[crazydennamugg]

All I am in a bind... I am ordering a new 2012 BMW 328 but do not know if I should go with the RWD or the XDrive. Is the XDrive, AWD system really worth it. Granted I will be living in Germany for the next few years. Please help with this matter. I need to let them know by the 15th of this month (July)..Thanks everyone

[bringonthenite]

I waited till the my2013 for it. We have wet snow and poorly plowed hilly streets, so for me the xDrive is worth it.

[Ron Scott]

Would not buy one without it.

[crazydennamugg]

Ron Scott....so you think I should go without it???

[emtrey]

depends on your needs and "mindset". AWD chassis are heavier, more complex and a bit of the handling edge is diminished. I prefer RWd and a -1 snow wheel/tire setup for winter.

Never had an issue w/ my 135I in 3 years in Chicago.

[crazydennamugg]

emtry thanks for the imput

[rmnoonan]

I'm Chicago and went RWD with snows.

[E36toF30]

I'm in Colorado and also went RWD with a set of snow tires. My '98 3 series is also RWD and I've never had a problem with the snow tires on.

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by crazydennamugg

Ron Scott....so you think I should go without it???

I would only buy the xDrive version. Have driven both in the past and personally haven't experienced any of the upsides RWD enthusiasts claim.

[emtrey]

From my experiences it's more about tires than the drive system My mini (fwd) on all seasons was worse in snow than my 300 Hp 135(Rwd) on real snow tires WHatever makes you feel more secure should be your choice

[boltjames]

Originally Posted by crazydennamugg

All I am in a bind... I am ordering a new 2012 BMW 328 but do not know if I should go with the RWD or the XDrive. Is the XDrive, AWD system really worth it. Granted I will be living in Germany for the next few years. Please help with this matter. I need to let them know by the 15th of this month (July)..Thanks everyone

It's all about dedicated snow tires. That's where 90% of the needed traction comes from. XDrive adds another 5% atop that which is not necessary unless you live in northern Canada or Iceland.

When I lived in snowy New England I had better snow traction with my RWD E93 on Hakkapalita snow tires than I did on my AWD E90 on Michelin all seasons. The rubber hits the road, that's the thing to remember.

AWD is just an expensive option that car companies like to push; it's all about the tires. Get RWD, get some really good snow tires (studded, if legal in Germany) and you'll be in a better place than having XDrive and all season tires.

BJ

[rjc32000]

Originally Posted by boltjames

It's all about dedicated snow tires. That's where 90% of the needed traction comes from. XDrive adds another 5% atop that which is not necessary unless you live in northern Canada or Iceland.

When I lived in snowy New England I had better snow traction with my RWD E93 on Hakkapalita snow tires than I did on my AWD E90 on Michelin all seasons. The rubber hits the road, that's the thing to remember.

AWD is just an expensive option that car companies like to push; it's all about the tires. Get RWD, get some really good snow tires (studded, if legal in Germany) and you'll be in a better place than having XDrive and all season tires.

BJ

Wow, I really couldn't disagree more. Granted I love in Southcentral Alaska, where there is snow on the ground for much of the winter, but AWD adds substantially more than "5%" traction over RWD. The right tires can help a RWD car, but don't get it to AWD traction level, especially an AWD that also is installed with the right tires.

OP: If you are going to be somewhere where there is snow or ice on the ground for a month or more out of the year, I'd get the AWD. If you only have a few snow days, get the RWD and spend the money you saved on a taxi those days!

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by emtrey

From my experiences it's more about tires than the drive system My mini (fwd) on all seasons was worse in snow than my 300 Hp 135(Rwd) on real snow tires WHatever makes you feel more secure should be your choice

Same experience here. For 2 seasons now I have been running Dunlop Wintersport tires, and they have worked great. Never had an issue.

My girlfriend has a 328xi and its awesome in the snow! I really cant say its worse with all season tires then my rwd car with snow dedicated tires, it just provided a different level of control in the snow. However her car's awd and all season tires stopping was inferior to my car with snows on it.

