08-22-2019, 03:23 PM | #1 |
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Why doesn't BMW put a quicker steering ratio in the 3 Series?
The 330i has a 14.1:1 steering ratio while the 330i xDrive has a 14.9:1 steering ratio. Contrast that with the Giulia, for example, whose steering ratio is 11.8:1. It seems like a quicker steering ratio would be an easy way to make the feel more nimble and light and therefore be more fun to drive. So, why don't they give it a faster ratio? What would the downsides be?
I only bring this up because i drove my friend's Impreza sport wagon last night (it has a 13:1 ratio), and it was surprisingly super fun and nimble to toss around in day to day driving. Obviously the 330i is a much better all around vehicle but I was left feeling a bit envious of the easy going and playful nature of the wagon - almost like a point and shoot with your pinky at low speeds, go cart type of feeling. I think a lot of it has to do with the ratio because the wheel itself wasn't super light either - similar to F30 lightness. Last edited by alpinewhite3; 08-22-2019 at 03:31 PM.. |
08-22-2019, 04:04 PM | #2 |
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Might have something to do with being tuned to drive the fast long roads of the Autobahn. Faster lower ratio steering makes the car much twitchier. It wouldn't cost the car manufacturer anything to do since it's just a gear change. The car is tuned like this to suit the widest variety of drivers. You can always get the variable sport steering which has a higher ratio on center but a faster lower ratio off center.
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08-22-2019, 04:28 PM | #3 | |
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EDIT: After doing some research seems like the Giulia has sort of an on-center dead spot at high speeds that allows for some leeway in steering inputs. |
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08-23-2019, 02:08 AM | #4 |
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I currently drive a Stelvio with the same quick rack as the Giulia, and even on wide 20s it can get a bit nervous at speed.
In the US, The 3 Series seems to be marketed very differently - you only get the performance models. Over here in Europe, they're mostly the ones with ~150hp diesels - basically mile munches for sales reps. The 330i and above are pretty rare. Although, the 330e is now a big seller due to company car tax. I've just ordered one where my default would have been a 320d. |
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08-23-2019, 04:58 AM | #5 |
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Anyone notice on the G20 to at highway speeds or anything about 80km really the steering wheel becomes almost rock hard and requires a lot of force, I love that and wish it was like that at lower speeds,
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08-23-2019, 05:43 AM | #6 | |
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08-23-2019, 06:25 AM | #7 | |
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But then American cars are weird. It amuses me every time I rent over there. They see a baby and try to up-sell you into a van. It's like no, I got to the airport in a golf fine, I'm sure I can manage in a Camry. They think you're from the moon. |
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08-23-2019, 08:53 AM | #8 | |
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08-23-2019, 08:55 AM | #9 |
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BMW brought the F30 320d to the US market (though it was designated 328d here instead), and nobody bought it.
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08-23-2019, 10:02 AM | #10 | |
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Bmw pretty much explicitly stated that in a C+D article on the 3 series development. Steering optimized for 2 hands on either side (where the driver has the most leverage on the wheel) feels very heavy and is harder to be accurate when the driver has just one hand on the top where there is significantly less leverage |
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08-23-2019, 11:59 AM | #11 | |
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I've driven the Giulia Ti Sport, and I find the quick steering to make a really engaging driving experience, as well as making the vehicle feel more nimble when driving. I didn't find it to be a problem on the highway, although I only took it up to 75mph.
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08-23-2019, 12:08 PM | #12 | |
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It's a great car (as is the stelvio) but it's not built to be a mile muncher the 3 series is setup to be. |
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08-24-2019, 12:23 AM | #13 | |
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08-24-2019, 08:34 AM | #14 |
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Don't know what the ratio was but my previous F30 seemed to have a much sharper steering than the new G20. To the point that if I felt a sneeze coming on I locked my elbows into my ribs.
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08-24-2019, 11:41 AM | #15 |
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While of course a faster steering ratio like the Giulia would be nice, I find the G20's steering ratio to also be very good. I'd rather they work on steering feel.
My friend bought an ATS-V the other day, and just wow, that steering rack is amazingly communicative, it feels like that of an old M3 but still of course retains a nice heft and ratio. The funny thing is, I did some research, and its actually a ZF made EPS system, one that BMW used in the F30 (not sure if its still used, but probably is), the big difference being that Cadillac figured out how to tune it perfectly. BMW should honestly poach some of their engineers, they do some amazing chassis and steering work!
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08-24-2019, 01:27 PM | #16 | |
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EDIT: The 2012 328i' had a ratio of 15.1:1 so G20 should feel much quicker. |
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08-24-2019, 03:36 PM | #17 |
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08-24-2019, 05:19 PM | #18 | |
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And about the steering rack ratio, or "quickness"... Coming from a car that had quicker and more direct steering in the middle position, I can only appreciate the relaxed center steering of the G20. While F30 felt loose and disconnected in the middle, G20 is also slower around the center but manages to feel tight, precise and direct. This slight lightness in the middle allows you to feel relaxed at the wheel at high speeds, especially on european highways where 150km/h and above is a cruising speed that can be driven for hours. My last car was more direct and quicker in the middle and this made it tiring at high-speed autobahn driving. Last edited by Calamari; 08-25-2019 at 04:41 PM.. |
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08-25-2019, 11:16 AM | #19 | |
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Remember, we don't get taxed here based on displacement/carbon emissions and compared to most of Europe, gasoline is still very cheap here. We have no incentive whatsoever to put up with what most perceive to be as tractor engines. In Europe people get taxed up the ting yang and punished the larger the motor is and whether it drinks lots of petrol and emits higher emissions. This is one of the reasons why diesels are still very popular in most of those countries as they are taxed less than gasoline counterparts not to mention lower running costs. Sadly, people here in the US still doesn't realize how good they have it when it comes to cars vs the rest of the world. Cheap cars, cheap gas and more choice.
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08-25-2019, 11:24 AM | #20 | |
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08-25-2019, 03:30 PM | #21 | ||
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08-25-2019, 04:07 PM | #22 |
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