[MauiSteve]

It has been a while since there has been a good thread discussion of Integral Active Steering on the G30. Now that the G30 is in its fourth model year I would like to gather more definitive owner feedback on this somewhat rarely selected option from G30 owners that have it as I consider leaving the option in my final 2020 order.

Owners who have this option on larger BMW SUV's like the X5 seem to be very much happy with this feature. At $1150 added cost on a 540i build, the option is not extremely costly.

With IAS being a relatively rare feature I have no way to test it out before ticking that box on my order.

Does IAS enhance the driving experience on a M Sport 540i with the 704 suspension, or does it feel too artificial? And if you have it, would you put it on your next build again?

[a_k]

I like it - smaller turning circle (easier parking for example, easier U-turn), more responsive to steering input.
It feels bit different, when navigating between holes on unpaved road on low speed. Also it is easy to "over turn".

[achopra]

Does this make the steering super light and artificial at low speeds ? If so, the M850i I test drive recently had it and I did't like it...

[Bymep]

Dont notice it when driving at speed. You mainly notice it when backing up, and that your turning radius is small. I like it for navigating tight parking situations. On the M550, it is bundled with DHP. Not sure i would have ordered stand alone, but i do like having it

[Miro Kucera]

I drove 60k km with an IAS-equipped G30, now I am 8k km into one without. I thought I liked it but after switching I have realized that much of what I thought was IAS capability is in fact generic to G30. I would not want it again - one more thing to repair if it breaks and the difference is marginal, at least on a G30.

[AP]

It seems to be a very rare option. Not cheap but cost is not much more than say vdc which would appear to have a much higher take up.

Perhaps because of its rarity that gives a clue as to how much it adds to it'll the overall experience, if it was that good it would perhaps be more popular?

Never personally seen a car advertised with it specified and I bet getting a demonstration car with it would be hard work getting hold of.

[Mach550]

I'm very happy with the dynamic handling package, almost feels like a must have on any future BMW's.

[gooselee]

I like it, but definitely had to get used to it (and still am to some extent). I tend to back-in to parking spots and for a while I would keep "missing" the spot and having to try again. Realized eventually it was because I wasn't planning for the IAS to tighten up my turn.

I still have to re-learn periodically as I switch between my M550 and another car with plain jane steering.

[otistarda]

I ordered the IAS in my former G30 (540i). The car feels definitely more agile with the IAS, and when driving over alpine passes with hairpin turns, it's marvellous. But under normal daily driving conditions, it annoyed me most of the time because of it's artificial feel.

Later, I switched to an M550i and decided against that option.

I strongly recommend to test drive the IAS before ordering, so that you can form your own opinion. You should also consider that the IAS feels very different in the different models. If you are looking for 5er G30, you shouldn't be relying on testimony related to the X5.

Regards,
Otis

[MauiSteve]

Where I am located there's no way I would be able to test drive. I have to rely on input from Bimmerpost members. My 2020 is still in order bank, but at some point it will be decision time, and right now I'm still on the fence due to somewhat mixed reviews.

[snowbimmer]

Had it on a G30 M550 and loved it. Don't have it on an F90 M5 and miss it.

[rudling]

Hey guys, I spec'd my 2019 M550 with DHP, which I believe included IAS. But honestly I hadn't really noticed it. Reading your reports about it has made me do some research, and now I'm wondering (a little) if my car is actually equipped with it? The build sheet clearly shows DHP, including (2VW) Adaptive M Suspension, (Z1A) Integral Active Steering, and (ZX5) Active Roll Stabilization.

The VIN decoders I see online show "2VW M Sports Suspension Professional," but not IAS or Active Roll Stabilization. Looks like they don't generally show any packages (no feature codes starting with Z), but I see OP has posted 2VH as a feature code for IAS, rather than the Z1A that shows up on my build sheet. 2VH is also not shown in my VIN decoder output.

So, maybe this is just a question about VIN decoders and exactly what features BMW lists in a decoded VIN.

When you guys decode your VIN (e.g. https://www.mdecoder.com), do you see Integral Active Steering show up? And if so, with what feature code?

Thanks!

[Bymep]

Easiest way to tell if you have IAS is to back up while turning. It will feel like backing up with a trailer. If you have 3D surround cameras, you will see the rear end kick out ( move into the turn) as you back up.

[emre]

Originally Posted by rudling

Hey guys, I spec'd my 2019 M550 with DHP, which I believe included IAS. But honestly I hadn't really noticed it. Reading your reports about it has made me do some research, and now I'm wondering (a little) if my car is actually equipped with it? The build sheet clearly shows DHP, including (2VW) Adaptive M Suspension, (Z1A) Integral Active Steering, and (ZX5) Active Roll Stabilization.

The VIN decoders I see online show "2VW M Sports Suspension Professional," but not IAS or Active Roll Stabilization. Looks like they don't generally show any packages (no feature codes starting with Z), but I see OP has posted 2VH as a feature code for IAS, rather than the Z1A that shows up on my build sheet. 2VH is also not shown in my VIN decoder output.

So, maybe this is just a question about VIN decoders and exactly what features BMW lists in a decoded VIN.

When you guys decode your VIN (e.g. https://www.mdecoder.com), do you see Integral Active Steering show up? And if so, with what feature code?

Thanks!

When i decode my vin, IAS does show as S2VHA.
See photo attached

[rudling]

I guess it depends on the model. Looking at the 2019 5er Ordering Guide, i see 2VH as a standalone option for the 540, but the only place Integration Active Steering shows up for the M550 is part of ZDH, and it's coded as Z1A. There is no 2VH for the M550. Strange, but I guess that explains the VIN decoder differences.

Thanks for checking!

[gooselee]

I just looked at mine and my "Wheels and Drive" section in the VIN decoder shows this:

Wheels And Drive
S22EA BMW LA Wheel M Double Spoke 668
S248A Steering Wheel Heater
S2VBA Tire Pressure Display
S2VWA M Sports Suspension Professional
S2NHA M Sport Brakes
S2TBA Sport Automatic Transmission

M550 with DHP/IAS and unless my mind is playing tricks on me, IAS is definitely installed on my car.

I can tell because:
a) I back into parking spots a lot in all kinds of cars, but kept "missing" the first few weeks of having the car. It was turning sharper than I expected due to the IAS.
b) When leaving my house I have to back out into the street. Sometimes I stop to get the mail before driving off. If I do this with the wheel still turned to come out of the driveway, you can actually see the rear wheels turned every so slightly opposite from the front (but you have to really eyeball down the side of the car to notice it).