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      01-19-2013, 10:01 AM   #1
derekh929
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330D MS Vs 330D MS X Drive

Wow when i thought the decision could not get any harder up pops another option, any members with knowledge of the X Drive system and anyone drove the 320 X Drive back to Back with RWD to compare handling , also any reviews to compare yet. What is people opinion on a FWD BMW and how much more useful it would be in NE Scotland.
I feel the car will hold is value with X drive for the novelty value for a while, but will it add anything other than increased traction, and will this detract from the enjoyment of RWD.
Thanks BMW just when i was settled on 330D Auto after fighting my heart strings to cling to manual box, then they give me more options.
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      01-19-2013, 10:10 AM   #2
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Haven't driven F30 4wd - but my current car (Subaru) is 4wd and I don't want to be without that (live on a farm in Lancashire and the sdrive 330d I had on test had the traction light going mad when I was accelerating up the lane). The economy gap is so narrow (hopefully real world gap won't be wider) between x and that for me if buying new it;s a no-brainer. If buying secondhand availability becomes an issue

For me, though, the BMW will be less about rwd fun than safe, rapid transport - for rwd fun I need to get a Caterham again...
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      01-19-2013, 12:17 PM   #3
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I'd get the 330d xDrive M Sport. The review of the 320i xDrive in Auto Car was glowing, it being a better car than the 2WD version. The xDrive took the car onto 'another level'. Go for it.
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      01-19-2013, 12:55 PM   #4
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I'd get the 330d xDrive M Sport. The review of the 320i xDrive in Auto Car was glowing, it being a better car than the 2WD version. The xDrive took the car onto 'another level'. Go for it.
Thanks struggling to find the review on there site was this recently
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      01-19-2013, 01:13 PM   #5
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Thanks struggling to find the review on there site was this recently
Latest one. Buy a copy!
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      01-19-2013, 01:19 PM   #6
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Its a no brainer in my opinion, yes its £1500 more but you will get that and more back at resale. It won't feel much different in day to day driving I would imagine but it has the extra drive once the wet or cold weather comes. Reckon the Xdrive model will be much more desirable come resale time.
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      01-19-2013, 01:22 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by davyk31 View Post
Its a no brainer in my opinion, yes its £1500 more but you will get that and more back at resale. It won't feel much different in day to day driving I would imagine but it has the extra drive once the wet or cold weather comes. Reckon the Xdrive model will be much more desirable come resale time.
It feels better. As I said earlier, it takes the car to 'another level'.
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      01-19-2013, 01:36 PM   #8
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Is there no dulling down of that feel and involvement that comes with RWD BMWs? I ask because I've found 4WD Audis a bit dead and lacking in feel or involvement for my taste, but maybe BMW and Audi do 4WD very differently.

If you can have a 4WD 3 series and keep all the handling dynamics and involvement, then I'll be looking hard at one of those in 40d form when I change in 18 months.

Does anyone know if BMW are planning X drive for the 440d? I'm certainly gunning for a 440d as my next car, but an X drive version could just be heaven, especially with all that grunt. I think the x drive would pay off a lot of the time, like squirting fast out of roundabouts.
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      01-19-2013, 01:36 PM   #9
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Supposidly the system directs 60% or 70% (I can't remember which!) of the drive to the rear wheels as standard, but when traction is lost it sticks the power to the wheels that grip. So in some respects it should be more fun, as it will pull you round corners that you might ordinarily struggle to get round at speed.
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      01-19-2013, 01:51 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daveyc View Post
Is there no dulling down of that feel and involvement that comes with RWD BMWs? I ask because I've found 4WD Audis a bit dead and lacking in feel or involvement for my taste, but maybe BMW and Audi do 4WD very differently.

If you can have a 4WD 3 series and keep all the handling dynamics and involvement, then I'll be looking hard at one of those in 40d form when I change in 18 months.

Does anyone know if BMW are planning X drive for the 440d? I'm certainly gunning for a 440d as my next car, but an X drive version could just be heaven, especially with all that grunt. I think the x drive would pay off a lot of the time, like squirting fast out of roundabouts.
That first sentence is what i was worried about i have driven S5 , S4, and another 4 wheel drive Audi and they were dull as dish water flat and planted but just no action imho
I have found out from another forum the Xdrive will sit the 10mm higher as does not drop with Adjustable on XDrive
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      01-19-2013, 01:53 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Cow Pat View Post
Supposidly the system directs 60% or 70% (I can't remember which!) of the drive to the rear wheels as standard, but when traction is lost it sticks the power to the wheels that grip. So in some respects it should be more fun, as it will pull you round corners that you might ordinarily struggle to get round at speed.
Torque converter idea with bias to rear sounds ok is this a version of the X3 drive train or new lighter weight version they have in Europe
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      01-19-2013, 02:08 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by derekh929 View Post
That first sentence is what i was worried about i have driven S5 , S4, and another 4 wheel drive Audi and they were dull as dish water flat and planted but just no action imho
I have found out from another forum the Xdrive will sit the 10mm higher as does not drop with Adjustable on XDrive
Hi Derek,

Yes, exactly. Audis leave me cold, whether FWD or 4WD. I like the interiors and overall design, but can't get on with the drive. I just hope, BMW being BMW, and the F3x being the handling gem that it is, that BMW come up with 4WD for people who love the feel of driving.

