Servotronic. What is it?
 

What exactly is the servotronic steering system and how does it differ from the regular steering system on the 4.4. Is it worth getting and how does it work?

Isn't that called Active Steering? If it's the same thing then there's a planetary gear system on the steering rack that is attached to a stepping motor. The stepping motor is used to change the effective steering ratio depending on the speed of the vehicle. At slow speeds the steering ratio is increased for maneuverability. At high speeds the steering ratio is lowered for stability.

No no. Servotronic does not alter the ratio whatsoever. It only adds/subtracts resistive force. It's basically an advanced vehicle speed-sensitive steering system. At lower speeds it provides more boost/assistance, at higher speeds less. I think it even adds some resistive force beyond a certain speed.

I didn't say Servotronic alters the ratio, I said Active Steering did. If Servotronic only affects the steering force then it's different than Active Steering.

seemed like you were mistaking servotronic for active steering :confused:

spot on...

Only new gen BMW's have active steering though (new 3, 5, 6 & 7 [E90, E60, E63, E65]). Well as an option for both.

So your X5 would have Servotronic, but not Active Steering (the new E70 X5 will have Active Steering either as an option though)...

Personally, I drove an X3 without Servotronic for the first time the other day, and I thought the heavy steering was awesome. I don't find the steering that heavy without it...

Yeah, for a moment there I thought the marketing geniuses had dreamed up a new name for Active Steering.:rofl: Vanos, valvetronic, servotronic...it's hard to keep up with these concocted words.

they prolly worked their nomenclature in oktober. hmm...i could go for some 'oktober' right now..

I have Servotronic on my '05 X5. I ordered it, because I do a lot of parallel parking. When stopped, and at very low speed, the steering wheel can be turned with your finger, which makes parking a breeze. As speed increases, the amount of force needed to turn the wheel is comparable to a BMW with non-servotronic steering. If you need to parallel park frequently, as I do, this is a cheap, and worthwhile option.

how much does it cost?

I have it on my x5 4.6is I came standard with those, with my 06 x5 3.0I I order it and it was only 300 or 350 can't remember.I think it is reaaaally cheap comparing to what it helps.. every valet guy that drives the 3.0i always ask me why mine is so smooth to drive comparing regular ones.... It makes a huuuuge difference.

My dealer just told me as of last week servotronic is dropped off the option list for the X% and you definately can not get it anymore as an option for the 2006. Is this true

BMW's definition of Servotronic

Servotronic does not regulate the power steering via the engine speed, which is the usual method: it functions instead in conjunction with the speed the car is currently travelling at. The electronic modification of servo pressure depending on speed guarantees impressively high servo power even when travelling slowly; this power is reduced at higher speeds.
This means that only minimum effort is needed to turn the wheel at low speed; steering assistance drops continuously as you accelerate, increasing the direct contact with the road surface and enabling you to steer with increased precision. In addition, you benefit from added comfort and ease of movement when parking or steering in confined spaces, for example when travelling through narrow openings and alleys.

M Servotronic.

M Servotronic is a special form of power steering geared not to engine speed, like conventional power steering systems, but rather to the car's actual road speed. In practice this means ample power assistance when parking and manoeuvring at low speeds, followed by gradual reduction of power assistance as road speed increases to ensure greater direct contact with the road at high speeds and, as a result, an even higher standard of steering precision. Using the sports switch, the driver can also choose a second steering control curve for even sportier feedback from the steering.

for Dinan M3 pal I think you should consider getting another dealer, I can fax you if you want my window sticker of my Bmw X5 2006 3.0I built this year, where it is as an option the servotronic.. if it helps I can fax it to you.Now mine is just a 3.0I and if you are getting the 4.4i should be able to get more options...

I agree i feel that i am being jerked around by my dealer. But on there behalf they are not saying it wasnt available in 2006 but that they very recently stopped offering it on 2006s. Although i think its still bullshit. Does anyone know for sure.

anyway im getting up at 8am tomorrow which for me on a satarday is very early. And im gonaa call 4 or 5 dealers and see what the hell is going on here for real. any suggestions what dealers i should call or visit tomorrow

Only BMW knows for sure, but it is not at all surprising.

• There is no servotronic option on the BMWUSA website
• BMW Canada started limiting options in Feb/March timeframe, offering the Executive Edition as they sold out the rest of the production.
• There is no servotronic option available separately or as part of any package on the Canadian 4.4 Executive Edition
• The standard Canadian edition (which I don't think is possible to order any more) has no separate servotronic option, although it is shown as part of the premium package on that model.

Sounds like perhaps you should get your order in soon, and consider if you will accept less than your ideal build configuration. Given the price you have negotiated, your dealer may not be willing to go too far for you, it sounds like a fairly large discount. Good luck.

Its mostly a factory rebate. So the dealer is still making there money. they always do.

When I ordered my '05, Servotronic was not on BMWUSA's website, nor was it listed on the dealer's ordering guide. I insisted that it was an available option, and after the dealer checked with Montvale, they advised the dealer that it was available, only as a "priority 1" (meaning a sold vehicle) option. This may have changed for '06, but I doubt it.

i bought a 2006 X3, and it was definitely available then..which was a few months back.

Yep you are exactly right. I went down to the dealer today and told them i wasnt ordering it without servotronic and whata ya know. In like 10 min they figured out that they had to put it in as priority 1 veh. So i ordered it. It should be in in 4 weeks they said.

Exactly...I agree. I ordered it on my 4.4. non-sport due for delivery in September. Only $400.00 and it does give the beast a bit of luxury feel at slow speeds or when parking.

The dealer has to special order it...call the factory or something like that...

Amazing that some of the dealers don't even know about the option.

The 4.8 comes standard with it.
///M