[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

This isn't true- xdrive has been around since before the F30, just not available in the uk.

It's designed for both.

The difference the OP is seeing, as mentioned already, the weight difference of a 4 pot compared to 6 pot engine, and specifically that in a 3 series quite a bit of the engine sits ahead of the front axle.

If you drive a 320d xdrive it handles pretty sweetly compared to a 330d sdrive.

Hmm, I only just got rid of the F31 320d XD we had this Sunday but until then I was running both the F31 330d SD and the 320d XD. I have to disagree with your comparison of the 2.

Admittedly, the 330d has adaptive and the 320d didn't so maybe this was the telling factor.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

The difference the OP is seeing, as mentioned already, the weight difference of a 4 pot compared to 6 pot engine, and specifically that in a 3 series quite a bit of the engine sits ahead of the front axle.

If you drive a 320d xdrive it handles pretty sweetly compared to a 330d sdrive.

To me, the two xDrive models which 'should' make most sense, benefitting from the drive characteristics, (reasonable performance, handling balance, etc.), from 4-pot engines, would be a 325d & 330i. Neither exist.

Then as we know, in BMW land there is no straight forward logic.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by ahmedb

Hmm, I only just got rid of the F31 320d XD we had this Sunday but until then I was running both the F31 330d SD and the 320d XD. I have to disagree with your comparison of the 2.

Admittedly, the 330d has adaptive and the 320d didn't so maybe this was the telling factor.

The other issue is what we all mean by "handling". I specifically felt that the steering felt better on the 320d and it seemed less nose heavy.
Also, is your 330d newer than the 320d?

The LCI cars have much better steering than the original cars too and our 330e has a much better helm than the 335d does, with much more feel and better weighting.

[Dr Forinor]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

The LCI cars have much better steering than the original cars too and our 330e has a much better helm than the 335d does, with much more feel and better weighting.

I wasn't aware that the LCI cars had better steering feel than the pre-LCI cars? I really don't like the feel of my steering (pre-LCI), especially when compared to my E90. I know that was hydraulic and this is not so it will never be the same, but I miss that steering feedback

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Lux700

Whilst on this topic, please can I ask a question which may be stupid..? I've not actually considered the 435d before, but something is telling that I'd miss xdrive if I went down the sdrive route... "Is the suspension on the 435d xdrive coupe the same as it is on the 335d xdrive touring?"

I apologise if it is a daft question - sorry... I'll get me coat!

I don't have direct experience of a 435d but there was a guy who used to post on here a a while ago who had a 335d tourer and his wife a 435d and he said the 4 was much better and more sporty.

I think the tourer handling is more compromised over a saloon or coupe than reviews would have you believe.

[Dr Forinor]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I think the tourer handling is more compromised over a saloon or coupe than reviews would have you believe.

Would that be purely down to the body shape alone?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Dr Forinor

Would that be purely down to the body shape alone?

Well the body shape has a number of consequences - increased weight, where the weight is changes the CoG, reduced torsional stiffness due to lack of rear bulkhead.

But the rear suspension is different too, and I assume it's not quite as optimal otherwise that would be the set up they use for the saloon, coupe and convertible.

[Dr Forinor]

Yeh that makes sense. I suppose if you truly wanted a sporty car, you aren't going to opt for an Estate.

[Drew474]

It would be nice to have a comparison from someone who has driven the 435d GC and the 3 series.

I have driven the 435i, before I got my 435d GC. I didn’t have long enough in it to make a fair judgement tbh.

[ahmedb]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

The other issue is what we all mean by "handling". I specifically felt that the steering felt better on the 320d and it seemed less nose heavy.
Also, is your 330d newer than the 320d?

The LCI cars have much better steering than the original cars too and our 330e has a much better helm than the 335d does, with much more feel and better weighting.

Both were more or less identical, 62 plate (330d) and 13 plate (320d). Handling to me means cornering ability and stability at higher speeds. I know the XD wins in anything other than mild dry conditions but I just never felt the confidence in the XD.

The nose heavy comment, I agree with to some extent but after the initial turn in, the XD felt a bit wobbly and it wanted to under steer mid corner.
In Sport, the 330d darts attentively to where I want it to go. Have you got ACS on your 335d? I had standard suspension in the 320d XD

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

I'm in the Capital. We don't get loads of snow and it may only be one or two days a year. However, my driveway is flat and level. With any more than a few inches of snow, my RWD car would snake and just slide off the drive. It was like pushing string. I have been caught out driving home when it started snowing and hills are a challenge in the same respect. Sure snow tyres are the proper solution and I'd rather have RWD with snow tyres than AWD without in adverse weather but I can't be bothered with changing them.
Anyway as I said in my OP, it's not for snow that I have xDrive. The daily advantages make it worth every penny.

BTW, it's not the first time that I've read comments like "are you in the remote highlands of Scotland" on this forum implying that is the only area in the UK that gets snow. Each year it's the chaos in England that's featured on the news when there is the slightest snow flurry. It can happen anywhere.

To be fair the chaos when there's 1mm of snow in England is usually caused by people who either can't drive in the snow or have practically bald summer tyres, if I had xdrive I would still get caught up in the chaos unfortunately, but as you point out you prefer xdrive for other reasons rather than for snow

I've never experienced the snaking you mention on the flat in the snow though with sdrive unless I've been too heavy footed with the gas pedal, maybe it's more of an automatic problem? Driving a manual it's easy to control pulling away in the snow, ...luckily I have enough torque to start moving without touching the gas pedal at all if I let the clutch up really slow so not to stall it, this gets the car moving slightly even on summer tyres, but I agree your better with winter tyres especially going up snowy hills

[moff]

The biggest issue for me with xDrive is it's current setup and having to add ACS etc to make it look lower (a tiny bit and not enough) and handle better. The added weight to is an issue, both with overall handling and that the additional weight is over the front wheels where it's not needed.

Maybe BMW's next generation of xDrive will be better and more like the setup on the C43. As it stands it takes away from the driving experience for me and there is a reason why it's not an option on the 440i

Sometimes additional traction in bad weather is nice, but it certainly doesn't help you stop any better which is something that seems to be lost on some 4WD drivers out there.

[Jimmy-F46 M-sport]

I see someone mentioning se springs being fitted on xdrive models, I've just bought a 2013 320i xdrive msport, will this be fitted with se springs? I know In comfort it's quite wollowy but in sport is seems to firm up a good bit, do the ACS springs make that much difference and are they an easy modification?

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-320msport

I see someone mentioning se springs being fitted on xdrive models, I've just bought a 2013 320i xdrive msport, will this be fitted with se springs? I know In comfort it's quite wollowy but in sport is seems to firm up a good bit, do the ACS springs make that much difference and are they an easy modification?

yes on all counts!