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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) General G20 Sedan / G22 Coupe / G26 Gran Coupe Discussions Tips on better steering on the M340i?

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      03-24-2021, 01:26 AM   #1
Slides2021
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Question Tips on better steering on the M340i?

The biggest disappointment for me with the G20 M340i has been the steering. Otherwise it is a near perfect car.

Compared to my Audi S5, which IMO had amazingly precise steering without it feeling too artificial (in sports mode), the M340i suffers from twitchy steering especially at highway speeds.

I could easily one hand the steering wheel in the S5 at 75 mph. I cannot do that with the M340i without feeling unsafe. It just doesn't do a great job at wanting to track straight. It keeps wanting to veer anytime there is a bump, dip or other road feature.

Maybe it's the run flat tires. Not sure but also don't want to spend on tires right now for a lease.

Any tips to make highway driving less stressful?
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      03-24-2021, 01:56 AM   #2
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How far into the lease are you?
What if you put some sticky non-runflats (Michelin PS 4S if you have 19s) on the car, enjoy the added performance / grip while you beat the 10-15K miles out of them, then put the original RFTs back on before lease return?

Last edited by _E90S65_; 03-24-2021 at 02:24 AM..
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      03-24-2021, 03:35 AM   #3
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I certainly don't have that issue. Might be worth getting it checked out.
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      03-24-2021, 04:08 AM   #4
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Tips on better steering on the M340i?

From my perspective, there has always been a nervousness around the 3 series straight line handling going back to the E46 days. I have been driving on the same roads for 30 years and there are definitely times when my cars get dragged off straight.

There is a certain road nearby (70mph limit) that 100% pushed the G20, F30, E93, E46 all with 19"s off straight. E90 and E46 with 18" wasn't any better.

The only time it never happened was in an old E46 M Sport when it had 16" winter wheels on.

I suppose it could be an RFT issue, as the majority (excluding the M3's) had them, and I have never switched away from what the cars were delivered with (on the company lease vehicles).

Generally I am a one hand on steering wheel driver when trying to get 1k/mpg in my 330e, but on the foot down days, two hands are a must especially with the car being scared of white lines without indicating
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      03-24-2021, 05:41 AM   #5
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OK my car is a G20 but I don't relate to this at all, it goes arrow straight. Maybe go get your alignment checked?
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      03-24-2021, 05:52 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnRacer View Post
OK my car is a G20 but I don't relate to this at all, it goes arrow straight. Maybe go get your alignment checked?
Same here. I'll admit that the steering is a lot twitchier than my previous car (2014 Dodge Dart, don't laugh), but in this case... That's a good thing.
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      03-24-2021, 07:34 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slides2021 View Post
The biggest disappointment for me with the G20 M340i has been the steering. Otherwise it is a near perfect car.

...

Maybe it's the run flat tires. Not sure but also don't want to spend on tires right now for a lease.

Any tips to make highway driving less stressful?
Start with tire pressures. Run-flats do require an optimum pressure to get maximum steering precision. Often run too low and ride the sidewalls, which contributes to pull and drift from the wheels.

Next alignment. No BMW should be less than precise in a straight line. EPS may lack some feel and feedback, but should still be precise.
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      03-24-2021, 09:02 AM   #8
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My experience with the M340i is exactly the opposite. This is the first 3-series I've had that tracks dead-straight with NO wheel movement at all at highway speeds. It's uncanny. All my previous Bimmers had a tiny bit of hunt and very slight back/forth with the wheel, sometimes called "tilling".

Not the M340i. This is due to the excellent chassis rigidity in this model. Add to this the improved steering feel (compared to the F30), especially the heavier steering in sport mode, and this model is a huge improvement over the prior F30/32. Not quite as good as the E90 in providing detailed feedback, but that's to be expected with the switch to electric boost from hydraulic.

If your steering is twitchy or tends to veer in a certain direction after a bump, I'd get the alignment checked. That's not normal at all.
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      03-24-2021, 09:09 AM   #9
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Get an alignment. I think BMW offers a complimentary alignment in the first year (at least they used to). I had a similar issue on my F30... took 3 alignments to fix it eventually.
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      03-24-2021, 12:57 PM   #10
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I have a Loaner base 330 and you really appreciate the M340 steering if you drive something else. This car is horrendous steering wise.
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      03-27-2021, 05:22 AM   #11
Slides2021
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Burrcold

Need your second take on this since it seems like I might be crazy here.
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      03-27-2021, 06:11 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slides2021 View Post
Burrcold

Need your second take on this since it seems like I might be crazy here.
I didn't have run flats (had the PS4s) and it tracked very straight. One thing I did change was driving in Individual mode with my steering set Comfort. I found it to be more natural feeling, and not as twitchy at highway speeds. In comparison to the B9 S4/S5, I also found them to track better at high speed...sure the steering was light and a bit numb but you had a better sense of what was going on. This was only amplified when I came out of the M340i and into my RS5. Steering is the biggest fault in the G20 in my opinion to an otherwise excellent car.
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