BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

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      07-20-2007, 09:53 AM   #1
grant
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Electric Power Steering for 135i?

Does anyone know whether the 135i will have the electric or hydraulic PS? I have heard it both ways. Didn't BMW provide regular PS on the Z4M and maybe other M cars because it has better feel than the electric unit (which is used for it's greater efficiency in some of its models - no parasitic engine loss from belt-driven PS pump).

Can anyone comment on how the two systems feel and which one is preferred (I assume non-electric) and which will be on the 135i.

Thanks!
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      07-20-2007, 10:01 AM   #2
inTgr8r
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grant View Post
Does anyone know whether the 135i will have the electric or hydraulic PS? I have heard it both ways. Didn't BMW provide regular PS on the Z4M and maybe other M cars because it has better feel than the electric unit (which is used for it's greater efficiency in some of its models - no parasitic engine loss from belt-driven PS pump).

Can anyone comment on how the two systems feel and which one is preferred (I assume non-electric) and which will be on the 135i.

Thanks!
I haven't heard anything definite, about the 135i either way.

RE: the Z4;
Yes, I have hydraulic PS in my Z4M and the other Z4s have electric/servo.

My guess would be that the 135i will be electric, since it's not an M division car.
Same goes for LSD and is why the 135i (and 335) does not get it.
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      07-20-2007, 10:16 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by inTgr8r View Post
I haven't heard anything definite, about the 135i either way.

RE: the Z4;
Yes, I have hydraulic PS in my Z4M and the other Z4s have electric/servo.

My guess would be that the 135i will be electric, since it's not an M division car.
Same goes for LSD and is why the 135i (and 335) does not get it.
Everything that I've heard or read points to the 135i having electric power steering. Good for power, not so good for road feel. Fortunately the system is improving.
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      07-20-2007, 10:17 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ibeam81 View Post
Everything that I've heard or read points to the 135i having electric power steering. Good for power, not so good for road feel. Fortunately the system is improving.

Yup, you are right on.
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      07-20-2007, 10:27 AM   #5
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with the active steering option that they are giving us wouldn't that be electric and not hydraulic? :iono:
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      07-20-2007, 10:57 AM   #6
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That's too bad. My father had an E90 330i Sedan without the Active Steering, but with the Sport Package and Run Flats. I thought the steering was very numb. Was that system electric? I hope the 135i is better than that!
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      07-20-2007, 11:11 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grant View Post
That's too bad. My father had an E90 330i Sedan without the Active Steering, but with the Sport Package and Run Flats. I thought the steering was very numb. Was that system electric? I hope the 135i is better than that!
No, it was not. You thought that was numb? You should drive an E46 330, espcially a 2001. Having owned two E46 coupes I feel that the E90 is an improvement.
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      07-20-2007, 12:15 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver View Post
No, it was not. You thought that was numb? You should drive an E46 330, espcially a 2001. Having owned two E46 coupes I feel that the E90 is an improvement.
Wow. I did drive a 2001 E46 M3 and thought that steering was numb compared to the E36 M3. So, do you think the 135i will be much worse?
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      07-20-2007, 12:16 PM   #9
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How much better is the steering feel if you ditch the runflats? Or does that just affect road harshness and grip?
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      07-20-2007, 01:09 PM   #10
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According to the UK 1er coupe guide, it comes with Electronic Power Steering (with servotronic), not surprisingly.
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      07-21-2007, 11:52 AM   #11
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I took a couple minutes today to visit the local BMW dealer and asked to test drive a Z4 with the electrically assisted rack. When I talked to the 'Client Advisor' (Ha! Screwy name for a salesman ; -), he mentioned that he'd experienced the issue with the Acura NSX that I had observed, gave me the keys to the Z4 and said, "have at it!".

Short story long, the feel of the electrically assisted rack will not be an issue for me on the 135i. It did not provide the 'finger tingling' sensations that the Miata does but it wasn't dead numb either (like the original versions of GM's Magnasteer were) nor did it have the little odd half-on then full-on hesitation that the NSX exhibited. (That is one squirrely steering rack.)

The Car article mentioned earlier in this thread hints that BMW is actively trying to enhance the feel of the rack for this model. If it's as good or better than the Z4, I'm fine.

I did not test the 'Active Steering' nor would I purchase that - anything that puts a planetary gearset in a steering column is something I'm going to avoid like the plauge. ; -)
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      07-21-2007, 12:47 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atr_hugo View Post
I did not test the 'Active Steering' nor would I purchase that - anything that puts a planetary gearset in a steering column I'm going to avoid like the plauge. ; -)
I agree as well. I believe none of the BMW M cars even offer Active Steering. That leads me to believe it does not enhance performance in any way and it's just a convenience feature.
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      07-29-2007, 04:18 PM   #13
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Here's a link to a mildly technical article on electric power steering.
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