Here's a nice old school BMW video on AS:

BMW Active steering - YouTube

i wonder how much the hydraulic lines would add to it. Really would have to find a wreck to make it worth it.

anyone know the code for this option for the E70? i think its option 217. I wonder how any junk yard would know by VIN, maybe i will start to search.

S217A

More AS trivia. BMW made a run at promoting AS through its most recent F1 foray. Even ran "active-steering.com" on the back of the rear wing on the BMW Sauber F1.07 for a race or two. The consumer response was, "thanks, but I'll take these shiny running boards on my E70 instead." Ugh.

Video campaign was a bit goofy perhaps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFFBmpp5qfs

Anybody
 

Was anybody successful here?

From what I see, it seems doable.

-The Active Steering (AS) pump looks very similar compared to the basic, & Servotronic options. The basic rack has no electrical connections. The Servotronic rack has a variable assist actuator, and the AS rack has Servotronic, planetary motor control, planetary position, and the fail-safe connections.

-The Active Drive (AD) pump seems to be two pumps in one. The Servotronic and basic steering pumps have different part numbers, but seem to be the same in they have the eco function connector. The eco function is a bypass function to pump most of the flow back into the tank to same fuel.

-The schematics show the basic steering to have the eco valve which is activated from the (JBE) Juntion Box Electronics module. The AS option controls the eco valve via the AS module.

-The AS module has connections for Servotronic, planetary motor control, planetary position, fail-safe, eco valve, CAN, and power connections

-It looks like at least one of the power steering hoses needs to be replaced - but not sure.

-E70 & E71 racks appear to be fair game

-Only E70 AS modules appear to be valid. The X71 AS uses a different module- seems to have functionality to control the torque vectoring rear differential. I don't know, maybe that could be added to the X5 but too much for me. :)

Some questions from my research:

-Does the X5 need un upgraded DSC sensor?
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...eering/22DVCD3

-What do we do with the JBE eco valve connector? Is this coded out or do we need a resistor to prevent a code?

Here are some resources:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...eering/24xR047

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...eering/1ppLQCo

Seems super simple. Shocked nobody has offered a DIY kit for this....


:whistle


:shrug

Don't know
 

That's what scares me a bit... I have seen a thread where a guy retrofitted active drive and active steering on a Z3 or Z4, so maybe it is. On paper, I don't see any show stoppers. Maybe I will try to find some cheap parts and bench test it- was hoping for some confirmation bias. :stickpoke