[YamaLink]

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https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-maintenance/

[xXMPowerXx]

Seems like a glowing review for the M3!

[MCM4]

Normal knock on the vague steering. It's definitely apparent when you are used to competititors that do it better.

[MassComp]

Originally Posted by MCM4

Normal knock on the vague steering. It's definitely apparent when you are used to competititors that do it better.

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

Oh, you'll be fine. Is EPS, overall with the possible exception of some Porsche systems, pretty numb compared to GOOD hydraulic systems? Yep. Would you get more feel from most of the actual competitors to the M3? No, not really. The Alfa is apparently better but it's such a quick rack that it has other downsides...and upsides. Were there hydraulic systems with even less feel? Yep. My gods, yes.

Also, it isn't vague. It's precise and predictable, which is different than vague steering that leaves you unsure if the car will do what you tell it to. Totally different annoyance. Vague steering is much more likely to introduce you to a wall. Not an issue on the G80.

Sport steering is the best balance of effort and feel in this car, though I know some folk really like Sport+ Comfort steering really is pretty numb, Sport and Sport+ a bit less so. Certainly less numb in any setting than the F30's were.

[Gizmo 335i]

Road and tire noise still seems to be an irritant.I hope their frame of reference is a Benz S class 😏

[MCM4]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

Ha ha, well, I have never driven nor owned a Porsche, but guess it is a wee bit better. I call it vague as I don't feel road inputs nearly as much as say... this. It is an unfair comparison, because these Blackwings are superb on handling and feedback.

I made a 50 mile drive yesterday on some nicely paved country roads where the limit is mostly 55 and some curves drop down to maybe 25. I did not care for comfort steering at all and compared back and forth. My other huge complaint so far is the freaking fake exhaust sound. Thank God it can be disabled. Ridiculous enough that BMW engineered that crap into the car, even worse a lot of people seem to enjoy it. The drone in Sport Plus is horrendous.

[dlocay]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

[QUOTE=MassComp;29251197]

Originally Posted by MCM4

Normal knock on the vague steering. It's definitely apparent when you are used to competititors that do it better.

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....[/QUOTE

The Steering is proabbly the biggest let down in this car. Its very hard to place where the wheels are and very easy to over correct. That being said, the steering is very precise since you figure out you just have to trust it and can't rely on road feed back. However, overall the car is amazing!

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

Originally Posted by dlocay

The Steering is proabbly the biggest let down in this car. Its very hard to place where the wheels are and very easy to over correct. That being said, the steering is very precise since you figure out you just have to trust it and can't rely on road feed back.

I don't really understand the criticism about the steering. Sure, no car is perfect, magazine authors need to write about the weaker areas, and maybe steering feedback is an area that could use some improvement compared to the best steering racks on the market. But I find it extremely sharp, precise, and easy to modulate. Feedback isn't strong, but it feels about 68 times better than the Honda Pilot I drove extensively last weekend. (Maybe even better than my old M240, which was pretty great IMHO.) And like anything else, once you get familiar with the car, you don't really notice/care.

(And C/D complained about the vagueness in Comfort mode. Then they complained about the fact that drivers can choose so many different driving modes. )

[MachinesWithSouls]

The steering is atrocious. Fine if it were a Civic, inexcusable on an M3. But to be honest, having driven pretty much the entire range by now, they all feel the same from behind the wheel.

Anyway, aside from the steering and a stick that makes me go "meh", I love mine.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/0...3-reliability/

[adr_M3]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

I don't really understand the criticism about the steering. Sure, no car is perfect, magazine authors need to write about the weaker areas, and maybe steering feedback is an area that could use some improvement compared to the best steering racks on the market. But I find it extremely sharp, precise, and easy to modulate. Feedback isn't strong, but it feels about 68 times better than the Honda Pilot I drove extensively last weekend. And like anything else, once you get familiar with the car, you don't really notice/care.

I was concerned as well after reading many reviews that faulted the G8X for "numb steering devoid of any road feel" but was pleasantly surprised when I got the car. It's by no means perfect but it's worlds better than the G05 40i and much improved over the F80 I sampled on Turo.

[F80Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

You'll be great. Honestly no M has ever had good steering other than maybe the M2. The car drives great

[Diet Pepsi]

824M wheels look really good yet are probably the rarest option on the G8x

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

The steering is atrocious. Fine if it were a Civic, inexcusable on an M3.

