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Post by Tim on Apr 6, 2017 16:06:32 GMT
I must be alone in not minding the thick steering wheel, despite having fairly small hands.
How are you getting on with the lack of steering feel or are you used to that from the Audi?
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Post by johnc on Apr 6, 2017 17:56:58 GMT
I must be alone in not minding the thick steering wheel, despite having fairly small hands. I don't mind it either. I get more discomfort in my hands when I haven't got the wheel at the right height. |
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Post by Martin on Apr 6, 2017 18:10:44 GMT
I like the steering wheel too.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 6, 2017 18:48:53 GMT
I never noticed an issue with the BMW steering wheels myself despite all the hoo-ha journalists make about thick rims.
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 6, 2017 20:03:24 GMT
I don't particularly like the thick-rimmed steering wheel in my 3-series and would have gone for a thinner and firmer rimmed version if one had been available.
franki, the new car looks very smart. Does the GT4 actually go next week?
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Post by franki68 on Apr 7, 2017 8:27:42 GMT
Chip butty..no it hasnt.Not sure I saw any for sale around the price I was looking at which had .
Tim..used to it from audi
Stunts..yes ,drive it up to bolton on Monday,I am really gutted.Would not sell ideally ,car is truly sensational on these roads.I have been driving it as much as I can last few weeks.
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Post by franki68 on Apr 19, 2017 11:52:27 GMT
Good god the steering is so shit.I thought I would cope with the lack of feel as I have had cars with no
Steering feel before,but this is truly horrible steering, not even accurate,weighting is funny as well.
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 19, 2017 12:20:11 GMT
^
Check the tyre pressures
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Post by Tim on Apr 19, 2017 13:04:48 GMT
I don't find the steering inaccurate but the lack of weight AND the lack of feel were a bit disconcerting on greasy roads. I think its the first car I've owned where changing from worn tyres to new ones has had no discernible effect on the weight (usually it feels lighter on new tyres). It's a nice car but hardly the ultimate driving machine. It actually makes me want to try a modern Audi to see if they're as bad  |
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 19, 2017 13:38:56 GMT
Good god the steering is so shit.I thought I would cope with the lack of feel as I have had cars with no Steering feel before,but this is truly horrible steering, not even accurate,weighting is funny as well. You haven't accidently bought one with the optional variable sport steering have you? By all accounts that is horrible and to be avoided if at all possible. |
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Post by franki68 on Apr 19, 2017 15:27:44 GMT
^ Check the tyre pressures they are fine. |
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Post by franki68 on Apr 19, 2017 15:37:35 GMT
Good god the steering is so shit.I thought I would cope with the lack of feel as I have had cars with no Steering feel before,but this is truly horrible steering, not even accurate,weighting is funny as well. You haven't accidently bought one with the optional variable sport steering have you? By all accounts that is horrible and to be avoided if at all possible. It wasn't listed as an option on the spec sheet.It does weight up if I select sport mode but once in a mode the steering is consistent ,it does not vary like for example the audi dynamic steering. I knew I wouldn't like the steering as I don't recall the last bmw I did ,that's not anti-bmw ..I don't like the current systems on audi or mercedes or pretty much most makes now.And it's the only serious fault I have found so far,the engine and gearbox are superb and the ride handling balance pretty good so overall very pleased.It's just really a rant at most modern steering systems. |
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 19, 2017 15:41:22 GMT
Yes, the standard steering does that in Sport. I know what you mean about the odd weighting, particularly at low speeds, though - it was much better in the M135i.
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Post by Tim on Apr 19, 2017 15:41:25 GMT
I found the steering on both my E46s to be quite twitchy and if, for example, you glanced at the scenery the car would invariably start to wander a little. They were both identical in that respect.
On the current one I haven't noticed it weighting up in Sport mode at all - just the throttle response being a bit sharper/pleasant.
Is there an option code for the variable steering?
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Post by johnc on Apr 19, 2017 15:41:28 GMT
It actually makes me want to try a modern Audi to see if they're as bad I can assure you that if you have complaints about the steering on a BMW, the Audi would make you feel grateful you have what you have (well at least an A5 would).
My steering is fairly "honest" and I know what the car is doing even though there is a lack of feel compared to a hydraulic rack. The weighting on mine is also fairly consistent whereas in the Audi you suddenly get a very light feeling at some steering angles when pressing on. We have just driven about 1,200 miles in the Audi, to London and back with plenty of travelling around and it was perfectly acceptable for cruising but it is not something I enjoy pedalling quickly. The 4 Series on the other hand I can happily live with: it isn't the last word in communication but I can understand what it's telling me even near the limit.
