[Upstate330i]

I have a 23’ 330i Msport and I was wondering if it’s just me…
On the highway the car wanders ALOT in the lane. So much so I have to enable eco mode and put the steering in sport just to reduce the wandering.

Lane keep asssit helps with the steering input, but it still occurs.steering input is my last resort soemtimes…
Is it just me?

[4WDFAN]

You may want to look at this thread
New 330 X drive - G20 Steering - constantly need minor adjustments. Any advice?

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1855230

I would also turn lane keep assist off as it may add steering inputs and make the problem worse

[Eljefe25]

I have a 2023 330i m sport package as well. No wandering issues at all. I was worried I may have tha issue with the constant steering adjustments, but so far(knock on wood) no issues.

I also turned lane keep assist/ steering intervention thing off. It seems dangerous. It’s not a smooth correction. It feels very abrupt.

[Assassin]

Worn steering / suspension components are obvious areas to look into.

The wandering can also be caused by the tyres. Some tyres, or tyre that are over inflated can do what they used to call "tramlining" here in the UK. I.e. They follow imperfections in the road surfaces and pull the car in that direction without driver input. E.g. if the road is heavily worn and has slight depressions on the lines all the cars / trucks drive along the car will want to move into those depressions. (the depressions are easier to see when there have been rain, its stopped but there is wtill surface water on the road, you can often see two lines of water especially in the lane the truck use most). Also if those depressions are not the same width as the wheelspan of the car, it can drift from side to side as its corrected by the driver. I've also seen it said that staggered wheel set up are more sensitive to tramlining. That said all my BMWs have had staggered sets and I've never had it. It was called tramlining as in the old days when wheels and tyres were very narrow people got a wheel stuck in the iron tram line tracks on the road and the car would follow the track no matter what.

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by 4WDFAN

You may want to look at this thread
New 330 X drive - G20 Steering - constantly need minor adjustments. Any advice?

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1855230

I would also turn lane keep assist off as it may add steering inputs and make the problem worse

Thank you!!!

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by Eljefe25

I have a 2023 330i m sport package as well. No wandering issues at all. I was worried I may have tha issue with the constant steering adjustments, but so far(knock on wood) no issues.

I also turned lane keep assist/ steering intervention thing off. It seems dangerous. It’s not a smooth correction. It feels very abrupt.

You are absolutely right. It is very abrupt. It’s especially scary when the lanes get tighter and your next to big trucks and the lane divider. Not knowing if the car will correct itself into the wall or the truck. Crazy.

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by Assassin

Worn steering / suspension components are obvious areas to look into.

The wandering can also be caused by the tyres. Some tyres, or tyre that are over inflated can do what they used to call "tramlining" here in the UK. I.e. They follow imperfections in the road surfaces and pull the car in that direction without driver input. E.g. if the road is heavily worn and has slight depressions on the lines all the cars / trucks drive along the car will want to move into those depressions. (the depressions are easier to see when there have been rain, its stopped but there is wtill surface water on the road, you can often see two lines of water especially in the lane the truck use most). Also if those depressions are not the same width as the wheelspan of the car, it can drift from side to side as its corrected by the driver. I've also seen it said that staggered wheel set up are more sensitive to tramlining. That said all my BMWs have had staggered sets and I've never had it. It was called tramlining as in the old days when wheels and tyres were very narrow people got a wheel stuck in the iron tram line tracks on the road and the car would follow the track no matter what.

Very good to know!!

[JABCAT]

The first thing I'd do is check my tire pressures as mentioned. Most of our roads are not perfectly flat, not well-maintained, and you're going to feel that more depending on the vehicle you're driving, tires it has, tire pressure, etc. I don't have any issues with my 330e "wandering" or needing constant steering adjustments. However, driving my Z06 on the same roads, I can feel the imperfections in the road 10x more than I can in my BMW. The Z06 has 285 tires up front and 335 tires out back compared to my BMW's 225/255. The wider tires & track-tuned suspension transfer more of the imperfections to the steering wheel. Heck my wife's '23 Grand Cherokee has 275 tires all around and requires a lot more steering input/adjustments than my 330. I think a lot of what people complain about with regard to the steering input needed or "wandering" is just not being used to driving a vehicle with a sport-tuned suspension.

