Active Steering, is it worth the money?

To All,

I am thinking of ordering my E60 550i w/ active steering. Do you have it? Do you notice a difference with verses without? Is it worth the money???

Any and all thoughts appreciated.

Originally Posted by E60K

To All,

I am thinking of ordering my E60 550i w/ active steering. Do you have it? Do you notice a difference with verses without? Is it worth the money???

Any and all thoughts appreciated.

Test drive a car with and without it and then decide.

Or, if you have never used it, don't get so you won't ever know what you are missing.

hi,about a month ago I took a ride in my oncle's car:a 525 E60 with active steering.There's only one word to describe it:AMAZING!!! It was the best steering feeling I ever got.It's unbelievable how this system works.It can change the steering turns from 1,5 (when you need to park)to about 4,when you're on the highway speeding.Get it and you'll never regret it.Off course,the standard E60's steering wheel has a beautiful feel,but nothing can be compared to active st.Some people claimed that it gave a weird feeling when driving,cause of the continuously changed steering ratio.Well,i never felt it!And i drove the car for about 200 miles.I took it to the highway,to narrow mountain roads..Everywhere.And I was totally Satisfied with the system.Get it!It's really worth it.

PS:You should also get the Dynamic Drive feauture.I've never been in a car whith it but from what I've heard from people who have,it is also astonishing

Here is one of the many threads on the subject. A test drive of each will help you with your decision. If you can set up some cones in an empty parking lot, a drive through a slalom course might help (or a drive on a very windy road with some hair pins. )


Click Here For Thread

Get it! Worth every penny!

Get it dude.

Whenever I have to rent a car I notice how lame not having active steering is.

People who don't like active steering are just old and hate change.

I have it and love it.

You guys scare me. Seriously. Makes me want to go out and buy a 325i with premium package, cold weather package, sunroof, Xenons, comfort access, pillow-top suspension, and no sport package, and then slit my throat.

Active steering: Making BMW's already painfully slow steering even more painfully slow since 2005.

I say get it
I love it, and I don't feel weird at all, after you drive a BMW with active steering, you will NEVER wanna go for a mercedez etc. (steering wise)
I did go test drive a mercedez SLK, it took me almost 3 spins on the steering wheel to make a 90 degree turn, while my BMW with active steering will do it in about half a spin

It's an interesting little gizmo being able to adjust the steering ratio on the fly.

This one often sparks the debates of road feel to the "purists" and akin to manual vs. auto tranny debates and "connected-ness" and "control" of the car.

It also bring out the rack 'n pinion group vs. recirculating ball group (altough that is an E39 debate, not an E60).

This is one of those subjective options kinda like color choice. What do you like best? What fits your driving style best?

As has be said ad naseum, you simply need to try and drive both and see what YOU think about AS.

I think AS was pretty cool but I am on the fence as to whether or not to spend a grand+ to get it. I think I probably won't get it but I go through phases.

If you don't get it: then you are old. get a Benz.

Like the SMG replacing the manual... AS is the future.

AS's definately in my list

I'm on a budget, not gonna get it ... Car drives fine without it

You can't have your Bimmer fully loaded without it.

I tried it but it didn't really get me excited. Maybe I'm a bit of a purist - I want my steering to be very direct and have that classic BMW feel. Also, I looked at the exploded view of the system and had the following thoughts: added weight, more gears to keep lubed, repairs, it's still new tech. Plus... I wonder whatever happened to the 4-wheel steering in the old Honda Prelude?

GET IT GET IT GET IT.

Sadly, I didn't, and I regret it . . .I honestly can say the thing I like the least about the 550i is the steering. It's vague, and hardly what I expected from a BMW. My 323i had better steering feel than my 550i!! Also, I test drove the 550i with active steering, and loved it. I truly think the car with the sport package was designed to exclusively have active steering. It works seamlessly, and that is why it was originally offered with the 545i sport package.

The fact that they cut it out of the sport package is a combination of secretly raising the price of the car (ie. take out options but charge the same money) and to accommodate the so-called purists out there who thought it was spooky.

Get it. I really wished I had because I think I'd be so much happier overall with my car.

Originally Posted by Fantastic Five

to accommodate the so-called purists out there who thought it was spooky.

you mean all the old men who drive BMW's around? That usually have the most bad-ass car ever yet drive 5MPH below the limit on the freeway?

If you can afford it, get it. Makes a big difference in city driving but maybe not much on highway.

I test drove a 530 today with active steering. The steering felt really vague, loose and wobbly. The car felt like a Lexus GS300 with very little steering feedback. Even my dealer said the same, he advices his clients to spend that extra 1 grand on other options.

However, I must say that it makes parking very convenient and as my dealer said is good for people who have shoulder issues and can't turn the car fast enough.

For normal driving, I don't think it is worth it. It makes parking and slow driving convenient but it takes too much away from driving pleasure. Just my initial impressions....

Originally Posted by Suraj

I test drove a 530 today with active steering. The steering felt really vague, loose and wobbly. The car felt like a Lexus GS300 with very little steering feedback. Even my dealer said the same, he advices his clients to spend that extra 1 grand on other options.

However, I must say that it makes parking very convenient and as my dealer said is good for people who have shoulder issues and can't turn the car fast enough.

For normal driving, I don't think it is worth it. It makes parking and slow driving convenient but it takes too much away from driving pleasure. Just my initial impressions....

I felt just the opposite, except that in describing the non Active Steering to my wife, I used the word "Buick." Everyone just needs to test drive for themselves and come to their own conclusions. Some hate it. Some love it. Some are neutral.... and that's OK. BTW, was that a new 530i that you drove, or one of the earlier versions of AS?

It was a 2007 530iA

Originally Posted by Fantastic Five

Sadly, I didn't, and I regret it . . .I honestly can say the thing I like the least about the 550i is the steering. It's vague, and hardly what I expected from a BMW.

Wait a minute. You feel that the 5'er steering is vague, and don't like it, and believe that adding active steering is going to improve the feel?

I have spoken to several dealers in Northwest and they seem to convey the impression that AS is not a very popular option. They order it in very few cars.

Inspite of that I wanted to form my own impression. In short what I felt was "530 + AS made the steering feel like a Lexus GS300". Very boring and uninspiring. Even if AS were free, I would not take it. I am glad I experienced AS, now I have no doubts about its relevance to me.

Originally Posted by Suraj

I have spoken to several dealers in Northwest and they seem to convey the impression that AS is not a very popular option. They order it in very few cars.

Inspite of that I wanted to form my own impression. In short what I felt was "530 + AS made the steering feel like a Lexus GS300". Very boring and uninspiring. Even if AS were free, I would not take it. I am glad I experienced AS, now I have no doubts about its relevance to me.

Your comments make no sense to me.

The 530 comes standard with "Power Rack and Pinion" steering. A/S varies the ratio of the wheel but not the feel.

If you guys think A/S varies the feel you do not understand A/S. The standard power steering is what is varying the feel, not A/S.

I don't think many people understand the difference between "Variable Assist Rack and Pinion Steering" and "Active Steering". Most of the posts on this thread state comment that have nothing to do with A/S.

Also, you cannot fully appreciate A/S on a 5 minute test drive. Much like SMG, it is a fine wine that gets better with age.