Wooly steering feel

[Sajk]

I am lucky enough to have the z4mr and also a z3 2.8. The 2.8 has z3m front lollipops which have solid rubber bushings vs the stock z3 ones which have gaps.

The z3 has very communicative steering compared to the z4mr. I can feel the texture of the road surface through the wheel while the MR is much more numb. Is this just the way th M cars are? I have only owned it a couple of months. It's at about 40k miles.

 

[Argenta]

Std Q 1A then: checked the alignment?

 

[N4LLY]

Maybe is because the Z3 steering is Hydraulic and the Z4 has electric power steering. ??

:driving:

 

[srhutch]

Maybe is because the Z3 steering is Hydraulic and the Z4 has electric power steering. ??

:driving:

///M is hydraulic.

 

[N4LLY]

Ah ! Every day a school day

 

[Sajk]

Alignment was done last weekend. New pilot sport 4s. Alignment specs are as close to csl as possible.

Is this just how these things are?

 

[beanie]

Shouldn’t be, in fact it’s exactly the opposite when I compare my girlfriends Z3 (‘00 2.0 150bhp) with my Z4m.

The Z3 has had new shocks, top mounts, tyres and powerflex lollipops and it’s still wooly and imprecise. I figured that was just the way Z3s were meant to be but it looks like it needs even more parts….

 

[Sajk]

My z3 has only done 75k kilos. Owned it since 98. Has new bilsteins, all factory bushes replaced and poly rear beam mounts along with the z3m roadster front lollypops and a 3.0 z3 coupe rear sway bar. Still does not have the grip of the Z4m at the rear but feels fantastically alive in the seat and the wheel. Would like the same from the z4m if possible

 

[MrPT]

I’ve never found it that good, feel-wise. Certainly not compared to a Porsche of the same era, but even a well sorted E36/46 has a bit more of a “grainy” road feel. Wouldn’t call it “woolly” though - it’s nicely weighted and precise (needs to be with the quick rack and most of the car being in front of you!).

Maybe the fat steering wheel has something to do with it?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I can't offer any suggestions, but an M with new tyres and a CSL alignment definitely shouldn't feel "wooly".

My MC felt better than my previous 3.0Si before the alignment, but that improved it no end!

Maybe there is another issue somewhere?

 

[Joycey]

Could be that time for a new power steering pump, we just had to do a mates recently on his Z4M as it started getting spongy with a strange pulsing feeling.

What's your current mileage ?

 

[Sajk]

It's done 71,000 kilometers so I don't think it's that. I expect my expectations of M were too high. I love the s54 experience & the external look of the car. The interior I have never really been keen on compared to the z3 but have grown to like it more. But... the z3 is so alive on the road compared to this. I bought the M because I wanted to own the last great NA engine Bmw made so perhaps I should be happy with that.

 

[Argenta]

I do remember being not satisfied (spoiled coming from italian cars) until I maxxed the neg. camber in the front, -1.5deg I think with std suspension. That was it and I’ve kept it ever since.

 

[Sajk]

I can try give that a shot. Is there any downside?

I also think the fat steering wheel is contributing. It seems that the z3 rack is slower but it feels faster. Maybe new bushes will help.

 

[Argenta]

Slight tramlining of course but it’s never been an issue, it just feels ’darty’ to me.

 

[Sajk]

OK thanks

 

[abar121]

That certainly helps.

Must admit, I never liked the PAS in the E36 M3. Pretty remote feeling, as per all E36s, back in the day. But now compared to EPAS systems, it'll probably feel quite detailed.

Similarly, the steering on the Z4M always felt pretty average for a hydraulic rack when they were launched. Now with EPAS on everything, it's a different matter. It does feel absolutely sublime compared to the 981S / 991 when I had both.

 

[Sajk]

Funnily enough the z3 is an e36 front suspension with a faster rack and with the control bushes (solid rubber vs gaps) from the z3m roadster it is super alive. So much so that I can feel the road surface texture through the wheel. Maybe it's the thick steering wheel contributing to the detached feeling. The thing was aligned as close to csl specs as we could get it.

 

[Vanne]

Lol I have both as well, I'd describe the z3 3.0l pos like a wet blanket on the road compared to the z4m. The z4m has one of the best steering feedbacks of any car I've driven, it's one of its top selling/owning points, if yours doesn't feel like that you've got issues with your car.

 

[beanie]

Lol I have both as well, I'd describe the z3 3.0l pos like a wet blanket on the road compared to the z4m.

:lol: I feel the same!

The textural feel is not something I think you’ll get without compromising on nvh somewhat. There is a bit of isolation in the Z4m compared to older cars from the 80’s/90’s but it shouldn’t translate to a wooly feeling. Hefty but taught is how I’d describe it.