[335dxdrive]

Hi guys, so this is my first xdrive Bmw

I've notice the back end loves to come out in the wet, if I leave traction control on and add a little throttle as I am coming out of a turning it just kills all power like previous BMWs I've had before. If I turn traction off the car will go sideways very easily

Is this normal behaviour for these cars? I thought rather then traction killing power it would send it to front? With Tc on

Thanks

[teaston]

Absolutely mate, back kicks out then front wheels pull you out!

[Wills2]

Not in my experience, I used to do full bore LC standing starts in very wet conditions (on a quiet B road near me) and it never missed a beat putting all the power down.

On snow I could feel the torque being shuffled about, the back end never came out but I can't ever remember the DSC light coming on either apart from on snow.

Having said that I'd never go round a corner on or about the grip limit so when it comes to powering out of the corner there is always quite a bit of grip left to manage the application of torque. If you're on the limit through the corner any application of throttle on exit will cause slip at either or both ends and DSC intervention if it's on.

[335dxdrive]

Forgot to mention launch control works perfect
Was launching it in heavy rain the other night, the experience of that much grip in the wet was something else

[creepy coupe]

Just reminded me of a night in January. I'd been out for a meal with mates and on the way home realised I'd left my jacket on. It was -6° out and very frosty. i got out the car and walked around to the boot to dump my jacket, nearly falling over on the very slippery country lane. When back behind the wheel i thought it a good time to nail it off the line. The thing hooked up instantly. No TC light. It just went. Very impressive.I could feel power moving around. The steering got slightly heavier when power shifted to the front.

[335dxdrive]

I dont understand why mine cuts the power when TC kicks in, my Audi's and Imprezas in the past have just kept going

Maybe it had to be in sport mode to transfer the power rather then cut it ??

[Ross_T_Boss]

I don't find the TCS that aggressive, at least compared to other cars I've driven that just kill power with a hint of wheel spin. It is harsher if you understeer, I recall a demo on a skid pan where it just wouldn't go wide with the throttle pinned, it just cut power and went in circles. Better to provoke the back end out a bit, use less lock and you'll get more power to the wheels.

Stick it in Sport+ and it's easy to step the back out. Even more so with some suspension mods to bring a more neutral balance and a remap for another 80hp. And then some more with 225 winter tyres all round

As Will said it's very stable with anything less than hard throttle and aggressive use of the wheel. I've never had it wander on a straight launch. You won't get prolonged oversteer, turn in and keep your foot in it and the front just drags it straight.

It seems to get blasted but I quite like the x-drive once I sorted suspension and got a feel for how it responds. It's oft said how AWD doesn't make a car faster through the corners but it can do a hell of a lot for confidence, which for me makes a huge difference.

What Audi's are you used to? My experience is RS2/RS6; the former has no TCS at all and the latter did but it tended to just blink a few times and still go like shit off a shovel regardless. My brothers F10 M5 is like that too, to be fair.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by 335dxdrive

I dont understand why mine cuts the power when TC kicks in, my Audi's and Imprezas in the past have just kept going

Maybe it had to be in sport mode to transfer the power rather then cut it ??

Sport plus mode!

[M40CCA]

Mine is the same so easy to get the rear out but like teaston said the front will drag you back straight

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by M40CCA

Mine is the same so easy to get the rear out but like teaston said the front will drag you back straight

Yup! All jolly good fun!

[335dxdrive]

Originally Posted by Dave1963

Yup! All jolly good fun!

Cheers guys

Seems like sport plus is key!

Ross_T_Boss - the Audis were S3's.

[M40CCA]

Originally Posted by 335dxdrive

Cheers guys

Seems like sport plus is key!

Ross_T_Boss - the Audis were S3's.

Sports plus Is the way just be careful when entering a slip road for the m62 from a roundabout when raining flat out in 3rd ....
But that's another story

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by 335dxdrive

Forgot to mention launch control works perfect
Was launching it in heavy rain the other night, the experience of that much grip in the wet was something else

It's traction not grip per se, don't confuse that traction with the cars ability to brake or corner in wet conditions.

[335dxdrive]

Originally Posted by Wills2

It's traction not grip per se, don't confuse that traction with the cars ability to brake or corner in wet conditions.

Yeh very true especially on S001's!

Cannot wait to take them off

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by 335dxdrive

Yeh very true especially on S001's!

Cannot wait to take them off

Driving in Yorkshire as we do, I sometimes think we'd be better off with a boat.

I can't wait for some warmer weather and a set of PS4S.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Driving in Yorkshire as we do, I sometimes think we'd be better off with a boat.

I can't wait for some warmer weather and a set of PS4S.

The PS4S should give more benefit in the wet weather though.

[335dxdrive]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Driving in Yorkshire as we do, I sometimes think we'd be better off with a boat.

I can't wait for some warmer weather and a set of PS4S.

Haha I spend a lot of time in Scotland and Manchester, they are somehow even worse!

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by teaston

The PS4S should give more benefit in the wet weather though.

Won't give any meaningful gains in terms of traction a tail happy car is a tail happy car it will break traction whatever tyres you're on in the wet.

My winters are immense in the wet through standing water so much better than PS2/CSC 5P or MPSS but they lack block stability and feel for spirited driving.

The reason I want some warmer weather is the benefit that will bring in terms of grip plus I'm on winters so the PS4S will feel so much better when pressing on and return the razor sharp front end I've been missing.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Won't give any meaningful gains in terms of traction a tail happy car is a tail happy car it will break traction whatever tyres you're on in the wet.

My winters are immense in the wet through standing water so much better than PS2/CSC 5P or MPSS but they lack block stability and feel for spirited driving.

The reason I want some warmer weather is the benefit that will bring in terms of grip plus I'm on winters so the PS4S will feel so much better when pressing on and return the razor sharp front end I've been missing.

I definitely agree about winter tyre lacking feel! My rear ones are worn out so considering replacing them with Crossclimate+'s for next winter!

[335dxdrive]

At present can you only get 4S in 19" size?

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Wills2

It's traction not grip per se, don't confuse that traction with the cars ability to brake or corner in wet conditions.

Yep, Google "traction circle" for insight.

xDrive can mask poor grip at the tyres to a certain extent as the "launch" torque is split across all four wheels. Under heavy braking or cornering you are relying on the grip available mostly at only two or possibly one wheel.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by teaston

I definitely agree about winter tyre lacking feel! My rear ones are worn out so considering replacing them with Crossclimate+'s for next winter!

Buy Michelin Pilot Alpins. I've just had a week in the Alps, but it was wall to wall sunshine and going up and down the passes it was 13 degrees but I was still able to drive in a spirited manner without any feeling that the tyres were holding me back.