[Tengocity]

Since these are the two most common debates on here I wondered what was most important to people?

Interestingly there seems to be folk who would like a 335d sdrive, and others who would like a 335i xdrive!!!

If I did less miles than currently then for my everyday car I think I would really like a 335i xdrive tourer!

[ZeroFx]

335d S drive.

Really dont care about X drive. if i wanted AWD id get a 4x4.

Xdrive has stopped me buying a 335d

[dopper99]

I'm perfectly happy with my car, 335d xdrive auto. Brilliant car mechanically.

We are coming up to the shitty season with regards weather and I love the way the xdrive grips. No more traction control light which suits me fine.

The only slight issue I have with xdrive is the ride height, but that is corrected with the ACS springs of course.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

335d S drive.

Really dont care about X drive. if i wanted AWD id get a 4x4.

Xdrive has stopped me buying a 335d

Trust me you don't want a 335d sdrive, the 330d struggles to get it's power down with 2wd!

It's the SE suspension that put me off the 335d M Sport!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by dopper99

I'm perfectly happy with my car, 335d xdrive auto. Brilliant car mechanically.

We are coming up to the shitty season with regards weather and I love the way the xdrive grips. No more traction control light which suits me fine.

Have to agree with you on the drivetrain. It just feels like a rear driver to me, without the flashing orange light!

But I do miss the straight six petrol at times.

[dopper99]

With regards the engine - 335d vs 335i .... I've not driven a 335i so cant comment (and wouldnt consider anything less powerful). But one thing that puts me off the 335i is someone mentioned in another thread recently how they thought the 335i felt "weedy" in the mid range and not as urgent as the 335d. As fine an engine the 335i probably is, this would put me off as I love a quick flex of the foot and a big slug of torque to hurtle you down the road - so its a big 6 diesel for me.

And cant be bothered revving the nuts of engines these days to make progress, attracting attention.

[G82Dude]

I would love to know all those peeps who berate xDrive 20d/30d/35ds, have they actually driven one? I for one coming from 6 previous straight six petrol manual rear wheel drivers love my 435d. And in the crappy weather this week it's been absolutely great. Previous roads I had driven through where there was always standing water were always a bit twitchy in my M3s/330i/etc and eased off before I got there (just in case); xDrive you don't even notice. Simply feels very planted, which a good car should be. My E92 330i was never as surefooted or gave me the confidence as the 435d does or taking roundabouts in a "spirited" way.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by dopper99

With regards the engine - 335d vs 335i .... I've not driven a 335i so cant comment (and wouldnt consider anything less powerful). But one thing that puts me off the 335i is someone mentioned in another thread recently how they thought the 335i felt "weedy" in the mid range and not as urgent as the 335d. As fine an engine the 335i probably is, this would put me off as I love a quick flex of the foot and a big slug of torque to hurtle you down the road - so its a big 6 diesel for me.

And cant be bothered revving the nuts of engines these days to make progress, attracting attention.

340i might fix that...!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by F32Dude

340i might fix that...!

True, or an M3 of course. But then that would most likely be sdrive and then back to traction control light on and sliding around more.

[335dJa]

For the low mileage ours does, I would have liked the 335i Xdrive instead of the 335d. I did seriously contemplate going 335i with the msport diff, now it's available, for my next car. But the next day it really howled down and I was thankful of the xdrive (even though I dreamt of the fun I could be having with an msport diff)

[....,,,,..,,..]

I would definitely go for a 335i xdrive tourer.

Having now had my 330 xdrive since June and spent most of the time in sport / sport+, I can say in no way does it feel like an AWD car, I love the ability to just keep the power on in to and out of bends etc.

I have drove a ton of AWD / 4 wheel drive vehicles over last 30 years and the feel of the BMW xdrive systems is different.

Yes springs and stuff need sorted.

I test drove the 320i xdrive and found it a bit weedy n wheezy.
The 328i nice engine but may as well jump to a 335i.

Due to the versatility of the tourer it's nice to have that extra power on tap and the feel of a 6 cylinder engine.

[DieselRocket]

Echoing the comments of several other people, xDrive doesn't offend me in itself, as the cars I've tried with xDrive do feel fairly rear-biased and don't have Audi-style nose-led balance.