To me, "atrocious" steering would be something akin to the helm on a barge. Spin the loosely-attached wheel, feel nothing, wait thirty seconds, and see some vague notion of a turn.

I drove an M3 through some tricky chicanes at speed (70+ mph), and did not have any trouble guiding it precisely where I wanted it. Did it offer the same level of feedback I experienced with a GT3 RS? No, but it was far from "atrocious."

[JMD]

Everyone continue to hark on the "steering",..."make that "vague steering" of these late model BMWs! Yet,...for everyone that takes them out be it on public roadways or tracks,...the cars simply respond to the driver's input! No lag,...no-double-negative-nothing!

So, fact is, BMW is never going back to the good old 'recirculating ball' steering system!

Vague or not,...I'm just going to "Drive",...and admire how well these cars "Corner" no matter what!

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Like Porsche, right?

Just how bad is the vague steering on the M3 in Comfort? Will I be in for a major letdown?

I haven't received my G80 yet....

My take...I have owned several 991.1/.2s and a 718 GTS and have a 718 GT4 and another on the way. Porsche is leagues better than everyone else for EPS. No one has figured out a way to make their steering feel hydraulic good except for them.

My G80 M3 is decent in steering feel. It's much improved over the F8x cars (which frankly were pretty bad) but still just doesn't hit a stride in any mode where you ever really feel like it's natural like Porsche and really communicative. I think the chassis itself helps since I think this picks up a little bit of the feel you don't get from the steering wheel. Overall, certainly acceptable and when you're on it I think the all around package is just great.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

To me, "atrocious" steering would be something akin to the helm on a barge. Spin the loosely-attached wheel, feel nothing, wait thirty seconds, and see some vague notion of a turn.

I drove an M3 through some tricky chicanes at speed (70+ mph), and did not have any trouble guiding it precisely where I wanted it. Did it offer the same level of feedback I experienced with a GT3 RS? No, but it was far from "atrocious."

Try a modern 911, even a base, for vastly superior feel. Or a Vette. Definitely a Blackwing.

Of course, it's relative. Hop into a 1979 Lincoln Continental, and that's truly atrocious.

But for the price of the M3, and what you were expecting, it's really bad. Of course you can easily navigate cones and whatnot, it's capable. But there's simply no feedback. Compared to others in its class, it's…yep.

[yousefnjr]

Feels just as good as my hydraulic rack M roadster both feel great around town and Laguna…

[Sedan_Clan]

The ///M3's steering is just fine. Auto reviewers have to harp on something. I was pleasantly surprised by the well articulated and reasonable responses by most in this thread regarding the steering. Well done gents!

[BLKSAPPE92]

The only two things I hate about my G80 steering Is they took away that thick sporty steering wheel and they took away sport plus steering I know it felt extra stiff but I liked having that option and enjoyed using it. What's the point of not having a 3rd setting when all it is is programming.

[MCM4]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

The steering is atrocious. Fine if it were a Civic, inexcusable on an M3. But to be honest, having driven pretty much the entire range by now, they all feel the same from behind the wheel.

Anyway, aside from the steering and a stick that makes me go "meh", I love mine.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/0...3-reliability/

Spoken like a man with some seat time in a 6MT Blackwing!! Me too :-)

I still bought an M4. I knew what I liked and don't before buying. Steering was in a "meh" category for me, but I'll do a lot of commuting in the car and won't be super aggressive most of the time, so it's OK. But I'll add this - if I were adamant about a manual transmission, no way I would get a G80/82. Again, perspective. Drive a Blackwing and then the BMW, and the difference it is so noticeable.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by MCM4

Spoken like a man with some seat time in a 6MT Blackwing!! Me too :-)

I still bought an M4. I knew what I liked and don't before buying. Steering was in a "meh" category for me, but I'll do a lot of commuting in the car and won't be super aggressive most of the time, so it's OK. But I'll add this - if I were adamant about a manual transmission, no way I would get a G80/82. Again, perspective. Drive a Blackwing and then the BMW, and the difference it is so noticeable.

There's no comparison, I loved my time with the Blackwing. But I'd have a hard time walking away from the Roundel.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/0...ckwing-review/

And if anyone says the steering is fine, I bought a G80 so clearly it's not enough to stop someone from buying the car and enjoying it. But BMW is capable of a lot better.