X drive and good?
Discussion
Ok I’m looking at buying a run out model 3 series touring. I’ve narrowed it down to the 320d M-Sport (Shadow edition). Needs to be diesel as my mileage is 20k a year and I like oil burners!
Price wise I can get a 19 plate or 69 plate, both with less than 3k on the odometer. I hadn’t considered the x drive model. I live in sunny Scotland so weather conditions can be issue (some of the year). Any thoughts? Price difference doesn’t seem to be that much at dealers in the area, £700 more for. the x drive in exactly the same spec.
Price wise I can get a 19 plate or 69 plate, both with less than 3k on the odometer. I hadn’t considered the x drive model. I live in sunny Scotland so weather conditions can be issue (some of the year). Any thoughts? Price difference doesn’t seem to be that much at dealers in the area, £700 more for. the x drive in exactly the same spec.
I live at 1750m in the Alps and AWD is really the only option - we get snowy mornings in August and it's frequently -30 in January (when the car companies come up here to do winter testing)
After years of Subaru I've now got a 340i xDrive. I'm not a fan, most notably on hairpins where it understeers tragically. The most effective way of getting up a pass in snow is to turn off traction and get the back out. It's not efficient nor particularly fast (you'll be quicker in a Panda AWD). In 15 years of Subaru I always knew what it was going to do and you could use weight transfer to your advantage. The BMW has much more of it's own mind.
On faster, flowing stuff it's absolutely fine and we've never had problems with traction starting on hills etc. In the dry there are no issues. Here in Switzerland the 340i was only xDrive after the first year or two (and nobody seems to have bought the RWD version)
I put the winter tyres on in October and they come off in May so most of the time I'm driving in snow with winter tyres. The usual advice of invest in good tyres not AWD applies, but of course the best is both.
After years of Subaru I've now got a 340i xDrive. I'm not a fan, most notably on hairpins where it understeers tragically. The most effective way of getting up a pass in snow is to turn off traction and get the back out. It's not efficient nor particularly fast (you'll be quicker in a Panda AWD). In 15 years of Subaru I always knew what it was going to do and you could use weight transfer to your advantage. The BMW has much more of it's own mind.
On faster, flowing stuff it's absolutely fine and we've never had problems with traction starting on hills etc. In the dry there are no issues. Here in Switzerland the 340i was only xDrive after the first year or two (and nobody seems to have bought the RWD version)
I put the winter tyres on in October and they come off in May so most of the time I'm driving in snow with winter tyres. The usual advice of invest in good tyres not AWD applies, but of course the best is both.
As above it’s all in the tyres
I had a 2016 xdrive on Bridgestone which was unbelievable poor in snow and slush.just plain scary on throttle and brakes
I figured I’d cope without winters as I live 400y from a gritted bus route but even getting that far was a lottery.
And that model of 3 series is notorious for poor handling as standard with the xdrive suspension. Mine was a barge
Buy the 2wd car and get winters
I had a 2016 xdrive on Bridgestone which was unbelievable poor in snow and slush.just plain scary on throttle and brakes
I figured I’d cope without winters as I live 400y from a gritted bus route but even getting that far was a lottery.
And that model of 3 series is notorious for poor handling as standard with the xdrive suspension. Mine was a barge
Buy the 2wd car and get winters
Might there be a detriment in fuel consumption for X drive over rear wheel drive?
My only X Drive was a F Series X1 , I only monitored for the first 6-9 months but it cost me 15p a mile.
My F Series 340i which I've had since last November, is now averaging 18p a mile.
In my opinion, what's the point in a diesel.
I did 21k mile p/a.
My only X Drive was a F Series X1 , I only monitored for the first 6-9 months but it cost me 15p a mile.
My F Series 340i which I've had since last November, is now averaging 18p a mile.
In my opinion, what's the point in a diesel.
I did 21k mile p/a.
I’d suggest driving both Xdrive and RWD cars to see if it makes a difference to you.
I have a 2015 420d Xdrive, on the F models Xdrive got SE suspension (even on Msport) so it’s a bit vague when compared to a non Xdrive car.
I live near Aberdeen so the extra traction is definitely a help in poor conditions and I have a set of winter wheels that go on around October so it’s capable whatever the weather does. I’d only intended to buy all season tyres but couldn’t get any to fit the rear wheels.
I have a 2015 420d Xdrive, on the F models Xdrive got SE suspension (even on Msport) so it’s a bit vague when compared to a non Xdrive car.
I live near Aberdeen so the extra traction is definitely a help in poor conditions and I have a set of winter wheels that go on around October so it’s capable whatever the weather does. I’d only intended to buy all season tyres but couldn’t get any to fit the rear wheels.
Smuler said:
Might there be a detriment in fuel consumption for X drive over rear wheel drive?