I'd just like is xDrive without the additional wieght and the silly suspension. Clearly can't really hope to get the first, but I'm really stumped on why BMW saddle all their most grunty 3 and 4 series cars with jacked up, soft suspension.

[d4springer]

Yes I would have had a 335d sdrive, I had an E92 330d so was looking forward to getting a 335d but was put off by the suspension and xdrive, so ended up with another 330d. However I am at least pleased that the new 330d is much quicker and linear than the last one of course. Next time round I'm not sure what to go for, I do like diesel so will likely stick with that, although I would also like an M3 so who knows. Why are 335d's only available in xdrive anyway?

[NISFAN]

Even though I bought a 330d, had the 335d come in sDrive, there is no doubt in my mind, that is what I would be driving today. An sDrive 435d would be the the ultimate all rounder, pretty quick, and economical at the same time. In standard form not much different to what I have now, but of course with an ACS engine upgrade, a level above.

If BMW wanted the ultimate 3 series (M cars aside) it would be a 335d (MPPK to 350 ish hp) sDrive with DCT box and a LSD. What a machine that would be.

It does surprise me how large a percentage place value on AWD on a car enthusiast forum. For someone who gets a thrill out of car control, I just can't see past the compromise it brings 99% of the time. But then there is a lot of smoke and mirrors around the whole AWD understanding, so that is likely to swell the AWD fan group.

Sadly marketing will be reading into AWD as a thing the majority want. When that becomes reality, things that are important for a RWD car, like 50:50 weight distribution will be dropped for the 'easy' AWD set up.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Even though I bought a 330d, had the 335d come in sDrive, there is no doubt in my mind, that is what I would be driving today. An sDrive 435d would be the the ultimate all rounder, pretty quick, and economical at the same time. In standard form not much different to what I have now, but of course with an ACS engine upgrade, a level above.

If BMW wanted the ultimate 3 series (M cars aside) it would be a 335d (MPPK to 350 ish hp) sDrive with DCT box and a LSD. What a machine that would be.

It does surprise me how large a percentage place value on AWD on a car enthusiast forum. For someone who gets a thrill out of car control, I just can't see past the compromise it brings 99% of the time. But then there is a lot of smoke and mirrors around the whole AWD understanding, so that is likely to swell the AWD fan group.

Sadly marketing will be reading into AWD as a thing the majority want. When that becomes reality, things that are important for a RWD car, like 50:50 weight distribution will be dropped for the 'easy' AWD set up.

Sounds like you need a D3, would tick all your boxes.

With regards xdrive, my car is far better than my old e90 330d in terms of grip. Bloody traction light on all the time in the 330d, no fun for me that. and I have no desire to go around corners sideways (well not on HM highways). What's the point of all that power if it's wasted with wheelspin?

[Nick the Greek]

I think I'd better keep my mouth shut.......

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Sounds like you need a D3, would tick all your boxes.

With regards xdrive, my car is far better than my old e90 330d in terms of grip. Bloody traction light on all the time in the 330d, no fun for me that. and I have no desire to go around corners sideways (well not on HM highways). What's the point of all that power if it's wasted with wheelspin?

Yes I think a D3 would do it for me....but why do I have to go outside of BMW to buy the best BMW?

....to be fair, you are comparing the F30 to an older car. The F30 chassis (and electronics) has moved on a lot. I can quite imagine that many ex-e90 owners genuinely feel the xDrive is what has transformed the car, where in reality it is also the ZF8, improved chassis and electronics.

Funnily enough, at the Oulton park event, BMW tried to construct a marketing demonstration to show off xDrive, a full power u turn on wet tarmac....and to me it completely failed. The xDrive without ESC is almost as uncontrollable as the sDrive, but comes with a heavy feeling to it, which I don't particularly like.

As for xDrive or sDrive, I've come to realise that it is down to driving style and personal preference. Nice that there is the choice (well....other than the model restrictions).

[JD6]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Funnily enough, at the Oulton park event, BMW tried to construct a marketing demonstration to show off xDrive, a full power u turn on wet tarmac....and to me it completely failed. The xDrive without ESC is almost as uncontrollable as the sDrive, but comes with a heavy feeling to it, which I don't particularly like.

