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      11-06-2013, 01:48 PM   #1
boostm3
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Steering feels very heavy

I drive a 2011 135i with M Sport pkg, and today, when I brought it in for an oil change service, the loaner I received was a new 2014 X1 xDrive28i. What struck me immediately is how heavy the steering feels... The steering Im used to on the 135i is butter smooth and its weighting feels significantly lighter yet very direct and tight.. I was fully expecting the X1 steering experience to not replicate the luscious feel of my 135i, but I really wasnt prepared for the degree to which Ive got to horse the wheel around slow turns... Very different indeed! Is it the 4 wheel drive thats making it feel heavy, or have they done something dastardly to the steering, compared with my 135i?
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      11-06-2013, 03:01 PM   #2
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Couldn't agree more. My 2014 is in for service so I have 2014 320X and the 320x is as you described above buttery smooth steering, extremely agile and sporty to drive while my X1 needs to be man handled to maneuver or make a turn and I have the Servotronic !
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      11-06-2013, 03:31 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donsbabybeamer View Post
Couldn't agree more. My 2014 is in for service so I have 2014 320X and the 320x is as you described above buttery smooth steering, extremely agile and sporty to drive while my X1 needs to be man handled to maneuver or make a turn and I have the Servotronic !
Is your X1 an xDrive28i? Just trying to see if the sDrive models are as steering-heavy.
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      11-06-2013, 03:52 PM   #4
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Interesting. Our 135i with OE tires and non RFT's had much heavier steering than our X1 35i with servotronic. It had the heaviest assisted steering I've felt, to the point of just being silly, especially because it didn't really have much feedback compared to my M Coupe which had much lighter steering but told you much more about what the front tires were doing.

Donsbabybimmer, you may be the first person I've heard say that they like the F30 steering.
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      11-06-2013, 03:54 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boostm3 View Post
I drive a 2011 135i with M Sport pkg, and today, when I brought it in for an oil change service, the loaner I received was a new 2014 X1 xDrive28i. What struck me immediately is how heavy the steering feels... The steering Im used to on the 135i is butter smooth and its weighting feels significantly lighter yet very direct and tight.. I was fully expecting the X1 steering experience to not replicate the luscious feel of my 135i, but I really wasnt prepared for the degree to which Ive got to horse the wheel around slow turns... Very different indeed! Is it the 4 wheel drive thats making it feel heavy, or have they done something dastardly to the steering, compared with my 135i?
Your loaner doesn't have servotronic. The servotronic steering in the X1 is pretty much identical to the 135i.
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      11-06-2013, 04:23 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by paradoxical3 View Post
Your loaner doesn't have servotronic. The servotronic steering in the X1 is pretty much identical to the 135i.
Hmm, still not what I've experienced. My xDrive 28i loaner had heavier steering than our 35i with Servo, but both were still much lighter than our E82. To be fair, they did rework the steering slightly from our 2008 in 2010 or 2011, and I've never driven the newer 135i to see how different it was.
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      11-06-2013, 05:28 PM   #7
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The difference here is that the xDrive models of the X1 use a hydraulic steering system, where as the sDrive models use the electric power steering. I haven't driven a xDrive so I can't really compare, but I love the way our 2014 sDrive28i drives. The steering to me is just perfect! Also, my sDrive28i doesn't have Servotronic.

Some people swear by the hydraulic and won't drive/order anything else. From what I have read the hydraulic steering has substantially more resistance when turning but offers the best level of road feel. Personal preference I guess! Since my wife drives my car sometimes I don't think she would like very heavy steering.

Definitely try and test both models if you are in the market for a X1.
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      11-06-2013, 05:35 PM   #8
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I read about this issue a lot in the various X1 reviews, but when I test drove the car I did not find anything to complain about. Maybe that's because all of them have servotronic standard now.
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      11-06-2013, 09:25 PM   #9
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Pretty sure mine doesn't have servotronic, and I find the steering to be a bit light more that I've gotten used to it. Also, being a tradesman, I tend to be a bit more husky than most BMW owners (no offence).
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      11-07-2013, 09:17 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
Hmm, still not what I've experienced. My xDrive 28i loaner had heavier steering than our 35i with Servo, but both were still much lighter than our E82. To be fair, they did rework the steering slightly from our 2008 in 2010 or 2011, and I've never driven the newer 135i to see how different it was.
I have the same experience as you Red. My 2012 135i steering is much heavier than our 2013 X1 35i (both hydo, 35i adds Servo). Except, I love the feel of the 135i - it is perfect for me. I feel the Servo kills it in the X1, how I wish I could have deselected that as an option.
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      11-07-2013, 09:30 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottMZ3 View Post
The difference here is that the xDrive models of the X1 use a hydraulic steering system, where as the sDrive models use the electric power steering.
For the X1, this is true. But the OP was comparing the 135i to the X1 so that adds the Servotronic difference to the mix. The 135i does not have Servotronic and it is sublime. The X1 35i hydro rack has Servotronic and is numb to me.

To summarize:
X1 35i comes with hydro + Servotronic, period.
X1 x28i comes with hydro + optional Servotronic.
X1 s28i comes with EPS + optional Servotronic.

For hydro racks, the Servotronic version is a different part than then non-servo. For EPS racks, the addition of Servotronic is just a software change.

And one final point, the hydro non-Servo racks of the X1 and 135i are different parts (from each other) as well.

Last edited by Bill B.; 11-07-2013 at 09:44 AM..
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      11-07-2013, 12:17 PM   #12
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The heavier hydraulic steering is one of the best things about the X1 and it's sad they are getting rid of it! It helps tremendously with road feel. The lighter servotronic is just another floaty mechanical layer in-between you and the ground. But if it's important to be able to turn the wheel with one finger when you park or something, i get it. MO
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      11-07-2013, 12:45 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by popopine View Post
The heavier hydraulic steering is one of the best things about the X1 and it's sad they are getting rid of it! It helps tremendously with road feel. The lighter servotronic is just another floaty mechanical layer in-between you and the ground. But if it's important to be able to turn the wheel with one finger when you park or something, i get it. MO
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