Thank you investor27.
One question that comes to mind immediately is with regard to Servotronic. That is, how is it that the X1 sDrive28i, a vehicle with EPS, does not have this by default. Here is BMW's (older, acknowledged) word on the topic:
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...rvotronic.html
"The Servotronic control unit adjusts the amount of steering assistance to suit the speed of the vehicle. An electromagnetic valve accurately controls the amount of force applied by the steering hydraulics, enabling outstandingly precise steering that suits your current driving situation. Conventional power steering systems, by contrast, regulate the power steering in relation to the engine's RPM.
The electromechanical steering system EPS uses an electric motor to achieve the same effect."
I suppose for the X1 sDrive28i, then, this is no longer the case by default.
Furthermore, are we to understand that the 35i model has hydraulic power steering? It was not called out in the coorespondence you quoted. Edit: nevermind I had missed the link above to BMW's official site for the X1 35i. It is electric.