[Drifter2090]

Just picked up a new daily, 2009 335d Monaco Blue/Oyster, sport package, individual audio, etc.

One issue so far is the steering is extremely heavy, I've had a 335 before and a E90 M3 currently, and neither have been even close to this bad.

I checked the power steering fluid, it was to the level and clean.
I checked the double U-Joint, sprayed WD40, waited a bit then used lithium grease on it.

Could it be due to the harmonic balancer/crankshaft pulley?

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

[terry335d]

Mine has always been heavy ( 5 years)

In the E46 world, they did a running change, so if yours was heavy you could replace it with the lighter feeling one , which I did and was very happy. I still have that car and it is considerably lighter than the 335d.

[335stoner]

my buddy has one that had heavy steering. he swapped from the sport wheels (like yours) to the M-sport wheels and said he noticed a huge improvement on the steering. he said he noticed the sport wheels are heavier in weight vs the M-sport wheels.

[apexit4]

My steering has always been heavy relative to other car's I've owned. I've driven my friends 335D as well and the steering on both was the same.

So that being said, I think its normal and the way the car was designed. If you're really concerned, either take it to a mechanic to have the steering inspected or find another 335D that you can test drive and compare.

[Drifter2090]

I'll see if I can find another 335d to compare. My 335i had very heavy steering and that was normal, and I liked it. It was the same as other E90/E92 335i steering weights as well.

The 335d however is much much heavier.

I am getting new tires soon, the pilot super sports on it now are quite worn, hopefully that will make a difference.

[335dlci]

Same

[BB_cuda]

I have 2011 msport and those wheels produced the firm feel steering and its is normal (and i like the this). I have replaced the 193m wheels with Apex SM-10 (18x9,ET30) at all corners and steering is no different. SM-10 wheels are way more lite than the 193m set. This conversation has reminded me to go weigh the new wheel/tire combo as compared to the OEM setup wearing mich PSS.

[M5_1of400]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

I have 2011 msport and those wheels produced the firm feel steering and its is normal (and i like the this). I have replaced the 193m wheels with Apex SM-10 (18x9,ET30) at all corners and steering is no different. SM-10 wheels are way more lite than the 193m set. This conversation has reminded me to go weigh the new wheel/tire combo as compared to the OEM setup wearing mich PSS.

Nice! did think you wanted to change wheels. When are we meeting again to check those wheels?

[Drifter2090]

Gonna check my harmonic balancer condition today, and get some new tires

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by DieselDemonDM

Nice! did think you wanted to change wheels. When are we meeting again to check those wheels?

My Apex were on it when he met up way out west I-10. Remember where they put my car on the lift and it was a brake backing plates was slightly rubbing. I thought you saw the new wheels, anyway. I for sure remember seeing your better half directly behind my car when it went up on the lift.

[Pierre Louis]

Originally Posted by Drifter2090

Gonna check my harmonic balancer condition today, and get some new tires

I had a 2011 335d with sport package. The heavy steering got better with a mild over-inflating of the tires which also seemed to help the ride a bit.

I had a manual steering 1988 Porsche 911 which also was heavy but not "all the time" as the e90 seems to. This tells me it was purposely designed to be heavier as the hydraulics were designed.

A good alignment also may help, which is harder to do on the e90 chassis with big wheels/tires stuffed into the wheel wells (I got a lot of tramming at stop lights in the steering). The sport package does handle very well on the track though.

PL

[Drifter2090]

Originally Posted by Pierre Louis

I had a 2011 335d with sport package. The heavy steering got better with a mild over-inflating of the tires which also seemed to help the ride a bit.

I had a manual steering 1988 Porsche 911 which also was heavy but not "all the time" as the e90 seems to. This tells me it was purposely designed to be heavier as the hydraulics were designed.

A good alignment also may help, which is harder to do on the e90 chassis with big wheels/tires stuffed into the wheel wells (I got a lot of tramming at stop lights in the steering). The sport package does handle very well on the track though.

PL

Thanks!

Yeah after switching the tires it seems to be much better. Mine has the sport package with the m sport suspension as well so that might be one of the reasons.

Glad it's better with the new tires though, it was a workout!