Active Steering: A must have?

[Krill]

Getting ready to order an X5 and was wondering if anyone has compared X5's with and without the active steering option? My rwd F10 has pretty crap steering and I want to avoid the same steering feel on the X5. Any thoughts are much appreciated!

[opasha]

Originally Posted by Krill

Getting ready to order an X5 and was wondering if anyone has compared X5's with and without the active steering option? My rwd F10 has pretty crap steering and I want to avoid the same steering feel on the X5. Any thoughts are much appreciated!

When you say crap steering, what do you mean exactly? Do you prefer tighter steering or looser/easier grandpa style steering?

[MysticBlue]

I've not driven x5 with active steering, but based on other vehicles with active steering, it's a must NOT have for me. It is variable ratio based on speed. It drove me crazy the few times I drove a car with active steering. My mind would be calibrated to the steering on roadways and highways, then I pull into a parking lot and suddenly I am oversteering and having to correct my steering. As opposed to it being a completely automatic hand/eye coordination kind of thing, like the car goes where my eyes go without even thinking about it, I had to actually think about it... OK, I'm going slower now, so I don't have to turn the steering wheel as much to turn the front wheels. I really don't understand what the purpose is... with modern power steering, it's not like it takes much effort to turn the wheel.
It is important to differentiate active steering with variable resistance. I don't have any problem with changing the effort level, or the amount of boost the power steering gives, based on speed, driving style, driver desires, etc. I just don't like the ratio changing. Just my opinion. Others feel different.

[Krill]

Originally Posted by opasha

When you say crap steering, what do you mean exactly? Do you prefer tighter steering or looser/easier grandpa style steering?

By crap I mean that it feels too soft and loose, does´t have that BMW feel to it. My E90´s and E60 had sharp steering and good feedback. I know that modern BMW´s will never have the good old hydraulic steering feel as long as we have to live with electric power steering.

In other words, I prefer tighter steering

[Krill]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I've not driven x5 with active steering, but based on other vehicles with active steering, it's a must NOT have for me. It is variable ratio based on speed. It drove me crazy the few times I drove a car with active steering. My mind would be calibrated to the steering on roadways and highways, then I pull into a parking lot and suddenly I am oversteering and having to correct my steering. As opposed to it being a completely automatic hand/eye coordination kind of thing, like the car goes where my eyes go without even thinking about it, I had to actually think about it... OK, I'm going slower now, so I don't have to turn the steering wheel as much to turn the front wheels. I really don't understand what the purpose is... with modern power steering, it's not like it takes much effort to turn the wheel.
It is important to differentiate active steering with variable resistance. I don't have any problem with changing the effort level, or the amount of boost the power steering gives, based on speed, driving style, driver desires, etc. I just don't like the ratio changing. Just my opinion. Others feel different.

Interesting! So am I right in assuming that you are happy with the (non active) steering on your X5?

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Krill

Interesting! So am I right in assuming that you are happy with the (non active) steering on your X5?

Don't have it yet. Another couple of weeks. I've test driven and was reasonably satisfied, given that it is a big heavy SUV. As I said, I was basing my comment on other cars I've driven with "active steering". It sounds like you're talking about steering feel and feedback. There's not a whole lot of that in an X5, relatively speaking, but that really doesn't have much to do with active steering anyway, in my opinion, except, if anything, it will make it feel even more remote and video game-like. I just really don't like the whole concept of variable steering ratio. Variable resistance, or variable effort based on sport settings and such is ok, just not messing with the actual turn-to-turn ratio, which is what active steering does.

[opasha]

MysticBlue described it perfectly . Basically, if you want any sort of tighter feel in your steering, you're going to have to go with the M sport suspension because that will give you a tighter response, ESP in Sport mode. I forget if DHP has anything to do with this, but it doesn't hurt to look around the forums where DHP has been discussed.

[X5chris]

I have active steering and I am not too happy with it on low speeds. When I go above 70's the steering gets tighter which feels awesome

[1230vani]

I like it and its a must WITH M sport package, orherwise even in sport it is too light. It is something in the setup, with m sport it is great. Discussed this long time ago, was considering not getting the car bcs was initially so dissapointed. AS is imo expensive but very practical plus it is a safety feature as if you car slides in the turn or some other situation AS will automatically turn the wheel slightly to adjust the balance (smthg like that, look it up).

[kip1]

Even with the m sport suspension, the car is a truck and feels heavy as it is, very different from the audi q5 I sold. However, the steering is very sharp and BMW like, so the main question is do you need active parking aid, because that deletes this option. As this car is mostly driven by my wife, that was a must and after a few days with the huge car, I feel it is a very good option especially if you don't want annoying curb rash that has been mentioned in several threads even in this forum. The turning circle is also very big, making you work for your parking. I have active steering in my Porsche, but so far haven't missed it in the X5.

