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View Poll Results: Which 3-series would you reco for Chicago weather?
RWD 24 18.46%
xD 56 43.08%
Doesn't matter - RWD is sufficient 50 38.46%
Voters: 130. You may not vote on this poll

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      04-19-2012, 01:15 AM   #1
shantanu79
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Exclamation 2012 3-series rwd snow performance

Hello BMW Experts - Would you recommend the new 3-series sport rwd for people living in Chicago? Or is it better to go with the xD?

Thx,
Shantanu
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      04-19-2012, 12:18 PM   #2
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xDrive will obviously be better but if you get a good set of winter tires the RWD will be fine.
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      04-19-2012, 12:20 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by shantanu79 View Post
Hello BMW Experts - Would you recommend the new 3-series sport rwd for people living in Chicago? Or is it better to go with the xD?

Thx,
Shantanu
We live in Milwaukee and my E60 had no problem in the snow here with descent snow tires. Close to end of summer I'll be looking for a set for the F30.
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      04-19-2012, 12:29 PM   #4
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I just ordered a RWD F30 and I live in Minnesota. Good set of snows and you'll be good.
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      04-19-2012, 12:49 PM   #5
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RWD is fine in winter with snow tires. I drove an E90 335 for 5 years through Winnipeg winters with no issues. I anticipate no issues with the F30 either.
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      04-19-2012, 01:18 PM   #6
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This is my first Bimmer and other than my porsche I've never had RWD, so I had the same question... Ended up ordering RWD and plan on putting on snows, and Im in NH, MA, and CT for the winter.
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      04-19-2012, 01:25 PM   #7
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I just don't get the need for AWD in flat populated areas. On average you might be able to take advatage of the AWD for 10 days a year? 15? The other 350 plus days you get lowered performance, lower fuel economy, and spend more up front. If you do get in a accident in snowy weather, there's a good chance it will be caused by some idiot in AWD/4WD going too fast. It happens all the time.
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      04-19-2012, 01:25 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wally5280 View Post
xDrive will obviously be better but if you get a good set of winter tires the RWD will be fine.

xdrive is no better unless it too has snow tires, its the tires that make the difference, i drive the M6 all year round with a good set of snow tires for the winter, did the same with my former 645ci and no issues. Id always say RWD is best.
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      04-19-2012, 02:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m630 View Post
xdrive is no better unless it too has snow tires, its the tires that make the difference, i drive the M6 all year round with a good set of snow tires for the winter, did the same with my former 645ci and no issues. Id always say RWD is best.
That's not true at all. An xdrive with all seasons gets around fantastically. A regular RWD 3 series does not.

Tires make a huge difference, but having awd with all seasons works well.
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      04-19-2012, 03:39 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by RedlineSi View Post
That's not true at all. An xdrive with all seasons gets around fantastically. A regular RWD 3 series does not.

Tires make a huge difference, but having awd with all seasons works well.
I disagree.

As was said by someone else in a previous thread, X drive with winter tyres > RWD with winter tyres > X drive with summer/all seasons > RWD with summer/all seasons.

Xsdrive just helps you get going - it doesn't help you stop or turn, and it's not being able to stop that's dangerous. The danger is that a lot of 4WD drivers don't realise this.

There are some situations where X drive with summer tyres is better than RWD with winters but those situations generally just involve trying to move off from stationary uphill or in other difficult situations.
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      04-19-2012, 03:50 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor View Post
I disagree.

As was said by someone else in a previous thread, X drive with winter tyres > RWD with winter tyres > X drive with summer/all seasons > RWD with summer/all seasons.

Xsdrive just helps you get going - it doesn't help you stop or turn, and it's not being able to stop that's dangerous. The danger is that a lot of 4WD drivers don't realise this.

