[planemad]

I’m going to stir it up, my wife has a new LCI 320d S Drive and after driving it for around 400 miles this weekend on a variety of roads and I think it handles much better than the X drive.
I have had both an LCI F30 335d and currently a LCI F31 330d.

The S Drive inspires so much more confidence even in the 320d engine and is a very solid drive instead of a twitchy and wallowing x Drive.

Both my X drives I have had have adaptive suspension and standard springs.
The 320d is standard Msport suspention.

I’m no Petrol head, racer or car tech nut but the S Drive gives me more confidence and feels much more grounded. I honestly did not think that I would feel the difference but it’s like chalk and cheese.

Believe me before I drove this S Drive, I thought X Drive was the bees knees.

[moff]

This is like a rhetorical post

[dopper99]

Stop the press, sdrive handles better than xdrive, both as standard.

No new news there. This is why most people fit ACS springs to xdrives.

And for the record, the 320d sdrive will handle better than a 330d sdrive .... cos it weighs less.

[teaston]

It’s not the xdrive that’s making the difference, I’ve had sdrive & xdrive 3l diesels and they handle identically (with ACS springs) except the xdrive doesn’t slip around in the wet!

The difference is the lighter 2l engine, they do just handle better.

I’d rather have the sub 7 second 0-60 time though!

[sensible]

The 3 series was designed as an s-drive and for a very long time was considered the best in its class including the way it handled. The x-drive was an add on to an existing design and comes with its own inferior suspension that is higher and softer than M Sport suspension.

I test drove both and there is no doubt the x-drive had more traction as it is 4WD but the s-drive handles better.....in my opinion.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by sensible

The 3 series was designed as an s-drive and for a very long time was considered the best in its class including the way it handled. The x-drive was an add on to an existing design and comes with its own inferior suspension that is higher and softer than M Sport suspension.

I test drove both and there is no doubt the x-drive had more traction as it is 4WD but the s-drive handles better.....in my opinion.

Only because the xdrive has SE springs as standard though.

[73henny]

Originally Posted by teaston

It’s not the xdrive that’s making the difference, I’ve had sdrive & xdrive 3l diesels and they handle identically (with ACS springs) except the xdrive doesn’t slip around in the wet!

The difference is the lighter 2l engine, they do just handle better.

I’d rather have the sub 7 second 0-60 time though!

This ^. Sub 5 second though!

I enjoy softer suspension chewing up miles, and a flick of the adaptive suspension when I want to push on. Don't understand why people would want hard suspension for the 5% of the time the car is being driven at a speed where it needs to handle. Each to their own though of course.

[sensible]

Originally Posted by 73henny

This ^. Sub 5 second though!

I enjoy softer suspension chewing up miles, and a flick of the adaptive suspension when I want to push on. Don't understand why people would want hard suspension for the 5% of the time the car is being driven at a speed where it needs to handle. Each to their own though of course.

I have adaptive M-Sport suspension and enjoy the softer and firmer sertings, but wouldn't want X-drive SE suspension.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by 73henny

This ^. Sub 5 second though!

I enjoy softer suspension chewing up miles, and a flick of the adaptive suspension when I want to push on. Don't understand why people would want hard suspension for the 5% of the time the car is being driven at a speed where it needs to handle. Each to their own though of course.

Yea I was just referring to the 320d being above 7 secs.

Adaptive suspension does help, it was still too soft for me though.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by sensible

The 3 series was designed as an s-drive and for a very long time was considered the best in its class including the way it handled. The x-drive was an add on to an existing design and comes with its own inferior suspension that is higher and softer than M Sport suspension.

What BMW do for those who need a snowmobile and more ground clearance.

[robbiep]

Originally Posted by teaston

It’s not the xdrive that’s making the difference, I’ve had sdrive & xdrive 3l diesels and they handle identically (with ACS springs) except the xdrive doesn’t slip around in the wet!

The difference is the lighter 2l engine, they do just handle better.

I’d rather have the sub 7 second 0-60 time though!

And that's where I've got the best of both worlds.

325d sDrive Touring. Adaptive suspension. The lighter 2.0 lump, 218PS, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by robbiep

And that's where I've got the best of both worlds.

325d sDrive Touring. Adaptive suspension. The lighter 2.0 lump, 218PS, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds.

Sorry, I meant sub 6.9 secs!

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by teaston

Yea I was just referring to the 320d being above 7 secs.

Adaptive suspension does help, it was still too soft for me though.

Agreed. ACS stiffens it up nicely.

Extra bracing helps too.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by teaston

Only because the xdrive has SE springs as standard though.

I know many want a stiffer setup, but haven't BMW really it got it right for what the xDrive application is really about. Tyre grip is key to exploiting xDrive, a softer suspension is part of the science to achieving ultimate grip. Ground clearance also being a reason xDrive is riding higher. Many who use xDrive in the snow, question it is even high enough.

