[Vroombimmer]

Is it possible to drift/get some sideways action in a 435d xdrive BMW? Not interested in trying it out at all but just very curious if you can get sideways if you turn DSC off in sport +. Just seen Joe Achilles BMW M5 competition video which is xdrive as well as 2wd. I know there is Day and night between a 435d and M5 convo but has just got me thinking.

[Sasquartch]

Pretty sure Jason Plato drifted a 435d on 5th gear. Seem to remember it took a fair bit of provoking to get it to step out

[Watsey]

You may get a little bit of play in Sport+ but the front traction will dial most of it out.

If you want proper 4WD drifting you need a Hoonicorn :

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Vroombimmer

Is it possible to drift/get some sideways action in a 435d xdrive BMW? Not interested in trying it out at all but just very curious if you can get sideways if you turn DSC off in sport +. Just seen Joe Achilles BMW M5 competition video which is xdrive as well as 2wd. I know there is Day and night between a 435d and M5 convo but has just got me thinking.

Yes most definitely, my 335d was awesome for doing doughnuts in the snow with DSC off!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by teaston

Yes most definitely, my 335d was awesome for doing doughnuts in the snow with DSC off!

Donuts in the snow doesn't count.

[Vroombimmer]

Yep snow doesn't count. We are talking normal conditions

[NISFAN]

On a BMW driving day I went to, they had a test which involved approaching a coned turn at very low speed, then giving full lock and hitting the throttle hard at the same time. Road was watered, so wet. The rear end did briefly come round on the 435d test car, but it took an awful lot to provoke that. Increase the approach speed and on dry road then you'd have to be brutal (scandi flick) to unsettle it enough to drift, I would have thought.

[johnnybforbacon]

Yes, I'm able to get mine to quite easily with Sport+ on. Seems very tail happy. Its a 330D xDrive Touring.

[WillLowe]

I've had mine sideways once or twice in my mapped 435d albeit on damp roads surprisingly easy to get back under control

[Vroombimmer]

Originally Posted by johnnybforbacon

Yes, I'm able to get mine to quite easily with Sport+ on. Seems very tail happy. Its a 330D xDrive Touring.

How is it possible?

[JD6]

With my square (225) winter tyre set, the back end can step out quite easily if I put the power down too quickly when leaving a bend. With hindsight I would have gone for 255 rear tyres. It can be fun, but the contrast with the MPS4S summers is huge.

[Alice Coupe]

Yes. You can’t beat physics.

[GEP77]

When I had my 335d I found the level of provocation required to get the tail to move much was considerable. Although as pointed out when running a square tyre setup it was more playful. I'd actually argue that 225 all round would have been better overall on it regardless of the season. Living in the countryside we get a fair bit of mud on the road at times (especially during ploughing season) which would make things much more enjoyable.

I think the 4wd Sport mode that the M5 has, and presumably the 4wd versions of the upcoming M3/M4 is probably the best day to day mode for balancing fun and safety.

[Tengocity]

Yes you can. Pretty easy in the damp and wet, but you need to be fairly brutal and deliberate to do it in the dry, even with a remap.

[HighlandPete]

Fit some ditch finder tyres on the xDrive, that will help.

[Wills2]

I would imagine the xdrive moving the drive forward in response to wheel slip at the rear would stop most of the sideways movement in all but very slippery conditions.

[Steces]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Fit some ditch finder tyres on the xDrive, that will help.

Mine was pretty lairy in the damp on Bridgestone
And an utter liability in snow and even slush

Awful things

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Steces

Mine was pretty lairy in the damp on Bridgestone
And an utter liability in snow and even slush

Awful things

Didn't realise Bridgestone Blizzak's were that bad in snow.

[johnnybforbacon]

Originally Posted by Vroombimmer

How is it possible?

Just give it the beans on a slightly greasy road and bobs your uncle. I have the Bridgestone Run Flats which are not very sticky to be honest. The car does correct it self pretty easy, I've not managed to get it in full fat drift mode.

[flashollie]

Out of interest does the Aldi Quattro system offer easier side ways fun on a private track than the BMW xdrive system?

[JD6]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Out of interest does the Aldi Quattro system offer easier side ways fun on a private track than the BMW xdrive system?

I think there are different Quattro systems, so this probably doesn't apply to the RS or perhaps the S models, but I don't think that the more mundane Quattros are set up with BMW's bias towards RWD, making them less entertaining and more prone to understeer.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Out of interest does the Aldi Quattro system offer easier side ways fun on a private track than the BMW xdrive system?

No, very unlikely.

Audi use a few different systems, but the vast majority are native FWD platforms that shuffle some torque to the rear, and an increased amount when slip is detected, but it's never all that much and nothing like as much the xdrive system does.

So that plus normal wooden Audi nose heavy handling makes it highly unlikely.