[s0nu]

For those that use their bimmer's as their DD - Living in the tri-state area, did you have snow in mind and got an "xi/i xDrive", or did you take the risk and got an "i".

Do you regret what you have?

For those with an "i", do you drive in the winter? How does your car handle in the snow?

I been getting a lot of heat for getting an xi but I feel like I made the right decision for all the snow that we get around here (not counting this last winter - especially counting the winter of 2010)

[Alpine Whiteboy]

"i" models with good snow tires will do quite well. But if u ask me there's still no substitute for AWD, otherwise there would be no such thing as AWD...

[RevC]

^+1. ive had two i's an e92 and e93, the e92 had snows, saw snow and i said never again. The xi i just got is lightyears ahead in in climate weather. ran it with hakkapeliita tires and it was unstoppable even in 2+ feet. dont worry about others, once you see yourself pulling out of corners faster than the guys with i's who have their inner wheels spinning, youll be the last one laughing. just figured id share my thoughts as ive owned both variants.

[idrift4wd]

honestly every 3 series i know around me has been awd/x-drive. only a handful is rwd. but everyone that has an x-drive and has been in my car wishes they got rwd.

[ATP]

RWD FTW. No need for AWD. Snows are fine for the rare times there is actually snow on the ground. 95% of days in the winter the roads are clear anyways. The other 5% is for snow tires.

[grubyusa]

Originally Posted by ATP

RWD FTW. No need for AWD. Snows are fine for the rare times there is actually snow on the ground. 95% of days in the winter the roads are clear anyways. The other 5% is for snow tires.

I agree

[themyst]

Shit my DWS survived last winter on my RWD car and if we ever get a fat snow storm who is actually going to drive in it?

[RevC]

depends where you live i guess..up in NE PA we get hammered so i need awd on everything..and MYST i do! lol

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by ATP

RWD FTW. No need for AWD. Snows are fine for the rare times there is actually snow on the ground. 95% of days in the winter the roads are clear anyways. The other 5% is for snow tires.

this.

i dont get the mentality of im going to run my bmw sedan/coupe in the snow because thats what it was made for. you might have gotten moving, but should you really be driving? and the real world winter issues of grip in corners and braking ability, is actually a question of tires not drive. i had an awd audi that i got caught out by a early december snow storm, and i promptly learned this lesson.

imho, when there is that much snow out there, why the hell are you driving on it in a sedan/coupe.

i got a truck and another sedan that have 4wd/awd so for me it doesnt make sense to have a 3rd awd vehicle.

plus there isnt an substitute for the handling feel of rwd, the increase power delivery (increased drive train loss), addition weight, and reduced fuel economy of awd.

but hey, thats my opinion lol.

[s0nu]

For everyone saying "why are you driving," my example is that in 2010 when we had those crazy storms up here, there was only one day where I didn't have to go into work. I doubt I was the only one in this situation, because there were plenty of people on the road during this. Having xDrive was awesome because I didn't have a single issue. I've also never owned a RWD car, so I got nothing to compare too, but I know that I was able to drive as if there was nothing on the ground (not that I did - I was obviously still cautious)

Also, there were a few days where I was at work and it snowed, and by the time I got out there was already a foot or two of snow on the ground.

As everyone knows from 2010, NYC wasn't the greatest in getting all the roads plowed in a timely basis...

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by s0nu

For everyone saying "why are you driving," my example is that in 2010 when we had those crazy storms up here, there was only one day where I didn't have to go into work. I doubt I was the only one in this situation, because there were plenty of people on the road during this. Having xDrive was awesome because I didn't have a single issue. I've also never owned a RWD car, so I got nothing to compare too, but I know that I was able to drive as if there was nothing on the ground (not that I did - I was obviously still cautious)

Also, there were a few days where I was at work and it snowed, and by the time I got out there was already a foot or two of snow on the ground.

As everyone knows from 2010, NYC wasn't the greatest in getting all the roads plowed in a timely basis...

the rwds crowd's point is that with winters or at least dws none of us had the problem every awd claims has been solved with awd.

ps, remember when bmws didnt come with awd, people still got to work.

[s0nu]

Originally Posted by hemi to e90

the rwds crowd's point is that with winters or at least dws none of us had the problem every awd claims has been solved with awd.

ps, remember when bmws didnt come with awd, people still got to work.