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Post by johnc on Apr 19, 2017 15:58:28 GMT
I found the steering on both my E46s to be quite twitchy and if, for example, you glanced at the scenery the car would invariably start to wander a little. They were both identical in that respect. On the current one I haven't noticed it weighting up in Sport mode at all - just the throttle response being a bit sharper/pleasant. Is there an option code for the variable steering? I don't know about an option code but this forum string provides a good bit of information:
f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825015&page=3
It might be you have the standard steering and not the servotronic if it doesn't weight up when you put it into Sport.
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Post by Tim on Apr 20, 2017 13:01:56 GMT
I tried it last night while actually paying proper attention to the steering feel and selecting Sport made no difference.
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Post by franki68 on Apr 20, 2017 13:49:17 GMT
I tried it last night while actually paying proper attention to the steering feel and selecting Sport made no difference. What does the display show when you change mode ? Mine clearly shows the steering as highlighted when the graphic comes on along with the other bits it changes. |
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Post by Tim on Apr 20, 2017 14:53:10 GMT
I tried it last night while actually paying proper attention to the steering feel and selecting Sport made no difference. What does the display show when you change mode ? Mine clearly shows the steering as highlighted when the graphic comes on along with the other bits it changes. I haven't looked that closely. I'll check tonight. |
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Post by franki68 on Jun 5, 2017 13:04:09 GMT
Just a quick update after a few months use and using the car exclusively .
I will take back my comments on the steering,it has no feel but I have got used to it and it is not as bad as I first made out.THe car is a very well rounded package and definitely more entertaining to drive than a merc c class or audi a4 .Engine is great fun,although I am only getting 37mpg which is great considering the performance I was expecting a bit more but maybe it is my heavy right foot.
You can feel the difference between the xdrive system and an audi quattro system,the bmw being more rwd biased .
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Post by Tim on Jun 5, 2017 15:07:56 GMT
I think using the car exclusively will help with the steering but I certainly don't like it after driving my other ones, you really could drive flat out one handed with no bother. It makes me nervous in poor conditions, like this morning's torrential rain.
I've also been disappointed with the economy, the last tankful was 43 whereas in the same use the E46s were doing 49 or 50. I expected modern tech to have overcome the losses from weight and 4wd but apparently not.
I agree about it still feeling rwd though, even a mere 320 version
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Post by PetrolEd on Jun 6, 2017 9:49:56 GMT
Having just used the 3 series for 600 miles in a day, there's a few issues that come to light. Offset steering wheel which means your right wrist aches after a few hours and peddles that are offset to the right so the alignment is all a bit squiffy. My biggest complaint is how high you sit which I assume must be a RHD thing. I really struggle to get on with cars you can't get the seat low enough.
When your not driving like you stole it the squishy steering wheel and steering feel become irrelevant but the notchy gearbox is rather odd. I never remember BMW's being quite so slow to shift. I rushed through a 1st to 2nd change and nearly left the transmission on the autoroute floor.
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Post by racingteatray on Jun 6, 2017 14:10:05 GMT
BMW's recent manuals are quite notchy. Where you could almost think the Z1's gearbox through the gears, the same was never true for any of the three modern manual BMWs I've had (135i, 330d, M135i).
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Post by PetrolEd on Jun 6, 2017 15:27:47 GMT
Never remember my 130i being quite as obtrusive on changing gear. Maybe its something to do with being mated to the small diesel engine. Reading that back it sounds like I don't like the car which isn't true. Doing it again we'd have probably gone 328i at the time and gone Auto but may try a 340i auto if the dealer can make the figures work next year at the end of the PCP.
Ideally come change time there will be a little used c63 Estate will have depreciated like a stone but I can't see that happening.
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Post by Tim on Jun 7, 2017 12:55:01 GMT
Our 320 isn't notchy at all, maybe they need 50k miles to be at their best?
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Post by racingteatray on Jun 7, 2017 12:57:27 GMT
The M135i's box definitely loosened up with the miles (it had 30k miles on the clock when I sold it).
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Post by PetrolEd on Jun 7, 2017 14:30:49 GMT
Our 320 isn't notchy at all, maybe they need 50k miles to be at their best? 320D or i?
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Post by Tim on Jun 7, 2017 14:41:37 GMT
D with X-Drive but I assume they all have the same gearbox.
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