Category Archives: Tech

How Does BMW Power Steering Work?

Power steering is one of the key advancements in automotive technology that has given drivers more control over their vehicles. It only became common for the average car in the 1950s and 60s, and before that people had to control the steering wheel all on their own. Fortunately, today’s cars are much easier to handle. 

As a brand that prides itself on precision and control, BMW has been a global leader in developing power steering technology for decades. Look under the hood and check out how BMW’s advanced power steering systems work.

Hydraulic Power Steering

The most common type of power steering system is the hydraulic variety. You can find this system in most BMWs made before 2000, especially the classic models from the 60s through the 80s. If you’re interested in bimmers from this era, you’ll be happy to learn that power steering wasn’t so complicated back then.

Hydraulic power steering (HPS) relies on pressure generated by a power steering pump to assist the driver’s steering motion. The power steering pump is connected to the engine, which sends pressurized hydraulic fluid to steering gear to make the wheel easier to turn.

Here are the other key parts of an HPS:

  • Power Steering Fluid: Power steering fluid is the hydraulic liquid that provides lubrication and pressure to ensure smooth steering operation. It’s located in a reservoir next to the engine, which must store an adequate supply to keep the HPS functional.
  • Steering Gear: The steering gear consists of a rack and pinion assembly, which converts the spinning motion of the steering wheel into a lateral movement in the car’s axle, causing the wheels to turn. 
  • Steering Rack: The steering rack horizontally connects the steering wheel to the steering gear, converting the steering force applied by the driver to the turning wheels through the rack and pinion assembly.
  • Steering Column: The steering column vertically connects the steering wheel to the steering gear, allowing the wheel to transfer its torque to the gear during a turn.
  • Power Steering Hoses and Hydraulic Lines – The Power steering hoses and hydraulic lines move the pressurized power steering fluid from the pump to the steering gear. They are designed to handle extremely high pressure and keep the fluid flowing in any conditions.

If your BMW starts to make wider turns than usual and you notice that the steering wheel is harder to control, there is likely a problem with the power steering. This problem is known as “understeering” because the wheel fails to complete the turn despite the driver making the correct maneuver.

You are technically still capable of driving with dysfunctional power steering. You will notice a clunkier and heavier feel to the steering wheel, but it’s still possible to control the vehicle on your own. However, it is not safe to rely on HPS without power steering fluid. You need to replace this fluid roughly every 80,000 miles or two years depending on how often you drive.

Electric Power Steering

Electric Power Steering (EPS) is the newer type of steering system with most of the same parts, but with one key difference. Instead of relying on pressure from hydraulic fluid, an EPS utilizes an electric motor to assist with the driver’s steering input. This motor is connected to the steering column and can account for the vehicle’s speed and the overall driving conditions.

BMW first started using EPS in the Z4 E85 and E86 coupes from 2002 to 2008 and has adopted the technology for nearly all of its new releases ever since. 

Here are the other unique components of an EPS along with the electric motor:

  • Steering Column Torque Sensor – This sensor detects the amount of torque or rotational force that the driver applies to the steering wheel. This information goes to the power steering controller.
  • Power Steering Controller: The power steering controller is located in the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) and is the brains of the operation. It receives input from the sensors in the motor and the steering column torque sensor and estimates the exact force the motor must exert to assist with the turn. 
  • Vehicle Speed Sensor – This sensor tracks the speed of the vehicle and gives the power steering controller constant input, allowing it to change the level of assistance based on the speed and driving conditions.

EPS has several benefits over HPS. Since the electric motor only consumes power when the driver requires assistance, it’s more fuel-efficient than HPS. The torque sensor also allows for greater steering response flexibility based on the driver’s preferences, the vehicle’s design or the road’s conditions.

Lastly, drivers can pair EPS with other electronic vehicle systems, including driver assist and stability control systems. These combinations lead to improved vehicle performance and much safer driving.

