[Elk]

Originally Posted by cardnation

My point is, the tires/road force balance may reduce the issue to a point where it is not perceivable, but that does not address the root problem.

HighlandPete, in his wonderfully informative post, does not disagree with you.

He explains however, the problem may well be triggered by tires. The system should be able to cancel out problems caused by the tires but, for some reason, is unable to do so.

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by S-Dot

58 reports in this thread so far of owners with a vibration issue.

9 say they had their problem fixed by various methods.
2 say the problem disappeared on its own.

A few have had the problem reduced somewhat, but I didn't count them.

Now not everyone had complete car info, but this is what I could gather from those that did:

None are xDrive.
Only one has reported having VSS.

7 of the reports are 2013 builds (at least).
6 of the reports are 335i, so they are not immune.

...make of that what you will...

Meanwhile, I'll be knocking on wood and keeping my fingers crossed...

Well, you can add me to the list of owners with NO vibration issues, hands off or on the wheel @ highway speeds. My car tracks like it is on rails. Car was built week 42, mid-October.

Since delivery, my car has had winter wheels/tires (Style 415 alloys with Pirelli Sottozero II 245R18V) installed and it is equipped with the M Sport brakes that include larger rotors, Brembo callipers front and rear and upgraded hubs.

I have been driving BMWs since 1984. My 335i M Sport is a fantastic car - the best BMW that I have ever driven ! The variable sport steering is superb and it is most certainly not numb, nor does it feel dead on centre. ! I think those who are critical of the F30 steering should be fair to the car and to themselves by going for at least a 60 minute test drive in a Sportline RWD or M Sport RWD and make sure the Driving Experience button is set to Sport Mode. I have both driven and owned several E9X versions with steering that felt very heavy and required more wheel movement compared to the VSS in my F30. IMO, the Variable Sport Steering represents a significant improvement for the F30's steering compared to the previous E9X generation.

[TDS]

Senmurv:

The steering rack was installed mid october. I went for a test drive but all i noticed that the steering got heavier, it pulled to the right and the vibration was still present. The amplitude got reduced but i got the feeling that the force increased.
Ive got the information that Thyssenkrup presta just created a new version of the steering rack to address the issue... Im not sure if mine is one of those .
Maybe you should give ad motors a call to get an update?!

[bnekic]

I just picked up my 2013 328i xDrive a couple days ago and I have no steering wheel vibration at any speed.

[lawprofs]

I can also report that my 5-day-old 2013 328 xDrive (base) has no vibration.

[MaestroAl]

My 3 day old 330D M Sport with Servotronic (no VSS) is absolutely fine too

[claykin]

Originally Posted by lawprofs

I can also report that my 5-day-old 2013 328 xDrive (base) has no vibration.

Please report manufactured month/year.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by bnekic

I just picked up my 2013 328i xDrive a couple days ago and I have no steering wheel vibration at any speed.

Please report manufactured month/year.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

My 3 day old 330D M Sport with Servotronic (no VSS) is absolutely fine too

Yours is a November 2012 car? Notice anything else regarding the new steering rack? Is force the same as cars you test drove?

[claykin]

Originally Posted by TDS

Senmurv:

The steering rack was installed mid october. I went for a test drive but all i noticed that the steering got heavier, it pulled to the right and the vibration was still present. The amplitude got reduced but i got the feeling that the force increased.
Ive got the information that Thyssenkrup presta just created a new version of the steering rack to address the issue... Im not sure if mine is one of those .
Maybe you should give ad motors a call to get an update?!

Please report rack p/n listed on service receipt. Pulling issue is likely because dealer did not align car properly after changing rack.

[MaestroAl]

Originally Posted by claykin

Yours is a November 2012 car? Notice anything else regarding the new steering rack? Is force the same as cars you test drove?

Mine was built in W43 which is technically an October car I think The steering feels fine - behaves exactly as I'd expect it to

[claykin]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

Mine was built in W43 which is technically an October car I think The steering feels fine - behaves exactly as I'd expect it to

Yes, you have an October build. I'm interested in hearing from someone with a November build with the latest edition of the steering rack. Revision 4 for a car thats in production for one year. Eek!

[bnekic]

Please report manufactured month/year.

My car finished production 10/30/2012. The steering feels pretty heavy in sport mode.

[BavarianFanatic]

Zero vibration on my 335i. That's with the stock 19s and the ED winter rentals. Zip. Zero. None. With or without hands on the wheel at any speed from 5 - 150 MPH.

Brakes are noisy as hell when cold/lightly loaded. But I can live with it.

11/19 build.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by claykin

Please report manufactured month/year.