My only X Drive was a F Series X1 , I only monitored for the first 6-9 months but it cost me 15p a mile.
My F Series 340i which I've had since last November, is now averaging 18p a mile.
In my opinion, what's the point in a diesel.
I did 21k mile p/a.
18 p per mile is 20% more than 15 p per mile. Looking at small figures, you think "thats not much" but at some point when you've spent £120, the other car would have cost you "only" £100. My only X Drive was a F Series X1 , I only monitored for the first 6-9 months but it cost me 15p a mile.
My F Series 340i which I've had since last November, is now averaging 18p a mile.
In my opinion, what's the point in a diesel.
I did 21k mile p/a.
Given your location I'd go for the X drive model.
The suspension on the LCI F series was significantly modified and it really made a difference. Some years ago I went to buy a 330d X drive (pre LCI) but the handling wasn't what I'd hoped for and when pushing on the bodyroll was really significant. When I tested an LCI(2016 on) 335d Xdrive it was much improved. The handling on the RWD cars is better again in my opinion, but given you're location I think the traction advantage you'll see from the X drive out weighs any handling differences; sure you might wish for a little better on bone dry empty roads if you're driving at pace, but given how often that'll be vs driving on wet or cold roads up there, I'd be taking the X drive model. Oh and buy the auto not the manual !
The suspension on the LCI F series was significantly modified and it really made a difference. Some years ago I went to buy a 330d X drive (pre LCI) but the handling wasn't what I'd hoped for and when pushing on the bodyroll was really significant. When I tested an LCI(2016 on) 335d Xdrive it was much improved. The handling on the RWD cars is better again in my opinion, but given you're location I think the traction advantage you'll see from the X drive out weighs any handling differences; sure you might wish for a little better on bone dry empty roads if you're driving at pace, but given how often that'll be vs driving on wet or cold roads up there, I'd be taking the X drive model. Oh and buy the auto not the manual !
thatdude said:
18 p per mile is 20% more than 15 p per mile. Looking at small figures, you think "thats not much" but at some point when you've spent £120, the other car would have cost you "only" £100.
If my maths is correct , that's £1320 over the 44k miles I did in 2 years 2 months. A small price to pay for a massively better driving experience, but if that's not of value, I'd say a chunk is lost in consumables such as tires or likely , in total, the way residual values are going.
MarkJS said:
Smuler said:
Might there be a detriment in fuel consumption for X drive over rear wheel drive?
I’ve only had X-Drive for short periods but I would say that there most definitely will be. Long term average X3 36mpg Mini 49mpg
This page https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/bmw/4-series-...
Suggests about 3mpg list due to Xdrive, mines averaging about 39mpg in mixed driving, so some distance from the claimed figures.
If I hadn’t been looking at Xdrive cars I’d probably have gone for the 5 series, they’re nicer inside and cost similar amounts of money.
Xdrive is handy in the mixed weather we’ve had recently as well as winter due to the extra grip.
It certainly feels more secure on wet country roads.
Suggests about 3mpg list due to Xdrive, mines averaging about 39mpg in mixed driving, so some distance from the claimed figures.
If I hadn’t been looking at Xdrive cars I’d probably have gone for the 5 series, they’re nicer inside and cost similar amounts of money.
Xdrive is handy in the mixed weather we’ve had recently as well as winter due to the extra grip.
It certainly feels more secure on wet country roads.
Guys, thanks for all the informed replies, it’s really appreciated! On balance I’m going to opt for the X drive model. I will let you know hw I get on. I was aware that the suspension is SE model and that the ride height was subsequently higher. I think for my commute particularly with the weather conditions and cost per mile plus winter tyres cost the s drive still makes sense. 👍
I've got the 335d saloon and yes it's floaty and I've lived with it for 18mths but tomorrow the ACS Springs are being fitted
All the reviews are excellent so looking forward to having the car i thought i was buying.
I'm also considering a move to a F31 340i but the price seems to be still on the high side for my liking at the moment.
All the reviews are excellent so looking forward to having the car i thought i was buying.
I'm also considering a move to a F31 340i but the price seems to be still on the high side for my liking at the moment.
s70rmp said:
I've got the 335d saloon and yes it's floaty and I've lived with it for 18mths but tomorrow the ACS Springs are being fitted
All the reviews are excellent so looking forward to having the car i thought i was buying.
I'm also considering a move to a F31 340i but the price seems to be still on the high side for my liking at the moment.
Is your car pre or post LCI? All the reviews are excellent so looking forward to having the car i thought i was buying.
I'm also considering a move to a F31 340i but the price seems to be still on the high side for my liking at the moment.
I’m considering changing my 4 series but if the later cars are still floaty I may look at other things.
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