View Poll Results: xDrive or RWD | |||
xDrive with Winter Tires | 13 | 56.52% | |
Rear Wheel Drive with Winter Tires | 10 | 43.48% | |
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll |
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02-01-2019, 09:13 PM | #1 |
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The Age Old Question... to xDrive or not to xDrive
I'm planning out the last few options on my 530e order and I'm debating if I really need AWD. I've had my 330e which is rear wheel drive for 3 winters now. I swap winter tires on each fall and I've had no trouble so far. This winter though we've had a lot of snow and there was one day it was pretty deep and I almost got stuck, so that has me rethinking my commitment to RWD.
I wanted to gather the forums thoughts, If I'm going to buy winter tires (on their own set of wheels) is it really worth it to drop $2,300 on xDrive or should I get some other options instead? Also, are allocations specific to drive type or is xDrive treated like any other option? |
02-01-2019, 09:52 PM | #2 | |
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02-01-2019, 09:57 PM | #3 |
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I'm not 100% on this but I believe allocations are on model and not xdrive or not. Guess
So I haven't had a opportunity to test the xdrive in the snow yet. I have all season instead of pure winter tires. But... I just traded in my Mercedes E class without 4Matic. It would have put me over budget and I wanted other options. Mistake as I regretted that every winter. You have to decide but it's hard to add afterwards 😂 You should look at BMW video on xdrive as it's just not used for winter. It helps with over and under steering on dry or wet roads.
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02-01-2019, 10:12 PM | #4 | |
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02-01-2019, 10:55 PM | #5 |
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I would do winter tire+AWD, though I'm doing all season run flat+AWD right now...
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02-01-2019, 11:48 PM | #6 |
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AWD is great however you need make sure all wheels have roughly the same rolling diameter or you can kill your awd system. For example. If you have 4 really warn tyres and then get a flat and fit the brand new spare and leave it on for too long that wheel will rotate slightly slower than the other three and prematurely wear you AWD system out.
There is an Australian Engineer / YouTube blogger that discussed this some months ago. https://autoexpert.com.au/videoblog/...tems?rq=Awd%20 Just something to be aware of |
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02-02-2019, 09:18 AM | #7 |
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Let me start by saying I live PA, but I always have the option of taking my wife's SUV if the weather is bad. Plus, I usually have the option of working from home on bad weather days too. So right off the bat, xDrive for me is rendered a nice to have.
I would like to have it, but it just didn't make the final cut. Here are the options I ordered in no particular order in terms of priority:
Here are the options I wanted that didn't make the cut:
In the end, it came down to xDrive vs M Sport, which cost about the same, and I went with M Sport. Also, I tried to add Heated Steering wheel at the very end (cold weather had an influence on this), but it was too late. My car is in production already. No doubt things would be different if I didn't have access to an AWD SUV or didn't have the option of working from home on bad weather days.
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02-02-2019, 10:02 AM | #8 |
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Not that our weather in that cold in the UK, but I have found AWD much better this winter, coming from a RWD F10... As a comparison my neighbour struggled to get up our road in his F10 530d the other day, whereas my AWD 540i went up no problem at all (neither of us has winter tyres).
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02-02-2019, 03:18 PM | #9 | |
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Planned: 530e Bluestone or Mediterranean Blue Ivory Dakota Convenience or M-Sport Premium Pkg Executive Pkg Driving Assistance Plus Parking Assistance Front and Rear Heated Seats Heated steering wheel Dynamic Damper Control Harman Kardon These are all the options I’m debating between, can only get 1 - 2: xDrive M-Sport Luxury Seating Pkg + Nappa Leather Night Vision |
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02-02-2019, 04:31 PM | #10 |
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I see a lot guys gets m sport? was it for the look or you guys really want the handling? I was more comfort oriented and the fact M suspension lowers the car (in piece of s'it road we got here) was an easy no for me...
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02-02-2019, 04:38 PM | #11 | |
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I personally like the look, but I also like the Luxury Line with Mediterranean Blue Metallic. |
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02-02-2019, 04:47 PM | #12 |
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Honestly, I was vacillating up until the last second between xDrive and M Sport. I have an M3 now, and going from that type of a car to a 540 is a pretty radical change. I just thought it would be an easier transition. I was (still am) concerned that I might not like the 540 compared to the M3.
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02-02-2019, 09:13 PM | #13 |
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Well I just drove home in the thickest fog I’ve ever seen and I think I can move M-Sport (to get fog lights) and maybe Night Vision to the must buy list! I was thankful to have my fog lights tonight. I also happen to meet a G30 on the road and those Icon LEDS were bright!
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02-03-2019, 11:33 AM | #14 |
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I think it depends upon where you live and what kind of driving you do. In a southern climate with street driving, RWD is fine and what I would get (did get). But if one does snow driving or off road driving, etc., then IMHO xdrive is called for.
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02-03-2019, 12:34 PM | #15 |
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Age old answer = x-Drive!
Unless you live in a climate where there is no snow or rain.
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02-03-2019, 05:24 PM | #16 | ||
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1) Multi Contour seats 2) xDrive 3) I like my leather dash but would prefer Nappa leather unless there is a Dakota color you prefer.
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02-03-2019, 08:49 PM | #17 |
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I am going to speak about my experience and points.
My first car is a used E90 323i RWD. I drove it for 2.5 years including 2 winters in southern Ontario Canada. I had winter tires. It definitely tend to have tail loose when i gave gas in snow. I had difficult time going up steep hill. It didn't start off the line that good either in the snow. But it is not un-drivable. With snow tires, it was okay for the winters here. My second and current car is new f32 435i xdrive. I have winter tires too.(never go without it no matter how many drives u have, 2 wheel drives 4 wheel drives or 6, doesn't matter). I have it for 3.5 years now including 4 winters. It definitely starts off the line much faster and better than my old e90. I had no problem going uphill. But I can't really maintain any substantial amount of drift even in snow. Even with DSC off, the car transfer all the power to the front once the tail is loose. That is why u still need to step on the gas when u accidentally have your tail out in snow in a xdrive. It will transfer power to the front and bring the car back. If let go the gas, momentum and inertia will spin the car around 360 degrees. Trust me, I know because it happened to me so many times. Therefore, if u are not that skilled or want to be as safe as possible. Go with xdrive, it is now bulletproof but much safer. If you want to have fun and have some skill, RWD is manageable. That is why I am going to switch back to RWD this year. Want the new G20 M340i (not xdrive). |
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02-03-2019, 09:57 PM | #18 | |
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In my limited time on a test drive with the massage seats, I didn't notice any discomfort, but I also was only in the car for 30 - 40 minutes. |
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02-03-2019, 10:01 PM | #19 | ||
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02-03-2019, 10:09 PM | #20 | |
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Now, where do I find a killer discount... |
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02-03-2019, 10:40 PM | #21 | |
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Top speed will be limited to 130mph because of all season but with 530e that shouldn't be a issue. More of a issue with 540 or 550 models. Mine also has all season square arrangement. I can rotate the tires. Space saver spare Option https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1570226
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02-03-2019, 11:13 PM | #22 | |
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