[indus]

I'm meant to confirm my order this weekend for a 535d MS and am getting worried reading about all these reports of vague steering at high speed/grinding noise/pulling to the right.

Can some people on here reassure me that this is not a widespread problem?

Thanks

[algoodman]

Originally Posted by indus

I'm meant to confirm my order this weekend for a 535d MS and am getting worried reading about all these reports of vague steering at high speed/grinding noise/pulling to the right.

Can some people on here reassure me that this is not a widespread problem?

Thanks

From various messages on the BMW Forums (Fora) it appears to have been a problem on Pre-September build RWD cars. It may not be a problem now. I have a Sept build 535i xDrive and have no such problem.

[ibimmer954]

My car is an April/May 2010 build and I've never had steering issues. I think the steering is quite amazing. But I do have the Dynamic Drive Control and the Integral Active Steering; those probably have a lot to do with the steering feel in my car. Don't have any issues with the car drifting left or right, either.

[72M4]

August build 535i with absolutely no steering and/or noise problems. You have to put the reporting of these problems in prespective. My guess is that probably 90% of all 5 series purchasers never look at an internet forum associated with BMW. The 10% that do are a younger crowd that both parrot what they read in one or two magazine articles and then preceive a similar problem in their car.

This is not to say that there aren't valid problems out there; however, the forum amplifies all problems regardless of their frequency.

[wessew10]

My 550i is October build. I ordered it with the Sports Package and IAS. No issues with steering at all. Very pleased with combination of power, steering, handling, and comfort.

[gatoman39]

Don't sweat it guy. The people on these forums represent a small number of the over all F10's in the world, albeit knowledgeable and passionate. It's a crap shoot. Sometimes you get a gem, other times you'll get a turd and most people will get something in between. Life's too short to worry about things like that.

[EdM5]

No problem whatoever. My 535d's steering (including IAS) is fantastic.
But keep in mind, the f10 is indeed a large car. If you want that old school BMW steering: get yourself a 1 series.

[kiasu king]

My F10 523i is a july-built with IAS. I have no steering issue. The steering is fantastic. I drove the F10 without IAS and found the steering quite detached but I would not consider that a steering issue.

[Hoss NY]

My F10 April/May build has no steering issues. Great car.

[pharding]

My June build 550i with IAS is awesome and does not have any steering issues. With SOP September 2010 the steering issues are resolved.

[indus]

Guys, so good to hear from you!

One thing though, it seems all the people who have spoken up here to say they have no problems also seem to have IAS. I wasn't going to spec IAS as I haven't managed to test a car with it on. I had also read that that IAS has an artificial feel to it.

So does that mean having IAS so how 'protects' you from having some of these steering issues that have been circulating on the web?


On a side note, may I ask how the IAS differs from standard in terms of feel? Did anybody here compare a F10 with and without IAS? What were the differences?

Thanks again guys!

[wannes]

i have the IAS and my car also pull's to the right

535 d F11 build in october

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by algoodman

From various messages on the BMW Forums (Fora) it appears to have been a problem on Pre-September build RWD cars. It may not be a problem now. I have a Sept build 535i xDrive and have no such problem.

Your 'x' drive car has hydraulic steering; as far as I know this problem only affects those cars with electric steering.

[indus]

Originally Posted by wannes

i have the IAS and my car also pull's to the right

535 d F11 build in october

Delivered in October or actually built in October? If the latter that would mean you got the car in about 6 weeks???

[ipso_facto]

My 520d M Sport (Sport Auto), with the M Sport suspension is great. This was an early October build. No issues at all. Like other posters have said, you have to take these forums in perspective. Folks posting here are, in one extreme or another, "enthusiasts" for their vehicles, as such any issue / sticking point will get amplified.

Also, be re-assured that, if you are unfortunate enough to have a problem, you are purchasing from one of the highest quality main-stream car makers. As such, it is stongly in their interest to fix any problem you have, in order to generate repeat business. I probably don't have to tell you this, but when you are buying a car from BMW / Mercedes / Audi, you are buying into a brand, not simply purchasing a car. The manufacturer will have a huge respect ( and when I say respect, what I mean is, cartoon dollar signs in their eyes ) for the fact that you have owned a high performance car in the M5, and your planned 535d M Sport - you are exactly the customer that BMW want to hang onto with both hands - and you should not be shy to point this out to them, if they hesitate to service your needs in any way.

