To Xdrive or Not?

[Wagonwheel555]

Hi

So we are looking at an F30 AUC for my wife, I want something from BMW due to the minimum 1 year warranty. Budget is £15-19k.

Few available in the 320/330D range, although seems more rare with the pro nav.

Anyway, I realise buying a BMW means you are going to need to spend more than buying a Focus but I have been reading up on the X-Drive and it says you need to replace all four tyres at the same time. The ones we found all had the 19" RFT which means £750 for all four, which is likely to be every 2 years or so and even more often if you get a puncture etc, having to replace all four.

We don't need Xdrive but I am guessing based on the tyre replacement requirements, its probably best to try and get one without it?

We would prefer the 330D due to the extra performance compared with minimal MPG difference, her insurance difference is little between the 320D and 330D anyway.

Cheers

[ShyTallKnight]

Wagonwheel555 said:

Hi

So we are looking at an F30 AUC for my wife, I want something from BMW due to the minimum 1 year warranty. Budget is £15-19k.

Few available in the 320/330D range, although seems more rare with the pro nav.

Anyway, I realise buying a BMW means you are going to need to spend more than buying a Focus but I have been reading up on the X-Drive and it says you need to replace all four tyres at the same time. The ones we found all had the 19" RFT which means £750 for all four, which is likely to be every 2 years or so and even more often if you get a puncture etc, having to replace all four.

We don't need Xdrive but I am guessing based on the tyre replacement requirements, its probably best to try and get one without it?

We would prefer the 330D due to the extra performance compared with minimal MPG difference, her insurance difference is little between the 320D and 330D anyway.

Cheers

I've just bought an F31 for my old man - in fact pick it up tomorrow and deliberately didn't want Xdrive.

Re: tyres I have an X5 and for me aslong as all 4 tyres are within a certain tread depth of each other I'd only ever replace by axle.

[Muzzer79]

How many miles are you doing in it?

Bear in mind that I've just replaced the four original, from-new tyres on my G30 at 36k miles.

The fronts still had tread left on them, but were replaced due to sidewall damage.

I would expect an F30 to have similar wear.

[Wagonwheel555]

Muzzer79 said:

How many miles are you doing in it?

Bear in mind that I've just replaced the four original, from-new tyres on my G30 at 36k miles.

The fronts still had tread left on them, but were replaced due to sidewall damage.

I would expect an F30 to have similar wear.

She does 10-12k a year. I realise this is likely less than a diesel would benefit from but there seem to be about a quarter as many of the petrol models on AUC within 60 miles of me compared to the diesels.

36k is pretty good. The fronts on our Mini Cooper S were dead after 17k miles, on the limit.

[Muzzer79]

Wagonwheel555 said:

Muzzer79 said:

How many miles are you doing in it?

Bear in mind that I've just replaced the four original, from-new tyres on my G30 at 36k miles.

The fronts still had tread left on them, but were replaced due to sidewall damage.

I would expect an F30 to have similar wear.

She does 10-12k a year. I realise this is likely less than a diesel would benefit from but there seem to be about a quarter as many of the petrol models on AUC within 60 miles of me compared to the diesels.

36k is pretty good. The fronts on our Mini Cooper S were dead after 17k miles, on the limit.

In that case, unless you drift in your spare time, I would genuinely bank on 3 years between tyre changes - at least.

I'm not just basing this on my current car - my old W205 C Class was the same.

I'm not sat on the motorway all day either - my mileage is a mix of urban, A-Road and motorway driving.