I guess part of the purpose of this thread was to find that out. I just wanted to get clarification that, instead of just calling it "quits" and not driving on a bad snowy day, I'd be able to drive with snow tires if needed.

[nextm5]

I had a pre lci 335i with sports suspension and currently drive a lci 335 xdrive with mtech package.

I garaged the I during the 2010 snow season so I can't comment on driving it in the snow. I couldn't even pull the car out of the driveway on the rft.

I really love launching the xdrive, cause I can actually use first gear. Downside to xdrive is the floaty suspension and wheel gap on the front wheels.

Since I live on a flat island I couldn't take advantage of the sport suspension in the twistys anyway.

Get the xdrive I don't regret it.

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by s0nu

I guess part of the purpose of this thread was to find that out. I just wanted to get clarification that, instead of just calling it "quits" and not driving on a bad snowy day, I'd be able to drive with snow tires if needed.

dont get me wrong, you have an added ability to get moving. but past that the advantages slim out.

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by nextm5

I had a pre lci 335i with sports suspension and currently drive a lci 335 xdrive with mtech package.

I garaged the I during the 2010 snow season so I can't comment on driving it in the snow. I couldn't even pull the car out of the driveway on the rft.

I really love launching the xdrive, cause I can actually use first gear. Downside to xdrive is the floaty suspension and wheel gap on the front wheels.

Since I live on a flat island I couldn't take advantage of the sport suspension in the twistys anyway.

Get the xdrive I don't regret it.

so again, its get the xi because you wont buy proper winter tires?

ironically, i think thats fair.

[Alpine Whiteboy]

Let's not forget the advantages of the AWD system in terms of handling as well. It is capable of taking turns better then RWD also. I'm not trying to bash RWD, I'm just stating some points...

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by Alpine Whiteboy

Let's not forget the advantages of the AWD system in terms of handling as well. It is capable of taking turns better then RWD also. I'm not trying to bash RWD, I'm just stating some points...

debateable because of how the bmw awd works.

granted, its also a bit on the driver in the rwd.

[my_blue_335]

I had the chance to pick up an M3 for cheap, and dammit, I told the wife it was RWD, after last years winter, she said no -it has to be AWD
so I got m sport 335i x ...... and i dont regret it at all

[3002 tii]

rwd + snow is fine, the only issue is when you have clearance issues b/c you have that much snowfall. me personally, i wouldn't get a xi just b/c of winter. look at this past winter, we only had major snow once on halloween. the essence of bmw = rwd, and for the few days we have snow, i say deal with it or throw on the snow tires.

[ExpensiveTaste]

Originally Posted by Alpine Whiteboy

Let's not forget the advantages of the AWD system in terms of handling as well. It is capable of taking turns better then RWD also. I'm not trying to bash RWD, I'm just stating some points...

I think, other than harsh weather, the xi really shines when you mod these cars. A tune and you no longer have traction in the i. I can floor it in any gear running 16.5 psi and I don't have a problem unless I'm in a sharp turn. And that's with all season Conti DWS, which are not sticky at all.

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by ExpensiveTaste

I think, other than harsh weather, the xi really shines when you mod these cars. A tune and you no longer have traction in the i. I can floor it in any gear running 16.5 psi and I don't have a problem unless I'm in a sharp turn. And that's with all season Conti DWS, which are not sticky at all.

incorrect, now that i have temperatures above 50 degrees, i dont have traction issues.

again, tire choice matters.

[VaDuro]

I also got an XI, would not have gotten a RWD in NY...even though this winter passed us by, I felt it pull during the Freak Halloween storm and it was pretty impressive. This was my frist BMW and it gave me everything I wanted in a car.

My only downfall for not having an i is that I cant do burnouts but thats why I got the xi inthe first place ...traction. the same tuner parts, wheels and support is there just the same. Debadge and call it a day if it's a vanity thing.

If you are concerned with track performance, you bought the wrong car, step to an E46 M3 or get something 1/2 the weight as secondary, save the beamer.

Bad
An extra 200 lbs for the XI parts
Cant lay down rubber
some parts are more money (AR DP's for instance)
Have to disable traction controls to drive agressive without TPMS in wheel

Good
No worries in bad weather
all tuner parts avialable for X models
Dont need crazy snow tires, stock setup in winter is fine
Looks the same
If you do 1/4 mile pulls , gets a better jump off the line

Have more to add but no time ...later peeps.