Cheers.

[kiasu king]

I test drove the F10 without IAS and the steering felt very light and detached. The F10 with IAS has a steering feel that is more weighted especially at higher speed and I do not feel that it is artificial as some have reported.

Originally Posted by indus

Guys, so good to hear from you!

One thing though, it seems all the people who have spoken up here to say they have no problems also seem to have IAS. I wasn't going to spec IAS as I haven't managed to test a car with it on. I had also read that that IAS has an artificial feel to it.

So does that mean having IAS so how 'protects' you from having some of these steering issues that have been circulating on the web?


On a side note, may I ask how the IAS differs from standard in terms of feel? Did anybody here compare a F10 with and without IAS? What were the differences?

Thanks again guys!

[indus]

Thanks to all, some great and reassuring comments. Funnily enough I almost didn't buy my M5 because there were loads of stuff on the internet at that time about how awful the SMG gearbox was. I got on with it fine, though now of course it is outdated.

I had a 530d MS for a test drive and found the steering light in normal mode but when you turned the sport box to sport mode it firmed up to give an acceptable feel.

I wonder if those people who have found the steering to be too detached have tried it with a car equipped with the sport auto box?

Anyway I feel reassured enough to continue with my purchase and I am also now going to tick the IAS box

[ipso_facto]

Originally Posted by indus

I had a 530d MS for a test drive and found the steering light in normal mode but when you turned the sport box to sport mode it firmed up to give an acceptable feel.

I wonder if those people who have found the steering to be too detached have tried it with a car equipped with the sport auto box?

I am amazed at the Sport mode it's very good as you have intimated - I think that this is on the regular Auto also, not just the Sports Auto (I think the Sports Auto just gives the paddles as an extra - please correct me if I am wrong with this one).

I read on one posting, that in the 520d it would be like "flogging a dead horse" or something similar - but this is simply not true. Even in the poor man's ( again I feel a good coming on ) 5-er, it transforms the feel of the car.

Good to hear you are taking the plunge!

[Touring]

My steering is both noiseless and goes straight. September build.

[Snapper Chris]

Originally Posted by indus

I'm meant to confirm my order this weekend for a 535d MS and am getting worried reading about all these reports of vague steering at high speed/grinding noise/pulling to the right.

Can some people on here reassure me that this is not a widespread problem?

Thanks

No steering problems at all. It is slightly lighter than my 535d E61 was but that's not an issue. (September build 535i F11 without Active Steering but with Adaptive Drive.)

I do find the turning circle a bit wider than my E61 - probably because the wheelbase of the F11 is a bit longer. Although it's no big issue for me maybe active steering would help with that aspect - especially for those who regularly have to negotiate tight city streets, multistory car parks, etc? Many of UK motoring mags don't seem to like active steering much, however it was the added complexity and therefore the concern about potential unreliability a few years down the road that ruled this option out for me.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by indus

On a side note, may I ask how the IAS differs from standard in terms of feel? Did anybody here compare a F10 with and without IAS? What were the differences?

I have had no problem with steering on my sept build 550 m sport with AIS.

I have AIS and really like it. I drove two identically equipped vehicles, on with and one without AIS back to back at a dealer before deciding. At low speeds and in tight places like a parking lot, it really comes in handy. It improves the turning radius substantially for U-turns. At high speeds, it makes lane changes and other quick moves more agile. On twisty roads with decreasing radius turns it makes the car feel smaller and more nimble.

My previous e60 did not have AIS. I drove two e60s back to back in 2008 and chose not to get it at the time. The AIS in the F10 is improved from what was offered on the last generation. The AIS in the e60 did not have four wheel steering, if I recall correctly.

[indus]

Thanks guys. As a result of this thread (and some further investigation I did on the basis of it) I have decided to also specify the IAS!