I was there on a different day from you, but it seemed to me that in similar conditions a far greater proportion managed to control the 435d than the M235i. I agree it wasn't a good demo though and having just a single shot at it with electronics switched off missed a real opportunity. At the very least we should have had another go with them switched on.

It would have been a good opportunity to show off their control systems. The only other BMW experience day, which I did in 2001, allowed us to do exactly this.

[bwrlane]

Originally Posted by teaston

Trust me you don't want a 335d sdrive, the 330d struggles to get it's power down with 2wd!

It's the SE suspension that put me off the 335d M Sport!

Yeah but you can have a riot.

Like today I was at the lights in the wrong lane. Had to be first off the line otherwise I'd have been boxed in. Happened to be in sport+ and didn't think to change it. Floored it and disappeared off in a cloud of smoke.

The Alpina D3 has sdrive, has a little more torque than the 335d, and you'll struggle to hear a bad word said about it.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by JD6

I was there on a different day from you, but it seemed to me that in similar conditions a far greater proportion managed to control the 435d than the M235i. I agree it wasn't a good demo though and having just a single shot at it with electronics switched off missed a real opportunity. At the very least we should have had another go with them switched on.

It would have been a good opportunity to show off their control systems. The only other BMW experience day, which I did in 2001, allowed us to do exactly this.

Agreed, many just 360'd the sDrive, however, I got to do two goes in the 435d and couldn't predict what the xDrive was doing, I ended up taking two completely different exits to the exercise. I held the M235i in a nice controllable drift.....yes much throttle modulation required, but the nett outcome for me is that I feel safer in the sDrive. I know where it is going and what to expect.

At the end of the day, the lesson learnt....if you are going to be a numpty in either they both bite.

[pdk42]

I drove Audi quattros (petrol) for years and had a Golf V6 4motion for a while too. My last two cars (before my F31 xdrive) have been RWD BMW 6 cyl diesels. For me, the AWD system is a no brainer for real world use. Sure, on a track I can see that RWD will be more fun and give the greater driving challenge and reward; but let's face it, on the crowded roads of the Uk with generally wet and sometimes icy winters, xdrive is the way more prwctical choice. It'll get you away faster from standing starts on roundabounts and t-junctions and is safer under acceleration on corners. I accept that it probably slightly dulls the handling and it's a pity that BMW chose to delete the M-Sport suspension when specified, but for me it's still a must have. 65kg and £1500 aren't too big a penalty.

Regarding petrol vs diesel, I harbour ambitions to return to petrol but there's no way I'm going back to 4 cyl cars. The 335i interests me, but having now returned to AWD from 9 years on RWD, I don't think I want to lose it again.

[DieselRocket]

Originally Posted by bwrlane

Yeah but you can have a riot.

Like today I was at the lights in the wrong lane. Had to be first off the line otherwise I'd have been boxed in. Happened to be in sport+ and didn't think to change it. Floored it and disappeared off in a cloud of smoke.

The Alpina D3 has sdrive, has a little more torque than the 335d, and you'll struggle to hear a bad word said about it.

Good point. The D3 is never quoted by reviewers as having traction problems, and it has more torque than an M3 or M4. As NISFAN said, a 335d or 435d sDrive, done properly with mechanical LSD, non-RFT tyres and good quality suspension components, would achieve superb traction and would be a phenomenal car to drive.

I have a 330d M Sport. The times when it struggles for traction are:

1. Exiting a bend with a quite a lot right pedal on a lumpy road surface (RFTs and poor suspension reduce traction)

2. Accelerating hard out of roundabouts on smooth but wet roads.

An LSD would clearly help in both cases, but on dry UK roads, its the RFTs and poor quality dampers and springs that rob you of most of the traction.

I say all this as someone who has just ordered a 435d. I know it will be a great all-rounder and I'll wait until I change again in two years to see if there's an M440d (or whatever they call it) with sDrive out there by then. Given what Audi are doing, I think there's a very good chance BMW will produce some driver-oriented fast diesels soon.