Improve steering feel. Possible?

[Sajk]

I have had my M for about 18 months now and love it except for the steering feel. It has new oem fca bushes, new b6 shocks and newish pilot 4s.

I also have a low mileage 2.8 z3 that I have owned since 1998. It's pretty stock suspension wise e kept for a bush refresh a few years ago, m roadster fca bushes and a larger rear sway bar from the period z3 coupe. Also in pilot 4s.

The steering feel on yhe z3 is great. I can feel the road surface and exactly what is going on.

While the m is miles more competent it's kind of dead in tyd steering department.

I don't teach either car but love a good thrash round the hills.

Is there anything that I can do alignment or bush wise to improve thd feel? I am happy with tye handling as thd car is more capable than I am which I can't say about tye z3.

Does pulling tye camber pins out help?

Is this just tye way it is?

Cheers

 

[enuff_zed]

I have had my M for about 18 months now and love it except for the steering feel. It has new oem fca bushes, new b6 shocks and newish pilot 4s.

I also have a low mileage 2.8 z3 that I have owned since 1998. It's pretty stock suspension wise e kept for a bush refresh a few years ago, m roadster fca bushes and a larger rear sway bar from the period z3 coupe. Also in pilot 4s.

The steering feel on yhe z3 is great. I can feel the road surface and exactly what is going on.

While the m is miles more competent it's kind of dead in tyd steering department.

I don't teach either car but love a good thrash round the hills.

Is there anything that I can do alignment or bush wise to improve thd feel? I am happy with tye handling as thd car is more capable than I am which I can't say about tye z3.

Does pulling tye camber pins out help?

Is this just tye way it is?

Cheers

If the camber pins are still in, then possibly the alignment hasn't been carried out properly? The pins are there to give a rudimentary, though relatively close, setting for when the suspension is initially assembled.
I have swapped many sets of front suspension over (though not on an M) and in every case the car has come back from a Hunter alignment with the camber pins removed to enable an accurate set up.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've never had a Z3, but coming from a 3.0Si Coupe with EPAS to my MC with HPAS the latter definitely has far more feel!

I'm not sure if it made much difference to steering feel, but after removing spacers, changing wheel sizes and ride height (mine has coil-overs) getting a 4 wheel alignment to E46 M3 CSL settings totally transformed how my car drives.

 

[plenty]

Two things you could try: adding caster via adjustable top mounts, and a thinner steering wheel.

 

[Vanne]

interesting question.. one I've not heard about the hydraulic steering in the M before.

You need to clarify what you mean by feel though? do you mean lack of feedback from the road? or the steering wonders/ isnt direct or too tight/hard to change lines?

ive had a few Z3's , both in M form and non M form, coupes and rag tops the steering feels much lighter in the Z3, but thats because its a much lighter car. The Z3 also feels like a wet blanket when your pedaling it around the track compared to the Z4.

One of the outstanding functions/features of the Z4 M, is its Hydraulic Steering, its the best in its class, and better than in some car classes up. If yours is lacking, id be getting someone in the know to have a look at it.

Welcome to the Z4m ownership, which after sorting out your steering issue, you will absolutely love.

 

[beanie]

Assuming your rack is good and everything is in good condition/tightened up well, all you can really do is remove the isolation and toughen up any connections between tyre and steering wheel. That should introduce some granularity to things but it obviously comes with compromises.

Poly/solid bushings, stiffer sidewall tyres, possibly the steering wheel as mentioned by plenty as that seems to be a common criticism of BMWs by journalists.

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I've put H&R anti roll bars and 19 inch CSL reps on mine with a 265 / 35 profile rear and 235 / 35 front tyre - she's on stock suspension and she rides beautifully, so much so, I don't think I'm going to fit my KWs. If you can't feel or predict the car there's something wrong with your setup, I'd start with checking your wishbones and RTABs.

 

[sirhodjibob]

What tires are on the Z4M? PS4S should offer pretty great feel. Don't go much wider than stock on the width for the front- super wide tires will negatively impact feel. I noticed sharper turn in, better feel with coilover suspension/camber, but as someone else suggested an alignment check would be a good start. These cars like a smidge of toe-in upfront.