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

The first thing I'd do is check my tire pressures as mentioned. Most of our roads are not perfectly flat, not well-maintained, and you're going to feel that more depending on the vehicle you're driving, tires it has, tire pressure, etc. I don't have any issues with my 330e "wandering" or needing constant steering adjustments. However, driving my Z06 on the same roads, I can feel the imperfections in the road 10x more than I can in my BMW. The Z06 has 285 tires up front and 335 tires out back compared to my BMW's 225/255. The wider tires & track-tuned suspension transfer more of the imperfections to the steering wheel. Heck my wife's '23 Grand Cherokee has 275 tires all around and requires a lot more steering input/adjustments than my 330. I think a lot of what people complain about with regard to the steering input needed or "wandering" is just not being used to driving a vehicle with a sport-tuned suspension.

My pressures are about 1-2 psi off. Plus or minus.
So don’t think they would make it wander. However, I do have run flats. Tires also have nitrofill. It came with the car from the dealer like this. Not sure if that could be it?

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Upstate330i

My pressures are about 1-2 psi off. Plus or minus.
So don’t think they would make it wander. However, I do have run flats. Tires also have nitrofill. It came with the car from the dealer like this. Not sure if that could be it?

I have the Pirelli P-Zero run flats as well, and no issues. I mentioned it in another thread but do you have the lane keep assist on or off?

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

I have the Pirelli P-Zero run flats as well, and no issues. I mentioned it in another thread but do you have the lane keep assist on or off?

Yes I do have to keep it on.

[momo3605]

Is this lane wandering an issue with 330 and m340? They have different steering racks right?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by momo3605

Is this lane wandering an issue with 330 and m340? They have different steering racks right?

Vehicle examples of both EPS rack designs can exhibit the same need for correction, which indicates it is not necessarily a steering rack issue in itself.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Upstate330i

My pressures are about 1-2 psi off. Plus or minus.
So don’t think they would make it wander. However, I do have run flats. Tires also have nitrofill. It came with the car from the dealer like this. Not sure if that could be it?

Simple question, have you experimented with tire pressure? Certainly the first place to start. Run-flats require the optimum pressure to ensure best steering precision.

[SLGrassoPA]

This is a known issue. Some say it's the alignment, some say it's the pressure. But I was unable to ever get mine fixed no matter what I tried and no matter what the dealer tried.

The car wanders at any speed over 25-30 MPH requiring constant small corrections to keep going straight. Most that have the issue just learn to live with it. Good luck trying to fix it.

At 22:30 - video for link regarding the exact 3 Series steering issue:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1774603

And read this (regarding x3(same steering as 3 series).

"The steering in this X3 leaves me with mixed feelings. I really enjoy driving around town thanks to its small dimensions, tight turning radius and overall maneuverability. On the highway it's a different story. The steering wheel is numb off-center. So after a short time on a straight road, with the steering wheel pointed dead-ahead, the car drifts slightly. It requires constant, small adjustments to keep the car in the middle of the lane. It happened often enough that I switched from Comfort to Sport mode, thinking the heavier steering setting might help. No such luck." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing operations...

From the same review:

"Similar to the base X3, the M40i's steering sometimes succumbs to a heavy-yet-lifeless feel, giving the SUV a wandering sensation that's especially evident while cruising on a highway."

Here is the link:

https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/x3/2022/...erm-road-test/

[Upstate330i]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Simple question, have you experimented with tire pressure? Certainly the first place to start. Run-flats require the optimum pressure to ensure best steering precision.

Not yet but I will try it. Hoping it helps

[Panscan340]

Originally Posted by SLGrassoPA

This is a known issue. Some say it's the alignment, some say it's the pressure. But I was unable to ever get mine fixed no matter what I tried and no matter what the dealer tried.

