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      09-19-2014, 10:45 PM   #1
stillyi
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what do you feel about M235i steering?

I got to test drive a M235i today. Not a planned test drive, so I don't have detailed info on the packages on it. What's obvious are sports seats, 8 speed AT with shifters. I am driving a 2007 335i and a 2012 GTI as comparison. I feel m235i steering is way to light. I understand it may not be as heavy and tight as my 335i, but i feel it's even lighter than my GTI. It is still precise, but I am just surprised by how light it is given it's from the M performance oriented car. Other than steering feel, I think the car drives well. It's fast and light comparing to my 335i. Though I don't feel much need for 8AT. I noticed most of the time I only need the gear up to 6. I am thinking I might as well just get the manual shift for the more involvement in the driving.
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      09-19-2014, 10:57 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stillyi
I got to test drive a M235i today. Not a planned test drive, so I don't have detailed info on the packages on it. What's obvious are sports seats, 8 speed AT with shifters. I am driving a 2007 335i and a 2012 GTI as comparison. I feel m235i steering is way to light. I understand it may not be as heavy and tight as my 335i, but i feel it's even lighter than my GTI. It is still precise, but I am just surprised by how light it is given it's from the M performance oriented car. Other than steering feel, I think the car drives well. It's fast and light comparing to my 335i. Though I don't feel much need for 8AT. I noticed most of the time I only need the gear up to 6. I am thinking I might as well just get the manual shift for the more involvement in the driving.
Yes comfort mode is very light, but I got use to it. If you set chasis for sports mode it tightens up a little
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      09-20-2014, 06:34 AM   #3
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Driving in comfort mode made me miss a heart beat or two "over correcting" at speed it caught me out on twisty bits
the first time, just leave it in sport now all the time, find the weighting and feel spot on! And the interaction needed with a MT makes it a more conscious decision so you know what's coming if you know what I mean?
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      09-20-2014, 06:45 AM   #4
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At first it seems a bit light, even in sport mode (coming from a 135), but after a while, I prefer it as it gives me the best of both worlds. Comfort mode for highway cruising, sport mode for everything else.
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      09-20-2014, 09:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
Comfort mode for highway cruising, sport mode for everything else.
Light comfort steering on the highway ? Really ? I prefer hard steering which makes the car feel more stable and directionally "locked in" especially at higher speeds. That's why I either use Sport or Sport+ mode on the highway. Comfort mode is tailor made for the city to easily change directions and absorb potholes better.
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      09-20-2014, 10:13 AM   #6
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I knew somebody at the right dealer would be able to get a good deal on an M235i! Congrats you win the goos deal prize!!!
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      09-20-2014, 10:40 AM   #7
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No complaints for me. I like the comfort mode for day-to-day city driving, etc., and I like that there's stiffer, more direct steering available at the touch of a button. Feels great in sport.
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      09-20-2014, 11:04 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelwright View Post
Light comfort steering on the highway ? Really ? I prefer hard steering which makes the car feel more stable and directionally "locked in" especially at higher speeds. That's why I either use Sport or Sport+ mode on the highway. Comfort mode is tailor made for the city to easily change directions and absorb potholes better.
At 160 km/h, in comfort mode on the Autobahn, my car felt very stable and locked in. Steering feels heavier in Sport/Sport + and at higher speed, but the car still goes exactly where you point it in any mode, at any speed.
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      09-20-2014, 01:46 PM   #9
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Coming from an e92 335is the steering felt light even in sport. I drove with the chassis is sport constantly at first.
Now I prefer comfort for steering.
The sport setting feels like artificial resistance to me. It feels like the wheel is fighting me.
I have owned sports cars with no power steering at all and I was a fan of the e90 e92 steering, but the new sports settings don't feel natural to me.
Chris Harris doesn't like it either. In his new m3 review he also opts for the lighter steering.
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      09-20-2014, 02:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmallTownBoy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelwright View Post
Light comfort steering on the highway ? Really ? I prefer hard steering which makes the car feel more stable and directionally "locked in" especially at higher speeds. That's why I either use Sport or Sport+ mode on the highway. Comfort mode is tailor made for the city to easily change directions and absorb potholes better.
At 160 km/h, in comfort mode on the Autobahn, my car felt very stable and locked in. Steering feels heavier in Sport/Sport + and at higher speed, but the car still goes exactly where you point it in any mode, at any speed.
Disagree, try to make a sudden maneuver and the ride slides like a tractor
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      09-20-2014, 04:10 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelwright View Post
Light comfort steering on the highway ? Really ? I prefer hard steering which makes the car feel more stable and directionally "locked in" especially at higher speeds. That's why I either use Sport or Sport+ mode on the highway. Comfort mode is tailor made for the city to easily change directions and absorb potholes better.
To each his own. On long trips (4+ hrs), I find the heavy steering and louder exhaust note of sport/sport+ tiring. The highways where I drive are fairly sparse so its not like I need to make constant course corrections.
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      09-20-2014, 04:28 PM   #12
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I go back and forth between my Z4si and this new M235 driving one for some weeks, then switch back to the other.

