A few days ago I heard Oldham complaining about the steering feel in the 750i. He said it felt too artificial, too light and just plain screwed up.
I thought for sure he was nuts. Every time I drove the big 7 it felt fine to me. A little light maybe, but not anywhere near as awful as Oldham was making it out to be. Then I got in the 1 Series last night and before I had even left the parking garage I knew what he was talking about.
The steering is the 135i is dead on. Sure, it feels a tad heavy at parking lot speeds, but it's all in the name of road feel. Get up to speed and it lightens up perfectly and it never leaves you guessing. Why our 2008 1 Series would have better steering that our 2009 7 Series is a little puzzling, but Oldham was right on this one.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 23,706 miles
stovt001 says:
12:56 PM, 07/ 2/09
1 series was meant to be sporty, the 7 series meant to be a bit more isolated and luxurious? That's my guess.
canadia says:
01:01 PM, 07/ 2/09
stovt001 is right.
The average 60-something year old owner of a 7 series typically cares less about "spirited driving." The same person would likely find the weighted feel of the 3 at low speeds onerous.
I know of at least one couple who decided against the 3 series for that very reason. They bought a Jag.
"Better" is subjective.
iancar says:
01:07 PM, 07/ 2/09
You guys have broken the 7 series and now you may also break its heart, or the one who just paid 95,737 USD for his.
fuhteng says:
07:57 PM, 07/ 2/09
stovt001 has to be right. It is the same reason Lexus' are boring and the Celica wasn't.
drewsrx says:
09:20 PM, 07/ 3/09
Are there any parts falling off in this car? Your other BMW's are falling apart, so I wouldn't be surprised on this one.
kingkhalas says:
11:37 AM, 07/ 4/09
Agree with stovt001.
Seems like the 7 series is for older people.
bimmerjay says:
11:54 AM, 07/ 4/09
Also agreed with stovt001's comment. I'd expect the 7's steering to be more isolated/dampened than a 1 or 3-Series, based on the expectations of the market segment. Isn't this obvious??
platf1 says:
03:45 PM, 07/ 6/09
You guys forget that the 7 comes with Active Steering and the 1 doesn't? BMW doesn't even offer it on the M-series cars in the name of good steering.
mopho says:
10:01 AM, 07/ 9/09
to play devil's advocate here, i think a car can still have light and natural steering, like the jag xf. drive it side by side with a bmw 3 or 5, and you'll notice immediately that it's much lighter, but feels just as accurate and natural.