I have 335i Msport with 18" wheels/tires, S001 tires, DH/VSS, built in July 2012.
I've never had any vibration issues.
But, I do have a "thunk" felt through the steering wheel that developed after 2000 miles. It happens when turning past 90 degrees left or right, but more so when turning left, this is a lower speeds like coming out of the driveway and in parking lots.

About 2 weeks ago I had Bridgestone RE970 AS tires installed and still no vibration. They were installed at the TireRack on a standard balancing machine. Oddly, the left front wheel/tire had a LOT of balancing weights, but no vibes at any speed.

Seems like the vibe affects a good number of F30's but not all, and likely not most. Still, there are way too many with vibration, and looks like BMW knows this and has been trying something with new racks.
Either they are doing it to alter the "too light" steering and lack of road feel, or they are trying to fix the vibration, and maybe both and that's why there have been a number of rack revisions.

I'd like to know if the new racks have a firmer effort and/or better road feel.
If that is the case, then I'm going to try and get BMW to install a newer rack. If these new racks are better performing I'm going to be pi$$ed since I just picked up my 335i at the end of August. This would make me feel cheated out of a better performing steering rack, and I want the thunking/clunking fixed too. Seems a newly designed rack should fix that issue.

I'm going to do some test drives of F30's built this November and after to see if there is better feel. If so, then it's ON.

Thanks for all the info guys.

[ES_TRADER]

Msport 335. No vibration here. Style 403 wheels. No dhp no vss. Steering feel is better and stiffer than others I've driven. Feels almost as tight as my e92 m3. New rack 9/12 build

[claykin]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

Zero vibration on my 335i. That's with the stock 19s and the ED winter rentals. Zip. Zero. None. With or without hands on the wheel at any speed from 5 - 150 MPH.

Brakes are noisy as hell when cold/lightly loaded. But I can live with it.

11/19 build.

150MPH?

11/19 build? Your car came over via airfreight? Or is that 11/19/11?

[claykin]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I have 335i Msport with 18" wheels/tires, S001 tires, DH/VSS, built in July 2013.
I've never had any vibration issues.
But, I do have a "thunk" felt through the steering wheel that developed after 2000 miles. It happens when turning past 90 degrees left or right, but more so when turning left, this is a lower speeds like coming out of the driveway and in parking lots.

About 2 weeks ago I had Bridgestone RE970 AS tires installed and still no vibration. They were installed at the TireRack on a standard balancing machine. Oddly, the left front wheel/tire had a LOT of balancing weights, but no vibes at any speed.

Seems like the vibe affects a good number of F30's but not all, and likely not most. Still, there are way too many with vibration, and looks like BMW knows this and has been trying something with new racks.
Either they are doing it to alter the "too light" steering and lack of road feel, or they are trying to fix the vibration, and maybe both and that's why there have been a number of rack revisions.

I'd like to know if the new racks have a firmer effort and/or better road feel.
If that is the case, then I'm going to try and get BMW to install a newer rack. If these new racks are better performing I'm going to be pi$$ed since I just picked up my 335i at the end of August. This would make me feel cheated out of a better performing steering rack, and I want the thunking/clunking fixed too. Seems a newly designed rack should fix that issue.

I'm going to do some test drives of F30's built this November and after to see if there is better feel. If so, then it's ON.

Thanks for all the info guys.

July 2013? Back To The Future! Please tell us about the MY14 F30...

Sounds like you have one RE970 that needs to be rotated on the rim so they can balance with less weight or maybe the tire is bad. It so annoys me when tire shops don't take the time to place a tire on the rim properly and adhere to the manufacturer recommendation on where to match the valve stem. (That's what that little circle/mark means on the outer edge of the tire. Match it with the valve stem...stupid tire shop!)

May not be so easy to get the rack replaced if the 11/2012 mods fix things. Several others parts were modified at the same time. BMWAG may not want one part replaced without the others. If they obsolete the older rack(s) as "ENDED" then the newer rack will be available to earlier production cars. That's just the way it goes.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

Msport 335. No vibration here. Style 403 wheels. No dhp no vss. Steering feel is better and stiffer than others I've driven. Feels almost as tight as my e92 m3. New rack 9/12 build

Not newest rack. 11/2012+ gets newest...for now. Probably another one coming in 2 months. These electric racks have a shelf like E9x N54 HPFP's.

[jeffc42]

So the new rack went into cars starting with week 45? And is this new rack VSS, non-VSS, or both?

[shivaswrath]

Built January 2012, with OEM 18" 396 style wheels, no issues...

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by claykin

Not newest rack. 11/2012+ gets newest...for now. Probably another one coming in 2 months. These electric racks have a shelf like E9x N54 HPFP's.

I'm just happy there were two racks before mine. At least I wasn't the Guinea pig