stiff steering wheel

I noticed that my new 325i steering wheel is much stiff compared to my 2001 Honda CRV. Driving long distance makes my shoulders very tired.

Do any of you have the same problem?

Thanks,

Baoma

That's normal, you'll get used to it.

Start by working out your shoulders and forearms.
Also make sure you're sitting in a proper driving position.

Originally Posted by visor

That's normal, you'll get used to it.

Start by working out your shoulders and forearms.
Also make sure you're sitting in a proper driving position.

......my fiance "hates" to drive the BMW because she complains that she has to fight the steering wheel too much, and it hurts her shoulders. I tell her that's how "all" BMWs are, and that's what they're known for, their tight steering........she tells me if she wants to workout she'll go to our Health Club.....in the meantime she'll just drive our Mercedes. Her loss.

Makes you wonder how some people got by in the days before power steering was commonplace.

My car has very heavy steering compared to the latest crop of cars, and I can still comfortably steer it with one hand and go 400+ miles in a sitting without fatiguing. I guess that's just one advantage to being a solidly built 20-something year old male.

Originally Posted by visor

That's normal, you'll get used to it.

No. He will never get used to it unless he drives the E90 only.

I can't even drive my wife's Honda any more, I just feel it's too loose and the car is going every were. If I get a second choice though, I'd definetly consider active steering.

i noticed this as well and i am coming from honda accord. i like the feel of the steering wheel, it sort of reassures u about the car.

It is completely normal and even desirable to many of us. If you like over-boosted steering try out an IS350.

Very normal.

BMW tried to change this in 2001, swapping the steering rack for one with more power assist. This led many to dub to E46 of that year the "Ultimate Parking Machine". The customer backlash was so severe that BMW reversed the change for the 2002+ models, and offered all owners of 2001 cars a free retrofit back to the old steering.

I love the tight steering.

A CRV is going to have weenie steering

amazing how out of shape and sad we are

the steering on a car makes your shoulders sore?????


wow

Originally Posted by tgravo2

I love the tight steering.

A CRV is going to have weenie steering

I agree. It's like comparing apples and oranges...

I want even heavier steering.Like the e36's.The heavy steering rocks!!!

I have a 2001 Honda Accord. I always thought it handled well, and I guess I still do. (As compared, say, to my father-in-law's Buick.) Not quite as good as my PT Cruiser, but close. But since acquiring the BMW earlier this year, I've come to really understand the feel of a good-handling vehicle.

BTW, it isn't the "steering." It's the entire car, and what you're feeling isn't stiffness, it is responsiveness. Hope you come to enjoy it.

Originally Posted by hbarradah

I can't even drive my wife's Honda any more, I just feel it's too loose and the car is going every were. If I get a second choice though, I'd definetly consider active steering.

When I drive my roommates TSX (a Honda in a tuxedo) it really feels like steering by-wire compared to the BMW. It doesn't even feel connected to the car. It's as loose as a wheel with a bolt on a climb-on fire engine at a play ground.

Originally Posted by baoma

I noticed that my new 325i steering wheel is much stiff compared to my 2001 Honda CRV. Driving long distance makes my shoulders very tired.

Do any of you have the same problem?

Thanks,

Baoma

I remember two friends of mine both had '89 Honda Accords. They could turn their steering wheels with ONE PINKIE FINGER!

Just drove RChoudry's old M3 (2005 6spd)...a friend here acquired it and we took it for a spin. I was surprised that my E90 has harder steering than a 2005 M3!! I prefer greater resistance in my steering...one of the reasons I dumped my 545i....felt way too isolated from the road.

Originally Posted by Rowag

I remember two friends of mine both had '89 Honda Accords. They could turn their steering wheels with ONE PINKIE FINGER!

You know, I drive a '93 Honda Civic coupe, and I would say the steering weight is nearly comparable to the BMW (probably a little lighter). I definitiely cannot turn the wheel with one pinky. So, yeah... I was quite thrilled with the weight of the steering on the bimmer.

The fast/solid feel of the BMW steering was one of the first things I loved in a BMW. That's when I'm going over 10 mph though, not parking lot. What I can't understand (probably because of my mechanical ignorance) if it has speed sensetive power steering, why can't it drive like the BMW we love once it get's going, but steers like an accord in parking lot speed?

Originally Posted by hbarradah

The fast/solid feel of the BMW steering was one of the first things I loved in a BMW. That's when I'm going over 10 mph though, not parking lot. What I can't understand (probably because of my mechanical ignorance) if it has speed sensetive power steering, why can't it drive like the BMW we love once it get's going, but steers like an accord in parking lot speed?

That´s the point! There is absolutely no need to make a heavy steering standstil or at low speeds.

It is relatively easy and cheap to design a steering that is very, very light when parking and becomes gradually much harder at speed . That is what Servotronic do for Audi and BMW in some models and the Parameter steering for Mercedes Benz.

One of the elements of Active Steering is the Servotronic that regulates the servo assistance according to speed, apart from its other virtues.

I supose BMW has found that many drivers think that a hard steering is "sporty" but many, many others hate it, like myself.

Originally Posted by hbarradah

The fast/solid feel of the BMW steering was one of the first things I loved in a BMW. That's when I'm going over 10 mph though, not parking lot. What I can't understand (probably because of my mechanical ignorance) if it has speed sensetive power steering, why can't it drive like the BMW we love once it get's going, but steers like an accord in parking lot speed?

You would be the perfect customer for Active Steering!

For cryin' out loud.
Eat your veggies. Work out. Surf. Ski. Lift weights. Eat lots of red meat. Eat fish. Eat chicken. Get your protien and make your muscles bigger than they are.
If anyone is friggin' complaining about how hard it is to steer a BMW they should park it and give up driving. Hard to steer...... what a goll dang joke...
325ic a beer

If I'm making making a low-speed hairpin turn I want as much steering feel as we get at high speeds. This is part of what makes it a BMW. Why did you buy yours?

Soft steer , hard steer , medium steer ... isn't it still a BMW!

Originally Posted by Penforhire

If I'm making making a low-speed hairpin turn I want as much steering feel as we get at high speeds. This is part of what makes it a BMW. Why did you buy yours?

Sure, and I want that feeling too, and that's why I love my BMW, but I don't take hair pins at 3 mph !

BMW also happens to be much more thand steering, which I'v stated in my post is one of the first things that I loved about BMW.

For the rest, BMW is supposed to be a balance bettween sport/luxury/etc. If you just want the sport, then may be you should be driving something else.