[RMNB]

Hey folks! I've had several BMW's over the years but nothing this small. Is it just me or is this car very sensitive while steering? It's so responsive it's almost a little scary and I can see getting out of control quite easily. I'd say Go-Cart comes to mind but you get my drift.

Is it the extreme oversteer I'm feeling where it doesn't take much to change lanes and get around? My e92 is almost 3 inches longers so it's the shorter wheel base, I get it. But for the first timers driving this car has anyone every experienced the same feeling. It feels very very light and easy to maneuver ...too good in fact where it gets pretty scary and I feel like I'm going to end up facing the other way. Experience and thoughts please!

[DanG]

I wonder what tires you have on your M235i. Mine was excellent and very well planted. I ran Michelin PSS and then switched to Michelin A/S 3+.

[Poochie]

This might explain why:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ring4/EEpdEE0c

[msej449]

Do you have the 2VL Variable Sports Steering? On my UK build this was a standard feature. My previous BMWs didn't have it and it took a bit of getting used to on my part, as opposed to my wife, who took to it straight away and much prefers the steering on our M235i to the 'standard' steering on our previous 3 Series. I had to sort of 're-map' my own physical steering adjustments, especially at speed. Like you, I felt that if I lost concentration, then at speed I'd be in danger of over-turning the wheel.

[RMNB]

Thanks for the quick responses! I currently have the Pirelli P7's grand touring all season rft which are awful. So the Mich P4's are going on in a few days as TireRack hooked me up once again. I'm certain this will be a big improvement.

Not sure about the variable steering. How can I find that out? Build sheet from dealer perhaps? Nonetheless, there will continued progression on the suspension but not sure what will make the biggest improvement. Someone said M3/M4 control arms. Thoughts on this? Eibach springs would help? I can say the Koni FSD's I have on my E92 plus AG M359's (9"x10"), 235fr & 275r certainly makes that car feel planted. No fear at all in hard corners! PSS of course.

If anyone else has any thoughts chime in.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

Not sure about the variable steering. How can I find that out?

there will continued progression on the suspension but not sure what will make the biggest improvement. Someone said M3/M4 control arms. Thoughts on this? Eibach springs would help?

If you enter the last 7 characters of your VIN on this page: https://decoder.bvzine.com/, it will return your car's build. Variable sport steering should come back as something like this "S2VLA  Variable sport steering".

After tires, two things will most improve your driving enjoyment: a limited slip differential, and coilovers w/camber plates and enough negative camber to meet your needs. Your choice as to which to go with first (I'd start with the LSD).

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by DanG

I wonder what tires you have on your M235i. Mine was excellent and very well planted. I ran Michelin PSS and then switched to Michelin A/S 3+.

+2

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

Hey folks! I've had several BMW's over the years but nothing this small. Is it just me or is this car very sensitive while steering? It's so responsive it's almost a little scary and I can see getting out of control quite easily. I'd say Go-Cart comes to mind but you get my drift.

Is it the extreme oversteer I'm feeling where it doesn't take much to change lanes and get around? My e92 is almost 3 inches longers so it's the shorter wheel base, I get it. But for the first timers driving this car has anyone every experienced the same feeling. It feels very very light and easy to maneuver ...too good in fact where it gets pretty scary and I feel like I'm going to end up facing the other way. Experience and thoughts please!

You're over-thinking this and worrying too much. You're not going to crash

The M235 has a short wheelbase, a pretty quick steering rack (quite a bit quicker than the E92's), and a smaller steering wheel. The M235 steering, even in the Sport setting, is a bit lighter than the heavier E92 steering. The quicker and lighter steering and smaller wheel in the M235 is screwing with your muscle memory. You'll get used to it. Also, the crappy, stiff sidewall, and narrow (for a 225 width tire) P7s further compound the nervousness of the chassis and steering and can make wheelspin an annoyance. The new tires will make a huge difference in stability and grip. Hopefully you're getting wider tires.

If you really want to improve the chassis dynamics, an LSD is the way to go. Don't waste your time with suspension improvements until you do the LSD.

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by dradernh

If you enter the last 7 characters of your VIN on this page: https://decoder.bvzine.com/, it will return your car's build. Variable sport steering should come back as something like this "S2VLA  Variable sport steering".

After tires, two things will most improve your driving enjoyment: a limited slip differential, and coilovers w/camber plates and enough negative camber to meet your needs. Your choice as to which to go with first (I'd start with the LSD).

Thanks , VIN decoder confirmed the variable steering. Am I lucky?

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

You're over-thinking this and worrying too much. You're not going to crash

The M235 has a short wheelbase, a pretty quick steering rack (quite a bit quicker than the E92's), and a smaller steering wheel. The M235 steering, even in the Sport setting, is a bit lighter than the heavier E92 steering. The quicker and lighter steering and smaller wheel in the M235 is screwing with your muscle memory. You'll get used to it. Also, the crappy, stiff sidewall, and narrow (for a 225 width tire) P7s further compound the nervousness of the chassis and steering and can make wheelspin an annoyance. The new tires will make a huge difference in stability and grip. Hopefully you're getting wider tires.

