Drunk driving

[yamamoto]

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by yamamoto

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

For me, Sport mode for the steering is much better than Comfort mode.

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by yamamoto

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

I think there might be something wrong with your car, I have not experienced anything close to what you described.

Take it to the dealer.

[kitesurfer]

Do you have 18's? I thought I saw posts where guys who had 18's were experiencing similar issues

[jeff4598]

Wheel size is not an issue as outside diameter of tire is essentially the same either way.

[kitw]

Originally Posted by yamamoto

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

That is likely an alignment issue, or something funky - that is not a measure of steering feel.

[solstice]

Is it in comfort mode you feel like this? For my preferences the steering comfort mode is sh*t. It brings out all the bad aspects of EPS. Thank you BMW for making the best mode "sport" default so I never need to drive in comfort again, ever. I'll pretend it's not there. In sport it's the best EPS I've driven after maybe the 991. It's still fairly numb but the rest ( weight, accuracy, stability etc. ) is so good that overall it's acceptable.

If however your car isn't rock stable in sport mode you have an issue as others have said. It should track like an arrow and be relaxing hour after hour through any conditions at high speed. Mine is even if it's torrential downpour. Switch to comfort and it's complete rubbish.

[chiplee]

I feel the same way about the electric steering in our F15 X5. At highway speeds it's a handful if conditions aren't perfect. I'm considering having toe in added.

[yamamoto]

My car has 19"s. Regardless of what steering mode I'm in, it has a very numb feeling for the first 5 degrees of rotation on the wheel. Beyond about 5 degrees, resistance on the steering wheel builds and feel normal.

I do think there is something wrong with my adaptive suspension. There is no difference in ride quality between comfort, sport, or sport plus. In my E90 m3, I could definitely feel a difference. Can somebody with adaptive suspension comment on what I should expect.

Thanks

[solstice]

I've got passive suspension so I can't help you there.

[Wei718]

Originally Posted by yamamoto

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

Does it want to pull right a little bit when going down a straight road? It's possible your alignment is slightly off. Mines was off a little and the dealer did an alignment under warranty.

[KASM3]

I'm not experiencing this. Tracks straight as an arrow!

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by KASM3

I'm not experiencing this. Tracks straight as an arrow!

Do you have an F8X?

[Andrew115]

I would check the alignment.

Today I got my 19s. I had put 600mi on the 18s before they arrived. They definitely drive and feel different. I didn't think I would notice anything and wasn't looking for any change but after about 30miles I started questioning what was different and realized it had to be the wheels.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by yamamoto

The electic steering in the m3 feels fine when I'm carving turns, but just going straight down the road requires constant inputs, that it makes me feel like I'm drunk driving.

I have over 2000 miles on the f80, I love the car, but the e90 m3 I just returned today sure has a much better "connected" steering feel.

Is it because you are drunk when you are driving? That would explain it......

[Want2BS8ed]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

I would check the alignment.

Today I got my 19s. I had put 600mi on the 18s before they arrived. They definitely drive and feel different. I didn't think I would notice anything and wasn't looking for any change but after about 30miles I started questioning what was different and realized it had to be the wheels.

Andrew, can you describe the difference?

No issues with tracking on my 18's. Sport and Sport+ certainly felt stiffer and progressively more responsive than comfort mode. The tell tale sign was the occasional manhole cover - hardly felt in comfort, but most definitely there in Sport+.

M

[Kief]

Originally Posted by chiplee

I feel the same way about the electric steering in our F15 X5. At highway speeds it's a handful if conditions aren't perfect. I'm considering having toe in added.

That's not encouraging Chip.
Not to jack the OPs thread, but with the X5, does the steering tighten up in Sport?

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by Kief

That's not encouraging Chip.
Not to jack the OPs thread, but with the X5, does the steering tighten up in Sport?

I don't think it's a thread jack since it goes to the general electric steering quality. I'm starting to think I can actually feel that I have a front wheel out of balance. If I hit a bump just so there's a noticeable wobble from the front end that feels rotational, like one of the wheels is out of balance.

I feel it tighten up progressively as speed increases. I'll have to experiment with other modes.

[KASM3]

Originally Posted by gmcconn535

Do you have an F8X?

Yes f82 with active susp and 19's

[Keto]

Originally Posted by KASM3

Yes f82 with active susp and 19's

Update your "drives:" brah

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by jeff4598

Wheel size is not an issue as outside diameter of tire is essentially the same either way.

The wheels size could very much make a difference. The tires will perform closely, but not identical, because they are not the exact same tire. Even in the same size, tires have quite a bit of variation from one to another, especially for things like steering pull/wander and vibrations.

Anyway, get your alignment checked at a BMW dealer first.