How to Activate Active Steering on a BMW 545

1. Drive the 545 slowly in a parking lot and make a tight U-turn. You will notice that the steering ratio lessens so that there are not as many turns from lock-to-lock, which refers to how many rotations the wheel makes from on direction to the other. The Active Steering is actually reducing the amount that you must turn the wheel to make the U-turn and the car's computer is using the speed of the car to determine the speed of the steering. If you were to try the same maneuver at speed, the steering would not react as quickly. Active steering also decreases the effort required to turn the wheel at slow speeds.
2. Drive the 545 at higher speeds to experience its behavior under freeway and high-speed conditions. Turn the wheel a little back and forth or drive it around a high-speed sweeper to get a sense of the increased steering ratio and higher steering effort. You will notice that the car responds to the steering much more slowly and safely. Less immediate response at higher speeds equals a safer driving experience.
3. Push the car hard in a large empty parking lot. At a slow speed, turn the wheel hard enough to upset the composure of the car and cause the tires to lose a little bit of traction. You will feel the steering react in order to help bring the car back under control. You should only do this on private property in an empty lot.