Luxury Performance Sedans

Replying to: uglybear (Jan 06, 2007 9:51 pm)

You are correcto-mundo! The A6 has Servotronic, the slower you go the greater the boost. Servotronic II by ZF apparently (since I have not driven a car with this) changes both the force required based on road speed and the reaction to steering wheel motions (also releated to road speed.)
 
Audi, BMW, Cadillac, LandRover, Volvo all use Servotronic, some applications (in some models) use Servotronic II.
 
I think I would like Servotronic II, but several car magazines and our BMW salesrep seem to say it is an acquired taste. Some of the magazines have even called Active Steering maddening.
 
Since it, at this point, isn't free, I would suggest to anyone that they first test cars with and without it. It is, apparently, more and more likely that Servotronic (one) is making its way into more and more models from many manufacturers. I would suspect if ActiveSteering or whatever ZF calls their version when it is marketed to a willing buyer catches on, we'll see ever lighter steering feel and very little steering wheel input needed (at slow speeds) to cause a large turn in.
 
I do feel the road -- in this technology (Servotronic I) -- unlike the GM and Chryco products I grew up with in the 60's which had super boosted steering that felt like I wasn't turning a darn thing and any road feel was probably my imagination.
 
I will keep digging, but "if" Servotronic II is the underlying technology for Active Steering, it certainly appears that it varies both the torque and the ratio based on road speed. Cadillac literature actually uses the Roman Numeral II after the word Servotronic to describe, essentially, what is Active Steering.
 
One of the road tests of a BMW using this technology claimed ActiveSteering added "numbness" or subtracted road feel. Perhaps that is what you are commenting on?
 
Going from a 2003 Audi to a 2005 Servotronic equipped BMW X3 then to another Servotronic equipped Audi, I enjoyed what I would characterize as "increased and improved responsiveness." Servotronic II seems (on paper) like it might be the best of all worlds -- unfortunately, at this time, the 530xi and the 3 series x's cannot be had with ActiveSteering, but the X3 can be had with Servotronic I and the X5 with ActiveSteering (with the sport package option.)
 
 
 
Audi, on the other hand, will offer sport suspension (and remember with a 530xi you cannot get a sport suspension, but you can get a sport package that changes the seats and wheels) and Servotronic on their AWD cars (DOH!)
 
A 535xi with a sport suspension ought to be a fantastic car, perhaps an even better choice with THAT engine than the current V8's BMW offers.
 
After having driven the 335i, I am a believer in the new turbos from BMW -- and I would, I suspect, want one with Servotronic I or Active Steering if such would be offered.

Replies to this message:
• lexusguy (Jan 07, 2007 10:06 am)
  • markcincinnati (Jan 07, 2007 1:14 pm)
    • lexusguy (Jan 07, 2007 3:17 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 06, 2007 10:28 am)

If the Audi lease came down $200 per month I would seriously consider it but I doubt if it will. My salesman retired last month and i wanted to order a fully equipped '07 A6 3.2. from him before he left. he knew I had a problem with the increased cost and was considering M35 so he worked at $600 over invoice which translated to $797/month. All leases are 36 months. I was paying $568 for my '03. I think I can get the M35X for mid 600's and GS350AWD for high 600's. The reports on the M's nav system and back up camera are very positive. I'm not sure how the sound systems compare. If the Audi had kept the twin turbo at 300HP I would have paid the increase. I love the acceleration of the GS350 but don't know if I can live with the steering and small trunk. Need to make a decision soon!!!!!!!!!!

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• domenickamarc (Jan 07, 2007 9:21 am)
  • allagaroo (Jan 12, 2007 3:41 pm)
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Replying to: allagaroo (Jan 07, 2007 9:05 am)

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• allagaroo (Jan 12, 2007 3:41 pm)
  • willie2l (Jan 13, 2007 9:30 am)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 07, 2007 6:53 am)

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• markcincinnati (Jan 07, 2007 1:14 pm)
  • lexusguy (Jan 07, 2007 3:17 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 07, 2007 10:06 am)

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• lexusguy (Jan 07, 2007 3:17 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 07, 2007 1:14 pm)

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• bruceomega (Jan 10, 2007 12:07 pm)
  • rayainsw (Jan 10, 2007 1:07 pm)

You know, this whole breathed on I6 engine thing has got me to wondering. Would it be possible to transplant one of the new mills from the 335i/535i into a late E39 5-Series? Geez, what I wouldn't give to have my old 2002 530i with that mill stuffed under the hood.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• lexusguy (Jan 10, 2007 7:22 am)
  • shipo (Jan 10, 2007 8:15 am)
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Replying to: shipo (Jan 10, 2007 6:50 am)

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• shipo (Jan 10, 2007 8:15 am)
  • lexusguy (Jan 10, 2007 6:22 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 10, 2007 7:22 am)

Trust me, it's WAY more complicated than a simple blower installation. Consider the following points:
 
1) The engine in the 2002 E39 was the previous style (and in fact many years old in its life cycle) aluminum block with the cast iron sleeves. Decent for its purpose, but hardly as robust as the new aluminum core/magnesium shell composite block that debuted with the introduction of the E90.
2) Factory built turbocharged engines are typically reinforced (over that of the normally aspirated siblings) with the following goodies:
 - 2a) Higher strength crank, rods and pistons
 - 2b) Rod based oil squirters to cool the piston domes
 - 2c) Considerably greater cooling capabilities such as:
 - - 2cA) Larger radiator and the necessary plumbing
 - - 2cB) Additional and/or larger oil coolers and the necessary plumbing
 - - 2cC) Large size intercooler(s) and the necessary plumbing
 - - 2cD) Extra coolant plumbing to the bearings on the turbine houseing to keep them cool, especially at shutdown
 - 2d) Significant software remapping
 - 2e) Revised/more robust valve train
 - 2f) Higher flow intake and exhaust manifolds (2 in the case of the 335i)
 
Did BMW do all of the above to the 335i engine? Probably. Would I trust the (bored out to within an inch of its life) 3.0 liter mill from an E39 to withstand the rigors of a 300 (320-340 by all accounts) HP turbocharging application? Not a chance. While the old 3.0 liter mill was certainly a good and robust engine for its intended output, there is only one word to describe what would happen to that engine when an intake charge 150% of design spec was fed into it. KABOOM!
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• lexusguy (Jan 10, 2007 6:22 pm)
  • shipo (Jan 10, 2007 7:22 pm)
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