The car wanders at any speed over 25-30 MPH requiring constant small corrections to keep going straight. Most that have the issue just learn to live with it. Good luck trying to fix it.

At 22:30 - video for link regarding the exact 3 Series steering issue:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1774603

And read this (regarding x3(same steering as 3 series).

"The steering in this X3 leaves me with mixed feelings. I really enjoy driving around town thanks to its small dimensions, tight turning radius and overall maneuverability. On the highway it's a different story. The steering wheel is numb off-center. So after a short time on a straight road, with the steering wheel pointed dead-ahead, the car drifts slightly. It requires constant, small adjustments to keep the car in the middle of the lane. It happened often enough that I switched from Comfort to Sport mode, thinking the heavier steering setting might help. No such luck." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing operations...

From the same review:

"Similar to the base X3, the M40i's steering sometimes succumbs to a heavy-yet-lifeless feel, giving the SUV a wandering sensation that's especially evident while cruising on a highway."

Here is the link:

https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/x3/2022/...erm-road-test/

Those don’t seem to be describing the same thing at all. A wandering sensation(2nd link) is different than the car actually moving without a change in position of the steering wheel(literal wandering).

[SLGrassoPA]

I would disagree with that - both the Edmunds review and the Remove before race review indeed identify the same exact steering issue - constant minor adjustments to keep going straight.

[SLGrassoPA]

Are you suggesting that steering angle reset can alleviate the wandering / constant steering micro - correction issue on the 3 series? If yes, how is that performed.

[Mkj0811]

Different model / series here but I feel like I was running into this with my 430i. On the freeway it felt like the steering had to constantly be micro adjusted because the car would move itself left or right in the lane. It felt like there was strong winds moving it left to right ?? Do you get this same feeling or is it different ?

After taking it on an 800 mile road-trip, I’ve gotten use to it and have sort of concluded it’s due to awful freeway road conditions in Southern California plus the crazy winds in the area i drive through. It could be that there’s something else going on but I think I’ve gotten use to it.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Yalferd

I had an E89 Z4 that had a constant wander/twitchy feel to it. It was really bad when i had to do an emergency lane change. Steering oscillated all over the place, thought I was going to crash. Did the steering angle sensor reset and that fixed it. This comes up on a lot of EPS setups according to my son who is a master tech. It's free and easy to do. Start with the car running pointing straight, all the way to the left, then all the way to the right, then back to center.

Do you know if this is similar to a full start-up (initialisation) of the electro-mechanical steering using diagnostics, or more a 'relearn' of the end stop limits? Where during the initialisation sequence, the steering speed must be below one steering wheel turn per second.

Or is it simply a plausibility check for rack position, and/or checking that the steering-torque sensor position is also in sync with the steering rack position. (Seems its center position is unlikely to be lost in normal driving, but it does appear there are conditions where the position of the torque sensor has to be re-established).

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by SLGrassoPA

The car wanders at any speed over 25-30 MPH requiring constant small corrections to keep going straight. Most that have the issue just learn to live with it. Good luck trying to fix it.

I keep coming back to alignment in these threads, as it is not just the G2x models which have these issues. In fact we can go back to HPAS in BMW models, and have reports of similar issues with straight line driving precision. If we can eliminate wear, (most unlikely in new(ish) vehicles), alignment can't be ignored.

One part of alignment with EPS we don't typically discuss, is the relationship of the steering wheel to the absolute zero, (center position) of the steering rack. The assumption being if a steering wheel is not exactly centrally aligned, when driving straight on uncambered surfaces, there is an alignment issue which needs fixing to get steering precision. Until that is sorted correctly, there is likely no chance to get rid of steering anomalies, be it wander and need for constant correction, or even some odd steering characteristics.

There are simple, but important reasons why the steering wheel must be set absolutely correct on center, nearly correct is not good enough!

Some of us went through similar discussions with F-series models, applies just the same to the G-series models. A "25 thou" alignment error can mess with steering precision.