[cienzod]

Am seriously having to consider crossing to the Dark Side now. First snow arrived yesterday and my E90 M3 was decidedly dodgy again. I wouldn't mind, but it wasn't that deep...cleared up by lunch, but I decided I definitely need 4x4. Audi RS4/S4 are the likely choices, but they wouldn't need to be if BMW brought the 3 series xDrive to the UK. They're widely available in Europe & the US (I know lefties, but surely the demand would be there for RHD??) and they're acknowledged as the better 4x4 car...wassup BMW UK?? You're losing customers by not offering xDrive in the 3 & 5 series in the UK...

[MPTREE]

Originally Posted by cienzod

Am seriously having to consider crossing to the Dark Side now. First snow arrived yesterday and my E90 M3 was decidedly dodgy again. I wouldn't mind, but it wasn't that deep...cleared up by lunch, but I decided I definitely need 4x4. Audi RS4/S4 are the likely choices, but they wouldn't need to be if BMW brought the 3 series xDrive to the UK. They're widely available in Europe & the US (I know lefties, but surely the demand would be there for RHD??) and they're acknowledged as the better 4x4 car...wassup BMW UK?? You're losing customers by not offering xDrive in the 3 & 5 series in the UK...

+1 for sure

[AlanQS]

You'll never see xDrive in the U.K. The cost of engineering the right hand drive version, the type approval tests and the relatively small market in the U.K. means that it would be a loss maker.

Remember that BMW gives it's left hand drive customers a choice of 2 or 4 wheel drive in nearly all it's variants and engine size. Audi don't give you a choice, bigger engined cars are quattro, smaller ones aren't.

[stupot]

Originally Posted by cienzod

Am seriously having to consider crossing to the Dark Side now. First snow arrived yesterday and my E90 M3 was decidedly dodgy again. I wouldn't mind, but it wasn't that deep...cleared up by lunch, but I decided I definitely need 4x4. Audi RS4/S4 are the likely choices, but they wouldn't need to be if BMW brought the 3 series xDrive to the UK. They're widely available in Europe & the US (I know lefties, but surely the demand would be there for RHD??) and they're acknowledged as the better 4x4 car...wassup BMW UK?? You're losing customers by not offering xDrive in the 3 & 5 series in the UK...

Snow in October, you must be way further north than me!

We had this problem last year, my wife’s 3 couldn’t move for 5 weeks.

As you will pick up from the many threads winter tyres are a hassle but indeed the answer. I got a set for the 5 and they are fantastic.

4x4 only part solves the issue. I had an E70 X5 before my 5 and while it could pull away on the snow with the 4 wheel drive it then became a 2 tonne missile as it couldn’t stop or turn, which is probably more dangerous.

[Em135eye]

Most 2.0TDI Audis can be had with FWD or Quattro set ups..

[stupot]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

You'll never see xDrive in the U.K. The cost of engineering the right hand drive version, the type approval tests and the relatively small market in the U.K. means that it would be a loss make

I am not so sure. I think they might be closer than you think. For the UK market they have brough X drive to the 5GT and the 7 for the first time.

BMW are aware of the impact of worse winters and are all too aware of Audi's quattro advantage. There was a notable increase in people trading in 1 and 3 series after the bad winter last year. While we appreciate the benefits of rwd most normal people dont give a fig what wheels are driven and the snow was the fist time the it made them think about it.

[Em135eye]

You can comfortably house a small third world family inside the arches on a 3 series xdrive car.

[zaheer]

hahahahaha

Originally Posted by 335diesel

You can comfortably house a small third world family inside the arches on a 3 series xdrive car.

[Yeltzer]

I think a lot of existing BMW drivers would happily upgrade to X drive on a E9X if these winters continue on a regular basis. Add to that the customer of those driving Audi Quattros and I'd say its a market size worth exploiting.......

[creepy coupe]

Get some winter wheels and tyres?

[G82Dude]

Apparently, BMW will be offering the new 5 series with 4 wheel drive in the UK. No plans for the 3 though. Which is odd, considering it's their bread and butter model and keeps the company profitable...

Maybe, just maybe, the next version might have it for RHD/UK cars... I'd have one! Although, quite liking the new X3. Shame there's only one engine choice atm.

[FPO]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

You'll never see xDrive in the U.K. The cost of engineering the right hand drive version, the type approval tests and the relatively small market in the U.K. means that it would be a loss maker.

Remember that BMW gives it's left hand drive customers a choice of 2 or 4 wheel drive in nearly all it's variants and engine size. Audi don't give you a choice, bigger engined cars are quattro, smaller ones aren't.

Not strictly true, there is the option of quattro on the a3 2.0tdi and other models in the range.
Quattro is standard on all S and RS Models though.

