As far as I'm concerned, it's time to shut down this pissing match. Almost as bad as the the SMG vs Step vs Manual "discussion". Different people buy different cars with different options that meet their individual needs/wants/desires. People like their AS. Others don't care for it. FINE! I don't have it, never liked the feel of it on my admittedly brief test drives. Am very happy without it. Other have it and love it. FINE! It's what they want from their cars. Time to move on. I don't mind a heated debate that adds something constructive, but all this is a list of subjective opinions, intermingled with the occasional personal comment about someone else.

 

My experience with AS is with e60, Toyota truck, and Maxima. When I drive the non AS vehicles, I find myself expecting more response from the steering mechanism. This requires an adjustment on part. Driving my e60 with AS is effortless, like driving a go cart.

I will say this about posts on this board. Stick to what you know. If I ask how to remove the shark fin, don't reply with "are you going to make shark fin soup". When it comes to specific information, don't guess, don't give a maybe, don't joke...if you have specific experiences or opinions backed by experience, or true information on topic please post. Otherwise, remain silent.

I appologize for hijacking this topic with a commentary.

 

No AS isnt worth the $$... I dont know how much it costs as a stand alone option. It was included in the sports pacakge for me. I like the easy to turn while driving in parking lot but I dont like it when I make a right turn. I keep over turning and have to pull back to correct myself. and in my MINI I got use to turning the wheel like a quarter turn before backing up in my driveway as I have to make a sharp turn to avoid hiting the house when backing out but when I do that with the E60 a quarter turn is ALOT and it scrapes the tires against the ground making that rubbing noise! A quarter turn in the MINI doent do much and it preps the turn for me and so when I start backing up I can make the turn better.

Its really a matter of getting USE to it.

 

HAHAHHA I just asked why you're removing the fin... just being curious... cuz maybe you were installing somthing I want to install too... Someoen else asked if you were making sharkfin soup.

 

Personally I like Active Steering a lot. It works well for me and is well worth the money. I have tried to notice in the conditions that other members described in this thread. Unfortunately I must be insensitive or something, because I do not notice it when I try except at low speeds in a parking lot. To me it is another tempest in a tea pot. I suspect that most people, the silent majority like it or can't tell the difference above 10 mph like me. However that said maybe it should be a stand alone option.

Someone quoted a car magazine in their commentary about active steering. Most of those auto journalists have no creditability in my opinion. When I compare their commentary about the e60, particularly the design and I-Drive, to my personal experience, their judgement seems lacking. I respect informed opinions of members of this forum. Opinions of journalists in print are just that, opinions.

 

It still IS a drivers car. You don't need to buy the gadgets if you don't like them. But saying those features are stupid/silly IS silly. YOU don't like them - that doesn't make them stupid or silly gadgets!
And: NO! I don't have a hard time turning any steering wheels, but AS makes it easier, and city driving more enjoyable. Maybe not for you, but that's why you can buy the E60 without those gadgets!


More to my point. This lame AS is making it hard for people to drive other cars it seems. This is the 2nd example in this thread at least..
[/quote]
You are misinterpreting the comments ppl make here.
ANYBODY CAN still drive a car without AS. You only need about 15 seconds to re-adjust yourself to regular steering wheels, because the system is very intuitive! When ppl make such comments it more likely means, that they don't want to drive without AS anymore, because they like it so much.

 

Well said.

 

A recent test of the 3 series in Test Drive magazine states "Don't waste your money on Active Steering". They tested 2 3's side by side one with and one without and said the one without had much better steering feel albeit a bitch to park!

 

A recent test of the 3 series in Test Drive magazine states "Don't waste your money on Active Steering". They tested 2 3's side by side one with and one without and said the one without had much better steering feel albeit a bitch to park!
[/quote]

Right on. The people who actually know how to drive cars know AS is lame. PERIOD! BMW knows it too.

 

They said the samething about i-drive and the E60, as well as the 6 cylinder engine of the E60.

All am I saying is, you've gotta try it for your self and decided. I have it, and I love it. If you have it and don't like it, then please say so.