I have active steering on my current E61 and I have not felt so big difference compared with the Passat I also have that don't have active steering.

I'm looking at a F11 now and wonder if there are any F10 owners that can tell if the Integral steering is a must?

My F10 550i doesn't have it but I did test-drive a 535i with it and personally, I don't like it. I think it's nice for parking and for getting in/out of tight spaces but for me, it just didn't feel right. I think this is something that you just have to test for yourself and see if it's right for you.

@Petes550i: I understand your F10 does not have IAS. In a clear parking lot, at low speed, say 5 mph, is your steering lock-to-lock 2.1 turns or is it more?

At low speed:
- does it feel more sensitive at center (active steering)?
- does it steer faster, with lower ratio, away from center (variable ratio)?

Did test drive a E60 with AS but I didn't like it.
But I'm sure I would have got used to it.

My LCI E60 520dA came with the Servotronic that I didn't have in my '04 and '05 E60 525iA's.
At first it felt a bit odd but as I have it also in my F10 (standard feature) it feels now as a must.

You get servotronic so you don't need the AS for your new F10/11.

How is the servotronic acting? Is it changing more than level of support from the servo depending on speed?

I tried a F10 this winter and it felt like it had more servo support than my E61 with active steering.

I would say so.

The first days with my LCI E60 the car seemd to take the curves too fast in relatively low speeds, a bit like the AS.
But the servotronic is not as radical in very low speeds as the AS.

Upgrading from the LCI E60 to the F10 the servotronic feels natural and I don't miss the AS,
even doing pocket parking with 20" tires.

Thanks for the input! I will definitely try both before I decide, it's after all almost 2000Eur extra.

I have the IAS on my F10 523i just like I have AS on my previous E60. I like it. It makes the car easier to drive and handle especially with the F10 being bigger than E60. Also, I am able to make U turn at narrow junctions while F10s without the IAS have to reverse to complete the turn. The steering feel is better too compared to an F10 without IAS but I am not sure if this is due to the sport auto transmission option in my car. IAS is an expensive option (it cost me S$6,500 in Singapore) and hence, not too many people opted for it. I guess on balance, if cost is a consideration, it is not a must have option but if you do not feel any pinch paying for it, then I recommend that you go for it.

Interesting to get the opinion from a owner that had AS on the E60. Does the IAS also alter the gearing of the steering depending on speed as the AS do? I have not been able to find if it alters more than the rear wheel steering.