[creepy coupe]

When oh when are we gonna get the 3 series xDrive?

Lets hope never, BMW is about well balanced RWD cars, if you want 4WD get an X car.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by FPO

Not strictly true, there is the option of quattro on the a3 2.0tdi and other models in the range.
Quattro is standard on all S and RS Models though.

Umm, yes but that's an Audi! And for them it's easier to do as they are Haldex based systems for front wheel drive cars. It's much easier to turn a front wheel drive into 4 wheel drive than a rear wheel drive car [with Haldex]. Presumably the new all four Mini Countryman and their Mini "X6" coupé/cross thing will use Haldex too.

Oh, and you can get a front wheel drive S3, which seems herecy to me.

[Irnbrukid]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

Apparently, BMW will be offering the new 5 series with 4 wheel drive in the UK. No plans for the 3 though. Which is odd, considering it's their bread and butter model and keeps the company profitable...

Maybe, just maybe, the next version might have it for RHD/UK cars... I'd have one! Although, quite liking the new X3. Shame there's only one engine choice atm.

Was going to point out the above to Alan that supposedly BMW is bringing Xdrive to the 5 series range..

[atomic69]

I remember reading somewhere that Type approval had or was due to change in that If a vehicle gets approval in any EU member state then it is approved in all member states.
Winter tyres are a must in my opinion and any car this time of year and not just for when it snows.

I doubt we will ever see a E9x series with xDrive in the UK (finger crossed for the nest model) as the X1 is based on a 3series chassis. Being as that is the case I don't believe it would be to difficult to engineer the 3series xDrive for RHD. I've looked at the gearbox positioning etc and can't see a problem with any fouling of the steering column etc.
I've been wanting a RHD xDrive 330d since the E9x was released but have now come to the conclusion the nearest I'm going to get is a X1 23d. Tried one the other day and was really impressed. The mrs MKV R32 will be traded in and the order for one will be placed early next year.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

Umm, yes but that's an Audi! And for them it's easier to do as they are Haldex based systems for front wheel drive cars.

Only on the A3, S3 and TT - the others all use a pukka Torsen system.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by xenon

Only on the A3, S3 and TT - the others all use a pukka Torsen system.

Errr, yes "FPO" was talking about a front wheel drive A3, hence the mention of Haldex. Think that's exactly what I said?!? It's easier to make a front wheel drive car four wheel drive than a rear wheel drive car. Have you seen the faff with some BMW 4WD cars? Drive shafts through oil pans? Great bit of design!

That said, most (if not all) Audi's are designed to accommodate a 4 wheel drive system on the drawing board. All their front wheel drive cars seem to have the transmission tunnel there for the rear drive. On all vehicles A4 and above the engines are longitudinal, so Torsen it is.

[atomic69]

It's will not be long now till we see a slew of 4wd cars featuring the rear wheels driven by an electric motor, this should allow manufactures to adapt front wheel drive vehicles easily and cheaply and also lord the benefits of it being a hybrid.
The upcoming Focus RS is going in this direction as is a new Citroen amongst others. Personally looking forward to the new baby Jag 3-series rival which is rumoured to have a possible AWD model featuring a Electric motor, It would be quite appealing with their 3.0D TwinTurbo V6 upfront.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

Errr, yes "FPO" was talking about a front wheel drive A3, hence the mention of Haldex. Think that's exactly what I said?!? It's easier to make a front wheel drive car four wheel drive than a rear wheel drive car. Have you seen the faff with some BMW 4WD cars? Drive shafts through oil pans? Great bit of design!

That said, most (if not all) Audi's are designed to accommodate a 4 wheel drive system on the drawing board. All their front wheel drive cars seem to have the transmission tunnel there for the rear drive. On all vehicles A4 and above the engines are longitudinal, so Torsen it is.

Fair enough, I thought you meant all. Speaking of drive shafts through oil pans, remember the Sierra XR4x4? That was like that too...

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by xenon

Fair enough, I thought you meant all. Speaking of drive shafts through oil pans, remember the Sierra XR4x4? That was like that too...

Yup, my Sapphire cossy 4x4 had the same..

Back OT, winter tyres on a 2WD are BETTER than a 4WD with summer tyres on.

Why change you car when you can just change the tyres?

I lived in switzerland for a year and didn't know anyone with a 4wd. They just have (mostly rwd bimmers and mercs) with winter tyres, they always said if the snow is so bad you need 4wd then just stay at home!

[V330d]

I was at a pre-launch viewing of the new X3, very impressive. It has a useful amount of extra space over the e91 while managing to appear tidier than a new 5 touring. A 3.0d one has outstanding figures just a pity its not available for another 3-4 months.