BMW - 4WD 3 and 5 series..??

[Deva Link]

A lex said:

Prohibitive tooling/re-design costs for RHD is what stopped them I think?

Can you get the big 4Matic Merc saloons in the UK too like here?

It's Mercedes that has the big engineering issue - the drive shaft for the front wheels comes out of the righthand side of the gearbox and, in RHD cars, the steering mechanism is in the way. Mercedes did say they were going to change the box so the GLK could be sold in RHD markets, but they've shown no signs of actually doing this.

BMW let it be known a year ago that the new 5 Series would be sold in the UK with AWD from 2011.

To be honest, I'm dubious about how many people would go for it in practice. The extra weight does take something away from the car, and there are AWD choices already if you really want them.

Edited by Deva Link on Tuesday 4th January 22:22

[lance1a]

I have had two 525iX's, both E34's, both tourings, one aouto one manual. I still have the auto 1995 car. Actually they are ok in snow, I have a hard time in any of my other BMW's without snowsocks but the iX's plough straight through. Bit more sluggish than a std 525 and the fronts are prone to spring and damper failure which is bloody expensive to sort out due to the front driveshafts. The steering is by rack and pinion as opposed to steering box so they handle a bit better. Alloys are also one off's with an ofset of 54 so nothing else will fit. Usual rear self leveling pipe issues too.

[Roop]

Coincidentally, my next-door neighbour just pulled up in a new 750 Li xDrive...