Need advice

[UAxDEATH(NYC)]

Hello everyone,

here is my small story, i`m about to order right now BMW X6 5.0i with following packages:

Sport package (active suspension system)
Factory Tune up (extra 40HP)
Premium package with back up camera
Running boards
Heated front seats
Color jet black, on black alcanthara

well, i read up forum as much as i could, but i could find any advices on Active Steering system, does really "must have" or it some i can live with out ?

Any other sugestion are welcome

PS Marry Xmas everyone.

[scottyv]

I drove both with & without.

For me the Active Steering made parking and low speed manuvering way easier and not so heavy handed. Especially with 20's on it and wide rubber the car was way more nimble feeling.

Some people are purists, me I just like the way it felt better.

You do need to be careful not to curb your rims, as a small turn of the wheel at low speeds or stopped is a much bigger movement than the non-active steering vehicle.

[Skywagon]

Get it, my doesn't have it and I wish it did. Some where I read it reduces the amount of steering wheel turns substantially for getting the front wheels to turn lock to lock. Also, besides my steering wheel being relatively heavy, it takes me a full turn to make a normal 90 degree turn on most city streets.

Originally Posted by scottyv

I drove both with & without.

For me the Active Steering made parking and low speed manuvering way easier and not so heavy handed. Especially with 20's on it and wide rubber the car was way more nimble feeling.

Some people are purists, me I just like the way it felt better.

You do need to be careful not to curb your rims, as a small turn of the wheel at low speeds or stopped is a much bigger movement than the non-active steering vehicle.

[REInvestor]

Originally Posted by UAxDEATH(NYC)

Hello everyone,

here is my small story, i`m about to order right now BMW X6 5.0i with following packages:

Sport package (active suspension system)
Factory Tune up (extra 40HP)
Premium package with back up camera
Running boards
Heated front seats
Color jet black, on black alcanthara

well, i read up forum as much as i could, but i could find any advices on Active Steering system, does really "must have" or it some i can live with out ?

Any other sugestion are welcome

PS Marry Xmas everyone.

The active steering IMO made the car's steering feel too loose, not tight and sporty at all. Why get the sport package if you're going to add the active steering? Being that you got the sport package as I did, you will not want the active steering. You're looking for a purists sporty drive with a tight suspension.

[dmlgc]

big plus, besides low speed and parking (parking is big issue if a female ever drives it as they don't have upper body strength to muscle it) at very high speeds , 130+ I have found it helps keep car tracking very straight, in other cars I have found steering too loose at high speeds. also the sport package (one you can engage with a button) tightens up the suspensions not the steering.

[BigBobDeuce]

I have active steering in my 2009 5.0 X6 and like it. I do notice that the steering wheel has slightly more "play" on the highway, but I think it's also due to the large wheels picking up and tracking road imperfections. AS does make city driving and parking very easy. The only other negative is that, according to my dealer in Atlanta, very few cars (X6s or other BMWs) have active steering--which makes repairs and even alignments somewhat challenging. I needed an alignment and it was approx. $100 more than a standard alignment because of AS, and also took a day longer while the techs figured out how exactly to do it (but they got it right). Just something else to keep in mind.

[bbmw]

you should get it! I've tested both before I bought my x6 and there is a huge difference. The car responds more accurate to your movements when you drive in town, at slow speeds, and when you park. I think it also shortens your turn circle

[artrosis]

I know there is a lot of debate about it, but if you are going to be doing a lot of city driving you should get it.

[DrEvil]

I would try it before you buy it. I had a similar query about whether to get sport vs contour vs standard seats on a prior BMW purchase. Very personal judgement, I think.

[audioquest]

I would say go for it. It make parking so easy and city drive. Nothing wrong in high way.

[shenard]

Originally Posted by REInvestor

The active steering IMO made the car's steering feel too loose, not tight and sporty at all. Why get the sport package if you're going to add the active steering? Being that you got the sport package as I did, you will not want the active steering. You're looking for a purists sporty drive with a tight suspension.

+1. I agree with this comment but it is mostly personal preference. Granted during low speed turns or mamnuevers the wheel is tight, it is not that bad and I have gotten used to it. I really like the somewhat tighter steering as it is more sporty and has more feel.

Everytime I drive my wife's car the power steering is way too much for me and I do not like that feel.

I would drive both. The one nice feature of it is that your turning radius is smaller and you do not have to turn the wheel as far to make the vehicle turn.

[chuck92103]

I had AS before on a 645. It was cool at first then I quickly got over it. The car felt like a chevy. I also did not like the sandy/grinding noise the steering column made. This noise is more prevalent on some cars than others.

AS overboosts the steering which is why the wheel turns less and easier. You will find the car drives like a chevy at low to moderate speed. Also be careful when letting someone else drive a car with AS. Unfamiliar drivers can easily damage you wheels because they are not used to the short turns required and can easily hit a curb.

Not all AS is the same. AS is programmable. Meaning BMW sets the steering/boost based on the vehicle. If customers complain a software update can change the steering. This is why two people with the same BMW year/model have different experiences with AS. It depends on the software version, tires, etc.

Dealers do not order BMW's with AS. It is rare to see a car with AS on the lot. This is because most don't want to pay $1,000 for an option that changes a BMW to a domestic feeling car. AS was part of the sport package on the 5/6 series back in 2004/2005. Customers complained because they wanted the sport package but not AS so BMW removed it and now is a standalone option for all models.

It is your call. Just remember active steering, active cruise, and HUD are all high profit niche options rarely sold. Combined they add almost $5k to a cars MSRP. So consider your needs as some options can greatly affect the cost of a vehicle.

Also, cars with AS need to go the the dealer for alignments. No tire shop is equipped to work on AS cars. They will do the basic alignment without checking AS when they are done.

It seems to me, AS and the sport package are oposing options. But as others have said it is a personal preference. A conventional steering system means that the car reaction is easily predictable, active steering means you have to adapt yourself to the car settings permanently which could be felt as disturbing. Also if you drive two different cars and only one has AS, you could be annoyed at the adjustment you have to make.

Simply put, on a conventional steering system, the driver is in control and each turn of the wheel yields the same consistent effect on the turning process. With AS, the car is in control of the steering and the driver must adapt to the car's reaction to steering input.

[DrEvil]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I

It is your call. Just remember active steering, active cruise, and HUD are all high profit niche options rarely sold. Combined they add almost $5k to a cars MSRP. So consider your needs as some options can greatly affect the cost of a vehicle.

Ha, ha. These are precisely the 3 options I excluded. I think they do transform the car from luxury to pure comfort, which some poeple like. On the other hand, the reason BMW is the ultimate driving machine is because all models retain just the right amount of road feel and involvement. If you want that much comfort, chose Lexus. For more driving involvement get Porsche. But BMW is the sweet spot IMO, and cheaper than the other manufacturers.

My porsche dealer explained to me why the 911 does not have push button start. "You need to feel the mechanical clicks and clanks as the engine starts, a button makes it too detached". Funny thing is that "comfort access" on BMW is one of my favorite things. Why a $150K car does not at least have the option, IDK.

These are all personal preferences.

[DrEvil]

oh, BTW, my car will be finished today and maybe ship tomorrow. Yippee!

[UAxDEATH(NYC)]

Ok. I have made my decision and ordered car without Active steering, one of the reasons, i don't like lexus is its too "sweet" if you know what i mean.

But here goes another question, as i`m ordered my car, i want to buy a rims 20'-21' something in black color. Any suggestion with that and tiers ??

Thx in advance