Active Steering Problem with new 5er
- Thread starter Jewels530i
- Start date
New 530i hits on around the 15th of the month. Got pdc and rear shades thrown in besides all the options we already had. The dealer was standup when the chips were down and so we would like to give kudos to BMW of Bellevue WA. Our old car by the way remains in the shop awaiting a new steering rack. I am most anxious as I had the first one just long enough to know what I am now missing.
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If you get the factory option then you have it front and rear with audible and idrive graphic. The accessories catalog has one in it but it is rear and audible only. This isn't an option we wanted or needed but it was pretty skinny trying to find a car with all the options we had and this one was the only one close to hitting the beach with all the stuff we had in the first car.
Hi Jewels,
These are posts from another forum regarding the new 5series, do you have similar problems?
Hi there. I have both a 2003 and a 2004 530i. I'm really dissapointed with the new 5. I'm talking performance and handling wise. If you get this car on the Turnpike or any open highway on a moderate windy day, the car bounces from lane to lane like a van would do when hit by the wind. You definetely have to hold on to the steering with both hands. With my 2003 530i I can drive over 100 mph, let go of the steering and the car stays perfectly in the lane. I was wondering if there are other owners out there who might want to share your opinion on the 2004 model.
and another followup post:
Went to the Dealer today. I have an appt. for service on Monday. As I was leaving saw my salesperson. I explained about the unstable feeling when driving on a highway and he mentioned that he had a couple who had just test driven a new 530 and had asked him "is this car just getting pushed around by the wind or is it us?" They just left after this.
There must be new owners of the 2004 5 series. I would really like to know if this is a common issue with this model.
I have spoken now with 2 other owners besides myself that have expressed the same. The car cannot be driven over 70 mph on regular wind conditions without been pushed side to side by the wind.
These are posts from another forum regarding the new 5series, do you have similar problems?
Hi there. I have both a 2003 and a 2004 530i. I'm really dissapointed with the new 5. I'm talking performance and handling wise. If you get this car on the Turnpike or any open highway on a moderate windy day, the car bounces from lane to lane like a van would do when hit by the wind. You definetely have to hold on to the steering with both hands. With my 2003 530i I can drive over 100 mph, let go of the steering and the car stays perfectly in the lane. I was wondering if there are other owners out there who might want to share your opinion on the 2004 model.
and another followup post:
Went to the Dealer today. I have an appt. for service on Monday. As I was leaving saw my salesperson. I explained about the unstable feeling when driving on a highway and he mentioned that he had a couple who had just test driven a new 530 and had asked him "is this car just getting pushed around by the wind or is it us?" They just left after this.
There must be new owners of the 2004 5 series. I would really like to know if this is a common issue with this model.
I have spoken now with 2 other owners besides myself that have expressed the same. The car cannot be driven over 70 mph on regular wind conditions without been pushed side to side by the wind.
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Cosmos: Unfortunately, I haven't had the car long enough to get it out in the wind. The new one won't be here for a few days yet, but will let you know as soon as I know. I did, however read in this months issue of C&D, that they, too, were dissapointed because of how it moved in the wind. They claim it has something to do with the sensitivity of the active steering.
Jewels,
Just for your info, not intended to be a discouragement, but I thought you might want to be aware of this and observe when you get your new car. This is the latest follow-up post by the person above who had problems with their new 530i:
Just got back from BMW. This is the verdict. A BMW Field Service Engineer (they travel all over taking care of issues) test drove my vehicle with me. He inmediately experienced what I was talking about. Then we drove an exact model as mine. The only difference mine was equipped with Continental tires, this one had GoodYear Eagles. You could still feel the wind on the other vehicle. The ride was much softer and nicer on this one. BMW switched rims and tires. After driving mine with the Goodyear tires, the ride was similar from what was experienced on that second vehicle. What I was told is that it seems that BMW is aware of the wind issue. The engineer said he had not noticed it until brought to his attention a while back. Of course most of the driving on the New 5 he has done was on the 545. Another thing he did, was that as soon as we got on the highway, he hit the window buttons thinking that maybe they were open. They were not. Point No.2 The wind noise inside the vehicle at highway speeds was VERY noticeable, on all the cars we drove.
So. This model really IS affected by the wind. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS!!!
I can say the ride is much better with the Goodyear tires, but it still gets beat up by the wind. I have received posting from other users like this "the latest issue of Car & Driver was not pleased with the '04 530i. They also mentioned that their car did not feel stable in crosswinds. Their car was equipped with the Sports Package (which they commented on the "too quick" ratio at low speeds)."
I'm sorry, but as I said before, the ride on my 2003 E39 is by far superior than my 2004 E60.
Good Luck Jewels, and keep us posted!
Just for your info, not intended to be a discouragement, but I thought you might want to be aware of this and observe when you get your new car. This is the latest follow-up post by the person above who had problems with their new 530i:
Just got back from BMW. This is the verdict. A BMW Field Service Engineer (they travel all over taking care of issues) test drove my vehicle with me. He inmediately experienced what I was talking about. Then we drove an exact model as mine. The only difference mine was equipped with Continental tires, this one had GoodYear Eagles. You could still feel the wind on the other vehicle. The ride was much softer and nicer on this one. BMW switched rims and tires. After driving mine with the Goodyear tires, the ride was similar from what was experienced on that second vehicle. What I was told is that it seems that BMW is aware of the wind issue. The engineer said he had not noticed it until brought to his attention a while back. Of course most of the driving on the New 5 he has done was on the 545. Another thing he did, was that as soon as we got on the highway, he hit the window buttons thinking that maybe they were open. They were not. Point No.2 The wind noise inside the vehicle at highway speeds was VERY noticeable, on all the cars we drove.
So. This model really IS affected by the wind. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS!!!
I can say the ride is much better with the Goodyear tires, but it still gets beat up by the wind. I have received posting from other users like this "the latest issue of Car & Driver was not pleased with the '04 530i. They also mentioned that their car did not feel stable in crosswinds. Their car was equipped with the Sports Package (which they commented on the "too quick" ratio at low speeds)."
I'm sorry, but as I said before, the ride on my 2003 E39 is by far superior than my 2004 E60.
Good Luck Jewels, and keep us posted!
I own 2004 530i and I have not experienced this wind problem you are talking about. I live in northeast and its pretty windy here this time of the year and I have been drinving my car over 70MPH and I just do not have the experience you are talking about. I had my car for about little over a month now and I love. I have 2300 miles on it so far. Love the drive.
Cosmos, M_6, friends, it's here!!! Picked it up yesterday. Had a two hour drive back from the dealers, and it was REALLY windy, with power outages in some spots. The car drove right through it, had no problems at all. Couldn't even feel shake, let alone having it move all over the road. It drove like a dream! I got up this morning went down to the garage, and respectfully named her Beauty, as my husband has the Beast, an 03 dodge 1 ton modified truck. LOL. When I figure out how to post a pic, I will. Thanks for all the support. : )
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