3 Series 4x4

[V8Wagon]

I saw a dealer demonstrator BMW 3 series driving thru Brighton today with '3 series 4x4' emblazoned all over it.

Interesting prospect with a decent petrol motor in it!

[kambites]

V8Wagon said:

I saw a dealer demonstrator BMW 3 series driving thru Brighton today with '3 series 4x4' emblazoned all over it.

Interesting prospect with a decent petrol motor in it!

BMW have made 4x4 3-series for years; they just aren't generally sold in the UK.

[rfn]

BMW have made 4 wheel drive 3 and 5 series for years, known as the X generation - i.e. 525dX, 330iX.
I hadn't realised that they were intending to bring them to the UK though - good news.

[y2blade]

What he said^^^^

A real shame they've not bought them to the UK sooner.

[V8Wagon]

Yeh, I'm aware of the older 'X' variants that if I'm not mistaken are not that well regarded.

Just odd, the prospect of a latest generation car with 4x4.

[kambites]

V8Wagon said:

Yeh, I'm aware of the older 'X' variants that if I'm not mistaken are not that well regarded.

Just odd, the prospect of a latest generation car with 4x4.

I'm not sure about "not well regarded", I think they out-sell the RWD variants in many markets and pretty much always have done.

[y2blade]

kambites said:

V8Wagon said:

Yeh, I'm aware of the older 'X' variants that if I'm not mistaken are not that well regarded.

Just odd, the prospect of a latest generation car with 4x4.

I'm not sure about "not well regarded", I think they out-sell the RWD variants in many markets and pretty much always have done.

I thought that an odd comment too, my understanding is that the older "X" AWD 3 series variants are very well regarded.

[Fox-]

Bizarrely its only available as a 320i.

[Caulkhead]

I asked my local dealer to quote me for a 328ix 4x4 to replace my 6 MPS as my daily driver but he told me they only do the 320i as a 4x4 which is daft.

[real4star]

I seem to recall they had to re-engineer the 4x4 system to get around our RHD set-up... something to do with the steering fouling the front drive system. Would explain the delay in the UK release.

Neal

[Caulkhead]

real4star said:

I seem to recall they had to re-engineer the 4x4 system to get around our RHD set-up... something to do with the steering fouling the front drive system. Would explain the delay in the UK release.

Neal

Clearly BMW are idiots then, engineering a system that doesn't allow them to sell it in some of their most important markets.

[falkster]

E30 325iX

[HereBeMonsters]

Caulkhead said:

Clearly BMW are idiots then, engineering a system that doesn't allow them to sell it in some of their most important markets.

Probably because it's not been needed really for these markets.

[JonnyVTEC]

Caulkhead said:

Clearly BMW are idiots then, engineering a system that doesn't allow them to sell it in some of their most important markets.

But not the most, so actually it's the smaller market opportunity.

[Fort Jefferson]

kambites said:

BMW have made 4x4 3-series for years; they just aren't generally sold in the UK.

They're sold a lot in Switzerland.

[kambites]

Fort Jefferson said:

kambites said:

BMW have made 4x4 3-series for years; they just aren't generally sold in the UK.

They're sold a lot in Switzerland.

I seem to remember reading that they out-sell the RWD models in North American, too.

[y2blade]

HereBeMonsters said:

Caulkhead said:

Clearly BMW are idiots then, engineering a system that doesn't allow them to sell it in some of their most important markets.

Probably because it's not been needed really for these markets.

Possible not Needed as such, but clearly Wanted here!
For example look at all the older A4/A6 Quattros on the road, BMW clearly dropped a bk in the past and have only just realized it.

[HereBeMonsters]

y2blade said:

Possible not Needed as such, but clearly Wanted here!
For example look at all the older A4/A6 Quattros on the road, BMW clearly dropped a bk in the past and have only just realized it.

That's because the Audi alternative is front wheel drive. BMW's default is rear wheel drive - and the "dynamics" associated with that.

[Art0ir]

How do the fuel consumption figures compare?

[Mave]

Caulkhead said:

I asked my local dealer to quote me for a 328ix 4x4 to replace my 6 MPS as my daily driver but he told me they only do the 320i as a 4x4 which is daft.

Probably easier to package with a 4 cyl than a 6 cyl engine