[Barbja]

I have tried both and I don't like it. To me, in parking lots, it feels too much like driving my dad's town car. That's not what I'm going for. Turning an X5/X6 at parking lot speed is not a one handed operation though. However, I'm a small woman; perhaps this is not an issue for a strapping guy.

I must give you my history though so you can temper my statement: I've driven X variants for 12y, an E53, an E70, then an E71. I drove the E53 which had no option of AS the longest (7y). I am used to driving giant BMWs around w/o AS so something different feels weird. It's totally fine unless I have a rotator cuff injury; then its quite painful. Over 12y, that's probably happened 3x.

[Krill]

Thanks for all the valuable input! I´ve booked an X5 with active steering for a test drive this weekend. I´ll post my thoughts in this thread...

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by Krill

Thanks for all the valuable input! Ive booked an X5 with active steering for a test drive this weekend. Ill post my thoughts in this thread...

Hope you get it. I have it 2nd time around, tight garage space, very helpful

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by kip1

Even with the m sport suspension, the car is a truck and feels heavy as it is, very different from the audi q5 I sold.

Q5 would be an equivalent of a X3.. not an X5. And that is probably why you feel like it is too heavy.


To the OP, I am not sure if you understand exactly what active steering is?

Active steering basically makes it easier for turning the X5 in low speeds by not turning the steering wheel as much. It doesn't necessarily make the turning radius "smaller" or "tighter". That was my experience.

For me it is not a must have and mostly a novelty feature than anything else.. especially with already the easy to steer F15 steering wheel. Just my opinion.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Hope you get it. I have it 2nd time around, tight garage space, very helpful

Just to be clear, I have a tight garage space and have to manouver a lot, AS makes it much quicker. Radius is the same as w/o AS but it is way faster. AS adjusts very nicely. I HAVE TO SAY again that with the M package in SPORT AS feels a LOT heavier than without M package. At first I tested AS with professional suspension package and I did not like the overly light steering feel in sport mode and was about to change my mind about ordering the X5. Following an advice from a friend of mine, test drove one with M package, adaptive suspension (standard with M package in Europe) and it was much better. To conclude if you did not have it yet, you will not know the advantage, at times i get loaner cars without it and I miss it instantly. The execution of AS from years ago is much improved on current models. I remember trying it on an old 5 series (previous gen) and it was awful.

[kip1]

[QUOTE=Kzang;16490765]Q5 would be an equivalent of a X3.. not an X5. And that is probably why you feel like it is too heavy.

Yes I know, but it is more equivalent to the e60 and f10 mentioned above. I have active steering and it makes the car extremely agile, like it lost 500kg, but because of the height of the X5 I suspect the steering won't feel lighter, TheX5 will always feel heavy, active steering or not.

[Zayken]

The question here is what will the standard power steering will do against the active steering.
On the previous generation of X5, (E70) things where obvious and active steering was transforming the vehicle to super agile as the hydraulic system was too hard to handle especially when the vehicle had 20's .

Now that ALL BMW models are coming with a standard power steering unit what will be the difference ?

Personally IF you chose adaptive drive, then put active steering as BMW know ho to adjust this combo and trust me, it is the best you can get out of an X5/X6. If you chose adaptive suspension then dont take active steering.

[Barbja]

Originally Posted by Zayken

Personally IF you chose adaptive drive, then put active steering as BMW know ho to adjust this combo and trust me, it is the best you can get out of an X5/X6. If you chose adaptive suspension then dont take active steering.

Ok, that confused me. The F15 doesn't have adaptive drive per se. With M adaptive suspension, are you saying active steering=yes, or =no.

Then you have the anti roll and dynamic performance control in the DHP. How does that change the equation?

I didn't like AS on the E71 (with AD and DPC). Are you saying that I may like it on the F15?

Was/is AS standard on the X5M? They made DPC standard on the X5M before it was even an option on X5s. We all know that DPC is good and cool for driving; we just may not want to pay for it. If AS is standard on X5Ms, then BMW thinks its good and cool for driving too. If not, well...

Hmmm, this is shown as a standard feature for the X6M: "M Servotronic vehicle-speed-sensitive, variable-assist power steering". That sounds active steering-ish, right?

[gorun]

Get it trust me. I had e60 and e70 with as and got my f15 without it. My e70 was so much more manoeuvrable and darty. I could get out from my underground parking with one turn, now I have to reverse. Regular f15 steering is pants.