[adam0161]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Is it definitely xdrive?!

Seriously, I've a got a remapped 335d, and I can probably completely floor it if I was starting to unwind the lock already and not worry about the tail going anywhere. In fact, unless I was in Sport+ I'm not even sure it would But as a I said earlier, with a 6 pot diesel the torque comes in very strong at 2000rpm, so if you press the throttle hard and fast, rather than squeeze it then you risk that coming in and overwhelming the tyres momentarily.

When this happened, did you lift or let the car sort itself out? Between the TC and xdrive it would only ever be momentary,

Ha we did wonder that as there is no xdrive badge, the previous owner went with an m badge instead but the v5 confirms it is an xdrive.

No I didn't lift off, it did sort itself out but the DSC definitely didn't flash up which was a bit odd.

We have seen the DSC come on a few times when pulling out of a junction without us booting it that much.

It must be these awful tyres!

I checked the tyre psi today and it was 30 psi which is way below the 38 psi recommended, but the BMW dealer must have set them at this.

Do you think that could have made much difference?

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by adam0161

Thanks Watsey that is reassuring to hear, the only thing that is putting doubt in my mind is the review here - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm

Stating that they have poor resistance to aquaplaning and that they can oversteer easily in the wet.

Would you say this is rubbish?

Many Thanks, Adam

Obviously I'm not a tyre testing pro - IMO it comes down to what balance of performance you are looking for.

The MPSS do have continuous water drainage channels to help clear standing water but these can be overwhelmed, just like on other tyres. I've had a couple of moments when the car lifts on motorways when I hit standing water, but I've had the same thing with every other tyre that have been fitted to my cars. Lift-off the throttle, no brakes, steady steering inputs and the car stays stable for that split second until grip is regained.

In like for like conditions the MPSS beats the OEM RFTs hands down, and if the conditions permit (weather, location, traffic) the MPSS is a top-end performance option compared to the factory-fit low cost option. Other non-RFT options may have a more balanced design regarding wet/dry performance, but the MPSS are very capable in the wet and outstanding in the dry.

[73henny]

Originally Posted by adam0161

Ha we did wonder that as there is no xdrive badge, the previous owner went with an m badge instead but the v5 confirms it is an xdrive.

You could put your VIN into an online VIN checker to verify the car's spec.

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by Watsey

Obviously I'm not a tyre testing pro - IMO it comes down to what balance of performance you are looking for.

The MPSS do have continuous water drainage channels to help clear standing water but these can be overwhelmed, just like on other tyres. I've had a couple of moments when the car lifts on motorways when I hit standing water, but I've had the same thing with every other tyre that have been fitted to my cars. Lift-off the throttle, no brakes, steady steering inputs and the car stays stable for that split second until grip is regained.

In like for like conditions the MPSS beats the OEM RFTs hands down, and if the conditions permit (weather, location, traffic) the MPSS is a top-end performance option compared to the factory-fit low cost option. Other non-RFT options may have a more balanced design regarding wet/dry performance, but the MPSS are very capable in the wet and outstanding in the dry.

Hi Watsey, thanks for that, I'm pretty set on the MPSS now as I've only heard good things about them.

Now to see where they are cheapest.

Btw, did you go with the XL ones for yours as the price seems similar for XL and regular

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by 73henny

You could put your VIN into an online VIN checker to verify the car's spec.

Yes I did that too and confirms its an xdrive.

I will report back when I've fitted the MPSS and hopefully then it will deserve its xdrive status again

[Canary_Yellow]

I'm not sure the tyres will necessarily change the outcome.

As noted above, xdrive is rear wheel biased so it only really kicks in when the rears start to lose traction. If you left your foot in I think it would sort itself out no problem, but by the sounds of it you're (quite naturally) easing off at the point xdrive would properly kick in.

No doubt the tyres will help a bit, but if you're unloading maximum power in the wet coming off a roundabout I doubt many tyres will retain perfect traction xdrive or otherwise.

That said, I've got an s-drive so what would I know!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by adam0161

Hi Watsey, thanks for that, I'm pretty set on the MPSS now as I've only heard good things about them.

Now to see where they are cheapest.

Btw, did you go with the XL ones for yours as the price seems similar for XL and regular

Yes, I'm running XL all round.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by adam0161

Hi Watsey, thanks for that, I'm pretty set on the MPSS now as I've only heard good things about them.

Now to see where they are cheapest.

Btw, did you go with the XL ones for yours as the price seems similar for XL and regular

Either the fronts or rears are only available in XL, so best to get XL all round.

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by teaston

Either the fronts or rears are only available in XL, so best to get XL all round.

Great that makes it easy then.

Will get onto blackcircles and get booked in

[FSE23]

How much do you want for these tyres? Are these ok if the pressure was low?, any punctures? PM me, pls

[Rich9600]

The Bridgestones are far from the best tyres in the world. However, they do their job adequately for most situations.

I have a 330d sDrive and rarely find I un-stick the back, under 'normal' driving conditions. The only times I've had any unexpected back end movement have been when pressing on in comfort mode and the gearbox gets caught out by a request for power and downshifts out of a corner/roundabout.