Know Your BMW’s Power Steering

If you own a newer BMW model, you need to learn the ins and outs of your car’s electric power steering system. Those who own classic bimmers should focus on learning about hydraulic power steering. In either case, you need to know your BMW’s power steering components to ensure a consistent driving experience.

BMW’s Approach to Autonomous Vehicles

BMW may be synonymous with luxury, quality and innovation but there is one new feature that they haven’t started adopting yet — self-driving capabilities.

As of the time of this writing, there are no self-driving BMWs but new updates to their existing models could change that. So, how is BMW approaching the idea of autonomous vehicles and what can we expect from the luxury brand in the future?

Improving Their In-Car Software

BMW’s iDrive software and infotainment system has been the core of the driver and passenger experience for nearly two decades. It’s been updated over the years, but the biggest upgrade is yet to come. iDrive 8 will feature a curved display that will begin behind the steering wheel and stretch across the dash. Instead of providing two different displays — one for the driver and one for the passengers — the newest incarnation of iDrive will work toward creating a single “floating” infotainment system that will be primarily angled toward the driver.

The biggest difference between this version of iDrive and the previous incarnations is in the processing power of the system’s brain. According to the brand’s specifications, the upgraded onboard computer will be between 20 and 30 times more powerful than the previous versions. In addition to offering new features and functionality, this will lay the foundation for BMW’s automation and give it the ability to support both Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving.

Introducing Level 3 Automation

There are five levels of automation when it comes to self-driving cars. Unless you’re driving an Audi or a Tesla, your car is probably Level 0 or 1, with zero being no automation, and level 1 including things like cruise control and parking assistance. Level 2 automation includes anything where the vehicle can take control, including lane-keeping assistance, emergency braking for accident prevention and Tesla’s self-driving features. They can handle limited situations, but require the driver to be ready to take over at any moment.

Level 3 automation is where things start to get really interesting. Your car will be able to take over more responsibility when it comes to helping you reach your destination. Level 4 automation will handle almost everything, though your car will likely still have a steering wheel if you need or want to take over. Level 5 is full automation, and when we reach this point, your car probably won’t even have a steering wheel anymore. BMW’s new iDrive update will likely be one of the first Level 3 autonomous vehicles on the road.

Benefits of Autonomous Vehicles

Why is the industry so fixated on bringing autonomous vehicles to the public? These self-driving cars have several benefits beyond the convenience of being able to climb in the car and tell it where you need to go while you take a nap in the backseat. Automating the act of driving removes the problem of human error. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94% of accidents are caused by human error.

Self-driving cars could also potentially eliminate the fatalities caused by driving under the influence. Around one-third of all traffic fatalities are the fault of a drunk driver behind the wheel. This takes nearly 30 lives every day. Mainstream self-driving cars give people the ability to travel and commute safely even while under the influence. We don’t want to encourage people to get behind the wheel, even of a self-driving car, while under the influence. Self-driving cars would instead give people the option to get in the backseat and trust that their car could get them safely home.

AI vs. Rigid Programming

The biggest challenge that programmers face when creating autonomous vehicles is the fact that we’ve been trying to build them around strict programming and figuring out how to apply ethics to programs. Instead of sticking to these strict lines of code, BMW is taking a different approach, focusing on an artificial intelligence that can learn as it drives, taking traffic patterns, road conditions, and even driver habits into account as it figures out the best way to safely navigate the highways and byways of the country and the globe.

 We’re still a long way from AI-powered self-driving cars, but the potential is there and it gives researchers another way to look at this problem. Instead of looking at it as strict lines of code, we need to look at our self-driving cars as digital entities that can learn and evolve as they explore the world.

The Future of Self-Driving BMWs

We’re still a ways off from self-driving cars representing the majority of vehicles on the road, but BMW’s iDrive upgrade is the first step toward something new. Eventually, self-driving cars will replace manually driven ones, but in the meantime we can use this technology to make our roads safer.

What Makes the BMW i Series Special?