Two extremes: the Z is at first, stiff and precise. Then switching over to the M235, and for a moment, just that little one minute it feels soft---then it turns into a delightful ride and precise placement of its own, in any mode.

And that is coming off of 40 years of British rack and pinion before the Z. The M235 is great.
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      09-20-2014, 05:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zkeeper
I go back and forth between my Z4si and this new M235 driving one for some weeks, then switch back to the other.

Two extremes: the Z is at first, stiff and precise. Then switching over to the M235, and for a moment, just that little one minute it feels soft---then it turns into a delightful ride and precise placement of its own, in any mode.

And that is coming off of 40 years of British rack and pinion before the Z. The M235 is great.
I usually drive one of my cars until it runs out of gas then switch to another because I hate going to the gas station. Then eventually they all need gas. Lol.
My other pattern is that if one of the cars is clean I'll only drive it on sunny days and drive the dirty ones in the rain.
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      09-20-2014, 05:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
To each his own. On long trips (4+ hrs), I find the heavy steering and louder exhaust note of sport/sport+ tiring.
You know you can have the heavy steering and quiet exhaust at the same time ? Just go to Sport mode setup and select "Chassis only". That's what I did and that's my preferred mode for cruising. For shorter trips with variable speeds (no cruising) I always select Sport+ because I like hearing the engine over wind and A/C noise. But yes I agree this loud engine droning can get tiring on longer trips.
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      09-20-2014, 06:52 PM   #15
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more detail please

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelwright View Post
You know you can have the heavy steering and quiet exhaust at the same time ? Just go to Sport mode setup and select "Chassis only". That's what I did and that's my preferred mode for cruising. For shorter trips with variable speeds (no cruising) I always select Sport+ because I like hearing the engine over wind and A/C noise. But yes I agree this loud engine droning can get tiring on longer trips.
I assume, "Chassis only" also tightens up the shocks as well as the steering, but leaves the tranny in comfort? Thanks in advance for the extra clarity.
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      11-16-2015, 04:00 PM   #16
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread, as I found it on Google, but I just got back from the BMW Driving Experience (I only went for the coupon) where I autocrossed the M235i vert.

It totally makes me reconsider purchasing an M2 now. The steering was horrible. Too light, numb and just imprecise. I had it in Sport and Sport+. What is the deal with this steering?
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      11-16-2015, 04:05 PM   #17
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I leave it in comfort for most day to day driving and I agree that it is a bit light, but in sport mode feels nice and direct. Did you drive it in sport mode?
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      11-16-2015, 04:08 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nlpamg View Post
It totally makes me reconsider purchasing an M2 now. The steering was horrible. Too light, numb and just imprecise. I had it in Sport and Sport+. What is the deal with this steering?
It's electric.

A buddy of mine was turned right off the the M4 by it as well so don't hope on the M steering being better.

his quote was " its exactly the same as the 2, awful".

Not sure if i agree with him but meh. BMW's current EPS isn't great. DO i think its a deal killer on a car? No

But a lot of people do.
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      11-16-2015, 04:08 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doccyber View Post
I leave it in comfort for most day to day driving and I agree that it is a bit light, but in sport mode feels nice and direct. Did you drive it in sport mode?
I drove it in Sport and Sport+.
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      11-16-2015, 04:11 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Killramos View Post
It's electric.

A buddy of mine was turned right off the the M4 by it as well so don't hope on the M steering being better.

his quote was " its exactly the same as the 2, awful".

Not sure if i agree with him but meh. BMW's current EPS isn't great. DO i think its a deal killer on a car? No

But a lot of people do.
Sigh. It's kinda sad. I was looking forward to being back in an M (I got rid of my E60 M5 back in 2012) and after driving this, I'm not sure how to feel.

BMW didn't do themselves any favors by setting up an event like this, lol.
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      11-16-2015, 08:02 PM   #21
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I will say I was surprised how numb the steering felt also. I don't know if I could get used to it. I really need to drive the car again though to be sure.
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      11-16-2015, 08:32 PM   #22
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To anyone accustomed to driving car(s) with good hydraulic power steering, the light feel of the EPS in the 2-series (and 3/4 series, as well) is going to be something of a shock. I know that it was for me. I was used to a heavier feel. BUT it's really not bad. I definitely got used to it after a month or so daily driving. Do I now prefer it to hydraulic? No, in a perfect world, BMW would have given this car the hydraulic rack from the E46, fuel economy be damned. But it is what it is. Honestly, the EPS doesn't bother me at all now. Everything else about the car is fantastic--possibly the best car that I've ever owned-- and the steering, such as it is, is very responsive and accurate. I can't ask for much more than that.
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