[MWA]

Hate to start the never ending debate, but a note to self...

I own a 335d xDRIVE with adaptive, it went in for some work for a couple of days and for those 3 days I was given an M Sport 318d F31 on 19's. Rough Suspension? Yes!

However as the saying goes with hire cars, "drive it like you stole it" it handled like a dream, glued to the road. Anyway 3 days later, jumping back on my 335d with the enormous extra power offered over the 318d, I thought sodd it, I have missed the power, let me drive it like i've stolen it.. The results were, super fast, correct, but around bends at around 50-60mph, you could feel the front & rear tyres trying to grip the road, the ride was wallowy even with adaptive on sport. around bends or not. Overall the car felt bouncy and not as comfortable as sDrive.

I love the security of knowing my car is not going to loose grip easily, but its not pure driving fun, xDrive does not drive like a bmw and we can tell ourselves all the lies. I live in London, Good roads, no snow, no off-roading, makes me think the car should be targeted at a different market.

Sorry in advance for starting this thread.

[NISFAN]

You've seen the light my friend

[jaffab]

Got to ask - if you live in London (Good roads, no snow, no off-roading)..... why did you buy an x-drive?!?

I own an xdrive as well, and the only reason is that the road between my house and the main road has a series of hills - when it snows, I want the extra traction that xdrive will provide. I have seen too many BMWs, Audis etc at the side of the road unable to climb simple hills (whilst I have driven past in my old front wheel Volvo) to not buy xdrive.

Being my first BMW, I cannot comment on X vs S. But just interested why somebody in London wanted xdrive.

[dopper99]

At the end of the day, the 335d is a good ALL ROUNDER and that’s it. Its fast, but not a sports car …. but will please most of the owners most of the time rather than pleasing the hard core sports car enthusiast.

[Dave_3]

Grip is EXACTLY the same between Xdrive and sDrive, you will have a little more traction in the Xdrive. Noticeable from a start in bad weather. And for tricky junctions.

I tried both and opted for the sDrive. I didn't really like the Xdrive (I can feel it dragging on either end of the car) or actually need it, and I didn't want to lug around power and economy sapping heavy reciprocating masses for the few times it would be handy. If you need it, or it gives you more confidence then choose it.

You can see from BMW's marketing that the Xdrive is sold almost exclusively on bad weather safety - whereas a lot were expecting the Xdrive to be more like a big, refined Subaru.

If the Xdrive I drove was setup for fun and performance more than safety I would reconsider ....

D.

[Tengocity]

I think you're describing the lack of optimal set up for the 335d as much as an xdrive issue. For pure driving experience I do prefer RWD myself, but the 335d tourer is a superb all rounder for our needs, which includes regular trips to Poland in winter, the alps in winter and Scotland.

But for most folk sdrive is ideal!

[NISFAN]

The sad thing is that sDrive is not an option on the 335d.

I would imagine more than half the xDrive 335d owners on here would have gone sDrive if they had the choice....but the draw to have the top diesel was bigger than the draw for sDrive.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

You've seen the light my friend

I think I have! Lol

Originally Posted by jaffab

Got to ask - if you live in London (Good roads, no snow, no off-roading)..... why did you buy an x-drive?!?

But just interested why somebody in London wanted xdrive.

Very good question.. I bought a 335d because I wanted the 335 and twin turbos! Had a 330d and wanted something with more power, at time of order there were no 335d's about and took the gamble. I liked the idea of a 4 wheel drive, thinking more power more grip which yes all are on offer.

Originally Posted by dopper99

At the end of the day, the 335d is a good ALL ROUNDER and that’s it. Its fast, but not a sports car …. but will please most of the owners most of the time rather than pleasing the hard core sports car enthusiast.

Don't get me wrong. I still 'love' my 335d and very strong probability I would buy it again. Most of the time I want comfort and that is what the car offers me and power when I need it and the car does exactly that, so smart choice after all.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

I would imagine more than half the xDrive 335d owners on here would have gone sDrive if they had the choice....but the draw to have the top diesel was bigger than the draw for sDrive.

Couldn't agree more!

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Grip is EXACTLY the same between Xdrive and sDrive, you will have a little more traction in the Xdrive. Noticeable from a start in bad weather. And for tricky junctions.

D.

Blame it on ride height? someone/something has to take the blame

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by jaffab

Got to ask - if you live in London (Good roads, no snow, no off-roading)..... why did you buy an x-drive?!?

I own an xdrive as well, and the only reason is that the road between my house and the main road has a series of hills - when it snows, I want the extra traction that xdrive will provide. I have seen too many BMWs, Audis etc at the side of the road unable to climb simple hills (whilst I have driven past in my old front wheel Volvo) to not buy xdrive.

Being my first BMW, I cannot comment on X vs S. But just interested why somebody in London wanted xdrive.

I've also gotta ask, you live in Hampshire I see, how often does it snow? Seems to me the compromises of xd outweigh the few days a year when sd will be a real problem (and on winters will it really be a problem?). Now if you live in the alps then I get it.

