[335dJa]

I wondered if anyone on here knows, or could hazard a guess, at whether the 340i's new engine layout might open up the possibility of a RHD xdrive variant?

The way I understand it is the exhaust, steering column and driveshaft all try to fit in the same place on RHD current models, I thought they might remedy this on a new design

[Nick the Greek]

Not a chance.

BMW ruined the 335ds chassis with xdrive.

To make the mistake twice would be very careless....!!

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Not a chance.

BMW ruined the 335ds chassis with xdrive.

To make the mistake twice would be very careless....!!

Thank you for your most unhelpful input

[Pablo68]

Unlikely for the reason I've mentioned before which is quite simply that a 340i xDrive would render the M3 almost unsellable in this country

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

Thank you for your most unhelpful input

You're most welcome.

[F30 Steve]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

You're most welcome.

[Steven1077]

Can't see why they would release a 340i X drive when they didn't give the option here of a 335i X drive

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

Can't see why they would release a 340i X drive when they didn't give the option here of a 335i X drive

I'm fairly sure there are technical reasons for that, as explained in my first post.

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

Unlikely for the reason I've mentioned before which is quite simply that a 340i xDrive would render the M3 almost unsellable in this country

Unless they release an M3 xdrive, mmm

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

Unless they release an M3 xdrive, mmm

God lord that would be mental.. Possibly a GT-R challenger??

[Ross_T_Boss]

It's a shame really, variety is the spice of life and it would make a great direct competitor to the Audi RS line-up. The purists who want RWD will still go for the M3. The 335d is pretty much as quick as the current RS4 till you near triple figures...

If the 335i was in xdrive I'd have had one with PPK and be cursing the fuel consumption now

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

I'm fairly sure there are technical reasons for that, as explained in my first post.

Fact is, without inside knowledge of BMWs product strategy, which no one here has, it's all just good fun and conjecture.

[Steven1077]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

I'm fairly sure there are technical reasons for that, as explained in my first post.

They can clearly get around that if they wanted to

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Ross_T_Boss

It's a shame really, variety is the spice of life and it would make a great direct competitor to the Audi RS line-up. The purists who want RWD will still go for the M3. The 335d is pretty much as quick as the current RS4 till you near triple figures...

If the 335i was in xdrive I'd have had one with PPK and be cursing the fuel consumption now

You and me both, but my wife would be doing the cursing at it not achieving the 45mpg I promised her

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

God lord that would be mental.. Possibly a GT-R challenger??

Especially with a nice little engine tweak releasing its full potential

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

They can clearly get around that if they wanted to

For the very limited market it would open, they probably don't want to.

[Tengocity]

I'm sure they're analysing sales figures of current xdrive models versus expectations and the impact on existing sdrive sales, so that they understand to what extent they're conquest sales versus cannibalising sales they would have had anyway.

And then weighing that up against the erosion of the whole RWD = sport handling story they've spent 40 odd years telling.

[Alkidrew]

They'll be an xdrive m3 in next 5-10 years. Anyone who thinks otherwise thought they wouldn't do an x drive 3 series or a front wheel drive bmw....things are changing...catch up grandpa.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'm sure they're analysing sales figures of current xdrive models versus expectations and the impact on existing sdrive sales, so that they understand to what extent they're conquest sales versus cannibalising sales they would have had anyway.

And then weighing that up against the erosion of the whole RWD = sport handling story they've spent 40 odd years telling.

Thank you Terry!

The voice of reason!

Now, does anyone know if Audi will be launching rwd in 2027 in the UK?

[FSE23]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

I'm fairly sure there are technical reasons for that, as explained in my first post.

I don't know if it is a reason because 335i xDrive is available elsewhere in EU.

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

God lord that would be mental.. Possibly a GT-R challenger??

Pmsl.

Erm....... No.

Dude, you driven a GTR?
Even if they did the M5/6 in xdrive, the GTR would still be the superior machine.

[335dJa]

Well, I naively hoped this wouldn't spiral into another xdrive debate


If you check the German Configurator, the majority of bmw's model lineup is available with xdrive. Petrol, diesel, 3,5,6 series. Hence I believe the information I have read, that the cost to make a current rhd 3.0 petrol version work with xdrive is not financially viable.
When a new engine has been designed, changes are obviously a lot cheaper to make on an autocad program than in the metal, which is what inspired my original question;

does anyone KNOW, or have a vague understanding that could shed light on the possibility of the models viability?


As you were.