Anyone Else Disappointed in Electric Steering on New X5?

[SCA]

Other than a slight whirling noise while turning at parking lot speeds we have adjusted to the electric steering in the F15 just fine. Non-issue...

[Maverik259]

Not a fan of the electric steering either. Especially the active steering which is what I have. Too light. Good for a soccer mom grocery getter. Not a 600hp monster. I don't even mind it being a soccer mom setting. Just wish the steering could be adjusted one step tighter than "sport" it's just not enough.

And sorry but iDrive is one of the best if not the best infotainment system available. If you don't like menus than you probably don't like smart phones or computers either. People want more options and more customizability at their finger tips. That's what you get for buying brand new tech essentially with iD7 or whatever they're on now. My iD4 is great especially since I live in two places. Radio and Nav and with my split screen it's the only two things I see every day. For those other few places I need to quickly navigate too I have them saved to 1 of my 8 quick buttons on the CD player console thing. And I don't need to dig into menus to get to them.

[Road Carnage]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

Like driving a ‘76 Cadillac? Exaggerate much? For an SUV of its size, the steering response and feedback is not that bad.

I didn’t say it was bad, just that it’s not as sporty as my E70 was (for my driving style). To be clear, my F15 doesn’t have m-sport or DHP, just rear air suspension. It was way too soft and floaty for my taste, hence the KW’s. But, the 50i engine has it all over the 4.8. I think reliability of my F15 has been better as well (so far). Overall a better vehicle no doubt.

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by HUH?

My 2013 X5d was my first SUV, first diesel. I bought it for utility purposes, fuel economy and towing ability. I LOVE it still 110k miles later.

I recently bought a left over 2018 X5d with sport wheels because diesel is being dropped by BMW for the USA.

Two problems: steering and idrive.

There was a review back in 2012-3 that said the x5 might be the best real bmw that bmw makes. I thought it hard to believe until I drove some of their cars. The reviewers were right.

The 2018 has awful steering and the idrive is overly complicated with more layers to the menus.

I drive the 2013 ALL the time.

Othe BMWs in my garage e30 M3, e36 M3, e46 M3, e39 M5....
Notice something here?
BMW better figure it’s new products out so that sport drivers as well as grocery getters want them.

Yep, we did notice something.... turns out you need e92 M3 as your next lineup car, not X5 F15

[mrfochon]

@nizer have F15-15 and zero problem with steering. You should not have to make any correction. did you check the alignment? Did you test drive another car at dealer, you might figured there s a problem with yours..

[LocksmithNick]

I actually really love the way our X5 handles. I don't notice much difference in stock vs Eibach, but no complaints here.

[Hellrot]

Is there a way to have sport steering without sport throttle? I'm thinking these options are just on the X5M.

[cmyx6go]

I lasted all of 4 months in my ‘16 F16. I hated it. The steering, handling and the ride were extremely disappointing having driven all previous X generations. I test drove my first X - 2001 E53 4.4. After that, I just ordered without driving - ‘05 E53 4.4, ‘08 E70 4.8, ‘10 E71 50 and ‘13 E71 M. They all performed and handled as expected from BMW. Until the F16. It cost me a chunk of change to get out of the F16 and into the F86 (after finding one to test drive). The sports plus settings for steering and suspension in the M are a huge improvement over the F16 but I still miss the driving feel of the previous generations.

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I lasted all of 4 months in my ‘16 F16. I hated it. The steering, handling and the ride were extremely disappointing having driven all previous X generations. I test drove my first X - 2001 E53 4.4. After that, I just ordered without driving - ‘05 E53 4.4, ‘08 E70 4.8, ‘10 E71 50 and ‘13 E71 M. They all performed and handled as expected from BMW. Until the F16. It cost me a chunk of change to get out of the F16 and into the F86 (after finding one to test drive). The sports plus settings for steering and suspension in the M are a huge improvement over the F16 but I still miss the driving feel of the previous generations.

I agree about "feel", but every generation is faster and that includes track, not only straight pulls. X6 f16 will mop the floor with any E70/71, E53 etc except M models of course and when comparing equivalent models (apples to apples) like 50i to 50i etc. If it really was that bad in handling - car would not have been faster on the track. Every generation is more isolated from road, more quiet, more refined and hence many feel that it doesn't handle as well etc. Road feel is decreased. Sometimes its just subjective feelings. Facts are that with very rare exceptions every gen. was faster (and as a rule more fuel efficient too at the same time).
I have no problem handling my x5 50i. I would only want stiffer handling on track, not on road. It's all relative - x5m handles like crap compared to go carts, but you wouldn't want to drive go cart like stiff poggy stick everyday right?

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by DuSh

I agree about "feel", but every generation is faster and that includes track, not only straight pulls. X6 f16 will mop the floor with any E70/71, E53 etc except M models of course and when comparing equivalent models (apples to apples) like 50i to 50i etc. If it really was that bad in handling - car would not have been faster on the track. Every generation is more isolated from road, more quiet, more refined and hence many feel that it doesn't handle as well etc. Road feel is decreased. Sometimes its just subjective feelings. Facts are that with very rare exceptions every gen. was faster (and as a rule more fuel efficient too at the same time).
I have no problem handling my x5 50i. I would only want stiffer handling on track, not on road. It's all relative - x5m handles like crap compared to go carts, but you wouldn't want to drive go cart like stiff poggy stick everyday right?

