So whats so great about BMW's steering 'feel' anyway?
04-12-2009, 02:45 AM
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funny, I just spent 10 days driving an E series MB.
definitely way disconnected. the wheel is loose on center, there is a big lag between wheel movement and actual movement, and I did not feel too much of the road, curves, wind, movement, etc. although once when it was really windy, the wheel was all over the place.
my e60, on the other hand, upon my return, I thought something was seriously wrong with my wheel. it was so stiff, hard to turn, then I got used to it and realized I was turning it with the car in place. the steering is much stiffer, probably the stiffest I've felt, but only right on center. you move it off center a bit, with a bit of movement, and you get smoothness and feedback. I can feel so much of the road, potholes and all, but the wheel doesn't bounce around.
put it this way, if something causes the front tires to turn, the MB's steering wheel turns and bounces a bit. on the e60, it just stops, like it's been damped. essentially, the e60 steering has more feel by being more stiff/rigid, if that makes sense. it's just like the difference between a comfort suspension and a sport suspension. the MBs are floating, even loose, but the e60 is glued to the road, follows the up's and down's, left's and right's. it tracks much better than the MB. I realize, of course, that many people prefer that. probably my grandparents prefer that, because they don't want feedback or effort. they would be saturated with too much information that way, wondering what's wrong with the car. the steering wheel is really your most direct connection to the car's movement [not in place], and I think the difference among Audi, BMW, and MB can be described as the amount of filtering, or signal to noise ratio.
hope this helps. of course, the e60's tighter, stiffer steering translates directly into better handling.
definitely way disconnected. the wheel is loose on center, there is a big lag between wheel movement and actual movement, and I did not feel too much of the road, curves, wind, movement, etc. although once when it was really windy, the wheel was all over the place.
my e60, on the other hand, upon my return, I thought something was seriously wrong with my wheel. it was so stiff, hard to turn, then I got used to it and realized I was turning it with the car in place. the steering is much stiffer, probably the stiffest I've felt, but only right on center. you move it off center a bit, with a bit of movement, and you get smoothness and feedback. I can feel so much of the road, potholes and all, but the wheel doesn't bounce around.
put it this way, if something causes the front tires to turn, the MB's steering wheel turns and bounces a bit. on the e60, it just stops, like it's been damped. essentially, the e60 steering has more feel by being more stiff/rigid, if that makes sense. it's just like the difference between a comfort suspension and a sport suspension. the MBs are floating, even loose, but the e60 is glued to the road, follows the up's and down's, left's and right's. it tracks much better than the MB. I realize, of course, that many people prefer that. probably my grandparents prefer that, because they don't want feedback or effort. they would be saturated with too much information that way, wondering what's wrong with the car. the steering wheel is really your most direct connection to the car's movement [not in place], and I think the difference among Audi, BMW, and MB can be described as the amount of filtering, or signal to noise ratio.
hope this helps. of course, the e60's tighter, stiffer steering translates directly into better handling.
04-12-2009, 02:59 AM
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I cant really explain it either, if you want to know what everyone is talking about, test drive the lexus GS, then get in the 5 series. when you drive the GS, which is a comparable sized car and is a high quality japanese automobile, you cant help but sing songs about the high-seas as you steer that boat through traffic.
04-12-2009, 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by mwsu545i' post='844580' date='Apr 12 2009, 06:45 AM
funny, I just spent 10 days driving an E series MB.
definitely way disconnected. the wheel is loose on center, there is a big lag between wheel movement and actual movement, and I did not feel too much of the road, curves, wind, movement, etc. although once when it was really windy, the wheel was all over the place.
my e60, on the other hand, upon my return, I thought something was seriously wrong with my wheel. it was so stiff, hard to turn, then I got used to it and realized I was turning it with the car in place. the steering is much stiffer, probably the stiffest I've felt, but only right on center. you move it off center a bit, with a bit of movement, and you get smoothness and feedback. I can feel so much of the road, potholes and all, but the wheel doesn't bounce around.
put it this way, if something causes the front tires to turn, the MB's steering wheel turns and bounces a bit. on the e60, it just stops, like it's been damped. essentially, the e60 steering has more feel by being more stiff/rigid, if that makes sense. it's just like the difference between a comfort suspension and a sport suspension. the MBs are floating, even loose, but the e60 is glued to the road, follows the up's and down's, left's and right's. it tracks much better than the MB. I realize, of course, that many people prefer that. probably my grandparents prefer that, because they don't want feedback or effort. they would be saturated with too much information that way, wondering what's wrong with the car. the steering wheel is really your most direct connection to the car's movement [not in place], and I think the difference among Audi, BMW, and MB can be described as the amount of filtering, or signal to noise ratio.
hope this helps. of course, the e60's tighter, stiffer steering translates directly into better handling.
definitely way disconnected. the wheel is loose on center, there is a big lag between wheel movement and actual movement, and I did not feel too much of the road, curves, wind, movement, etc. although once when it was really windy, the wheel was all over the place.
my e60, on the other hand, upon my return, I thought something was seriously wrong with my wheel. it was so stiff, hard to turn, then I got used to it and realized I was turning it with the car in place. the steering is much stiffer, probably the stiffest I've felt, but only right on center. you move it off center a bit, with a bit of movement, and you get smoothness and feedback. I can feel so much of the road, potholes and all, but the wheel doesn't bounce around.