German winters can be rough just like Chicago you may want to consider x drive. I know there are alot of hills there too, you will probably benefit with x drive. Even with snows, going from a stand still up hill can be a challange.

Talk to some residents there see what they think. Good Luck.

[rconti]

I wouldn't go xDrive unless I had a really solid reason. If you're not sure, just get RWD.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by crazydennamugg

All I am in a bind... I am ordering a new 2012 BMW 328 but do not know if I should go with the RWD or the XDrive. Is the XDrive, AWD system really worth it. Granted I will be living in Germany for the next few years. Please help with this matter. I need to let them know by the 15th of this month (July)..Thanks everyone

This is my first xdrive. I had it 18 months.

The difference is night and day. The xdrive handles like a slot car in snow and ice. Most importantly, you gain an amazing amount of confidence.

This is worth a lot if you are a below average driver like me.

I suck at driving, but xdrive makes me drive like a pro.

Next, if you lease, xdrive may save you money in that you may not need snow tires.

Xdrive actually helps you off the line on a clear day too.

Yes, it is more complex. But these are complex cars to begin with. So don't let that stop you.

Rather, focus on the safety margin you get...so long as you don't use that extra margin to take more risks.

Oh, only one negative... Your fuel economy will suck wind.

[Junkyard]

Get the 335i xDrive because it's faster 0-60 than RWD...

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690579

[E36toF30]

Originally Posted by Junkyard

Get the 335i xDrive because it's faster 0-60 than RWD...

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690579

It may be a little faster off the line, but once you get going and get out of first gear, the RWD will have a slight edge due to the lower weight and lower friction.

[crazydennamugg]

E36toF30...Do you have any problems on uphills and such in the snow in Colorado????

[E36toF30]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

This is my first xdrive. I had it 18 months.

The difference is night and day. The xdrive handles like a slot car in snow and ice. Most importantly, you gain an amazing amount of confidence.

This is worth a lot if you are a below average driver like me.

I suck at driving, but xdrive makes me drive like a pro.

Rather, focus on the safety margin you get...so long as you don't use that extra margin to take more risks.

I would argue that xDrive doesn't really give you more safety margin. It does nothing to help you stop better, whereas snow tires make a huge difference for that.

[jtuds]

I live in an area of Ontario known as the snow belt....we are right between lake Erie and Lake Huron...so we get hammered at times. But I will still get a RWD. A couple of reasons. For starters, I will buy good snow tires. Secondly, it's cheaper. Finally, I live on a bus route, so my street is almost always ploughed quickly.

Even when it the deep snow is on the ground for a few days...think about winter time in North America. Snowy cities clear their snow well. So between December and March, you might have 10 days where the snow is actually a problem on the road. The majority of days the roads are clear because the snow is off to the side.

I would say go with what you'll enjoy the majority of the time...the other 8 months of the year.

[E36toF30]

Originally Posted by crazydennamugg

E36toF30...Do you have any problems on uphills and such in the snow in Colorado????

I haven't had problems with it, but then again I don't go up into the mountains that much or live in a particularly hilly area. If you will be driving up snow/ice covered hills often in the winter, or have a steep driveway for instance, those are cases where xDrive is more useful I think. RWD + snow tires could still work fine though, depending on how extreme the circumstances are. Obviously, the best (and most expensive) option would be xDrive + snow tires. That's probably overkill for what most people need though.

[boltjames]

Originally Posted by rjc32000

Wow, I really couldn't disagree more. Granted I love in Southcentral Alaska, where there is snow on the ground for much of the winter, but AWD adds substantially more than "5%" traction over RWD. The right tires can help a RWD car, but don't get it to AWD traction level, especially an AWD that also is installed with the right tires.

Whoa, very different situation up there in Alaska. I don't even begin to challenge what you have to deal with up there. But I've been to Germany many times and what he's got is no worse than my New Jersey/New England experience which says that snow tires are far more important than XDrive.

Different for you up there where you need all the skid protection and traction you can get.

BJ