[Inspired]

I'm looking to upgrade to the F30 335 or 335XI. Leaning towards the 335XI since I would be using the XI for snowboarding trips in the winter. But 90% of the time it will be in sunny California.

I notice that the gas mileage are the same between the XI and I. But how do they perform? I will be occasionally bring the car to the track and drag strip.

Also, I'm looking at the driver assistance package. I would like to have a backup camera. Would I be require to have a navigation if I choose the assistance package?

[ocso1606]

I live in the snow belt of central NY and have a 335I M-sport with Blizzaks, have no problems in snow whats so ever.

[kobechrome]

Originally Posted by Inspired

I'm looking to upgrade to the F30 335 or 335XI. Leaning towards the 335XI since I would be using the XI for snowboarding trips in the winter. But 90% of the time it will be in sunny California.

I notice that the gas mileage are the same between the XI and I. But how do they perform? I will be occasionally bring the car to the track and drag strip.

Also, I'm looking at the driver assistance package. I would like to have a backup camera. Would I be require to have a navigation if I choose the assistance package?

If you're in CA, go RWD and a nice set of snow tires for your trips.

[tony20009]

The two cars differ, to the best of my knowledge as follows:
xDrive -- no sport suspension and has 4 wheel dirve. Costs $2k more than regular.
Regular -- has sport suspension

You wont have to buy nav with the rear view camera, but you will have to buy PDC. These two things are available without the DA package, but if you want the additional cameras, you do have to get the package.

Have you tried using the BMW configuration tool on BMW's website? There's also a car comparison tool there which is pretty comprehensive.

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by ocso1606

I live in the snow belt of central NY and have a 335I M-sport with Blizzaks, have no problems in snow whats so ever.

Originally Posted by kobechrome

If you're in CA, go RWD and a nice set of snow tires for your trips.

I agree. I have the RWD already wanted to try something else. If they both perform the same and have the same gas mileage, $2k isn't a lot more for a peace of mind in the snow.

I would also be modding the car so it would be nice to have 4 wheel drive for better traction on the drag strip.

Originally Posted by tony20009

The two cars differ, to the best of my knowledge as follows:
xDrive -- no sport suspension and has 4 wheel dirve. Costs $2k more than regular.
Regular -- has sport suspension

You wont have to buy nav with the rear view camera, but you will have to buy PDC. These two things are available without the DA package, but if you want the additional cameras, you do have to get the package.

Have you tried using the BMW configuration tool on BMW's website? There's also a car comparison tool there which is pretty comprehensive.

Yeah, I did the configuration but kind of threw me off that you can add rear view camera with no navi. What screen will be used for rear view camera if you don't have a navi?

[utenigma]

Originally Posted by Inspired

Yeah, I did the configuration but kind of threw me off that you can add rear view camera with no navi. What screen will be used for rear view camera if you don't have a navi?

Because every F30 has iDrive with a screen, regardless if you have nav or not

The difference is how big the screen is - non-nav cars get a 4:3 6" screen, while nav cars get a wide screen 8.8" screen

[jdong]

Honestly coming from an Audi, AWD is nice to have regardless of the kind of tires. Whether it's in rain or just mashing the throttle in a corner, AWD gives you more of a feeling of confidence in the traction of the car. It's definitely not a huge loss if you don't have it though. Although the EPA mileage is similar, I'm sure you're going to take a real world hit for the drivetrain losses.

[ThreeTwentyEightI]

I've had multiple RWD BMW's in the Southern Tier of NY with Blizzaks/Reputable snows I've had no issues. With my F30 I decided to go xDrive and it's been a whole new world driving in the snow and during the dry season. The car has an awesome feel with xDrive. Sure it's not the sport suspension and it rides a little higher but with the Sport Mode engaged it feels good. The little bit of extra clearance defiantly helps with the heaving of all entrances and roadways we have around here! It's gone through 8-12 inches of untouched roadways covered in snow and it does just as good as our X5!

[BMWFanatic2008]

Originally Posted by tony20009

The two cars differ, to the best of my knowledge as follows:
xDrive -- no sport suspension and has 4 wheel dirve. Costs $2k more than regular.
Regular -- has sport suspension

Dynamic Handling Package takes care of that! A must have option in my opinion even on a RWD.

