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      08-13-2016, 11:20 PM   #1
Sneedis
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Did I make a mistake going with xDrive?

Hello everyone,

I recently ordered an M240i xDrive. I wanted a car that I could use every day, including in Canadian winters, but still have fun and enjoy my time driving. This will be my only vehicle. The previous vehicles I've owned have been primarily FWD and have performed fine during the winter.

Calgary has relatively harsh winters, so I thought xDrive would be my best bet. I know that tires are the most important aspect of safe winter driving, but I've never driven a RWD vehicle in the snow. Calgary is also a city of hills, and given the constant stopping and starting of everyday traffic, I felt xDrive would provide the least stressful experience.

This is not a vehicle I ever plan to track, but reading around online, it feels like a might be missing out on the BMW driving experience by going with AWD (of course these are opinions of people who aren't familiar with Canadian winters). However, I'm concerned I wouldn't enjoy the 8 months of the year with snow on the ground (although the last two winters here have been mild). Given the price of the car, I don't want this to be just a summer cruiser.

I just wanted to know if anyone else here had a similar dilemma and how they dealt with it, or if anyone drives it 365 days a year, how they feel about it. Should I suck it up and go RWD, or will I still have fun with xDrive?

Last edited by Sneedis; 08-13-2016 at 11:55 PM..
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      08-14-2016, 07:08 AM   #2
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Hi Sneedis, your dilemma was similar to mine however I live in Toronto so the months of snow is really just about 4 or so. I went RWD over xDrive for the fun I'll be able to enjoy for the other 8 months. To be honest, xDrive is a good peace of mind especially in Calgary. The car is still extremely fun to drive even if it's not RWD. Snow tires is a must regardless if it's xDrive or not for me. Go with your gut instinct? But I went RWD for every other day fun. Mind you I don't track either...just the rarely spirited boost.
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      08-14-2016, 08:36 AM   #3
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I too had exactly the same struggle. I'm in Ottawa and we can get a lot of snow and they don't clear the roads like they used to. 20 years ago I had a RWD RX-7 that was a challenge but fun in the winter (even with Hakkapeliitta snows). It's been FWD since. I decided to go with xDrive based on my experience, the reduced quality of plowing now and resale. And less potential drama. The quality of BMW's all wheel drive (and its rearward bias) have given me reassurance that I made the right decision.
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      08-14-2016, 10:41 AM   #4
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I'm in Vancouver where we don't get lots of snow, but when we do seemingly no one knows how to handle it. Also, my commute to work has a couple of extremely nasty hills (ones that even buses shut down on).

I went with xDrive. This is the third AWD vehicle I've had and it's still a lot of fun. It's rear biased so in many ways it gives you the same feel. It's a bit heavier and won't rotate through corners quite like a RWD car but it's a lot more fun than any FWD would normally be (and yes, I know there are a couple of exceptions to that).

Since you're going from FWD to rear bias AWD you'll have lots of fun.
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      08-14-2016, 11:25 AM   #5
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OP: You made the right choice going xDrive.
You will not regret it..
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      08-14-2016, 11:52 AM   #6
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Thank you for the replies. I really appreciate your input.
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      08-14-2016, 03:17 PM   #7
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same struggle here in toronto. But i went with RWD for only 1 reason. MT. since awd doesnt come with mt, and when i test drove it, the biggest difference in terms of fun was mt vs auto. but if you are going auto either way, AWD should be a good balance in terms of winter safety.
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      08-15-2016, 03:21 PM   #8
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Further to my original post, does anyone think it would be silly to install M Performance parts on an xDrive vehicle?

I think the carbon fiber spoiler, for example, looks pretty slick on an otherwise humble looking car.
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      08-16-2016, 07:26 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sneedis View Post
Further to my original post, does anyone think it would be silly to install M Performance parts on an xDrive vehicle?

I think the carbon fiber spoiler, for example, looks pretty slick on an otherwise humble looking car.
Au contrare, mon ami, enhancing the appearance is never a bad thing on any of the 2er models.
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      08-16-2016, 08:31 AM   #10
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I live in southern Ontario, and I love my 2015 xDrive M235. I drove it last winter and nothing stops this car in the winter, no slipping, you can go instantly at stop lights when other cars are spinning their wheels.

Also the xDrive has a bit faster 0-60 than the RWD model. I came from a RWD 3 series and you really can't tell that this isn't a RWD car 95% of the time.

You made the right choice, I don't think I would buy a BMW without xDrive now.

In the winter you'll want to run square tire setup, 17 or 18, but don't do staggered in the snow with the xDrive.
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      08-16-2016, 08:49 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asmo View Post
I came from a RWD 3 series and you really can't tell that this isn't a RWD car 95% of the time.

You made the right choice, I don't think I would buy a BMW without xDrive
Agreed, the xDrive system is really amazing being rear biased and switching torque around so smoothly. I don't regret ordering xDrive at all.
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      08-16-2016, 01:32 PM   #12
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After warranty expire, get a basic tune and you will be happy with xDrive purchase.
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      08-16-2016, 10:00 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sneedis View Post
Further to my original post, does anyone think it would be silly to install M Performance parts on an xDrive vehicle?