What you say about x drives being 10mm higher worries me - that points to BMW not considering them as dynamic drivers cars ... :-(

Last edited by DieselRocket; 01-19-2013 at 02:13 PM.. Reason: Typo
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      01-19-2013, 02:31 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daveyc View Post
Hi Derek,

Yes, exactly. Audis leave me cold, whether FWD or 4WD. I like the interiors and overall design, but can't get on with the drive. I just hope, BMW being BMW, and the F3x being the handling gem that it is, that BMW come up with 4WD for people who love the feel of driving.

What you say about x drives being 10mm higher worries me - that points to BMW not considering them as dynamic drivers cars ... :-(
Maybe bm trying to get the Audi buyer to covert , the site said it was not sure it had the sport springs as it is them that are 10mm lower I believe
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      01-19-2013, 03:39 PM   #14
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Hi there,

I live in NE Scotland and got a EB 320i xdrive about 6 weeks ago and can vouch having had a RWD previously there's certainly no loss of fun, it's different yes but still great!!!! Been trying it out a bit more since the snow on Monday and its holding grand!!!

To for it I say!! I find the 320 nippy enough but will definitely look at the 330 in 3-4 years!!!
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      01-19-2013, 03:47 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andys83 View Post
Hi there,

I live in NE Scotland and got a EB 320i xdrive about 6 weeks ago and can vouch having had a RWD previously there's certainly no loss of fun, it's different yes but still great!!!! Been trying it out a bit more since the snow on Monday and its holding grand!!!

To for it I say!! I find the 320 nippy enough but will definitely look at the 330 in 3-4 years!!!
Thanks that's great , when you say different from rear drive do you mean no under over steer and less role on entry to corner as fronts pulling? Have you put on snow tyres? And in the snow how did the grip levels compare to RWD, thanks
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      01-19-2013, 03:59 PM   #16
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Exactly!!!

Didn't go for winters, had an x3 previously with no winters and other than 3 years ago its been a while since we had a bad winter.

To me, if I was in a RWD car winters wouldn't be an option it would be a necessity! Saying that and in particular around where we stay you see the idiots flying around in the x5s and x6s and then into ditches!

I stay in a quiet cul de sac and when the tyres start slipping the xdrive comes in and eliminates it. Although its not a substitute for winter tyres it definitely helps.
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      01-19-2013, 04:00 PM   #17
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The xDrive is the perfect car for the wild northern wastes.
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      01-19-2013, 04:01 PM   #18
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Oh forgot to say, IMO the grip or traction is miles better than a RWD Round our area. Still have to be sensible though
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      01-19-2013, 04:03 PM   #19
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Northern wastes!

Cheeky bugger, just because your not allowed in gods country!!!!

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      01-19-2013, 04:07 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andys83 View Post
Hi there,

I live in NE Scotland and got a EB 320i xdrive about 6 weeks ago and can vouch having had a RWD previously there's certainly no loss of fun, it's different yes but still great!!!! Been trying it out a bit more since the snow on Monday and its holding grand!!!

To for it I say!! I find the 320 nippy enough but will definitely look at the 330 in 3-4 years!!!
Hi Andy,

Thanks for chipping in. This sounds very interesting. I'm kind of in the same place as Derek in that I've always enjoyed a well-sorted RWD car for how it behaves through bends and coming out of them. Is there still plenty of feel and a sense that you could get the back a little wide, or does the front let go first?

Re traction, I'm not that interested in the bad weather side. I've taken the plunge on winters this year and they're great but those conditions apply here in the South West for a maximum of 2 weeks per year. What does the car feel like if you boot it really hard coming out of a 30 or 4mph roundabout?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've just been so put off 4WD by the Audis I've driven :-)

Thanks
Dave
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      01-19-2013, 04:51 PM   #21
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Tbh Dave I was struggling to get that feeling the back may go but maybe I'm getting on a bit with young kids and all I haven't really tried that aspect.

As for the round about yes foot down and she ain't budging! Overtook a car on the B roads today not a problem!

Honestly if the extra isn't too much of an inconvenience go for it, I was unsure initially so spoke to the dealer and they gave me the demo motor overnight so I could see the differences. They knew what they were doing! I LOVED it!!!
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      01-19-2013, 04:57 PM   #22
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Quote:
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Northern wastes!

Cheeky bugger, just because your not allowed in gods country!!!!

Aye if it was not for the NE London would be back to dark ages the lights would go out and they would go bust without the oil tax
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