Another dissapointing review - PistonHeads

[Steved]

Originally Posted by esquire

steved,

bmw has made mention of several options which would affect steering.

1) M-drive: "The optionally available MDrive configuration enables the driver to pre-select the response of the Servotronic power steering. In the process, MDrive is able to follow two control maps varying steering forces between the Normal and Sports setting as a function of road speed." (source - press release)

2) Active Steering - an option, according to the S. African product catalog. The currrent iteration in the 335 varies steering ratio with speed, such that at lower speeds a slight turn of the wheel translates to a large turn of the car. "Active Steering adjusts the steering ratio in relation to vehicle speed. At lower to medium speeds, the steering is more direct; at higher speeds, the steering provides greater directional stability." (source BMWUSA website)

can you comment on whether either of these options were equipped on your test vehicle and whether you feel that equipping/unequipping these options would improve steering feel?

There's was no active steering on the cars, just the usual servotronic system (as fitted to most BMWs).

With the M Settings within iDrive it was possible to alter the steering assistance from Normal to Sport, which is pretty similar to what was available on the E39 M5 (i.e. it increased the weighting of the steering , but did not change its gearing).

[1198r]

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

Well thanks for that, Steved, I find myself trusting your impressions much more than these reviews. Especially given your background with the impressive ponies you've got in your garage.

I have already said on another thread - you guys gotta trust the chaps from Evo Mag (Steved) and Top Gear - they know what their talking about.

Thanks Steved - awesome mate - awesome:rocks:

[The CSL]

What a surprise, the only reviews anyone covets are the ones that are good. Yet none of you care what the reviews are saying, of course.

[JEllis]

Article wasnt all that bad. The new M just had a lot to prove...

As for who is coveting whoes article. I will be my own judge...however, I do tend to trust the bigger names in car publications.


This pic is awesome

[kishg]

Originally Posted by esquire

another review complaining about "steering feel." a bit disconcerting, really. i'll wait for more reviews. but if the issue becoms a pervasive one, i'll hold off on ordering the car blindly, instead opting to test drive before purchase.

you can still order the car. if you dont like how it drives, dont buy it. someone else will i'm sure. this is what i plan to do.

[kishg]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Wow, the lack luster reviews really are piling up. At least this one was better written, and seemed more sensible (and less full of obvious errors of fact) than the slightly negative Car Magazine review. It sounds like they have kind of "Americanized" the car for lack of a better turn. Brutally fast but also very comfortable, easy to drive perhaps to the point of being numb and not so much fun. Could it be we have all placed this car so high on a pedastal for so long the only way down is a long fall? It is just so hard to believe that the famed M team of engineers, racers, test drivers and car nuts would produce something not truly worthy of the M3's heritage. We will have to wait for the full reviews and some more performance figures, but I guess I too am getting uncomfortably nervous. Ugh....

my worry is how pervasive the influence of the marketing folks are at bmw. 95% of their base market will love a "numb" easy to drive car with straight line power. the term "americanized" seems to fit to a tee.. i hope this has not been the case here..

[JEllis]

Lets all jump on the band wagon and bash a car that none of us have been able to drive and in reality is actually getting overall postive reviews.

Jason

[gregarious]

Originally Posted by Steved

There's was no active steering on the cars, just the usual servotronic system (as fitted to most BMWs).

With the M Settings within iDrive it was possible to alter the steering assistance from Normal to Sport, which is pretty similar to what was available on the E39 M5 (i.e. it increased the weighting of the steering , but did not change its gearing).

Unless I'm mistaken, isn't Servotronic a part of the Active Steering system? My 335i does NOT have the "Active Steering, with Servotronic" option as listed in the product catalogue. Perhaps the M3 tester was equipped with a similar optional Active Steering system that has been similarly disfavored in other models.

[The CSL]

Originally Posted by JEllis

Article wasnt all that bad. The new M just had a lot to prove...

As for who is coveting whoes article. I will be my own judge...however, I do tend to trust the bigger names in car publications.

Steve Sutcliffe is a big name in motoring journalism and along with Adam Towler, writes for Autocar, the world's oldest magazine. They're not a big name then? I strongly disagree.