[grimlock]

I was disturbed over the weekend by the sudden thought that I should have got Intergral Active Steering.
Now I am trying to frantically dissuade myself of the notion, first I dug out the price; HKD38k on a 598k base, the rear wheels 'only' turn 3% ..

The 'average' drive for me consist of driving out of my parking lot, lots of turns and ups and down, a few stoplights, then arrive at another parking lot, even more narrow and bumper+rim unfriendly. I fear my luck is about to run out and sooner or latter I'm going to get hit.

Making a U-turn on a sedate HK side road feels like turning the Spanish Armada around. Spot traffic both ways, enlarge the circle, and still not make it by 0.5m - ironically what IAS claims to give you.

The wheelbase of the f10 is large, if IAS could make it maneuver more like a 3 series, it would be infinitely worth it.

My initial reservations on IAS were what it would do to steering feel, but now that we have assertained that there is none, and never will be, that is one objection crossed off.
Another concern was what it would do to handling, would it make the f10 steer/handle worse at both high and low speeds? But having driven it on narrowish winding roads, the long wheelbase is a pain in a** and requires 'timing' the corner. There is huge room for the IAS to have its effect here.
At high speeds, the demand is less pressing, IAS could be an improvement or not.
Lastly, the concern on power delivery, especially with the larger engines and torque-heavy diesels, was that having a moving part there would be 'risky' wrt how it would actually drive. But given that I have a 528i, one of the lease torquey engines, it would theoretically be well suited (in making power delivery less of an issue).
I had originally not wanted to ruin the 'sporty' characterics of my 528i, but now that I am faced with reality that most of its driving life will be spent entering and exiting carparks, and avoiding other cars on turns, the equation favors having extra low-speed maneuverability.
On the front 'SUV' suspension, it is also ironic that I think it would match IAS on the rear quite well. THe front suspension is un-unsettleable, paired with IAS would turn this BMW into one of those space-glider things in the Jetsons.
Now i am upset that I won't have the chance the complete this un-holy pairing that BMW envisioned, I have a half-baked, un-sporty, numb-feeling, unperturbed car that is making me pick up its s*** with extra gear shifts when I want to U-turn.

[juztinl]

don't think too much about something you can't change. it is not like you will order a new car just for IAS.

[grimlock]

thanks juztinl
I am quite upset by this ..
why didn't I think of this sooner.. I 'missed' it

[juztinl]

get over it. i only feel the size in the parking lot.

[CJ]

I thought about IAS too but am just going to enjoy the comfort of this car for now but Im definitely going to Porsche within the next few years and pick up a low mileage 911 or maybe a next gen model.

[delvek]

IAS is more then parking lots, thats only half its mission, on highway speeds it does the opposite, running at high speeds its like its on rails.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by juztinl

get over it. i only feel the size in the parking lot.

I am trying to .. thanks for your encouragement, hopefully it () will die down in a few days

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by CJ

I thought about IAS too but am just going to enjoy the comfort of this car for now but Im definitely going to Porsche within the next few years and pick up a low mileage 911 or maybe a next gen model.

Might as well enjoy it, its not going to be written on our gravestones right?

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by delvek

IAS is more then parking lots, thats only half its mission, on highway speeds it does the opposite, running at high speeds its like its on rails.

Do you have it? Please describe if you do..
Is it like snow boarding? I had this weird thought ..

[juztinl]

how time has changed. when i got my 335 in 2006.. the general consensus was to avoid IAS at all cost.

[rsyed]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Do you have it? Please describe if you do..
Is it like snow boarding? I had this weird thought ..

why are you doing this yourself???

One story: i bought a e60 (6 months old) in 2005, and in 2007 a 12 month old e61. I virtually owned every option there was to order with these two cars, bearing in mind that both had active steering. In 2008 I decided to go on a "green" trip and order a 520dA custom made to my likings and based on the options i already owned. Had to choose between automatic and active steering (according to build spec) - went for the automatic. Beautiful white e60 wiht individual leather (www.syed.at/520dA). 6 months later, i traded the car in for a car with active steering

I still look back and regret why i did not order a 530d then with active steering and sport automatic - probably would have been so happy that I would not have bought the e90 or the x6 that I bought later....

message for you (and I am sorry if this hurts): a bmw without IAS is half the fun. More power (tuning), looks (alloys body kit etc.) can added later, but handling (ias) is done by the factory...

