[tglick1234]

Hello everyone,

I am purchasing a new E90 this week and have some questions. I am trying to decide between purchasing a 335xi or 335i. What are the performance differences between the two? I like the idea of all wheel drive in the xi for better handling, security on the road, and winter driving. However, I like the classic performance of the rear wheel drive i. I will be putting procede chip, exaust, new intercooler, and new blow off valve into the car. I will also have the sport package. With this in mind - will the xi and i have major performance differences? Will the xi be noticably slower due to the extra weight associated with the all wheel drive system? I also understand the xi sport package does not include the sport suspension like the i sport package has. Will there be a major difference here? Also, does the xi with sport package sit higher up then the i with sport package? Please chime in and give me some advice! Thanks a lot.

[Nikolas]

Just try a search. There must be 100+ posts related to this comparison. Rather than that, just drive both and choose one. Those posts just rant back and forth as to which one is better and why.

I drove both, but always knew I would get the XI because I live in snow country. The performance difference was negligible at best.

[Darkkilla]

well i have a 335i and my friend has a 335xi i drove the xi i didnt like it to much felt a bit clunky(to me) but it was also AT and i have a MT but i like rear wheel more its better on corners and such but then when it snows and i cant use it i get mad.. but when spring/summer rolls around let the tires rip!

[xdrive]

If you plan on doing a lot of modifications and don't care about warranty, get the i. The xi is more complicated and forgotten in the mod world. As far as performance, it's practically the same. It's hard to notice any difference in performance w/ day-to-day driving. SEARCH. Tons of very useful info on this forum.

[jimmy330xi]

Originally Posted by xdrive

If you plan on doing a lot of modifications and don't care about warranty, get the i. The xi is more complicated and forgotten in the mod world. As far as performance, it's practically the same. It's hard to notice any difference in performance w/ day-to-day driving. SEARCH. Tons of very useful info on this forum.

+1
Also to answer one of your questions, the xi with sport suspension sits higher than the i. I agree that the xi is left behind when it comes to performance parts, we don't have that many choices. I am more than happy with my xi and it's performance, just a little dissapointed with the lack aftermarket options.

[halB]

The i is more rewarding to drive when the road is dry, and the Xi is the best when the road is bad. Make your pick.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by halB

The i is more rewarding to drive when the road is dry, and the Xi is the best when the road is bad. Make your pick.

Correction. The xi is rewarding to drive no matter what the weather. the i is only rewarding to drive in dry weather.

[halB]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

Correction. The xi is rewarding to drive no matter what the weather.

Do not exactly agree. I have a 530Xi and a 335i, and have driven their counter parts as loaners. In general the Xi feels a bit heavier/less nimble IMO.

[Darkkilla]

Originally Posted by halB

Do not exactly agree. I have a 530Xi and a 335i, and have driven their counter parts as loaners. In general the Xi feels a bit heavier/less nimble IMO.

+1
i felt the same

[Year's_End]

Well you are comparing a 5 to a 3...that must have something to do with it as well.

I just prefer i because I like rwd and the fun you can have with it. I don't need awd cuz I'm in FL.

[halB]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

Well you are comparing a 5 to a 3...that must have something to do with it as well.

I just prefer i because I like rwd and the fun you can have with it. I don't need awd cuz I'm in FL.

As mentioned, I was comparing the my 5er Xi to a 5er i loaner, and my 3er i to a 3er Xi loaner. In both cases the i felt more nimble and lighter on its feet than the Xi. I concluded that if it doesn't snow at where you live there is really no need for an Xi. If it rains a lot just get good tires that perform well in the rain. If it snows then it is a different story.

[Audifan]

How about use snow tires with i? Should be good enough.

[halB]

Snow tires on an i will give you the same stopping ability as an Xi that has the same snow tires, but the Xi still gets the upper hand in standing start on slippery road, around slippery curves, and on roads with uneven friction surfaces. That is becasue the Xi has two more wheels to exert torque onto the road surface (more traction), has less torque per wheel (less likely to slip), and can alter torque split between wheels on the fly (put torque on wheels that have traction).

