M135i steering and brake feel
Discussion
Took delivery of an M135i on March 1st and 2000 miles later it's doing most of things I wanted from a 4 seat, 4 door, family run around. The only disappointment is steering and brake feel. Steering is too light with no feedback as to what is going on at the wheels. Sport mode improves a bit, but not much. Brakes are just numb and difficult to modulate.
My comparison is with a Porsche 911 GTS, which still sits in the garage, so maybe that's not fair, but I would be interested to have comments from other owners. And before there is a chorus of "it's not an M car so what do you expect", I'm posting here for two reasons: (1) like it or not, most M135i owners look at this forum first, and (2) I have a new M3 on order, specced and confirmed for July delivery. The original intention was to hand back the M135i (I have a pre-agreed price with the dealer) and sell the 911. But will the M3 steering be any better? Is this what we have to accept in the era of electrical assistance?
My comparison is with a Porsche 911 GTS, which still sits in the garage, so maybe that's not fair, but I would be interested to have comments from other owners. And before there is a chorus of "it's not an M car so what do you expect", I'm posting here for two reasons: (1) like it or not, most M135i owners look at this forum first, and (2) I have a new M3 on order, specced and confirmed for July delivery. The original intention was to hand back the M135i (I have a pre-agreed price with the dealer) and sell the 911. But will the M3 steering be any better? Is this what we have to accept in the era of electrical assistance?
T25UFO said:
But will the M3 steering be any better? Is this what we have to accept in the era of electrical assistance?
If the enthusiast motoring press is to be believed, and their writers have a great deal more experience than I, then yes. Might it be worth experimenting with front tyres when the opportunity presents itself? My friend has just taken delivery of his M135i, and I'll feel more qualified to comment once he's handed me the keys for an afternoon!Good luck with the M3,
Dom.
I'd agree that steering is completely devoid of feel, it is however quick and accurate so I don't find it causes me a problem having now got used to it. The brakes however I find fine, they are the first brakes on any BMW I've either owned or driven (including many definite M cars!) that don't appear to be made from tin foil!
Over all I enjoy the car very much, I suspect the numb steering is the price to pay for electric power assistance if the press are to be believed as lack of feel seems to be an issue with every new car that has electric assistance, even the latest Porsches.
Ian
Over all I enjoy the car very much, I suspect the numb steering is the price to pay for electric power assistance if the press are to be believed as lack of feel seems to be an issue with every new car that has electric assistance, even the latest Porsches.
Ian
I'd agree that steering is completely devoid of feel, it is however quick and accurate so I don't find it causes me a problem having now got used to it. The brakes however I find fine, they are the first brakes on any BMW I've either owned or driven (including many definite M cars!) that don't appear to be made from tin foil!
Over all I enjoy the car very much, I suspect the numb steering is the price to pay for electric power assistance if the press are to be believed as lack of feel seems to be an issue with every new car that has electric assistance, even the latest Porsches.
Ian
Over all I enjoy the car very much, I suspect the numb steering is the price to pay for electric power assistance if the press are to be believed as lack of feel seems to be an issue with every new car that has electric assistance, even the latest Porsches.
Ian
The steering is bloody awful, but hey-ho. That's progress. The whole idea of artificial weight (and artificial sound) is a total travesty. I wish you could rip out all the "assistance" and get proper feel and a proper bicep workout when parking like it should be. My brakes were grabby and squeaky for a few thousand miles but they're great now.
I've tracked the car a few times, once the brakes have some temperature I find they're great, no issues at all. The steering isn't the same as the old hydraulic ones, but I know what's happening, and find it good enough.
I found the tyres are the limit, not the brakes, and modulating them is fine on track.
I found the tyres are the limit, not the brakes, and modulating them is fine on track.
That's progress for you I think. Steering "feel" in PAS BMWs, even M-cars, has been gradually getting replaced by steering "quickness" over the last couple of decades, to the point now where I think many believe they are one and the same thing
Christ, I feel like I'm my own granddad now after saying that!
Christ, I feel like I'm my own granddad now after saying that!
Leins said:
That's progress for you I think. Steering "feel" in PAS BMWs, even M-cars, has been gradually getting replaced by steering "quickness" over the last couple of decades, to the point now where I think many believe they are one and the same thing
Christ, I feel like I'm my own granddad now after saying that!
Thanks to electric power steering mostly Christ, I feel like I'm my own granddad now after saying that!
OP - Comparing to a 997 GTS is a bit of a joke, that's one of the best road car I've ever driven. Most things will be disappointing in comparison! Especially when the comparison is a warm shopping car.
Agree with what is being said here.
Porsche are pretty much the best at steering feel, though. I remember driving a Gallardo after my old boxster and thinking that the boxster felt better steering-wise!
The brakes are over assisted on the M135i, and you have to be very gentle with them to avoid throwing around your passenger, where as porsche brakes have more play (in a good way) before the real bite comes.
The M135i's steering is good in some circumstances, however. I'm doing a lot of London driving, and being a bit disconnected from all the potholes and having less road feel makes for a more relaxing drive. I think of it as a very powerful mini barge, rather than a grown up Mini. This "feature" takes it away from being a Sunday hooner, though!
Porsche are pretty much the best at steering feel, though. I remember driving a Gallardo after my old boxster and thinking that the boxster felt better steering-wise!
The brakes are over assisted on the M135i, and you have to be very gentle with them to avoid throwing around your passenger, where as porsche brakes have more play (in a good way) before the real bite comes.
The M135i's steering is good in some circumstances, however. I'm doing a lot of London driving, and being a bit disconnected from all the potholes and having less road feel makes for a more relaxing drive. I think of it as a very powerful mini barge, rather than a grown up Mini. This "feature" takes it away from being a Sunday hooner, though!
I find the steering very direct in the M-Lite, which I guess is how it's supposed to be given it has the variable rack. It is lacking in feel but I'm not sure it's significantly worse (or different) to any of it's competitors. As you've already realised, comparing it to a Porsche rack is futile - one of my lasting memories of my 997 was the amazing steering feel to anything else I've driven!
I have high hopes for the new M3's rack, given BMW M have gone on record confirming how much development it's had and also how they think it's the best electro-mechanical rack on the market. We can but hope!
I have high hopes for the new M3's rack, given BMW M have gone on record confirming how much development it's had and also how they think it's the best electro-mechanical rack on the market. We can but hope!
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