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Thread: This New-to-Me Electric Steering

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2002
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    West of I-270
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    643
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    325xiT E46

    This New-to-Me Electric Steering

    A small learning curve for the electric steering, 2018 330i Xdrive, but a bit puzzled over the car's habit of moving around a bit in its lane on the highway w/o any input from me. In any other car such as my E46, I would suspect the toe was off. It is a tad better on absolutely smooth roads. A tad worse on less than smooth roads and more so if there is a side wind.

    It does have the OE 225/50/17 Conti runflats, seen on Tire Rack with poor test results and much hate in user reviews. Planning to replace them soon with non-runflats and Slime kit in the trunk.
    Last edited by SteveMD; 07-14-2018 at 10:28 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Denver, Colorado
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    1,922
    My Cars
    MRster / Z4 M4i / X5 M50
    It could be the tires or alignment, but I doubt it is the electric steering.
    2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Black Soft Top, Steel Gray Metailic Hard Top, TC Kline Double Adj Shocks with H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C Wheels. Looking for a new home.

    2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Prem Pkg, Driver Assistance Pkg

    2023 X5 M50, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2002
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    West of I-270
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    643
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    325xiT E46
    Quote Originally Posted by khammack View Post
    It could be the tires or alignment, but I doubt it is the electric steering.
    Wonderful (probably not the steering). Since new tires mean alignment to protect one's investment in new tires that should do it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
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    12,462
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    36 Cylinders
    Also, if the steering angle sensor isn't calibrated to the center, I have noticed that the electric steering will try to 'assist the turned steering wheel' even though you mean for it to be straight. Meaning that it is trying to help you turn. Maybe it's in my head... but it disappeared when I have steering angle perfectly calibrated to 0.0 and aligned to that position, using the diag computer to find the 0.0 point.

    Seems that used cars that get send to get an alignment and they don't put the steering wheel perfectly leveled. Then they align to that angle, then the car will think you are turning.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    West of I-270
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    643
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    325xiT E46
    Quote Originally Posted by 328 Power 04 View Post
    Also, if the steering angle sensor isn't calibrated to the center, I have noticed that the electric steering will try to 'assist the turned steering wheel' even though you mean for it to be straight. Meaning that it is trying to help you turn. Maybe it's in my head... but it disappeared when I have steering angle perfectly calibrated to 0.0 and aligned to that position, using the diag computer to find the 0.0 point.

    Seems that used cars that get send to get an alignment and they don't put the steering wheel perfectly leveled. Then they align to that angle, then the car will think you are turning.
    Thanks. That is something to think about, alright. Though the steering wheel appears straight it could be off since as you pointed out, it needs to be 0.0 and no driver's eyeballs are that accurate.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    West of I-270
    Posts
    643
    My Cars
    325xiT E46
    Update: Got alignment at Towne BMW in (outside, actually) Buffalo. Nice folks there! Front toe was off as was the related steer ahead. Rear camber and toe also off. Everything corrected and steering improved. Annoyed with the selling dealer in MD a I did point out during the test drive that the steering didn't feel right. Sales guy said it was the electric steering......

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