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When power assisted steering (hydraulic) was first introduced, people complained because the 'feel' of what the wheels were doing was watered down. It quickly became accepted that 'easy' assistance made this worse, so sports orientated manufacturers like BMW reduced the amount of assistance. This was described as being 'stiffer' (less assistance = more sporty feel). We now live in a world of electric servo power assist, which works completely differently to hydraulic. In the world of electric, over assist actually gives the better 'feel'. The mechanics mean it is more fluid and sensitive in this state. Stiffening EPAS gives a very wooden, feel. Yet traditional 'stiff is best' boulevard racers, want harder steering (stiffer) movement, regardless of feel. They don't even know what 'feel' means in many cases. Sadly BMW have listened to the clueless masses that never even go round corners or over 55mph. |
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02-10-2013, 03:52 PM | #28 | |
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I find for myself in the F11, that the normal mode setting is a better feel to the steering, allows for a finer control of the car. Being critical, I do tend to agree that sport mode stiffens the steering for no benefit in steering control. The added weight and heft needed to steer, means more movement is needed, or you feel you are understeering into bends. Personally I feel some of the desire for steering weight is to overcome the stiffer ride folks like, partly absorbs the extra vibration and body movement in the car. It is then a damped steering feel, easier not to have over reactions. Plus from observation, I detect some drivers just don't have the ability to fine tune themselves to very light controls and finer movements. HighlandPete |
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02-10-2013, 06:02 PM | #29 |
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Hi Guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Question: I have a 320d ED on order and after reading this I'm thinking about changing my order. My problem is that I really need to have very light steering in comfort no matter what speed but on the flip side it would be nice to have a sportier (read heavier) set-up when needed. Can anyone confirm that this is what VSS will give me? I really really don't want heavy steering all the time like I did in my old 123d, hated that. Also can anyone advise on whether or not VSS genuinely provides more feedback (not weight) to the steering? Thanks |
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02-11-2013, 10:57 AM | #30 |
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My previous motor, a 320D E90 M-Sport 59 reg had Servotronic Steering which I thought at the time was pretty good.
All in all an improvement on my previous to that E90 with hyd steering, 55 reg motor. Why? The E90 with SS was a doodle to park and the steering stiffened up a nicely at speed with reduced angular movement. Very Nice! My current F30 with 2VL Variable Sport Steering is even better! Switching from Comfort to Sport is quite noticeable, giving the car a stability and confidence in cornering, which compared with all other cars I have ever driven is the best by a long way (bar E90). My bench mark in a cars ability in stability and cornering is to take at speed a long sweeping motorway curve, overtaking in the wet thro' the spray. My F30 320D does this with complete confidence, the E90 comes close, in holding the road with accurate positive steering, with stability and road grip. Don't forget, the F30 series up to M-Sport is designed as a comfortable family saloon car, not an M3 type with leanings to track days and boy racers! |
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02-11-2013, 12:06 PM | #31 | ||
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02-11-2013, 02:39 PM | #32 |
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Hi Tiller,
Just to confirm per F30AM's post, if you spec VSS, the steering stays light in both eco and comfort. I found it too light in these modes at first, but it's a slow-burn thing and you come to appreciate the consistent precision and there is still some useful feel. It's only in Sport that it comes alive and takes on real weight and feel. The difference is quite dramatic over comfort and, for me, it really fits in nicely with the feel of the car in full sport (chassis and drivetrain). To qualify what I said in my earlier post, the feel with VSS in sport mode is impressive for an electric system, but we're not talking 996 911 feel here (or 997 for that matter). But getting away from 911s, I'd say this is as good as I've felt on a recent beemer and I'm not missing hydraulic steering. To split hairs, you could say the feel comes across as a little manufactured at times, but I find that only really applies in slower bends that you take gently and there is still that satisfyingly meaty feel anyway. Up the pace and push the car deeper into a bend and the feel is impressive, with the tugging feel varying slightly as the car moves its weight around and goes over small bumps, just as it should in conventional system. I still can't work out how BMW do this bit, given it's all synthetic. Glad they did though. I think BMW should re-word the brochure entries for VSS. All the entries I've seen waffle on with a load of corporate twaddle about variable steering ratio and completely fail to point out that there is lots more weight and feel and that this is reserved for Sport mode, so you can still have the finger steering thing if you have American relatives ... |
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02-11-2013, 03:03 PM | #33 | |
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02-11-2013, 03:51 PM | #34 |
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My understanding is standard steering is bog standard electric without Servotronic (SS). The SS option is £180 with I do have and it does firm up in Sport mode. I don't know if this is the case without SS or VSS.
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02-11-2013, 04:41 PM | #35 | |
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Sorry, this isn't much help. Also, BMW don't help at all in their description on their car configuration: 'Servotronic adapts the power steering supper to the current speed and provides superior comfort by reducing the required steering force'. This could mean anything, including that the steering weights up more in Sport mode. I'd bug your dealer until you can find someone who knows or, better, get test drives of cars with standard and VSS. |
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12-01-2016, 09:51 AM | #37 |
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Thank goodness you bumped that thread - from the date of the last post that guy had been waiting over 3 years for an answer
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12-01-2016, 10:14 AM | #38 | |
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12-01-2016, 01:42 PM | #39 | |
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In an effort to justify this dead thread resurrection in some small way, Servotronic is now an £85 option, not £180 and standard kit on the 6 pots.
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12-02-2016, 02:52 AM | #40 | |
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And on top of that... we get hilarious posts like yours (& I mean it... I love it) |
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12-02-2016, 06:01 AM | #41 |
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Good man. It was indeed meant as the gentlest of leg-pulls, not a flaming
Lots of goodness in them old threads for us newbies.
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10-03-2019, 08:45 AM | #42 |
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Where did you get the 2.2 info from?
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10-03-2019, 10:11 AM | #43 | |
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I got that info from this forum. Never had VSS, only Servotronic. |
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