Active Steering
12-24-2005, 02:59 PM
#11
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
Try it and see what you think. Personally I *love* active steering. Whether it was or wasn't on the //M is not really relevant - it's not an apples to apples comparison, and other features such as dynamic drive didn't make the M either and most owners who have that seem to love it. And personally I wouldn't read too much into the reviews - a lot of them were done early in the E60's life, and the system has changed a lot since then with software updates. Plus half the time the writers claiming this or that want to make you think they are better drivers than the BMW engineers who develop this stuff.... If you've never has AS you can definitely live without it - but once you've had it you'll miss it every tiime you drive a non-AS car.
[/quote]
To me AS feels superb at both high and low speeds - presumably you would have had the earlier revision on your last E60, Merv?
12-24-2005, 03:44 PM
#12
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Dublin OH
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Arrived 3 June 2005: 2005 545i - Orient Blue, Black interior, Sport, Steptronic, Cold Weather, NAV, Sirius, Logic7, Comfort Seats, Sunshades. What a glorious ride!
I love my AS; apparently others do not. It seems evident that you need to drive the e60 with and without to see what you think. Relying on others' opinions is not likely to work in this case.
12-24-2005, 03:52 PM
#13
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '04 545iS 6 spd, bought new via eBay, 11/05; Blk/Gry, Cold, L7, PDC, BMW Rear seatcover for pets.
First "Bumwa" was a new 1971 2002. High performance 5s since 1987. Beamer motorcycles too, currently on an 07 BMW K1200 GT; also a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP III.
I like it, but it worries me, in terms of clipping/curbing those expensive wheels and tires in close cornering activity (in the parking lane, to the right of the driving lane, e.g. taking a right on red) for instance. I have slow-speed curbed wheels a couple of times, but I've only had it 6 weeks.
No vagueness at higher speeds.
Generally, I usually feel cautiously positive about it.
Ray Hull
No vagueness at higher speeds.
Generally, I usually feel cautiously positive about it.
Ray Hull
12-24-2005, 08:04 PM
#15
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Originally Posted by new-kid' post='215346' date='Dec 24 2005, 05:36 PM
I notice a lot of (particularly US) cars seem to have specced the Active Steering
I seem to recall that in almost every UK roadtest they have slated the Active Steering and recommended to avoid it (the standard complaint along with run flats!).
I don't have it - and none of the cars I have driven had it - so can't verify their view.
So is it money well spent or diluting the driver experience ?
I seem to recall that in almost every UK roadtest they have slated the Active Steering and recommended to avoid it (the standard complaint along with run flats!).
I don't have it - and none of the cars I have driven had it - so can't verify their view.
So is it money well spent or diluting the driver experience ?
As soon as I get into a non-AS car (E60 or otherwise) I can tell the difference as soon as I turn out of the dealer's parking lot.[/quote]Hi swaja:
What do you feel comparatively when you leave the dealer's parking lot in an AS equipped car versus one that is not so equipped? My issue of whether I have AS or not was kind of tongue in cheek. I knew I had AS or at least that it is supposed to be on my car.
But, still, I just don't notice AS. I jump back and forth among the 545i, the X5, the Z06, and the RX-7 seamlessly. I am not sure what's at play here, but I never notice how much wheel movement it takes to do the same things in the various cars. I notice that the RX-7, with no power steering, and the X5 are harder to steer than the other 2 and that the X5 has a great turning radius with the 545i coming in second. But, that's it.
In each car, I just turn the wheel and it goes where I want with no thought about how much to turn the wheel. Some report doing thing like hitting curbs because they don't turn their wheels enough if going into turns slightly fast. I never hit things. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I need
. 
12-24-2005, 08:48 PM
#16
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
Try it and see what you think. Personally I *love* active steering. Whether it was or wasn't on the //M is not really relevant - it's not an apples to apples comparison, and other features such as dynamic drive didn't make the M either and most owners who have that seem to love it. And personally I wouldn't read too much into the reviews - a lot of them were done early in the E60's life, and the system has changed a lot since then with software updates. Plus half the time the writers claiming this or that want to make you think they are better drivers than the BMW engineers who develop this stuff.... If you've never has AS you can definitely live without it - but once you've had it you'll miss it every tiime you drive a non-AS car.
AS is invisible to me. Some say, OK, you can notice AS by noting the relatively small wheel movements needed to park. Boy, that's a biggie. And, maybe one can notice that it takes more wheel movements to turn at speed. Hummmm? I adjust so quickly to different cars, etc., that, as indicated, I never notice AS. AS is said to be a safety feature. OK, fine, I guess I am glad I have AS. Still, I think that one could easily do without AS.
Originally Posted by vnod' post='215369' date='Dec 24 2005, 03:35 PM
[quote name='new-kid' post='215346' date='Dec 24 2005, 05:36 PM']
I notice a lot of (particularly US) cars seem to have specced the Active Steering
I seem to recall that in almost every UK roadtest they have slated the Active Steering and recommended to avoid it (the standard complaint along with run flats!).
