[doug_999]

I test drove a 535xi and then my friends 550xi (both 2014s) and the steering was terrible in both. I was under the impression that those both used hydraulic steering so I believe that they can make electric steering feel as good as hydraulic and hydraulic as bad as electric.

That said.. the 650GCs I've test driven have really nice steering (only driven the AWD versions) at the expense of a 3 turns to lock steering (read lots and lots of turning of the steering wheel). I have Active Steering in my X6 and love it due to the number of tight low speed turns I do every day on my way to work. On the plus side, in the X platform it really lightens up the steering (if you have ever driven an X5 without Active Steering you know it takes some serious effort to turn that wheel at low speeds). This was not always the case as the Active Steering in my 2006 550 felt the exact same as the 550 without it in back to back test drives.

Long story short, I think the platform makes as much if not more difference than the type of steering. The F10 5-series has been dinged for bad steering since it came out and I agree with those reviews (I also agree that you get used to it). The GC on the other hand continually gets praised.