130i Active Steering

130i Active Steering

Author
Discussion

AlexMG

Original Poster:

85 posts

146 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
quotequote all
Hi All,

I'm currently looking to buy a 130i and I've been advised to avoid the Active Steering, I recall reading that it became factory equipment at one point but I can't recall if this is true or I've mixed it up with another BMW model.

Aside from checking the original purchase order or running a VIN check how can I tell if it's fitted?

Thanks!

sixpistons

188 posts

122 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
quotequote all
Active steering was always an option. All facelift cars have come as standard with electric power steering with servotronic (which increases assistance at parking speeds, but not the ratio), pre facelift has hydraulic steering. Active steering (which varies the ratio) was still an option on facelift car; this is in fact a hydraulic system but not meant to be as nice as the fixed ratio systems. I've not driven a car with active steering, but have a facelift car with the standard electric steering. It's not dripping with feel but it's direct and nicely weighted. The pre facelift cars' regular hydraulic steering is meant to have nicer feel though. Drive it and make up your own mind.

Edited by sixpistons on Wednesday 30th September 20:44

richcy

48 posts

174 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
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AlexMG said:
Hi All,

I'm currently looking to buy a 130i and I've been advised to avoid the Active Steering, I recall reading that it became factory equipment at one point but I can't recall if this is true or I've mixed it up with another BMW model.

Aside from checking the original purchase order or running a VIN check how can I tell if it's fitted?

Thanks!
I have a 5 series with Active Steering, it was strange at first but now I love it and would want it again. I recently drove a couple of 3 series' and a 2 series without it, and it always felt like I was turning the steering wheel excessively at slow speeds.

rockford22

357 posts

131 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
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richcy said:
I have a 5 series with Active Steering, it was strange at first but now I love it and would want it again. I recently drove a couple of 3 series' and a 2 series without it, and it always felt like I was turning the steering wheel excessively at slow speeds.
I have a 6 series with Active Steering and would echo the comments above - feels very odd at first and I was advised to avoid it due to the potential cost of it needing repair. When I drive the other half's Polo I realise quite how nice the feature is to have and would probably look for it again in my next car.

Nearly all of the bad press is due to the expensvive repair bills that can be clocked up if the system goes wrong (and a perfectly valid reason that is).