There are some situations where X drive with summer tyres is better than RWD with winters but those situations generally just involve trying to move off from stationary uphill or in other difficult situations.
I don't disagree with this. Of course stopping is much better with snow tires. But over all drive-ability with xdrive and all seasons is very good.
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      04-19-2012, 06:32 PM   #12
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I live in the Northeast and had RWD with snow and AWD with all season. The RWD snow will stop better in the snow, but the AWD will do everything else better in the snow. Overall, I would take the AWD over RWD in snow.
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      04-19-2012, 06:40 PM   #13
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This will be my first rwd car (coming from awd Evo). I had my concerns with the snow and a somewhat long commute, but I have planned on getting a dedicated set of winters for the f30. I am assuming slight inclines will be difficult, as well as getting started.
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      04-19-2012, 07:33 PM   #14
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BMW + RWD + snows = fantastic performance

Now, I have no doubt that AWD with snows is going to provide the best possible performance in the snow, but for me, getting AWD is like spending money and sacrificing a small degree of performance (for the 350 or so days each year that it's not snowing) to solve a problem that doesn't exist. I've been driving RWD BMWs with snows for more years than I care to admit, and have never had a problem.
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      04-19-2012, 07:49 PM   #15
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For those with RWD and snows, when do you normally switch to snows? I'm sure it varies by region, but what are some good indicators as to when to switch?
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      04-19-2012, 08:00 PM   #16
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this is the exact question i am dealing with. granted i am coming from a vehicle that is horrible in the snow but i did not have winter tires and the weight ration is prob 70/30 front. i have been in the market for an AWD sport sedan and the 335ix M Sport was my choice. Now i learn that with the AWD you do not get the lowered susp i am pissed and thinking about just the 335i. or S4 because its AWD and is lowered. but i like the 335 better. than if i decide on RWD i might as well look at the CTS-V if i am going to be spending that much money anyway. decisions, decisions...lol
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      04-19-2012, 08:42 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbres79 View Post
this is the exact question i am dealing with. granted i am coming from a vehicle that is horrible in the snow but i did not have winter tires and the weight ration is prob 70/30 front. i have been in the market for an AWD sport sedan and the 335ix M Sport was my choice. Now i learn that with the AWD you do not get the lowered susp i am pissed and thinking about just the 335i. or S4 because its AWD and is lowered. but i like the 335 better. than if i decide on RWD i might as well look at the CTS-V if i am going to be spending that much money anyway. decisions, decisions...lol
Go with the car you really want. Get snows and deal with the few days a year where it's tough to get around.
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      04-19-2012, 08:45 PM   #18
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the only concern i have with RWD + snow is the hill climbing ability. not too steep, maybe like 10-30 degrees.
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      04-20-2012, 06:50 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hollandog
the only concern i have with RWD + snow is the hill climbing ability. not too steep, maybe like 10-30 degrees.
Same here. Was never a problem in the Evo, matter of fact I never really shoveled the driveway, just drove Right over the snow lol.
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      04-20-2012, 09:24 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbres79 View Post
this is the exact question i am dealing with. granted i am coming from a vehicle that is horrible in the snow but i did not have winter tires and the weight ration is prob 70/30 front. i have been in the market for an AWD sport sedan and the 335ix M Sport was my choice. Now i learn that with the AWD you do not get the lowered susp i am pissed and thinking about just the 335i. or S4 because its AWD and is lowered. but i like the 335 better. than if i decide on RWD i might as well look at the CTS-V if i am going to be spending that much money anyway. decisions, decisions...lol
It sucks that BMW doesnt make AWD with sport suspension, they just dont realized half of the owners in the US lives in the snow belt.
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      04-20-2012, 10:09 AM   #21
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It sucks that BMW doesnt make AWD with sport suspension, they just dont realized half of the owners in the US lives in the snow belt.
Take in consideration that BMWs are from the land of Bavaria, and lots of wintery conditions. They understand that RWD + snow tires is the best situation to have for most. Sure, there are those that may have really significant snow, but in that case, it may be the height of the vehicle clearance that may be the impedement as much as the weather conditions. AWD is a compromise in just about all cases, so its not meant to be sporty by design.
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      04-20-2012, 10:13 AM   #22
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Originally Posted by sjohal View Post
For those with RWD and snows, when do you normally switch to snows? I'm sure it varies by region, but what are some good indicators as to when to switch?
We occasionally get snow here on October but my general practice was wait until Thanksgiving week give and take few days to put them on and take them off by mid March. We've had a very warm (well snowless) winter here this year and snows were off by early March.
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