In the 105 years BMW has designed and built cars, it has earned a reputation for pushing the envelope and bringing cutting-edge engineering to the masses. A shining example of this commitment to innovation is the i Series, a line of BMWs that focuses on alternative fuel technologies, new materials and a forward-looking driving experience.

Past i Series were something of a specialty product, a niche in the BMW portfolio showcasing new technologies like hybrid powertrains and provocative design. However, several new models on the horizon will bring the i Series to the forefront of the BMW lineup.

Early i Series Models

You may have seen an i Series model on the road, as they’ve been available for almost 10 years. The compact i3 launched in Europe in 2013 and the United States in 2014. It offers fully electric power, with the option for added motivation from a two-cylinder range-extender internal combustion engine (ICE).

Some readers may be surprised to learn that the i3 is still being produced today. Owners praise the car for its low fuel consumption and airy, premium interior. The i3 also boasts advanced carbon-fiber reinforced-plastic (CFRP) construction, which keeps weight under 3,000 pounds without sacrificing safety.

If you’re looking for something more evocative, you may have noticed the i3’s stablemate, the i8 — which is now out of production. It used carbon fiber and CFRP to deliver a battery-powered car under 3,400 pounds. A comparably sized Tesla Model 3 can exceed 4,000 pounds, and a Model 3 can reach 5,000, eating into the benefits of the car’s electric powertrains.

Alas, BMW says it will no longer make use of carbon for future i models because battery technology has improved to the point that it’s uncalled for. Still, the i3 and i8 demonstrate the philosophy of the i model line with their use of the latest materials to achieve safety, performance and efficiency.

The Future of BMW i

The i brand celebrating its 10th birthday in 2023 represents BMW’s distinctive offering for buyers who want to enjoy the luxury brand’s driving experience in a package that incorporates the latest sustainability technologies.

Many automakers have struggled with the challenge of how to make electric cars more easily acceptable. Only recently have powertrains and packaging enabled EVs to look and function like their ICE-powered counterparts. They still deliver the benefits of a reduced carbon footprint, silent operation, instant acceleration and regenerative braking associated with gas-powered cars.

The new BMW i4, iX and iX3 will join the i3 as full-time i series offerings, creating a complete line of fully electric i models, replete with all the luxury and performance you would expect of a BMW. The iX3 is already available at the time of writing, and all three models should be ready to do battle with rival EV offerings like Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, Audi’s e-tron line, the upstart Hyundai Ioniq 5 and all things Tesla.

Living up to The Name

Will these new offerings from the Bavarian Motor Works offer the drive a BMW should? All signs point to yes.

In the world of EVs, power is easy to come by. Still, the forthcoming i4 sedan will tout 523 horsepower and upwards of 600 pound-feet of torque, placing it squarely in competition with Audi and handily outpacing the Mach-E in top GT Performance guise. More meaningful for would-be EV buyers might be the i4’s projected 373-mile range and fast-charging capabilities, which should make it a viable alternative to a Tesla. Plus, you get the added benefit of BMW’s build quality and driving dynamics.

You can walk into a BMW dealership today and buy an iX3, perhaps the least aspirational of the i series cars, but a highly functional electrified take on the X3 crossover. With 286 miles of range and performance that easily surpasses a base-model X3, it’s a great solution for people who want a “normal” crossover that just happens to be electric.

It seems that models without numbers represent the fullest expression of the i credo. The i4 and iX show off bleeding-edge features like the new iDrive 8 infotainment interface, optional BMW CarData telematics and what BMW calls “shy tech.” This is a concept where features like radar sensors and cameras are integrated smoothly into the vehicle’s exterior, while inside, the stereo seems to play without any speakers in sight.

It’s all part of the magic of i. If the M brand is any indicator, BMW knows how to develop a product line. Look forward to more innovative and sustainable offerings from this new subbrand. It doesn’t seem too outlandish to think that someday, we might even see a collaboration between the two.