Notchy steering on highway

omniphil · 03-09-2024, 05:56 AM

Never seems to be an issue on back roads, but on the highway when trying to make tiny steering wheel corrections is feels very notchy and not smooth, this makes it harder to make very small adjustments to keep the vehicle going straight.

(This is a 2020 with 39k miles)

Basically it seems like it just wants to wander alot at highway speeds.

Anyone else run into this?
Steering rack? Bushings?

joebie3 · 03-09-2024, 07:28 AM

Do you have the steering in comfort, sport, or sport+? Does it do it through all of the different steering modes?

These cars have a lot of toe in from the factory, so it could be that too. Maybe need an alignment?

omniphil · 03-09-2024, 07:43 AM

I had it in comfort. I will try the other modes and see if it's any better.

M4Lou · 03-09-2024, 10:43 AM

Stock tires?

omniphil · 03-09-2024, 10:46 AM

Pilot Sport All Season 4's. (21 inch)
I noticed the pressures were 38psi front 44psi rear. So I brought them all down to match the door sticker at 33/38.

Doesn't seem quite as bad, I'm guessing its how this thing is with its fairly twitchy steering...

kidxin · 03-09-2024, 12:18 PM

Mine too I just accepted it.

ztay · 03-09-2024, 01:01 PM

Totally normal but unfortunate for these cars. Also have the pilot sports and mss and does not help. I’ve read some have been able to improve it by adjusting the front toe on realignment.

omniphil · 03-11-2024, 09:12 AM

Ok, figured it would probably be normal. I'm sure I'll just get used to it over time...

TacosRule! · 03-11-2024, 09:29 AM

It's the lane keep and lane centering assist. Disable it and you'll be able to confirm.

CenCal X3M Comp · 03-11-2024, 10:57 AM

I have the same issue on my new 2024 X3MC. I feel that the suspension has something to do with it as I notice it feels it likes to rock from left to right, in doing so, it requires steering correction. I've used the Sports setting for steering which has help a bit but I still feel the side to side rocking has a lot to do with it.

M4Lou · 03-11-2024, 07:45 PM

Idk - my 2024 x3mc is a nimble sob.

I put my rear tire 265's on the front and it did exactly what you mention.

Went back to the star 255's in the front and it is nimble again. I've got Eibach springs on four corners too. Happy w/ it..

kzg1969 · 03-12-2024, 04:59 PM

my 2019 was quite bad on the OEM Conti6 but a lot better on Goodyear Eagle5.

as said above, these cars prone to it. It is better in sport.

Y0jjimb0 · 03-13-2024, 10:20 AM

The alignment is very aggressive from the factory. Get it realigned and reduce the toe settings and it will be much more stable (and enjoyable IMO). I zeroed out the front toe and reduced the rear toe to the low end of the factory range. I'll see if I can find my exact settings and I'll post them here.

EDIT:

Here we go. Ignore the before numbers, they installed KWs at the same time so it wasn't aligned yet.

03-09-2024, 05:56 AM	#1
omniphil First Lieutenant 81 Rep 307 Posts Drives: me crazy, Woo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	Notchy steering on highway Never seems to be an issue on back roads, but on the highway when trying to make tiny steering wheel corrections is feels very notchy and not smooth, this makes it harder to make very small adjustments to keep the vehicle going straight. (This is a 2020 with 39k miles) Basically it seems like it just wants to wander alot at highway speeds. Anyone else run into this? Steering rack? Bushings?
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03-09-2024, 07:28 AM	#2
joebie3 Second Lieutenant 309 Rep 297 Posts Drives: 2014 STI - 2020 X3MC Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Chicago area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3MC [10.00] 2014 Subaru STi [5.00]	Do you have the steering in comfort, sport, or sport+? Does it do it through all of the different steering modes? These cars have a lot of toe in from the factory, so it could be that too. Maybe need an alignment? Last edited by joebie3; 03-09-2024 at 08:30 AM..
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03-09-2024, 07:43 AM	#3
omniphil First Lieutenant 81 Rep 307 Posts Drives: me crazy, Woo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	I had it in comfort. I will try the other modes and see if it's any better.
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03-09-2024, 10:43 AM	#4
M4Lou Lieutenant 431 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 21'-x3m40i 23'-m4c 24'-x3mc Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: State of confusion iTrader: (0)	Stock tires?
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03-09-2024, 10:46 AM	#5
omniphil First Lieutenant 81 Rep 307 Posts Drives: me crazy, Woo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	Pilot Sport All Season 4's. (21 inch) I noticed the pressures were 38psi front 44psi rear. So I brought them all down to match the door sticker at 33/38. Doesn't seem quite as bad, I'm guessing its how this thing is with its fairly twitchy steering...
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03-09-2024, 12:18 PM	#6
kidxin Private First Class 114 Rep 143 Posts Drives: BMW X3M Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Mine too I just accepted it.
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03-09-2024, 01:01 PM	#7
ztay Private 201 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 2023 X3MC Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 Mini GP 3 #940 [0.00] 1976 BMW 2002 [10.00] 2023 X3 M Comp [0.00]	Totally normal but unfortunate for these cars. Also have the pilot sports and mss and does not help. I’ve read some have been able to improve it by adjusting the front toe on realignment.
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03-11-2024, 09:12 AM	#8
omniphil First Lieutenant 81 Rep 307 Posts Drives: me crazy, Woo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	Ok, figured it would probably be normal. I'm sure I'll just get used to it over time...
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03-11-2024, 09:29 AM	#9
TacosRule! Major 623 Rep 1,068 Posts Drives: 2022 X3M Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Houston Area iTrader: (10)	It's the lane keep and lane centering assist. Disable it and you'll be able to confirm.
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03-11-2024, 10:57 AM	#10
CenCal X3M Comp Second Lieutenant 88 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2024 X3M Comp Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central Cali (and Sometimes Brazil) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M4 [0.00]	I have the same issue on my new 2024 X3MC. I feel that the suspension has something to do with it as I notice it feels it likes to rock from left to right, in doing so, it requires steering correction. I've used the Sports setting for steering which has help a bit but I still feel the side to side rocking has a lot to do with it.
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03-11-2024, 07:45 PM	#11
M4Lou Lieutenant 431 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 21'-x3m40i 23'-m4c 24'-x3mc Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: State of confusion iTrader: (0)	Idk - my 2024 x3mc is a nimble sob. I put my rear tire 265's on the front and it did exactly what you mention. Went back to the star 255's in the front and it is nimble again. I've got Eibach springs on four corners too. Happy w/ it..
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03-12-2024, 04:59 PM	#12
kzg1969 Lieutenant Colonel 1299 Rep 1,927 Posts Drives: X3M Comp / M3 E93 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: AberFreeze iTrader: (1)	my 2019 was quite bad on the OEM Conti6 but a lot better on Goodyear Eagle5. as said above, these cars prone to it. It is better in sport.
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03-13-2024, 10:20 AM	#13
Y0jjimb0 Private First Class 243 Rep 170 Posts Drives: '02 E46 M3, '20 F97 X3M Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	The alignment is very aggressive from the factory. Get it realigned and reduce the toe settings and it will be much more stable (and enjoyable IMO). I zeroed out the front toe and reduced the rear toe to the low end of the factory range. I'll see if I can find my exact settings and I'll post them here. EDIT: Here we go. Ignore the before numbers, they installed KWs at the same time so it wasn't aligned yet.
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