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by juztinl

how time has changed. when i got my 335 in 2006.. the general consensus was to avoid IAS at all cost.

does the e90 have IAS? btw which models do and which don't ? ..

[juztinl]

yea they do. not sure if it is the same tho.
the E60 M5 has it too. and i know people hated it.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by rsyed

why are you doing this yourself???

One story: i bought a e60 (6 months old) in 2005, and in 2007 a 12 month old e61. I virtually owned every option there was to order with these two cars, bearing in mind that both had active steering. In 2008 I decided to go on a "green" trip and order a 520dA custom made to my likings and based on the options i already owned. Had to choose between automatic and active steering (according to build spec) - went for the automatic. Beautiful white e60 wiht individual leather (www.syed.at/520dA). 6 months later, i traded the car in for a car with active steering

I still look back and regret why i did not order a 530d then with active steering and sport automatic - probably would have been so happy that I would not have bought the e90 or the x6 that I bought later....

message for you (and I am sorry if this hurts): a bmw without IAS is half the fun. More power (tuning), looks (alloys body kit etc.) can added later, but handling (ias) is done by the factory...

Well thats just about a dagger through the heart. Thanks.

At least this thread will be informative for others.
Message: The F10 needs IAS like big boobs need a bra.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by juztinl

yea they do. not sure if it is the same tho.
the E60 M5 has it too. and i know people hated it.

I did a quick search .. could only find 'active steering' .. no mention of IAS

yeah, i can imagine why ..

[rsyed]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Well thats just about a dagger through the heart. Thanks.

At least this thread will be informative for others.
Message: The F10 needs IAS like big boobs need a bra.

I did apologize for what I wrote in my posting. But hey, this is only a car. It is only a marriage on time; the divorce is relatively straightforward and the best is - it is fully ok to flirt with other women before you officially divorced

Next time I am sure you will put a tick next to 217/2VH

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by rsyed

I did apologize for what I wrote in my posting. But hey, this is only a car. It is only a marriage on time; the divorce is relatively straightforward and the best is - it is fully ok to flirt with other women before you officially divorced

Next time I am sure you will put a tick next to 217/2VH

Like saying "Hey, I'm going to punch you in 2 seconds!"

But anyway, I thought about it some more, and I've moderated my views. Can be crudely analogized as, vers.2:
"The f10 needs IAS like a small B cup needs a bra."

Or in other words, it helps, but you won't die without it. At its costs wrt. me, its a wash, and I no longer feel bad about not getting it. So I have resolution now.
Thanks for the loaded gun.

btw. I think a large part of the 'felt' difference is due to the Active Steering component of IAS, rather than the Integral(rear wheel) part. I got variable steering option on the C-class at a cost of 1/10 of IAS, so in my 'equation' IAS is over-priced wrt. me. If it was cheaper of course I would get it.

[rsyed]

Originally Posted by grimlock

If it was cheaper of course I would get it.

i am not sure how much IAS costs as i anyway have to tick the box regardless of how much it costs

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by rsyed

i am not sure how much IAS costs as i anyway have to tick the box regardless of how much it costs

you Sir, are a true connoisseur ..

for me its a raw cost/benefit consideration. if it cost too much for what it does, its out

[rsyed]

Originally Posted by grimlock

you Sir, are a true connoisseur ..

for me its a raw cost/benefit consideration. if it cost too much for what it does, its out

but then buying a BMW is insane - you are equally well off driving a kia in rush hour traffic then burning cash in owning a bmw

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by rsyed

but then buying a BMW is insane - you are equally well off driving a kia in rush hour traffic then burning cash in owning a bmw

true, but if a BMW brings more enjoyment than it cost -DING, you should get it
but if BMW's cost 1Million euro/dollars .. would you get it? (ok, you may be insanely rich, then this question does not apply )

apparently sitting in a bmw not moving in traffic is better than a kia, cuz that is the decision I made

[pharding]

IAS does many things well. I highly recommend it.