11-16-2015, 09:08 PM | #23 |
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It's all relative to the driver. Everyone's has their opinion with their preference in mind. Most comments here seems to be at the end of each spectrum.
But keep in mind, the M235i was engineered for both driving pleasure as well as performance. Nothing like getting four options to pick from. I did my homework before I bought my car. Did I like the steering when I first test drove it? Hell yes, I did! Did I keep an open mind during my test drive, that this car was not going to drive like any of the BMWs I driven before? You bet your ass I did! One more thing, there's a factor that one needs to consider with light/heavy steering. You need to account for the power behind the steering. It's like comparing apples and oranges.
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11-16-2015, 09:11 PM | #24 |
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None of my previous cars had hydraulic steering, therefore, I have no basis for comparison and thus supremely enjoy the steering in comfort and sport modes, depending on my mood.
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11-17-2015, 08:32 AM | #25 |
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At first it seemed too light but now I prefer it over the hydraulic E90 335 and F06 (6er gran coupe). I drive in Sport+ unless on the hwy.
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11-17-2015, 08:44 AM | #26 |
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I am not all to fond of the electric steering but it is a preference choice and BMW delivered exactly what they promised with this car, The gave it sportiness at a touch of a button but also kept it calm when you just want to cruise and chill and not wrestle the car every time you sit in it i guess.
Someone mention at speeds of 160 km/h talked about it being weird or something. At least for me i know when i drive in certain speeds the electric power steering disconnects it self totally, As in being light because correct me if i am wrong on this but wasn't this type of cars designed to be harder and harder to turn the steering wheel at speeds exceeding 140-150 km/h i know mine gives me a hell of a wrestling fight if i am driving at speeds of 160 km/h i can hardly turn the steering wheel at those speed, Just so you cant make a sudden move and crash the whole thing. If your cars steering wheel is still light as feather at those speeds i would take it to the BMW dealer for a check up.
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11-17-2015, 09:18 AM | #27 | |
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So for me, it's always Sport on a highway, Sport+ for twisties, and Comfort only on very bad roads (bad that's more for suspension). Of course, since luckily the chassis/steering mode is independent from drivetrain mode - indeed, I use the latter in Comfort on highways (just to spare the engine some rpm thanks to the 8th gear availability - I have 8AT)...
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11-17-2015, 09:49 AM | #28 |
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^ Yea i would say that most posters on here would be risking jail time by driving 200+ kph on the highway. Not all of us live in central Europe.
Comfort is just fine for standard 100-130 kph cruising that is legal in the rest of the world. |
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11-17-2015, 09:50 AM | #29 |
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I came from a 2004 Mazda RX-8. Traded it in on my 2014 M235i after 10 years of ownership. So for me, the transition, in terms of steering feel, was seamless. I'm very happy with the "feel."
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11-17-2015, 11:08 AM | #30 |
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I drive in mostly DSC OFF mode, giving you the heavier sports steering / full exhaust without the aggressive throttle map of Sports.
The steering is extremely responsive, and the feedback I feel has gotten better over time.
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11-17-2015, 11:35 AM | #31 |
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I am sure there are things like speed limit laws in Poland. It is just that the local police are "friendly" with BMW drivers, if you know what I mean.
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11-17-2015, 07:29 PM | #32 |
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I have an e91 in addition to my M235i, I infinitely prefer the steering in the M235i. The e91 is just ridiculously heavy, makes the car feel ponderous. The M235i is light at low speeds, and perfectly weighted at high speeds. Absolutely on rails at 155mph. I put 3600 miles on it all over Europe on my delivery tour, from 155mph on the Autobahn to windy mountain roads in Italy, never put a wheel wrong. Weight =/= feel. I mostly prefer comfort mode for the steering, though I do slightly agree that sport mode is better at VERY high speed.
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11-17-2015, 10:05 PM | #33 |
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Compared to my current E93 328i M-Sport, the steering on the M235i I drove today does indeed seem very light at low speed. It firms up when you get going, but it still feels numb and it doesn't give you much feedback from the road (unlike my E93 which tramlines like a bastard sometimes... I blame the nearly-worn-out run-flats).
I then immediately drove a 2016 GTI with PP and DCC, and although the steering was a little firmer with a little more feel, it really wasn't by much and I certainly wouldn't say it was huge superior. Plus, having mostly had RWD (or AWD) cars the last fifteen years, I had forgotten how much the laws of physics make the front tires struggle with very little effort. I even squealed the fronts without even *trying* to move off fast at one point. Plus I kept banging my knees on the underside of the steering column which was super-annoying. |
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11-18-2015, 09:07 AM | #34 | |
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Also of note, based on other recent posts, it appears that other companies have been able to 'get it right' - e.g., the road feel is there WITH electronic assist. |
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11-18-2015, 09:48 AM | #35 |
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Although much lighter than my 135i, I have no gripes with the steering feedback whatsoever.
