2008 X5 Question: Active Steering - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

MEnthusiast · 17th October 2007, 20:06

We are replacing our 2003 X5 with a 2008

Just wondering what people think about active steering. I am going to test drive it for myself but Id like to get everyone's opinions.

MEnthusiast · 23rd October 2007, 13:42

question answered- I test drove a 3.0 with sports pack and active steering on the run flats yesterday. from my brief test drive I will report here for anyone reading this in the future that I think this is the best suspension setup for the vehicle. The runflats are a big improvement over earlier run flats in terms of comfort- I wouldnt have known they were runflats from the ride, just the writing on the sidewalls. The active steering is not as in your face/ severe as on the early 5 series when it first was introduced. In the parking lot the vehicle initially feels a little more sensitive than one would expect but after 2 minutes I easily adapted. On back roads going the 20-30mph speed limit the steering is also a little more sensitive and one could think the vehicle almost darty but again, after a minute or two its easily adapted to. The benefit though of making the vehicle easy to maneuver is a big plus. The X5 is a fairly substantial vehicle that is how handled like a 3 series by the driver of an AS equipped X5.

The sport suspension is a bit of a misnomer because in the default comfort mode its actually more comfortable than the non sports pack suspension. Thats because the sports pack suspension has active roll stabilization and electronic damper control both of which allow for more ability to soak up bumps than the non sports pack suspension. The sports mode firms up the EDC and small road imperfections are more easily felt but I have to report at least on the back roads I drove that while the sport mode made the car seem a small notch more direct feeling, it was not such a big deal and I would leave it in comfort mode. There is less roll even in comfort mode than the non sport suspension allows so while they call it the sports suspension pack option I would call it the advanced suspension option. IMHO this plus the active steering are "must haves". Btw- the ride quality even with the run flats in comfort mode is outstanding for such a big and heavy vehicle that exhibits such sporting intentions- its far better than our 2003 X5. One note though, the active roll stabilization and edc add some weight to the vehicle and the 3.0 I drove without the system seemed a notch peppier than the 3.0 I drove yesterday that had these systems. Never the less I would still advise to get these systems because they transform the vehicle and I think BMW has made great strides with how they tune the EDC on these vehicles.

Ronin M5 · 9th November 2007, 21:09

Great information Jerry. I just picked up our X5 a couple days ago, and had it built to order. It is essentially our kid hauler, so comfort was important coming from a 2004 Cayenne S w/o air suspension, which handles great, but is very harsh.

So, I debated whether to get the sport package on our 4.8i, knowing I would always hate myself for not getting the latest technology and best handling vehicle, but on the other hand did not want another harsh riding SUV. The information I was able to gather made me ultimately suspect that the sport package would be fine, and your analysis and my initial impressions mirror what you have put forth. Thanks for the detailed information and analysis which will be helpful to future buyers.

IMHO, the X5 4.8i with sport package and 19 inch wheels rides significantly more comfortablely than our 2004 Cayenne S.

Ronin M5 · 9th November 2007, 21:33

I test drove when of the 5 series models when active steering first came out and felt it was really bizarre (i.e. over-assisted)

I haven't really noticed the active steering on the X5, but then I've only driven it twice in the last couple days. I will look forward to playing with it and see how it is in actual practice.

MEnthusiast · 21st November 2007, 06:05

Thanks for the compliments. Glad youre enjoying the X5. I picked up ours last week. I am really really impressed. Same thing- 4.8, loaded up, sports pack, active steer. I really think the sports pack is better called the "advanced suspension" pack because while it might help the handling (it might not in actuality since I have no doubt the ARS suspension adds weight) its real benefit is added compliance and therefore comfort. The ride with the runflats is on par with my B7 Alpina. The active steering takes a few minutes to calibrate yourself- and I think it fits the vehicle perfectly, but it does lack feedback- And overall I find the B7 has more upper highway speed stability- but- that shouldn't be surprising: lower vehicle + also broken in wider and sticker tires. My Z8 experience teaches me that the run flats might take as many as 1500 miles to break in.

best regards,
Jerry

Ronin M5 · 21st November 2007, 19:43

Well, that explains it. I had mistakenly believed that "adaptive drive" included with the Sport Package, was "active drive" or otherwise assumed that "active drive" was included in the Sport Package. For the life of me, I could not perceive any steering variance. I did not get the option. I think I was suspicious about it from my earlier experience with the first generation rendition of it, and also wondered if it would affect my steering expectations in my other non-equipped cars.

Ronin M5 · 21st November 2007, 19:53

Jerry - one more question - when you say "break-in" on the run flats, what results do you see? More grip? More comfort? I was also suspicious of the run flats - but the ride in the X5 is amazing. I haven't pushed the performance limits yet.

MEnthusiast · 22nd November 2007, 03:39

Im not so sure with these run flats but my initial impressions with literally 0-100 miles on the car are that the tires should grip a little more and have a little less understeer based on my memory of the X5 demo car. With the Z8's run flats, the tires really did offer more grip and comfort around the 1500 mile mark so I am expecting more grip to appear over the next 1000 miles.

All the names they have can be confusing. I believe the adaptive drive is their way of saying the ARS (active roll stabilization) + EDC (electronic damper control). As you have found out- its a great combination. This X5 is truly a 21st century SU-- I mean SAV. Its to late to worry about not getting the Active Steering- I think if you had gotten it you'd have seen they have worked out the kinks. Going to a non AS vehicle right after it is no big deal- its about the difference between a car with PDC and without- actually thats an even bigger difference.

Ronin M5 · 26th November 2007, 23:46

Thanks for the info Jerry.

Yes, pleased to have a sporty as well as comfortable vehicle with the systems.

Our Cayenne S without air suspension was primarily sporty, and not comfortable.

MEnthusiast · 22nd January 2008, 13:53

Some more thoughts on AS. I wrote this to a friend who asked about the X5:

I think the X5 is a terrifc vehicle- ours has 1500 miles and zero problems and we are continually impressed with it. I have the active steering and I do really like it but I would say that one downside is that because you never turn the wheel too far over even on highway sweepers the steering never gets a chance to load up as much as I am used to so it feels a little artificial. But- since I am not the one driving it often- my wife uses it for when her (previous) RR broke down all the time and also our baby sitter uses it to shuttle the kids- they appreciate the easier effort steering.

Overall the AS is a great feature but its something you have to consider carefully. If it was my own daily driving vehicle without consideration to others in the house I might not want it- but Im not sure- Id have to think more on it.