What we are seeing, many UK users are not really focused on the winter performance, but are after a sportier all-wheel drive vehicle. Initial pressure on BMW to supply xDrive to the UK, was for winter performance. Took a lot of persuasion, from my discussions with dealers.

Now BMW are playing catch-up for the M-sport market, (the new G30 sets the way).

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by teaston

Sorry, I meant sub 6.9 secs!

Sub 6 surely.

[Nobby Clark]

I’ve had sDrive 330d and now have XDrive 330d. All I’ll say is I can enter corners quicker in all weathers in the latter and come out of them with far less drama than sDrive. The xdrive car may roll a little more but the wheels are planted and getting the power down. Plus I can get out my driveway on the days with snow. Sure there is arguably more “involvement” with sdrive but there is a reason Lambos have AWD and it’s not for the snow. Lol. I won’t go back to sDrive now.

[Ajs_435d]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

I’ve had sDrive 330d and now have XDrive 330d. All I’ll say is I can enter corners quicker in all weathers in the latter and come out of them with far less drama than sDrive. The xdrive car may roll a little more but the wheels are planted and getting the power down. Plus I can get out my driveway on the days with snow. Sure there is arguably more “involvement” with sdrive but there is a reason Lambos have AWD and it’s not for the snow. Lol. I won’t go back to sDrive now.

This.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

I’ve had sDrive 330d and now have XDrive 330d. All I’ll say is I can enter corners quicker in all weathers in the latter and come out of them with far less drama than sDrive. The xdrive car may roll a little more but the wheels are planted and getting the power down. Plus I can get out my driveway on the days with snow. Sure there is arguably more “involvement” with sdrive but there is a reason Lambos have AWD and it’s not for the snow. Lol. I won’t go back to sDrive now.

Are you in the remote highlands of Scotland?
I'm in England and have never got stuck in the snow in 25 years driving without AWD

[bwrlane]

Originally Posted by planemad

I’m going to stir it up, my wife has a new LCI 320d S Drive and after driving it for around 400 miles this weekend on a variety of roads and I think it handles much better than the X

Alright I’m a car nut but don’t trust my own judgement. This is because I never quite know if I think something because I want to or because it’s true.

I trust the wife’s rather inarticulate remarks than my overthought views.

We have a 330d f31 sdrive. We once had a 320d xdrive loan car. Long story short, I was impress by its urge (the 320d is no slouch) but unimpressed by its wallowing feel.

The wife summed it up perfectly. “If I had the 320d, I’d ask myself every day why I bought this and not a Ford Mondeo. Our car feels like a proper car.”

For the record, she also perfectly summed up another loan car we had, a 218d active tourer. ‘When I drive our car, I think, “grrr rrr rrr”. When I drive the Active Tourer I think “ploop ploop ploop”’ I knew exactly what she meant.

But yes, out of the box, xdrive handless less well than sdrive and by a distance. Although it’s fixable I hear.

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by Hooded

Are you in the remote highlands of Scotland?
I'm in England and have never got stuck in the snow in 25 years driving without AWD

I'm in the Capital. We don't get loads of snow and it may only be one or two days a year. However, my driveway is flat and level. With any more than a few inches of snow, my RWD car would snake and just slide off the drive. It was like pushing string. I have been caught out driving home when it started snowing and hills are a challenge in the same respect. Sure snow tyres are the proper solution and I'd rather have RWD with snow tyres than AWD without in adverse weather but I can't be bothered with changing them.
Anyway as I said in my OP, it's not for snow that I have xDrive. The daily advantages make it worth every penny.

BTW, it's not the first time that I've read comments like "are you in the remote highlands of Scotland" on this forum implying that is the only area in the UK that gets snow. Each year it's the chaos in England that's featured on the news when there is the slightest snow flurry. It can happen anywhere.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by sensible

The 3 series was designed as an s-drive and for a very long time was considered the best in its class including the way it handled. The x-drive was an add on to an existing design and comes with its own inferior suspension that is higher and softer than M Sport suspension.

I test drove both and there is no doubt the x-drive had more traction as it is 4WD but the s-drive handles better.....in my opinion.

This isn't true- xdrive has been around since before the F30, just not available in the uk.

It's designed for both.

The difference the OP is seeing, as mentioned already, the weight difference of a 4 pot compared to 6 pot engine, and specifically that in a 3 series quite a bit of the engine sits ahead of the front axle.

If you drive a 320d xdrive it handles pretty sweetly compared to a 330d sdrive.

[Lux700]

Whilst on this topic, please can I ask a question which may be stupid..? I've not actually considered the 435d before, but something is telling that I'd miss xdrive if I went down the sdrive route... "Is the suspension on the 435d xdrive coupe the same as it is on the 335d xdrive touring?"

I apologise if it is a daft question - sorry... I'll get me coat!