I feel like people are going to find a way to complain no matter what. For instance, people complained about body color mirrors on the 135i, now on the 235i everyone wants body colored mirrors. Maybe I'm easier to please, but I love everything about the M235i, steering included. |
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11-18-2015, 10:33 AM | #36 |
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Granted, I have only had about 30 minutes in a test drive of a 228i Sport X drive, but all that I can say is this. I wasn't aware that the steering was suppose to be horrible, so I didn't notice it. With the number of cars that I've driven in my rather long life, steering has been all over the ball park, but I got use to every single one of those cars and their steering. Some I enjoyed the sportiness of their steering, and with others it was just a car. I had company cars for over 25 years, so lots of Taurus Fords.
Getting back to the BMW, until that 18 wheeler decided that he wanted my lane on the freeway, with me still in it, the steering was fine. Lacking in performance, but for what it was, and compared to my MINI r59, it wasn't all that bad. With the options that are available with adjusting the suspension, and the engine performance, the steering should be just fine, and today I found out that with the DSC off, that will firm up the steering. So, what the heck. |
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11-18-2015, 02:45 PM | #37 |
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I have owned the following cars: E90 328i, 2010 128i sport package, 335is, c63, E92 M3 comp package. Soon to be an owner of M235xi.
Here is my 2 cents. I loved the "on-rails" steering of the previous gen BMWs, all of them. However at one point I have upgraded the rims and tires on 335is. Going from bridgestones to Michelin PSS made the steering feel a lot lighter and unsettled on-center. Eventually I sold the new rims and the tires. Recently I had a chance to drive 2012 128i with M-sport package. Even though the car was equipped with staggered setup it felt no where near as responsive compared to my previous 128i which had bigger rims/tires of a different brand. From that experience I learn that car manufactures tune suspensions and steering based on specific type wheel setup. With previous generation cars Bridgestone Potenza's had a big impact on how BMWs handled. It was however rather disappointing to learn that the whole "on rails" experience is mostly an illusion caused by the tires. Surprisingly, the steering on M235i equipped with PSS tires felt closer to E92 M3 than to any other previous gen BMW. Obviously it's not anywhere near as communicative as the M3, but at the same time it's no less artificial compared to 328i, 128i, 335is in terms of assistance. Road feel however is a whole different story. Electrical steering is nowhere good as hydraulic. Some manufactures are better than others. In opinion, Mazda and Ford are doing a better job in providing closer connection to the road through the steering wheel. |
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10-18-2017, 02:06 AM | #38 |
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I've got a ZHP (e46 330i Performance) taht I've been dragging my feet on selling in addition to my new m235i. The steering in the ZHP is so heavy my gf can barley turn the wheel. I got used to my m235i and thought i kinda liked how it was so nice to get around in parking garages and at low speeds. My tires are shot so I've been driving the ZHP a lot more and I gotta say I really love the heavy steering. I feel more in touch with the car and feel like when i throw it around a corner I know exactly what its going to do as it starts to get loose. I wish we could make the m235i heavier with an add on module or chip , I mean if its electronic can we not just decrease the the power? I guess I don't understand how electric steering works. From what I've read so far it does not seem like there is any way to get heavier than Sport +. Would love to be told otherwise.
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10-18-2017, 03:02 AM | #39 |
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My benchmark is the Lotus Elise I used to own, which had no power steering at all, because it didn't need it, even when parking. I suspect it's all down to weight and mid-engine placement. You can have astonishingly 'connected' steering but the car needs to be lightweight. And no BMW or Mercedes etc is in this category. So to handle the extra weight you need power steering and whatever type you choose, it's just not the same.
My M235i is the only DD in the current range that is anything like my first E30 325i without going to the purer M2, which is not where I want to be in terms of cost or ride. So no, the M235i/M240i has somewhat 'disconnected' steering by comparison to the Elise and E30. But for a modern car, with the modern panoply of accessories and weight, I think it does a good job especially with the Adaptive options.
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10-18-2017, 05:53 AM | #40 |
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Wow, I think the exhaust is too quiet on my M240 even with top down. Much quieter than my 135is was. Perhaps you have ASD turned on and are listening to the fake stereo sounds?
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10-18-2017, 06:44 AM | #41 |
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Right! The issue is not steering FEEL but steering CONTROL. The electric will never feel like the hydraulic, in the same way that the hydraulic will never have the same feel as our old McCormick Farmall tilling tractor with direct mechanical steering. But does the car go just where you want it to go? Yes, and a lot better than the tractor ever did. Worse, if you turned the wheel too fast, it had a tendency to flip over even at 5 mph.
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10-18-2017, 09:49 AM | #42 |
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I'd prefer feedback in the wheel to tell me what the front wheels are doing, but that ship sailed a long time ago.
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10-18-2017, 09:56 AM | #43 |
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The RWD cars have very good feedback through the steering wheel, imo, especially with a minor LCA upgrade and performance alignment
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10-20-2017, 08:34 PM | #44 |
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Compared to the really connected feel of my Alfa 4C the steering is ridiculously light even in sport mode but it is a sedan after all so not too bothered. If I want feel I drive my Alfa.
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