[JamesStam]

Afternoon all,
I drive a 2015 f30 320ed (Business Nav Edition) with 70k. I know it's a boring car but I love it
In each of the drive modes...Eco Pro / Comfort / Sport....the engine feels different...more pokey through the modes but I've noticed the steering feels exactly the same.
I used to drive an older 2012 f30 320ed as a company car and I'm convinced the steering got heavier through the modes.

Am I going mad or should the steering feel change in each mode?

Thanks
James

[exE36M3]

James, you aren't crazy. On some BMWs the Eco, Sport, and Comfort modes changes the behavior of the throttle (engine valve timing), suspension and steering. On my 2015 435i M Sport those modes can affect all three.

[JamesStam]

Any way of telling if, on my model, the steering feel should change?

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by JamesStam

Any way of telling if, on my model, the steering feel should change?

Isn't it wether or not you have adaptive which changes the steering feel through the modes?

[JamesStam]

Originally Posted by Rhino at Work

Isn't it wether or not you have adaptive which changes the steering feel through the modes?

I'm genuinely unsure.
I'm not particularly clued up the various technologies and terms... VSS / Adaptive etc .

[APJ]

Is it not under 'Driver Mode' in settings through your idrive, you can alter the setting for Sports mode, i have mine under the softer setting as well, it gets a very hard ride if you start to crack on a bit in sports mode

[Pittcrew]

Very interested in this discussion as well. I feel absolutely no difference in steering effort between Eco, Comfort, Sport or Sport + on my 2013 335i Xdrive with M-Sport package. I have it set to change the engine and suspension in the idrive menu with each mode but I only notice the difference in throttle response.

[Rich9600]

The Servotronic or VSS (Variable Speed/Sports Steering?) steering systems change with the modes.

Servotronic is standard on some cars. It was X25 engines upwards I think. Servotronic gives variable weighting. VSS gives variable weighting and a variable rack speed.

The standard steering on lower output cars is fixed weight and rack speed.

[sensible]

Originally Posted by percychow

James, you aren't crazy. On some BMWs the Eco, Sport, and Comfort modes changes the behavior of the throttle (engine valve timing), suspension and steering. On my 2015 435i M Sport those modes can affect all three.

Your suspension will only feel different if you have adaptive suspension, if not there's no change.

[Dave-ncl]

My steering goes from a feather in comfort to a bicep builder in sport.

I think there are options for sport mode but I've never tinkered as this setting makes more happy to drive 90% of the time in comfort.

2017 shadow edition 320d BTW.

[Soul_Glo]

vadimo brother does your 320 ed do this?

[TaranF32]

My car has the adaptive suspension and these seem to be the differences I've noticed in the different modes.
Eco Pro: Standard steering, standard suspension, soft throttle response.
Comfort: Standard steering, standard suspension, standard throttle response.
Sport: Weighted steering, stiffened suspension, increased throttle response.
Sport+ All of the above but traction control is limited
DSC OFF: Same as Sport but no traction control and rev matching is deactivated.

I know that I have got adaptive suspension as it's on the VIN decoder and there is a noticeable change in suspension when changing through modes, unsure about servotronic/VSS though. I've heard that you ideally need to drive two cars back to back to notice the difference between those two options though.

[JamesStam]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

The Servotronic or VSS (Variable Speed/Sports Steering?) steering systems change with the modes.

Servotronic is standard on some cars. It was X25 engines upwards I think. Servotronic gives variable weighting. VSS gives variable weighting and a variable rack speed.

The standard steering on lower output cars is fixed weight and rack speed.

So, to me, that means that some lower end f30s' steering will not change with the drive modes. Am I correct? I assume that includes my 320ed.
Thanks.

[machman767]

On my previous 320d SE it had servotronic steering, definite difference in weight in different modes, current 320d Sport just has standard (electric?) steering, no change in different modes.

[vadimo]

Originally Posted by Chelsea_Tractor

vadimo brother does your 320 ed do this?

no difference in steering effort between Eco, Comfort, Sport or Sport + but as others here suggested that servotronic option is what needed and that makes sense

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by vadimo

no difference in steering effort between Eco, Comfort, Sport or Sport + but as others here suggested that servotronic option is what needed and that makes sense

Yes, you need servotronic, (even with EPS), to get the change in Comfort/Sport modes.

[JamesStam]

Well that's stopped an embarrassing conversation at the dealership!!!!
Thank you all for your input.

[APJ]

Originally Posted by TaranF32

My car has the adaptive suspension and these seem to be the differences I've noticed in the different modes.
Eco Pro: Standard steering, standard suspension, soft throttle response.
Comfort: Standard steering, standard suspension, standard throttle response.
Sport: Weighted steering, stiffened suspension, increased throttle response.
Sport+ All of the above but traction control is limited
DSC OFF: Same as Sport but no traction control and rev matching is deactivated.

I know that I have got adaptive suspension as it's on the VIN decoder and there is a noticeable change in suspension when changing through modes, unsure about servotronic/VSS though. I've heard that you ideally need to drive two cars back to back to notice the difference between those two options though.

Must be the servotronic, as my car behaves just like yours though mine does not have adaptive suspension.

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by Pittcrew

Very interested in this discussion as well. I feel absolutely no difference in steering effort between Eco, Comfort, Sport or Sport + on my 2013 335i Xdrive with M-Sport package. I have it set to change the engine and suspension in the idrive menu with each mode but I only notice the difference in throttle response.

Had the same issue and concerns on my 335xd ie no change is steering weight in sport mode. I quite liked the weight increase on my previous 320d.

Had a conversation with a bmw master tech and apparently it doesn’t happen on the x drives, something to do with the half shafts at the front limiting steering range etc etc

Strangely enough mentioned this on an earlier post and teaston mentioned his post LCI 335xd had the weighted steering. Not sure if you code it in.

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by Kal101

Had the same issue and concerns on my 335xd ie no change is steering weight in sport mode. I quite liked the weight increase on my previous 320d.

Had a conversation with a bmw master tech and apparently it doesn’t happen on the x drives, something to do with the half shafts at the front limiting steering range etc etc

Strangely enough mentioned this on an earlier post and teaston mentioned his post LCI 335xd had the weighted steering. Not sure if you code it in.

It absolutely did happen on my 330xd!

[breathe3asy]

Funny enough I didn't like the stiffer sport mode steering at lower speeds so I've changed mine to be the same as comfort.

[APJ]

Originally Posted by ceaton88

Funny enough I didn't like the stiffer sport mode steering at lower speeds so I've changed mine to be the same as comfort.

Same here, its not too bad at speeds below the speed limit, but if you do on those rare occasions get above them suspension and steering do become to stiff and therefore doesn't have much feeling.