I got an x5 after my e90 for the snow reason, in the end I concluded the compromise I'd made was not worth it so have gone back to rwd (and the wife has a quatro Audi so it's always the backup) incidentally I feel on the Audi AWD is better than FWD.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I think you're describing the lack of optimal set up for the 335d as much as an xdrive issue. For pure driving experience I do prefer RWD myself, but the 335d tourer is a superb all rounder for our needs, which includes regular trips to Poland in winter, the alps in winter and Scotland.

But for most folk sdrive is ideal!

Correct!

When the e46 M3 was out, I wanted to buy the SMG, and I went out and bought one. Hated it because of the juddering and delay in gear change, but still loved the idea. Sold the car for the very same reason, 1 year later I was back on an SMG M3 again!

Think if I got rid of my 335d, I would see myself coming back for one in no time!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Torquein

I've also gotta ask, you live in Hampshire I see, how often does it snow? Seems to me the compromises of xd outweigh the few days a year when sd will be a real problem (and on winters will it really be a problem?). Now if you live in the alps then I get it.

I got an x5 after my e90 for the snow reason, in the end I concluded the compromise I'd made was not worth it so have gone back to rwd (and the wife has a quatro Audi so it's always the backup) incidentally I feel on the Audi AWD is better than FWD.

It's not just the snow, we get plenty of rain in this country and I got terribly fed up in my E90 330d with constant interruption from the traction control as soon as it was damp. Xdrive seemed a great way around this to me, though I suspect a LSD May have been a better option.

[robwils]

So instead of me hankering after the 335 I should just get the performance pack on the 330.

[jaffab]

Originally Posted by Torquein

I've also gotta ask, you live in Hampshire I see, how often does it snow? Seems to me the compromises of xd outweigh the few days a year when sd will be a real problem (and on winters will it really be a problem?). Now if you live in the alps then I get it.

Fair point. But for what ever reason (global warming, santa sneezing, Audi drivers) we have had some heavy snow over the last 4 years which has lasted 4 weeks at a time. Also, I spend a lot of time in scotland (and there, it snows a lot more) and in some snowey northern europe locations where it snows.

[deeno]

Originally Posted by MWA

I love the security of knowing my car is not going to loose gribb easily, but its not pure driving fun, xDrive does not drive like a bmw and we can tell ourselves all the lies. I live in London, Good roads, no snow, no off-roading, makes me think the car should be targeted at a different market.

Its not the XDrive system itself which is causing the issue though, its the raised ride height and soft suspension. As someone recently did putting sdrive M Sport springs on an Xdrive will improve things no end, adding the M shocks will improve things further although the trade off would be a poor ride.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

we get plenty of rain in this country and I got terribly fed up in my E90 330d with constant interruption from the traction control as soon as it was damp.

Thank you for reminding me exactly why I wanted an xDrive after I heard about it. Fed up of being taken over by Micra's at the lights on a rainy day

[Steven1077]

I loved the torque on the 335d but if I'd had a test drive in a 335d and a 435i to start with I would have always chosen the 435i, I don't want my 335d back, but then I don't do the sort of journeys best suited to the 335d

[gtsussex]

Everyone knows my feelings about it. xDrive as a drivetrain is not really the main issue (and actually as a drivetrain it's excellent). Sure the extra weight over front axle will be evident BUT if the bloody suspension was tuned accordingly, we would all be a lot happier.

For some, the compromise is fine. Personally I hate it - I drive the Mini for fun now.

As said on other thread yesterday, M335d sDrive with non runflats, sorted suspension and LSD please BMW....

[dannywooly77]

Originally Posted by deeno

Its not the XDrive system itself which is causing the issue though, its the raised ride height and soft suspension. As someone recently did putting sdrive M Sport springs on an Xdrive will improve things no end, adding the M shocks will improve things further although the trade off would be a poor ride.

This is exactly the point if the xDrive 335d came with the M Sport sDrive setup would be a different discussion, I quite like the comfort and refinement the xDrive setup produces, in a straight line it feels more rear than front (60:40 split) on corners etc i don't push that hard as the tires get wrecked LOL

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by robwils

So instead of me hankering after the 335 I should just get the performance pack on the 330.

Wish I had....

[deeno]

Originally Posted by MWA

Thank you for reminding me exactly why I wanted an xDrive after I heard about it. Fed up of being taken over by Micra's at the lights on a rainy day

Thats a good point, first week I had the car it was dry and sunny I was thinking why did a pay the extra for xdrive. However we've had a few days recently were its really been lashing it down and the car has given me tremendous confidence in the wet, far more so than my previous 2 BMW's.

[335dJa]

I only bought my 335d because it has xdrive, else it would have been an audi again. Awd is a must for me, personal reason, I want my wife and kids to be as safe as they can be if they "have" to go out in poor weather. I love sdrive personally, but it wasn't an option. I knew without driving the car that it could only be more involving than another audi. So although it isn't sdrive pure, it's as close as I can get with my criteria. I'm more than happy with the compromise, I have a separate car for hooligan antics.