If you want to drive rapidly or sharply, I'd suggest the use of the sports setting for the gearbox, or entire car. The downshifts are much more predictable and you don't get that unexpected downshift and then suddenly all 550Nm at once.

Also, the big torque diesels seem to respond much better to a progressive/analog right foot rather than a sharp/digital one.

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

The Bridgestones are far from the best tyres in the world. However, they do their job adequately for most situations.

I have a 330d sDrive and rarely find I un-stick the back, under 'normal' driving conditions. The only times I've had any unexpected back end movement have been when pressing on in comfort mode and the gearbox gets caught out by a request for power and downshifts out of a corner/roundabout.

If you want to drive rapidly or sharply, I'd suggest the use of the sports setting for the gearbox, or entire car. The downshifts are much more predictable and you don't get that unexpected downshift and then suddenly all 550Nm at once.

Also, the big torque diesels seem to respond much better to a progressive/analog right foot rather than a sharp/digital one.

Hi Rich,

Yes you're right about having to be careful about the car downshifting during a corner as this can obviously destabilise the car so I will experiment with using the sport mode more when going for it in the corners.

Many Thanks, Adam

[lens]

Originally Posted by teaston

Why is the Subaru's AWD better?! Isn't it the old fashioned mechanical 4wd, as opposed to the xdrive which is electronic and can switch power to different wheels in a fraction of a second?

The open diff is what kills the xDrive.

The old fashioned mechanical 4WD is much better in real world scenarios, where our cars would cut power (which is absolutely horrible in 75% of situations) the subaru doesn't (can set it to locked or open), and you can throttle out of such situations.

[AlanYoro35i]

If you are going to change the tyres then change to the best (michelin pilot super sports) then go lower grade after. I found that on my old E92 N54 with Birds suspension kit and MPSS it was a great. It just grips and grips in the dry, but on the wet is not as good but much better than runflats

[monkeyninja]

Originally Posted by adam0161

I've had Eagle F1s on most of my cars and they have always been very good. What size rears do you have?

The fronts are 225's and the rears 255's, save your money and get the f1's you've had them before and know they work. The rears will be available later this month. From what you've said about your driving style the MPSS may be overkill.

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by chaungo

The open diff is what kills the xDrive.

The old fashioned mechanical 4WD is much better in real world scenarios, where our cars would cut power (which is absolutely horrible in 75% of situations) the subaru doesn't (can set it to locked or open), and you can throttle out of such situations.

+1

Indeed. Which is why I drive my SDrive in Sport+ most of the time... I really don't want the power cut when I am getting squirrelly.... I want to throttle steer please and bring it back in line when I am good and ready.

But I guess BMW have to aim their cars at the majority of modern drivers who are more used to underpowered, understeering FWD's rather than tail happy RWD 80's machinery.

[dopper99]

I cant say I’ve had any issues with traction in the wet on a straight line in my 335d. Flooring it in a straight line does not bring on the TC light, even with crap run flats.

I can only assume the OP came across some oil in the road to cause this or maybe the slightly more aggressive nature of the 330d’s power delivery caused it?

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by monkeyninja

The fronts are 225's and the rears 255's, save your money and get the f1's you've had them before and know they work. The rears will be available later this month. From what you've said about your driving style the MPSS may be overkill.

I would have considered that option but they only seem to do the f1 in 225 40 19 in the run flat version so I don't want to risk run flats again and besides I'd rather have tyres that I know have more capability in them than my driving style.

Cheers, Adam

[davybull]

Still got my Scoob, 2004 WRX 5 door with the Prodrive Performance Pack so it's about 275bhp.

It's odd, It seems faster but miles more twitchy than the Beemer.
Definitely more fun but I'm turning into an old git and I love the comfort, speed and sure footedness of the Beemer.
I can get the Scoob slipping and sliding in the wet but the 335 just seems planted and I haven't had any real moments of drama in the last 11 months of ownership.

[adam0161]

Originally Posted by davybull

Still got my Scoob, 2004 WRX 5 door with the Prodrive Performance Pack so it's about 275bhp.

It's odd, It seems faster but miles more twitchy than the Beemer.
Definitely more fun but I'm turning into an old git and I love the comfort, speed and sure footedness of the Beemer.
I can get the Scoob slipping and sliding in the wet but the 335 just seems planted and I haven't had any real moments of drama in the last 11 months of ownership.

Hi there,

That seems completely different to my own experiences, what tyres do you have on each? Any other mods to the Scoob, coilovers?

Cheers, Adam

[subsy]

Originally Posted by adam0161

Hi there,

That seems completely different to my own experiences, what tyres do you have on each? Any other mods to the Scoob, coilovers?

Cheers, Adam

Same, i had 3 Imprezas over the years, starting in 1997 with an imported STI Type R, then a UK 300 bugeye, then an STI hawkeye; the latter two being quite heavily fettled at Litchfield.

Only the Type R I could describe as twitchy in any way, and only when right on the edge.

[Drisser]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

Gotta love a bit of back end wiggle

you can get that on the S drive for £1500 less so why bother !?