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Hi- new user and have just bought the better half a lovely B7 Cab. She's happy with it and although Im sure Ill be asking and searching for answers in the future, the one thing shes already moaning about is that the steering gets heavy after moving off. Ive driven it and pretty sure it feels like its dynamic- parking etc its light as, but after rolling does get heavier. Can I turn this off? Or adjust the weighting at all? Dont drive it in sport, so would have thought it would be lightweight all the time...?
Many thanks for any help you can give...
Dan

Sounds like a fault to me.

Normal. Its servotronic steering on our cars. I like it, its noticable - the extra assist at low speeds then reduces to improve feedback when driving.

Had mine for 18 years in January - genuinely doesn't sound like anything I've experienced. That is unless maybe you or your partner are turning the wheel when the car isn't moving - I don't do that, it's not great for tyres and generally lacking in mechanical sympathy! And whilst one person's definition of heavy is different from another's, I've never heard the B7's rack described as being heavy. Pieces in Autocar etc at launch described it as being less weighty than the competition - M3 etc.

Sport mode changes engine mapping and inflates bolsters on seats, but changes nothing else.

Interesting, the solenoids can fail and it becomes a basic rack in that scenario, if you cant feel any difference at low (pulling off) speeds, i would look into it, it is noticeable and i have always enjoyed it in car parks etc, you feel it weight up as you move off.

Thanks people- I think its normal- just gets a little heavier when driving, but its not exactly heavy. Shes moaning because its heavier than the last car and I just wondered whether there was a way to disable the feature?

Nope. It's a feature of power assistance in general that when you are hardly moving it gives greater assistance. Difference shouldn't be night and day though.

I know some other VAG cars of a similar age had a setting accessible with VCDS that allowed the steering weight to be adjusted. Not sure the B7 has it?