F15 M Sport Electric Steering Upgrade

[fech27]

Hello all, (hopefully I'm posting in the right location)

I finally made it to the club. I have had love for BMWs for years, and I am finally to the age where I can buy one on my own. I recently purchased a 2014 X5 xDrive 35i M Sport in Carbon Metallic Black with a lot of great packages, and it is awesome! I do love everything about the car except one thing, the steering. A few of my relatives have leased many BMWs over the years, so I have had the privilege of experiencing the older hydraulic steering on a few road trips. This is something that I have always loved about BMWs.

My question is, do you think it is possible to install hydraulic steering to the F15 with parts from the E70? I have not been able to find any posts on this. I don't doubt it being a lot of work. And I am not really interested in learning about the price at the moment. I want to know is it possible. I believe it would involve adding a power steering pump and reservoir (no clue if you can do that), new steering rack, and some hoses. So...........do you think it is possible?

Many forums have stated that the steering on the F series cars lack the traditional BMW feel. Honestly, after driving the F15 for a little while. The steering is not that bad. It is weighted at times, and lighter at lower speeds. I feel as if the M Sport has slightly heavier steering when compared to a 2018 F15 xLine I recently drove. But I still miss the older steering.

I am also looking to purchase a E46 Manual soon, so this will soon fill the void of also needing sportier steering and a manual transmission.

Thanks in advance!

[Dylan86]

A staggered set of lightweight wheels in 20-21x 10/11 with a 285/325 tire setup will give much more “feel” from the steering wheel.

The steering feel is predicated from the suspension/wheels/bushings on the LCA’s, etc. M car have steel bushings, non M cars get rubber bushings. The popular thing to do on the F2/3x cars is to swap M LCA’s from the F8x cars and the difference in feel is night and day.

FWIW, my F15 has more steering feel than my m235 did, in stock form. And that’s just with the stock 20” staggered wheels with 275/315’s

[11_335D]

I agree with you about the newer BMW electric steering feel. I have active steering on my 35d and believe it uses a hydraulic steering rack. It's definitly better than my wife's non active steering but no where close to my e90. So you are in luck to possibility do a retrofit of some sort....the cost is another story.

[CatalinP]

F15 with either active steering or/and dynamic adaptive suspension has hydraulic assisted steering.

[RED_Y_]

From the hardware standpoint it might be possible, but from the software and coding prospective, not sure how the rest of the car will react.