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      09-10-2011, 05:39 PM   #1
WWONG
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X5 Steering Feels Too Light

My \'11.5 X5d\'s steering feels way too light.

The steering on my beater \'01 E39 525i and my old \'10 E92 335i feel perfect, and those cars were 2000 lbs lighter.

Is there anything wrong with my steering? And if I remove some power steering fluid, would it help give it more weight?
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      09-10-2011, 05:42 PM   #2
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Why'd this dumb iPhone app add slashes?
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      09-10-2011, 06:46 PM   #3
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If you have active steering, it's purposely light for parking, and firms up a bit on the road.

What wheels/tires do you have? If not the monster wide 20's, the steering may feel light due to being setup to allow for the much wider tires.

All BMWs seem to be going to lighter steering. I still have more road feel and confidence in the twisties than most any other brand out there. And more than the F10 5 Series.

PS: If you ride with an instructor at the BMW Performance Center and watch how quickly they throw the wheel around, I bet they appreciate the lighter steering.
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      09-10-2011, 07:28 PM   #4
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No AS and I have the 19s that come with the Sports Activity Pckg.

The heavy steering might not help in a track with much turns, but this is an X5, not an M3 (which by the way has a LOVELY heavy steering feel).

I actually drove a '11 Camry as a loaner since my dealership ran out of 3ers and the steering actually feels more responsive (though lighter) than the X5. Definitely has to do with the FWD. Saddens me a little as to what BMWs have become (and don't get me started on the electric steering of the F10 and F25 I drove)

Going to drain some power steering fluid later and see what it does.
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      09-11-2011, 10:15 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3 View Post
only Adaptive Drive was.

Our X5d has the typical heaviness, at low speeds only, so quite a bit of effort during parking lot navigation for the wife. That's with the 20s though, but from everything I've read X5s without AS (available option or not) means very heavy low speed steering effort under normal conditions, so might overboosted at the pump. Is tire pressure overly high?
Cold tire pressure matches that of what the sticker says on the driver side door jamb
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      09-11-2011, 11:18 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WWONG View Post
My \'11.5 X5d\'s steering feels way too light.

The steering on my beater \'01 E39 525i and my old \'10 E92 335i feel perfect, and those cars were 2000 lbs lighter.

Is there anything wrong with my steering? And if I remove some power steering fluid, would it help give it more weight?
This is quite a surprising comment. I actually found the steering rather heavy at low speeds ... Comparing it to my e92 m3 !

Maybe they made some changes from 09 to 11.5 ...
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      09-12-2011, 02:19 PM   #7
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My '11 is borderline "too heavy".
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      09-12-2011, 02:41 PM   #8
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Ask the dealer.
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      09-12-2011, 07:25 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HudsonE92 View Post
Ask the dealer.
Rule of thumb is that the dealer doesn't care unless it (1) throws a code, (2) is clearly broken, or (3) inhibits the car from taking you from point A to point B. They'll just say it was within-spec and no faults were found. At least they take the effort to pretend to care.
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      09-14-2011, 12:58 PM   #10
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I have an '11, premium trim, 19"/255s all around and the steering is firm and has good weight. No issues with loose steering.
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      09-16-2011, 07:31 AM   #11
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I came out of an e53 that I had driven for 7 years, and the e70 steering is WAY light by comparison. When I did one test drive, I was in a 335 sport loaner. I was experienced the lightness in the steering and it bothered me. I mentioned it to my CA and he said basically "What's up? Most people say its too heavy!" Must be my imagination. I get back in my 335 loaner and what? Its just like my e53.

There are earlier threads that I've seen where old e53 owners have found e70 steering disturbingly light.

So I agree with the OP, if you're coming out of other sporty BMWs or older X5s, you are going to find the e70 steering light.

All I can say is: It bothered me at first, but not quite enough to not buy the car. I got used to it pretty quickly. Actually, I wish I had AS sometimes now. Getting old I guess
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      09-16-2011, 10:28 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WWONG View Post
And if I remove some power steering fluid, would it help give it more weight?
Removing power steering fluid will help, for a very short period of time. Not long after, I would expect all steering to cease.
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      09-16-2011, 11:57 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3 View Post
I have had 4 BMWs (3 M3s, 1 Cooper S, the M3s probably qualify as a bit more than "sporty") and I find the X5 to be quite heavy a low speeds, under normal speeds it obviously lightens, as it is supposed to, but in parking lots and around the neighborhood it has noticable heft to it. Having the 20" wheels does contribute to that though. Even discussed with the BMW rep during the Peformance Center delivery and he agreed, and he drives/races for a living.
Wow then why is mine overboosted? Lame. For sure, my 335i had more heft to it at low speeds.
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      09-16-2011, 05:31 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WWONG View Post
Wow then why is mine overboosted? Lame. For sure, my 335i had more heft to it at low speeds.
Have you checked your tire pressure?

BMW steering has been getting lighter across the board for years now.

My E46 with comp. package steering feels much less boosted compared to E90 M3.
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Last edited by M3Bahn; 09-17-2011 at 05:09 AM..
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      09-16-2011, 11:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3Bahn View Post
Have you checked your tire pressure?

BMW steering has been getting lighter across the board for years now.
Tire pressure matches the 32 F / 38 R psi on the door jamb. I'm quite surprised at the comment by the guy who has driven the M3 and think it's lighter. We also have the same MY X5 so.....
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      09-17-2011, 05:06 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbja View Post
I came out of an e53 that I had driven for 7 years, and the e70 steering is WAY light by comparison. When I did one test drive, I was in a 335 sport loaner. I was experienced the lightness in the steering and it bothered me. I mentioned it to my CA and he said basically "What's up? Most people say its too heavy!" Must be my imagination. I get back in my 335 loaner and what? Its just like my e53.

There are earlier threads that I've seen where old e53 owners have found e70 steering disturbingly light.

So I agree with the OP, if you're coming out of other sporty BMWs or older X5s, you are going to find the e70 steering light.

All I can say is: It bothered me at first, but not quite enough to not buy the car. I got used to it pretty quickly. Actually, I wish I had AS sometimes now. Getting old I guess
This is why I am holding on to my E53, the steering feel is perfect and I love the interior, it also has been very reliable. I do prefer the exterior look of the E70 but with all the reliability issues I will probably hold on to the E53.
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      09-20-2011, 06:05 AM   #17
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I had an e53 for 10 years and have had an e70 for three months. I couldn't agree more, the sterring is very light in comparison. (note that I had a 1995 M3 prior).
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