I don't have it - and none of the cars I have driven had it - so can't verify their view.
So is it money well spent or diluting the driver experience ?
I notice a lot of (particularly US) cars seem to have specced the Active Steering
I seem to recall that in almost every UK roadtest they have slated the Active Steering and recommended to avoid it (the standard complaint along with run flats!).
I don't have it - and none of the cars I have driven had it - so can't verify their view.
So is it money well spent or diluting the driver experience ?
As soon as I get into a non-AS car (E60 or otherwise) I can tell the difference as soon as I turn out of the dealer's parking lot.[/quote]Hi swaja:
What do you feel comparatively when you leave the dealer's parking lot in an AS equipped car versus one that is not so equipped? My issue of whether I have AS or not was kind of tongue in cheek. I knew I had AS or at least that it is supposed to be on my car.
But, still, I just don't notice AS. I jump back and forth among the 545i, the X5, the Z06, and the RX-7 seamlessly. I am not sure what's at play here, but I never notice how much wheel movement it takes to do the same things in the various cars. I notice that the RX-7, with no power steering, and the X5 are harder to steer than the other 2 and that the X5 has a great turning radius with the 545i coming in second. But, that's it.
In each car, I just turn the wheel and it goes where I want with no thought about how much to turn the wheel. Some report doing thing like hitting curbs because they don't turn their wheels enough if going into turns slightly fast. I never hit things. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I need
. [/quote]
vnod, it's principally that with AS the steering feels to me to be a lot more more intuitive whereas with the non-AS loaners I get or my wife's car you feel like you need to put both physical and mental effort into the process. With AS it's almost like you can think your way round the (lower speed/sharper angle) corners. I've never driven another car after being in the E60 and thought it was seamless - not to say you don't adapt quickly but the differences are (to me) fairly obvious/
Have a good christmas!!
12-24-2005, 10:02 PM
#17
Senior Members
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535d (4/05) M Sport, Carbon black, Black dakota leather, Sport seats, Xenon, Navi prof, Hi-fi pack, AS, BT, PDC, Sunroof
AS is great makes the car feel like a go-kart
p.s. btw it has been improved since introduced in the early e60s
p.s. btw it has been improved since introduced in the early e60s
12-25-2005, 01:44 AM
#18
Members
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 545i 6-speed, jet black on black, sport package, dynamic handling package (active handling and active steering), electric rear and manual side sunshades.
In my humble experience, most car critics that have criticised active steering also dislike iDrive. I think both features are innovative but, most importantly, require a learning curve. My car has AS and I fing it especially useful in underground parking lots. Unfortunately it is an expensive option and was bundled with the sports package (in Canada). Would I order it as a stand-alone feature? Probably not. Do I appreciate its capabilities? Absolutely.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
12-25-2005, 05:48 AM
#19
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 6,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2014 X5 xDrive 5.0 M Package Carbon Black Metallic/2008 M Roadster Imola Red
Hi swaja:
What do you feel comparatively when you leave the dealer's parking lot in an AS equipped car versus one that is not so equipped? My issue of whether I have AS or not was kind of tongue in cheek. I knew I had AS or at least that it is supposed to be on my car.
But, still, I just don't notice AS. I jump back and forth among the 545i, the X5, the Z06, and the RX-7 seamlessly. I am not sure what's at play here, but I never notice how much wheel movement it takes to do the same things in the various cars. I notice that the RX-7, with no power steering, and the X5 are harder to steer than the other 2 and that the X5 has a great turning radius with the 545i coming in second. But, that's it.
In each car, I just turn the wheel and it goes where I want with no thought about how much to turn the wheel. Some report doing thing like hitting curbs because they don't turn their wheels enough if going into turns slightly fast. I never hit things. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I need.
What do you feel comparatively when you leave the dealer's parking lot in an AS equipped car versus one that is not so equipped? My issue of whether I have AS or not was kind of tongue in cheek. I knew I had AS or at least that it is supposed to be on my car.
But, still, I just don't notice AS. I jump back and forth among the 545i, the X5, the Z06, and the RX-7 seamlessly. I am not sure what's at play here, but I never notice how much wheel movement it takes to do the same things in the various cars. I notice that the RX-7, with no power steering, and the X5 are harder to steer than the other 2 and that the X5 has a great turning radius with the 545i coming in second. But, that's it.
In each car, I just turn the wheel and it goes where I want with no thought about how much to turn the wheel. Some report doing thing like hitting curbs because they don't turn their wheels enough if going into turns slightly fast. I never hit things. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I need
. Have a good christmas!!
[/quote]
I will, and you too. Thanks for your reply and trying to awaken my senses. It looks like I'll just have to think of myself as a seamless adapter or insensitive to roadly manners. I do notice that my car feels good, but don't notice anything that blows me away comparatively. The 545i and the Z06 feel equally good to me. And, they all go where I want. Oh, well. I guess I am beyond
