Motor Trend Comparo - 330i vs G70 vs Model 3
#91
Lexus Fanatic
The new 3 outperforms the G70 in every performance category according to this thread.
#93
Lexus Fanatic
An irrelevant and unnecessary question. The steering system itself is not going to change its basic road-feel and characteristics over time, unless a lot of fluid leaks out of the hoses (in hydraulic systems), and, in all systems, from minor effects from tire wear. All else equal, new tires of the same type will often restore the original feel.
#94
Lexus Test Driver
An irrelevant and unnecessary question. The steering system itself is not going to change its basic road-feel and characteristics over time, unless a lot of fluid leaks out of the hoses (in hydraulic systems), and, in all systems, from minor effects from tire wear. All else equal, new tires of the same type will often restore the original feel.
#95
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
An irrelevant and unnecessary question. The steering system itself is not going to change its basic road-feel and characteristics over time, unless a lot of fluid leaks out of the hoses (in hydraulic systems), and, in all systems, from minor effects from tire wear. All else equal, new tires of the same type will often restore the original feel.
#96
Lexus Test Driver
The E90/E92 cars had the BEST steering by far.
Regular folks didn’t like it because it was very heavy especially parking or slow speed turns.
The new electric steering systems on the F10 and F30 were GARBAGE!
I got rid of my 2012 528i primarily bec of the steering feel. My 2013 535i which also had electric steering was AMAZING but that car was fitted with 704Msport suspension and recalibrated steering feel. The later F30 3series also had steering that improved. The new G20 330i Msport i drove had very loose steering that a person coming from E90/92 generation cars would not recognize.
My current F80 M3 with Comp has very HEAVY steering which is what i prefer but it is still not as consistent or give enough feel that my old E92 335i had.
My BRZ has perfect steering feel - i was driving it last night and its just telepathic. Quick, direct, heavy enough, good feel of the road. Beside Porsche 911/Cayman, i think the BRZ/86 have the best steering out of any current cars.
Also to add - these days BMW aims to please a full spectrum of consumers hence you have variable steering, suspension etc. Yes it gives options but i trust the experts and engineers of BMW to give me their best mode for the car. With all these settings and options there is never perfect setting imo. Sometimes simpler is better - given the choice on the BMWs i have had, i always chose passive suspension and non-variable steering.
Regular folks didn’t like it because it was very heavy especially parking or slow speed turns.
The new electric steering systems on the F10 and F30 were GARBAGE!
I got rid of my 2012 528i primarily bec of the steering feel. My 2013 535i which also had electric steering was AMAZING but that car was fitted with 704Msport suspension and recalibrated steering feel. The later F30 3series also had steering that improved. The new G20 330i Msport i drove had very loose steering that a person coming from E90/92 generation cars would not recognize.
My current F80 M3 with Comp has very HEAVY steering which is what i prefer but it is still not as consistent or give enough feel that my old E92 335i had.
My BRZ has perfect steering feel - i was driving it last night and its just telepathic. Quick, direct, heavy enough, good feel of the road. Beside Porsche 911/Cayman, i think the BRZ/86 have the best steering out of any current cars.
Also to add - these days BMW aims to please a full spectrum of consumers hence you have variable steering, suspension etc. Yes it gives options but i trust the experts and engineers of BMW to give me their best mode for the car. With all these settings and options there is never perfect setting imo. Sometimes simpler is better - given the choice on the BMWs i have had, i always chose passive suspension and non-variable steering.
Last edited by RNM GS3; 05-26-19 at 07:28 AM.
#97
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
The E90/E92 cars had the BEST steering by far.
Regular folks didn’t like it because it was very heavy especially parking or slow speed turns.
The new electric steering systems on the F10 and F30 were GARBAGE!
I got rid of my 2012 528i primarily bec of the steering feel. My 2013 535i which also had electric steering was AMAZING but that car was fitted with 704Msport suspension and recalibrated steering feel. The later F30 3series also had steering that improved. The new G20 330i Msport i drove had very loose steering that a person coming from E90/92 generation cars would not recognize.
My current F80 M3 with Comp has very HEAVY steering which is what i prefer but it is still not as consistent or give enough feel that my old E92 335i had.
My BRZ has perfect steering feel - i was driving it last night and its just telepathic. Quick, direct, heavy enough, good feel of the road. Beside Porsche 911/Cayman, i think the BRZ/86 have the best steering out of any current cars.
Also to add - these days BMW aims to please a full spectrum of consumers hence you have variable steering, suspension etc. Yes it gives options but i trust the experts and engineers of BMW to give me their best mode for the car. With all these settings and options there is never perfect setting imo. Sometimes simpler is better - given the choice on the BMWs i have had, i always chose passive suspension and non-variable steering.
Regular folks didn’t like it because it was very heavy especially parking or slow speed turns.
The new electric steering systems on the F10 and F30 were GARBAGE!
I got rid of my 2012 528i primarily bec of the steering feel. My 2013 535i which also had electric steering was AMAZING but that car was fitted with 704Msport suspension and recalibrated steering feel. The later F30 3series also had steering that improved. The new G20 330i Msport i drove had very loose steering that a person coming from E90/92 generation cars would not recognize.
My current F80 M3 with Comp has very HEAVY steering which is what i prefer but it is still not as consistent or give enough feel that my old E92 335i had.
My BRZ has perfect steering feel - i was driving it last night and its just telepathic. Quick, direct, heavy enough, good feel of the road. Beside Porsche 911/Cayman, i think the BRZ/86 have the best steering out of any current cars.
Also to add - these days BMW aims to please a full spectrum of consumers hence you have variable steering, suspension etc. Yes it gives options but i trust the experts and engineers of BMW to give me their best mode for the car. With all these settings and options there is never perfect setting imo. Sometimes simpler is better - given the choice on the BMWs i have had, i always chose passive suspension and non-variable steering.
Can't say anything about the BRZ, I'm sure it is great, but I once took a 2013 Miata on a short test drive and absolutely loved it's sharp steering and quick handling.
Last edited by Och; 05-26-19 at 08:02 AM.
#98
Pole Position
Yep, I have a 2013 Miata Club (it’s reasonably heavily modified, with a Fat Cat Motorsport Elite suspension, lightweight wheels and a few other things, but the following would still be true if it were stock) and it checks pretty much every steering, ride and handling box despite being the lowest cost vehicle I have. Simple is sometimes best.
#99
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Ok guys, enough about old bmw hydraulic steering, it’s IRRELEVANT today.
#100
Lexus Fanatic
It is a good discussion. Neither the Tesla or the Genesis have hydraulic. BMW is on record for clearly saying that their owners want less feedback, this is what they the costumers want. These magazines and their BS agendas are a problem. My sister had a BMW 3 series, she always liked sporty but now went to a RAV4 and likes the handling and the steering better. Why? It’s easier to drive and the user experience is easier.
#101
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
It’s not about tesla and genesis here... is ANYONE still using hydraulic steering!?
#102
Lexus Fanatic
#103
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
Ok guys, enough about old bmw hydraulic steering, it’s IRRELEVANT today.
If, after your first comment, you still want an answer to the second one, here's my opinion: With most other other manufacturers (maybe Porsche excepted), whether they use hydraulic or electric steering makes little difference, since there isn't that much difference between the two in feel/feedback/response. But that's not the case with BMW....the old system was so magic-like that the new system, even though it is more efficient, takes less HP out of the engine, and is less-complex to build/repair/service, is simply not in the same ballpark. The old hydraulic BMW units were clearly in a class by themselves.
#104
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
#105
Lexus Fanatic