[omg516]

in the snow.

[flukey]

get an xi then upgrade the suspension by installing coilovers with a nice set of wheels and tires. then your car will handle better than an i

not to mention you can still drive in bad weather as well

more mods available for an i however

[Year's_End]

But if he doesn't have snow then there's no need for Xi.^^

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by halB

As mentioned, I was comparing the my 5er Xi to a 5er i loaner, and my 3er i to a 3er Xi loaner. In both cases the i felt more nimble and lighter on its feet than the Xi. I concluded that if it doesn't snow at where you live there is really no need for an Xi. If it rains a lot just get good tires that perform well in the rain. If it snows then it is a different story.

Oh...ok my bad. Well, I believe you anyways, I just thought for some reason that you were comparing a 5Xi to a 3i lol. Yeah I agree with you: no snow, no reason for Xi.

[douger]

Reasons to go with the i:
You live someplace where the roads are dry most of the time
You like doing burnouts
You like to track your car

Reasons to go with the xi:
You live someplace where the roads are often wet and it sometimes snows -- and you want to be able to drive as fast on a wet road as a dry one. The freeways where you live are "rutted" and ill maintained and often wet.
Your idea of a "good" handling is one that sticks to the the road ,wet or dry, and goes where it is pointed, not a car that can "drift" well or oversteer.

[Year's_End]

I'm gonna be honest here, I never understood the supposed "pro" of AWD in that you're able to go fast in the wet. Who does that? Regardless of a AWD capabilities, that's being incredibly irresponsible...and that's coming from me, a guy who (admittedly) goes about 85 on average down the highway and tends to speed in the clear. I don't care if my car can divert this and that to whatever wheel, it's not gonna cure hydroplaning.

If you want AWD to go speeding in the rain, don't get too cocky I guess is what I'm trying to say.

[brtnrdr1x]

I can agree with dougar...to an extent. If you live in a dry area where it doesn't rain/snow a lot, go for the I...living in NJ, I need the XI, because you never know what the weather is going to be here rain/snow/dry. I have always since I had my license driven AWD cars, to me I don't think there is that much weight added to the XI, but the xdrive system is more or less in the summer an I, and in the rain/winter an XI. Your choice, but I definitely love the XI.

[asdflkijd]

Xi = more practical, RWR = more fun. With the AWD, you will get better launch, but will loose power later on. vise versa with the RWD. I'm sure BMW knows what they are doing, but if I were to get an AWD car, I'd get an Audi Quattro or a Subi. I live in WA where it rains a lot, and lately has been snowing a lot also.. I still drive my car around, if it comes down to it. I will get a winter set of tires and chains, but will most defiantly not need these unless I go up into the mountains, even so, I wouldn't take my car. Go with what you need, both are great

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by douger

Reasons to go with the i:
You live someplace where the roads are dry most of the time
You like doing burnouts
You like to track your car

Reasons to go with the xi:
You live someplace where the roads are often wet and it sometimes snows -- and you want to be able to drive as fast on a wet road as a dry one. The freeways where you live are "rutted" and ill maintained and often wet.
Your idea of a "good" handling is one that sticks to the the road ,wet or dry, and goes where it is pointed, not a car that can "drift" well or oversteer.

this obviously is written by an XI owner. no?

I live in Oregon. It rains like there is no tomorrow nearly for months...
RWD is perfectly fine. It sticks to the road just fine, goes where it is pointed just fine, its not a drift machine with all these electronic safety features, and it is designed to understeer from the factory for safety reasons. When it snows, stay friggin' home and enjoy ESPN. It snows like once a year anyways. Seattle is probably a little more snowy though.

Perhaps, if you really want a performing AWD car, audi system is known to be better than BMW's awd system anyway. Why not a nice STi. Only time I miss AWD is when I go snowboarding. and I love snowboarding.