[Inspired]

What exactly is dynamic handling package? If I replace the stock suspension with coilovers would it replace the dynamic handling package?

[BavarianFanatic]

I'm not sure I'd take an xDrive-equipped car to the strip with any frequency. I don't know that the driveline is up to the abuse. It might be, but who knows. I definitely wouldn't run DRs on all four corners anyway...

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

I'm not sure I'd take an xDrive-equipped car to the strip with any frequency. I don't know that the driveline is up to the abuse. It might be, but who knows. I definitely wouldn't run DRs on all four corners anyway...

I don't think the N55 nor the N54 will be powerful enough on stock turbo to require 4 DR all around

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by Inspired

I don't think the N55 nor the N54 will be powerful enough on stock turbo to require 4 DR all around

Yeah, that was a joke.

[reedo302]

If money is not an issue, go with xDrive with DHP if you absolutely feel like you need it.
If you want a more controllable feel with the ability to get the back end out for road track racing, go with RWD.

Unless you live in the mountains and regularly require AWD, there's no need to get it.
I live in Minnesota and the work vehicle I'm driving is a RWD car with open differential and no traction control with terrible Goodyear peformance winter tires, and I have yet to ever get stuck in the snow. Even at 2am when the plows have been off the roads for 6hrs and won't come out for another hour. Imagine a BMW with 50/50 weight distribution, electronic differential and DSC, and a set of Blizzaks. Is AWD nice? Yes. Is it necessary? Not unless you live in a more inhospitable climate.

Consider this- are you buying the car for the 90% of the time you're using it? Or are you buying it for the 10% of the time you're using it? Which one makes more sense?

I have nothing against AWD, I just don't know if you really need the extra weight and expense.

[UhhItsANT]

from what i know theres no aftermarket suspension upgrades (coilovers, springs) for the xdrive models. Where in california are you? I'll stick to the RWD in California.

[bnekic]

Go with the xDrive.

[cfm56d7b]

I also live in SoCal but ordered '13 BMW 335i xDrive sedan with 401 Style 19" wheels. Extra 10mm in clearance is actually welcome to negotiate speed bumps.

As others have noted, 704 Sport Suspension option will be deleted from the build as indicated by the order guide. Very few CAs are aware of this information and even fewer can explain what kind of suspension xDrive sedans have if 704 Sport Suspension has been deleted.

I suggest to order Dynamic Handling Package if considering xDrive sedan.

Whatever vehicle you may get, just enjoy it.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by ocso1606

I live in the snow belt of central NY and have a 335I M-sport with Blizzaks, have no problems in snow whats so ever.

Really? Fine last Friday Saturday? Everyone else in RWD was stuck.

Originally Posted by kobechrome

If you're in CA, go RWD and a nice set of snow tires for your trips.

This is probably a good call...being in Cali.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Really? Fine last Friday Saturday? Everyone else in RWD was stuck.

And AWD wasn't suck? When you have 12"+ of snow, your problem isn't going to be traction. It's called ground clearance.

[sean10mm]

Originally Posted by Inspired

What exactly is dynamic handling package? If I replace the stock suspension with coilovers would it replace the dynamic handling package?

Dynamic Handling Package gives you the adaptive M suspension and variable sport steering. It would be stupid to get it if you're going with an aftermarket suspension anyway. Of course there aren't any aftermarket suspension parts for F30 xdrive models yet.

[KellerKiller]

Originally Posted by Inspired

What exactly is dynamic handling package? If I replace the stock suspension with coilovers would it replace the dynamic handling package?

Dynamic handling is adjustable dampening of the shocks, from what I understand. Not sure if there's aftermarket parts for it yet, but surely it's more difficult than dropping the rear drive.

If you go xdrive, you may as well get the DHP, but if you go rear drive, adding the DHP raises the ride height to that of the xdrive. rear drive Msport has the feel of the DHP on sport, plus lower ride height.

[sean10mm]

Originally Posted by KellerKiller

but if you go rear drive, adding the DHP raises the ride height to that of the xdrive.

Uh, no, this is completely wrong.

"The Adaptive M Suspension offered for the rear wheel drive F30 includes a 10mm lower sport spring, the same spring that is offer on the sport suspension."