05-21-2015, 08:39 AM | #23 | |
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Here we go again & again. It's not about race track performance, it's about driving dynamics, feel. My X-Drive was floaty and not confidence inspiring until after Dinan shockware, springs & bump stops. With a manual transmission, the nose would bounce up and down between gears (see Motor Trend article below) not very BMW, and at high speeds the steering was not good. If you like or love your car, that's great, old time owners are less than thrilled with the current F30, at least my 2013. This is my 1st and last x-drive. From what I've read here, the newer RWD cars don't have these problems. I am holding out hope the 340 will address this, at least with packages from the factory. The fact that BMW just released the 435 ZHP tells me they have been listening and are offering factory options for their old school clients, we'll see. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...port_update_7/ Last edited by P-Bass; 05-21-2015 at 09:01 AM.. |
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05-21-2015, 09:04 AM | #24 | |
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On the other hand, if I have to swerve at highway speed to avoid something in the road, the system does firm up well and quickly. I'm aware that difference in behavior might be designed in on purpose. But I don't like a car to feel fat and heavy at any time.
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05-21-2015, 09:06 AM | #25 |
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A moment of impulse, nothing more. I test drove an F10 one day, fell a bit in love with the interior and electronics, and it was a last remaining 2013 on the floor optioned more or less the way I would have built it. Next thing I knew it was in my driveway.
My 545 had 82,000 miles on it and nothing wrong with it. I should have kept it 2 more years.
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05-21-2015, 09:20 AM | #26 |
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The problem with DHP or I should say BMW in general is that they would not let you permanently set the settings (unless you get a M car).
Comon, who drives in two different steering settings? Let me set it either comfort or sports and let me keep it there forever. I dont want to hit a button everytime I get into the car. Also the damping, fuk let me stay at firm/sport until I want to go soft (hit that dumb button)
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05-21-2015, 09:39 AM | #27 |
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Another option is to get a RWD with LSD and snow tires. While they do a reasonable job of clearing the roads here in Denver, I have been on some roads which have several inches of snow on them and have not had any issues. With my experience so for I don't expect to have any issues getting around unless the snow gets deep enough to make my car into a snow plow, but then having an AWD wouldn't be much help either.
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05-21-2015, 09:48 AM | #28 |
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I currently own both a 2009 128i and a new 428i GC X-Drive with Adaptive M and summer performance tires. I just had the 128i at an Audi DE at Pocono and have tracked many different cars over the years. I plan on tracking the 428i one day just for fun.
I am going to say that the RWD vs AWD is not a significant factor on the street. TBD on a track. (Why would you want to drive the car at 9-10/10ths on the street ) I am loving the suspension of the 428i more than anything else. The 128i "bounces" around, whether on RFT tires or not. It needs a suspension mod. The 428 has a super composed yet capable and firm suspension in normal spirited driving. Having said that, I would go with a RWD car if I did not have to deal with inclement winter weather. And yes- I put winter tires on both my RWD and AWD cars.
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05-21-2015, 10:22 AM | #29 | |
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And, BTW, I've driven BMWs for 37 years, including 2 xDrive cars; pretty sure my knowledge of driving dynamics (both regarding BMWs and other cars) is at least as sophisticated as yours. I like my wife's F30 328xd; as I said before it's better in almost every way than our E34 525i (of course it's 25 years newer tech, too. ) |
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05-21-2015, 10:29 AM | #30 | |
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I live in Castle Pines, where there are enough hills that I occasionally had a little trouble after a fresh snow in that 545. The only times I've preferred my xDrive F10 have been the times I got surprised by a significant amount of snow and had no choice but to get around in it using that car. But that's been, like, twice in 18 months. I'd usually take out my 2004 Explorer on any day like that.
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05-21-2015, 10:33 AM | #31 |
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05-21-2015, 10:45 AM | #32 |
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Even less, 145 lbs actually.
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05-21-2015, 10:45 AM | #33 | |
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I think it comes down to damping behavior, and especially the fact that the F10 xDrive DHP is very softly sprung. Some of the time the DHP in Sport mode corrects against that softness, but other times it doesn't. Given that, and since DHP cost me $3500, I would rather have had the 704 suspension on my xDrive car and saved the money. Having a Comfort mode is of no value to me. (If $3500 sounds like a lot...it's $4500 on an X5)
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05-21-2015, 10:53 AM | #34 | ||
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Ultimately, if we're dealing with deep snow, the best set up for that is probably a heavy suv with 4WD and snow tires. Quote:
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05-21-2015, 11:04 AM | #35 |
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Going from X-Drive to RWD is a big switch. I live in the Southeast, and only liked AWD for the superior traction in rain and the ability to launch off of the line very quickly.
Now that I have my 335 which is rear-wheel drive, it'll be hard for anyone to convince me to buy another X-Drive BMW. Unless you need AWD for snow, don't do it.
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05-21-2015, 11:34 AM | #36 | |
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05-21-2015, 11:53 AM | #37 |
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DHP is brilliant. Many, many people want a car that is nice and comfortable except for every here and there when they want to give it a little zig. That's a huge market and DHP gives them their car. It's not, in my opinion, a good proxy for a sport-tuned suspension if having that is your main goal.
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05-21-2015, 12:31 PM | #38 | |
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Thing to remember: 4WD just gets you stuck further into the woods/down the road. The 1" that xDrive cars have over RWD is rather insignificant in many cases. |
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05-21-2015, 01:13 PM | #39 |
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Why does it always goes off topic and becomes RWD vs AWD?
OP ask about the DHP for rwd and 4wd
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01-11-2023, 03:17 AM | #41 |
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my first bimmer was a 04 325i rwd, loved it. my second was a 2011 328xi, loved it but told myself the next one is going to be rwd.. well i ended up with a 2018 330xi, and i love it. i really love how the car will shift power to according axel to help push through turns at high rates of speed. I could say my next one is for sures going to be rwd but chances are it'll be another xdrive. i enjoy the grip on launches as well dont have to worry if shes going to spin. i raced a jaguar xf, i some what knew what i was getting into just praying he didnt have the supercharged version and well i had my window cracked and when the light turned green i got him off the jump like a car and a half in front but just heard the whine from the supercharger as he chased me down as if i was a toddler running away with something in my mouth. moral of the story, "in my paul walkers voice" i almost had him. my four bangin 330xi complety stock gave the impression of a possibility of beating a supercharged xj. certainly got my hopes up lol. As this is my opinion and first hand experience, i would 100% recommend xdrive over rwd and i'm open to any opinions/facts about rwd being better than xdrive
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04-28-2023, 07:42 AM | #42 |
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Lot of people here conflating RWD/Xdrive with SE/Msport suspension.
I used to have rwd mercedes and I was really sick of the lack of traction in various situations. I now have xdrive+adaptive suspension, best of both. |
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