[jmg]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Universally seems like a strong word. My experiences on this and other 3 series forums is that most enthusiasts prefer to drive in Sport mode for the steering.

I found comfort to be far too light with little communication from the front tires. In fact I often found Sport to be too light, especially just off of center.

Almost universally. Even in M School the instructors tend to prefer comfort steering.

[anotheran]

Originally Posted by jmg

Almost universally. Even in M School the instructors tend to prefer comfort steering.

I've heard the same. steering stiffens at higher speeds at tracks which is why you don't really want the artificial weighting in sports mode

[moff]

Sport mode steering is terrible - like a car at low speed with no power steering WAY too heavy.

I need to code my Sport mode to have Comfort steering! Wish we had the configurability of the M's.

[vooonoo]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Universally seems like a strong word. My experiences on this and other 3 series forums is that most enthusiasts prefer to drive in Sport mode for the steering.

I found comfort to be far too light with little communication from the front tires. In fact I often found Sport to be too light, especially just off of center.

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Universally seems like a strong word. My experiences on this and other 3 series forums is that most enthusiasts prefer to drive in Sport mode for the steering.

I found comfort to be far too light with little communication from the front tires. In fact I often found Sport to be too light, especially just off of center.

Funny you say that , when I'm in sport mode I noticed my car pulls to the left, but when I'm in comfort mode it doesn't at all. The tires are aligned and have been checked

[torkles]

i really prefer the throttle mapping in sport mode, but don't notice much of a difference in the steering. it's slightly heavier, which i don't hate.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by vooonoo

Funny you say that , when I'm in sport mode I noticed my car pulls to the left, but when I'm in comfort mode it doesn't at all. The tires are aligned and have been checked

There is no reason for this. You are just noticing that there is more feel on center in Sport. Obviously the mode's don't change the alignment. All it does is change the amount of assist.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by jmg

Almost universally. Even in M School the instructors tend to prefer comfort steering.

Not almost universally. I've been on F30 forums since the car was introduced and that is not the case. Some think steering in Sport mode takes too much effort but they are in the minority. My take is the 3 steering sucks in all modes but Sport is far better than Comfort.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Not almost universally. I've been on F30 forums since the car was introduced and that is not the case. Some think steering in Sport mode takes too much effort but they are in the minority. My take is the 3 steering sucks in all modes but Sport is far better than Comfort.

Most F30 drivers don't drive at 10/10 at the limit on the track.

[technologic]

Thanks to this thread I just drove in Sport with comfort steering for the first time. Easy config change, however there is no option I found to change Sport+ which is a shame because I like that mode too. Anyway this is much preferred. I like comfort feel a lot better, not because the heavier steering is too heavy, just because it seems a bit useless to me. I can only feel the slightest resistance when cornering. So it's a bit of a "what's the point" issue for me - why have heavier steering if essentially it's mostly artificial.

I had a BMW with hydraulic steering before and it was much better. So this feels like piping in the engine sound because the cabins are so quiet, haha. Having said it's a pretty minor flaw in the overall car. If it were an option I'd get it but I wouldn't pay a ton for it.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by technologic

why have heavier steering if essentially it's mostly artificial.

Precisely. I don't know which engineer thought "heavy" = road feel. It just feels more numb to me.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by jmg

Most F30 drivers don't drive at 10/10 at the limit on the track.

What does that have to do with Sport requiring more effort than comfort. I don’t want 1970’s Cadillac steering effort in my cars. If light steering effort works for you, good for you.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

What does that have to do with Sport requiring more effort than comfort. I don't want 1970's Cadillac steering effort in my cars. If light steering effort works for you, good for you.

Nothing. It has to do with actual real world preferences of people who are actually trying to get the best possible results in high speed and hard cornering situations where it matters most.

[MacklinUSOB]

Originally Posted by jmg

Nothing. It has to do with actual real world preferences of people who are actually trying to get the best possible results in high speed and hard cornering situations where it matters most.

In all fairness, while I do drive in comfort 99% of the time, even when hooning, comfort mode steering in M's is much stronger than normal F's. It makes sense the instructors don't use sport in them because you'd need to be a gorilla to work it all day every day.

[speary8]

I have the option to select chassis and drivetrain in sport mode. The chassis highlights the dampers and steering. I am sure the suspension feels stiffer in sport mode but I don’t think I have adaptive suspension, no selector weitch on the console. Am I mistaken or does the suspension stiffen up. My2017 440i msport auto

[bri1042]

Speary - there isn't a separate selector switch for just the suspension. I have adaptive and I deeply wish I could split the suspension and steering sport modes. I like the sport settings for the suspension, but don't always want the heavy steering. If you aren't sure if you have adaptive, go to a VIN decoder (like BMWVIN.com) and see if it's in your equipment breakdown.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bri1042

Speary - there isn't a separate selector switch for just the suspension. I have adaptive and I deeply wish I could split the suspension and steering sport modes. I like the sport settings for the suspension, but don't always want the heavy steering. If you aren't sure if you have adaptive, go to a VIN decoder (like BMWVIN.com) and see if it's in your equipment breakdown.

Agree, need to check the build spec', or take a look at a front damper, (on full lock), to see if there is a proportional valve on the strut body and a wire connection.

No VDC, no stiffening of the suspension. Any change in chassis 'feel' is due to the steering changing weight.

[simonelwell]

Is it related to previous use / experience?

My last car E92 335i Coupe had very stiff steering which, I suspect, is why I prefer the sports setting on the current car...

I can understand why someone coming from a different set up would prefer something that felt familiar to them...

[Kafkaesque328]

I have tried this and actually re-tried this after reading this thread and I just can't get into the artificially boosted 'heavy' feel of sport mode for steering with this car. I tried configuring sport with comfort chassis and sport powertrain and prefer that. I really liked the variable sport steering in the 430i GC I had, that felt a lOT better than this car.

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by simonelwell

Is it related to previous use / experience?

My last car E92 335i Coupe had very stiff steering which, I suspect, is why I prefer the sports setting on the current car...

I can understand why someone coming from a different set up would prefer something that felt familiar to them...

I think what you are describing from your E90 is feedback. The steering feedback that complemented the handling that together made BMW what they are. This has been largely lost in their weak effort at implementing electric vs hydraulic steering and why the 3 Series rarely wins in head to head reviews, even against other cars with electric assist.

Sport at least has weight that simulates the old feedback, poorly, but it is something.

[flwbyu]

It does not matter what mode the car is in... the steering just feels numb. It's something I cannot understand in a benchmark sports sedan that's supposed to be about the driving experience. That and not having a limited slip at this price range.

[Humdizzle]

yeah the sport mode isn't adding any more feedback from the road. its just adding weight giving you the illusion of feedback.

if you want to know what steering should feel like go drive an e90 or e46

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

yeah the sport mode isn't adding any more feedback from the road. its just adding weight giving you the illusion of feedback.

if you want to know what steering should feel like go drive an e90 or e46

I drive an F11 5-series and the weighting in comfort mode is not bad at all. Sport adds a bit more heft, but agree it doesn't add to feedback, in fact the lighter steering gives the best feedback.

My experience of the E9x models, a lot depends on which steering, suspension and tires. My 330d had the standard steering, (no servotronic), so was very heavy at low speeds. Plus not all the feedback was positive, some was negative 'noise', rather than all the good stuff.

I know over here in the UK, a lot of complaints on BMW the steering being "too heavy" in the E9x models.