put it this way, if something causes the front tires to turn, the MB's steering wheel turns and bounces a bit. on the e60, it just stops, like it's been damped. essentially, the e60 steering has more feel by being more stiff/rigid, if that makes sense. it's just like the difference between a comfort suspension and a sport suspension. the MBs are floating, even loose, but the e60 is glued to the road, follows the up's and down's, left's and right's. it tracks much better than the MB. I realize, of course, that many people prefer that. probably my grandparents prefer that, because they don't want feedback or effort. they would be saturated with too much information that way, wondering what's wrong with the car. the steering wheel is really your most direct connection to the car's movement [not in place], and I think the difference among Audi, BMW, and MB can be described as the amount of filtering, or signal to noise ratio.
hope this helps. of course, the e60's tighter, stiffer steering translates directly into better handling.
You've just described one of the key things that separates a BMW from most of its supposed competitors.
It's not something that will show up in a 0-60 test, where the average stock MB E550 will beat the average stock BMW 550.
It shows up in the confidence and feeling of control that you have while driving an E60. It is not merely a piece of machinery that you are guiding. It feels like an extension of your body and your mind.
04-12-2009, 05:04 AM
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Originally Posted by ynottony' post='844230' date='Apr 11 2009, 05:13 PM
I need to change my underwear everytime I take a sharp corner or turn in my 5 series.
04-12-2009, 05:12 AM
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Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='844613' date='Apr 12 2009, 07:49 AM
It feels like an extension of your body and your mind.
I think you captured it exactly.
04-12-2009, 06:04 AM
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Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='844613' date='Apr 12 2009, 08:49 AM
Very well written.
You've just described one of the key things that separates a BMW from most of its supposed competitors.
It's not something that will show up in a 0-60 test, where the average stock MB E550 will beat the average stock BMW 550.
It shows up in the confidence and feeling of control that you have while driving an E60. It is not merely a piece of machinery that you are guiding. It feels like an extension of your body and your mind.
You've just described one of the key things that separates a BMW from most of its supposed competitors.
It's not something that will show up in a 0-60 test, where the average stock MB E550 will beat the average stock BMW 550.
It shows up in the confidence and feeling of control that you have while driving an E60. It is not merely a piece of machinery that you are guiding. It feels like an extension of your body and your mind.
Not if I was driving
Audi A6 4.2 BMW 550i Jaguar XF Supercharged Mercedes-Benz E550
0-60 mph acceleration, sec. 6.5 5.4 5.5 5.2
Quarter-mile acceleration, sec. 14.6 13.7 13.6 13.4
Quarter-mile speed, mph 97.2 104.1 104.6 104.6
60-0-mph braking, feet 114.0 111.0 108.0 120.0
Lateral Acceleration, g 0.86 0.89 0.87 0.82
600-ft slalom, mph 66.1 65.0 66.7 63.0
Previous | Next
04-12-2009, 06:46 AM
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Originally Posted by craigm1841' post='844585' date='Apr 12 2009, 03:59 AM
when you drive the GS, ... you cant help but sing songs about the high-seas as you steer that boat through traffic.
like the lincoln my mom drive when I was a kid....but that was a big boat, and that was the driving "feel" that my mom liked.
04-12-2009, 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by jrsamps' post='844652' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:04 AM
Not if I was driving
Audi A6 4.2 BMW 550i Jaguar XF Supercharged Mercedes-Benz E550
0-60 mph acceleration, sec. 6.5 5.4 5.5 5.2
Quarter-mile acceleration, sec. 14.6 13.7 13.6 13.4
Quarter-mile speed, mph 97.2 104.1 104.6 104.6
60-0-mph braking, feet 114.0 111.0 108.0 120.0
Lateral Acceleration, g 0.86 0.89 0.87 0.82
600-ft slalom, mph 66.1 65.0 66.7 63.0
Previous | Next
Audi A6 4.2 BMW 550i Jaguar XF Supercharged Mercedes-Benz E550
0-60 mph acceleration, sec. 6.5 5.4 5.5 5.2
Quarter-mile acceleration, sec. 14.6 13.7 13.6 13.4
Quarter-mile speed, mph 97.2 104.1 104.6 104.6
60-0-mph braking, feet 114.0 111.0 108.0 120.0
Lateral Acceleration, g 0.86 0.89 0.87 0.82
600-ft slalom, mph 66.1 65.0 66.7 63.0
Previous | Next
But if you yourself drove the same two cars to the best of your ability, the MB E550 would beat the BMW 550 in both 0-60 and quarter mile.
That's why the TT 400 bhp V8 to be placed in the F10 can't come fast enough.
04-12-2009, 08:32 AM
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Peronally, I truly love the feel of the steering wheel... very responsive and concise!
04-12-2009, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by bradleyjs' post='844798' date='Apr 12 2009, 12:32 PM
Peronally, I truly love the feel of the steering wheel... very responsive and concise!
The beauty of the BMW steering wheel is that it forces you to use 2 hands and put them in the proper 10 and 2 o'clock positions were maximum control.