I think the carbon fiber spoiler, for example, looks pretty slick on an otherwise humble looking car.
Installing MP parts on any car is still going to be awesome. Most of the MP parts are cosmetics. In fact, I'm not sure if the front splitter, rear diffuser does much impact to the handling of the car. The spoiler might do some downforce but on a DD it's not even noticeable. Go for it!! It's all about making it your own. Personalize it. Then post some pics, or we won't believe you did it
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      08-17-2016, 04:36 AM   #14
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Agreed siwo. DD none of them do anything, but track or autocross the rear spoiler and front splitter will be felt. The diffuser is strictly cosmetic because it doesn't reach under the car much at all.
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      08-17-2016, 05:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sneedis View Post
Hello everyone,

I recently ordered an M240i xDrive. I wanted a car that I could use every day, including in Canadian winters, but still have fun and enjoy my time driving.
Congratulations on your M240i XDrive. Hoping to see you around in Calgary!
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      08-18-2016, 04:21 PM   #16
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xDrive is the right choice [Mike 1989 325iX "the original"]
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      08-30-2016, 02:45 PM   #17
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Slightly related question, but I know the ground clearance on the car is 5.1 inches. Does anyone who drives their car in the winter know if the front end get torn apart at this relatively low height?

Calgary streets are pretty much full of gravel from November through April, and I'm concerned the front of the car won't be a pretty sight come spring. And I'm not talking about scraping, since I can avoid that.

Last edited by Sneedis; 08-30-2016 at 02:53 PM..
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      08-30-2016, 10:09 PM   #18
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You will be happy with the X-drive.
I bought an X-drive mainly because i was in the same boat of driving it in the winter but now that i came across another cheap vehicle recently i can drive for winter im not going to bother.
I put the M-performance front spoiler on my car and with the dinan springs I wouldn't be surprised if it is too low for winter and end up pushing alot of snow. If you dont have a drop it might help, hard to say..last winter was fairly mild, this winter could be awful - who knows in Alberta.

I am glad i have the front spoiler on my car and love how it looks - just got to be that much more cautious when driving around the city tho.

Thats my car as it sits now
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      08-30-2016, 10:43 PM   #19
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Yes your front splitter really adds to the car. I'd love to get one myself, but I'm concerned enough as it is come winter at stock height.

I guess I'll have to put my faith in the paint protection film and clean up any scuffs as they arise. (Of course, now I'm questioning whether I should get a full wrap to prevent me from going insane.)
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      08-31-2016, 10:05 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sneedis View Post
Yes your front splitter really adds to the car. I'd love to get one myself, but I'm concerned enough as it is come winter at stock height.

I guess I'll have to put my faith in the paint protection film and clean up any scuffs as they arise. (Of course, now I'm questioning whether I should get a full wrap to prevent me from going insane.)
The OCD is strong!
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      09-18-2016, 07:20 PM   #21
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You're on a highway in an AWD vehicle surrounded by vehicles with 2WD. The car in front of you crashes into another car in front of him. What happens? You wait around for hours while they clear the wreck. You now magically move to a RWD vehicle and ...... Wait around forever for them to clear the wreck.

Every maker of car plays the same game showing you a more expensive version (ie AWD) of the same car getting out of trouble in some sort of 'wintery' condition. Problem with that? No other cars are in the commercial. Fantasy land.

RWD is fine. xDrive is fine. Neither make a significant in winter though. The idiot in a 2003 Civic on bald All-seasons who can't wait 30 minutes to get home and Twitter himself to death and is about to plow into your rear bumper is the problem. I'm not afraid of winter in any vehicle and neither are you. You mention you get a lot of snow so you know how to drive in it. You know as well as I, the weather isn't scary, it's other drivers who are scary. No option on any car would fix that.
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      09-19-2016, 01:18 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by menncars View Post
You're on a highway in an AWD vehicle surrounded by vehicles with 2WD. The car in front of you crashes into another car in front of him. What happens? You wait around for hours while they clear the wreck. You now magically move to a RWD vehicle and ...... Wait around forever for them to clear the wreck.

Every maker of car plays the same game showing you a more expensive version (ie AWD) of the same car getting out of trouble in some sort of 'wintery' condition. Problem with that? No other cars are in the commercial. Fantasy land.

RWD is fine. xDrive is fine. Neither make a significant in winter though. The idiot in a 2003 Civic on bald All-seasons who can't wait 30 minutes to get home and Twitter himself to death and is about to plow into your rear bumper is the problem. I'm not afraid of winter in any vehicle and neither are you. You mention you get a lot of snow so you know how to drive in it. You know as well as I, the weather isn't scary, it's other drivers who are scary. No option on any car would fix that.
As much as you are correct about other drivers being the ones to worry about, AWD provides much better traction even with slush on the ground and you're trying to go up hill, or when you hit black ice while doing 30 down the highway in the middle of a snow storm. The point of spending more for the AWD model is so you aren't the cause of an accident, and not just with another vehicle but with sliding off the road in a corner (even going slow). The ignorance level in your post is scary.
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