If you really want to improve the chassis dynamics, an LSD is the way to go. Don't waste your time with suspension improvements until you do the LSD.

Yup I'm getting the same size tires for the stock rims. Boring I know. I do have a set of PSS in the garage that are 235/35/19 and 275/30/19. I wonder what 19's would suit? Mainly, what ET front and rear should I look for if at all possible. I need a new a back up set for tracking.

Also, you mentioned LSD. GIve me the TOP 3 LSD's out there that most folks go for. I've heard of Quaife… what's the big deal about this one? Feed me people! I need to spend some more money so my wife "officially" kicks me out!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

Thanks , VIN decoder confirmed the variable steering. Am I lucky?

No idea, really, even though I have it, too.

My focus performance-wise is the track, and the car steers just fine for me there. Because it "steers like a BMW" (my characterization), I doubt that's because of VSS but don't really know.

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

Also, XutvJet mentioned LSD. GIve me the TOP 3 LSD's out there that most folks go for.

Call or email Dan Fitzgerald at DiffsOnline: https://diffsonline.com/. They are BMW LSD specialists - it's all they do. The Technical Information tab is worth clicking-on - they've got some good, down-to-earth info about diffs on that page.

Dan has whatever you need in the way of an LSD, whether it's off-the-shelf or they have to build it for you (the latter is unlikely unless you're planning on wheel-to-wheel racing). He'll ask you how you plan to use the car, on the street and otherwise, and then he'll recommend an appropriate diff. FWIW, Dan won't try to sell you the most expensive diff he can, so you don't need to worry about that.

I've done business with DiffsOnline since 2009, and everything has always been straightforward with no bs. That's where I got my Wavetrac. No affiliation - just a satisfied customer.

[rainfall]

Originally Posted by DanG

I wonder what tires you have on your M235i. Mine was excellent and very well planted. I ran Michelin PSS and then switched to Michelin A/S 3+.

+3.
PSS --> A/S 3+ for a year and tons of rwd grip

[msej449]

Over here in the UK the Pirelli P7 is simply not used for M-Lites by BMW either as OEM or in BMW retro-fit wheel+tire sets. Go to the Pirelli UK website and put in an M235i and the P7 isn't shown at all, only the PZero. BMW do use the PZero as OEM and on their own wheel/tyre sets (but then, only for summers). I can't fathom why they use the sedan/comfort-oriented P7 tire on a performance car like the M-Lite, especially given the trouble it so obviously causes. Ditto all-seasons: sorry, but again, I wouldn't put all-seasons on a performance car like the M235i either, and nor does BMW UK (where all-seasons are popular given the often wide range of weather conditions thru a UK driving year). So, basically, change your P7s for something more suitable as recommended here and on the Tires Thread.

I retro-fitted a BMW LSD 2 years after getting the car and wish I'd done so sooner. It really should have come with it as original equipment. 230 or so BHP and RWD really demands an LSD. Don't necessarily expect a dramatic difference initially - but over time you come to appreciate the way it stabilises the handling e.g. oversteer is very progressive and predictable and you get a lot less intervention of the electronic traction control. It's very rare now for my eLSD to intervene unless I've badly misjudged my power input (which happens, of course, from time to time :-) ) So I'd agree, retro-fit an LSD first, get used to it, and then decide if you need to do anything more.

Finally, from time to time you'll see me posting video from a skidpan training course I did at my local track (Goodwood UK) in an M140i which only cost £99 for a hour on-track instruction. I'd recommend finding something similar, as it lets you try SPORT and DSC=OFF in a safe environment using someone else's car and makes your driving much more confident when you're back in your own car on public roads. It also programmes that muscle memory to unconsciously react properly when - inevitably - you get it wrong on the road.

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by dradernh

No idea, really, even though I have it, too.

My focus performance-wise is the track, and the car steers just fine for me there. Because it "steers like a BMW" (my characterization), I doubt that's because of VSS but don't really know.


Call or email Dan Fitzgerald at DiffsOnline: https://diffsonline.com/. They are BMW LSD specialists - it's all they do. The Technical Information tab is worth clicking-on - they've got some good, down-to-earth about diffs info on that page.

Dan has whatever you need in the way of an LSD, whether it's off-the-shelf or they have to build it for you (the latter is unlikely unless you're planning on wheel-to-wheel racing). He'll ask you how you plan to use the car, on the street and otherwise, and then he'll recommend an appropriate diff. FWIW, Dan won't try to sell you the most expensive diff he can, so you don't need to worry about that.

I've done business with DiffsOnline since 2009, and everything has always been straightforward with no bs. That's where I got my Wavetrac. No affiliation - just a satisfied customer.

Thank you! That was a very read and informative under the Tech info section. Now I understand.