I hear what you're saying but I'm definitely on Team Steering Sucks for the non-DHP standard suspension owners. I can live with it but if the steering could just tighten up some, that would be great.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by DuSh

I agree about "feel", but every generation is faster and that includes track, not only straight pulls. X6 f16 will mop the floor with any E70/71, E53 etc except M models of course and when comparing equivalent models (apples to apples) like 50i to 50i etc. If it really was that bad in handling - car would not have been faster on the track. Every generation is more isolated from road, more quiet, more refined and hence many feel that it doesn't handle as well etc. Road feel is decreased. Sometimes its just subjective feelings. Facts are that with very rare exceptions every gen. was faster (and as a rule more fuel efficient too at the same time).
I have no problem handling my x5 50i. I would only want stiffer handling on track, not on road. It's all relative - x5m handles like crap compared to go carts, but you wouldn't want to drive go cart like stiff poggy stick everyday right?

I agree that there are improvements but in real life “faster” isn’t my gauge. The entrance ramp with no one in front of me at 6am is my gauge. I’ve been ripping that same ramp for years with a big fat grin. Each new generation widened that grin until the F16. I didn’t feel as grouned or glued to that twist. I took it much slower as I didn’t feel in control.

[Road Carnage]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I agree that there are improvements but in real life “faster” isn’t my gauge. The entrance ramp with no one in front of me at 6am is my gauge. I’ve been ripping that same ramp for years with a big fat grin. Each new generation widened that grin until the F16. I didn’t feel as grouned or glued to that twist. I took it much slower as I didn’t feel in control.

Exactly how I feel as well. I also had an '08 E70 4.8 w/ sport suspension. That vehicle handled much better, much more planted than my F15 (at least before I installed the KW's).

[tqbmw]

Steering on all older BMWs was much better than the new ones. If you haven't driven an older BMW you don't know what you are missing.

[redline9001]

Originally Posted by tqbmw

Steering on all older BMWs was much better than the new ones. If you haven't driven an older BMW you don't know what you are missing.

This is just not a BMW problem as the industry all moves to electronic steering, some have done a better job at implementation then others but BMW has done a fairly good job only the pure sports cars are better.

But this a case of where the masses have won over the enthusiast.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Hellrot

Is there a way to have sport steering without sport throttle? I'm thinking these options are just on the X5M.

Yes as I described in my post above and exactly how I roll. It's in drive.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

I hear what you're saying but I'm definitely on Team Steering Sucks for the non-DHP standard suspension owners. I can live with it but if the steering could just tighten up some, that would be great.

Steering isn't any different with DHP or not. DHP affects differential and active sway bars (lean control). I think you're confusing active steering.

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Steering isn't any different with DHP or not. DHP affects differential and active sway bars (lean control). I think you're confusing active steering.

Maybe its adaptive M I'm thinking of? I don't know, I just know that on my F30, when I put it in sport mode, the steering definitely tightens up nicely.

[DuSh]

I previously had e90 which has a hydraulic assisted steering that requires quite an effort to operate, it was noticeably heavier than pre-lci e46 I had a chance to drive. Yet, in my x5 I feel that in terms of preciseness - our x5 steering is close to ideal steering. You pick an arc in turn and car follows like on rails. Besides Porsche SUVs there's not a lot of models with same capabilities. I wish we could just tweak electric steering assist map to make it a tad less assisting on speeds higher than 20mph - that would be really cool.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Maybe its adaptive M I'm thinking of? I don't know, I just know that on my F30, when I put it in sport mode, the steering definitely tightens up nicely.

Ya I've always wondered what that's part of. I think it's the adaptive M package.

[bmwx5er]

DHP or no-DHP, the steering feel in the F15s are too soft compared to my E70 with Adaptive Drive (E70’s DHP). I helped a couple of friends buy fully loaded 50is with DHP (with active steering in one) but the steering is quite a disappointment compared to my E70.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by tqbmw

Steering on all older BMWs was much better than the new ones. If you haven't driven an older BMW you don't know what you are missing.

I have to totally concur with this. *One expection though, the “Buick steering” on the 2001 E46 330 (sedan, coupe or convertible). That was a mess! BMW NA ended up offering original owners a no cost retrofit, which involved replacing the steering rack and steering coupler because there was so much backlash. I went through it myself as I ordered and took delivery of one of the first 330Ci coupes built (June 2000 production).

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Maybe its adaptive M I'm thinking of? I don't know, I just know that on my F30, when I put it in sport mode, the steering definitely tightens up nicely.

Our F15 steering with M adaptive tightens up when placed in sport mode.

Originally Posted by bmwx5er

DHP or no-DHP, the steering feel in the F15s are too soft compared to my E70 with Adaptive Drive (E70’s DHP).

Oh most definitely... within our family we have a customer ordered 2013 E70 M Sport with Adaptive Drive (original owners). Hydraulic versus electric steering is like comparing apples to oranges though.

[frenchie1013]

Originally Posted by Hellrot

Is there a way to have sport steering without sport throttle? I'm thinking these options are just on the X5M.

Yes - i have it set that way - when you select sport, there should be a gear icon for setting....you can then just click on chassis instead of drivetrain and chassis.
I keep sport plus for when i what the better throttle response. Works great.

Side note, i had a loaner 19 x5 40i. The steering is great on the new ones - literally my only complaint with my F15 is the steering....maybe gas mileage but i bought a v8 for a reason !