XDrive being considered for non-X series in the UK

[X5Sport]

Just read an article in this week's Auto Express (Issue 1147, P12) that BMW are at long last considering bring the AWD variants of their non-SUV vehicles to quote "counter the growing feeling that the brand's products are a menace in the snow". We may have to wait another two years before the Xdrive versions arrive assuming they do go ahead.

The 3er can be produced in both LHD & RHD, but not the 5er as it can only take the Xdrive in the LHD version at present.

The same article reports that some 4,000 winter tyre sets have been bought by UK customers - far outstripping the anticipated supply & demand.

The same article also quotes an unamed web site as carrying a thread "BMW Owners, please stay in when there is snow on the ground". From scary experience our E46 330Cd M-sport convertible is a real handful in icy and snowy conditions. Probably huge fun in the middle of a frozen lake, but not the A1

Interesting. How do members here feel?

[Raj]

Hmmm. I for one have to say the whole enjoyment of owning and driving the many BMW's previous to the X5 have been because they are rear wheel drive. I drove the M5, 530d, 330d to name a few all in snow and if I had kept the M5 I would have just bought a set of winter wheels and tyres as they were not the best. But then for the few weeks of snow we have had I don't know if having an AWD the rest of the year would bring the same smile to my face.

There will be plenty out there that will be glad of the news but it's just my 2p's worth.

[Minda]

[quote=""Raj""]

There will be plenty out there that will be glad of the news but it's just my 2p's worth.[/quote]
Maybe the quttro drivers will buy a bmw!

[Raj]

[quote=""Minda""][quote=""Raj""]

There will be plenty out there that will be glad of the news but it's just my 2p's worth.[/quote]
Maybe the quttro drivers will buy a bmw! [/quote]

PMSL....That will never happen...

[X5Sport]

errrr...........aren't A**i drivers the new 3er's as was a few years back? We don't want them coming back into our fold ( no offence to any of the current membership of course ) and ruining our reputations now do we.....

[Raj]

[quote=""X5Sport""]errrr...........aren't A**i drivers the new 3er's as was a few years back? We don't want them coming back into our fold ( no offence to any of the current membership of course ) and ruining our reputations now do we..... [/quote]

Apparantly they replaced the BM drivers as the new c*cks according to JC......lol

[535dboy]

It is the lack of four wheel drive normal models that will see me leave BMW soon, that and the terrible customer service

[Minda]

[quote=""535dboy""]It is the lack of four wheel drive normal models that will see me leave BMW soon, that and the terrible customer service[/quote]
The grass always looks greener on the other side!

[535dboy]

[quote=""Minda""][quote=""535dboy""]It is the lack of four wheel drive normal models that will see me leave BMW soon, that and the terrible customer service[/quote]
The grass always looks greener on the other side![/quote]

It is from where I've been sitting!

[Minda]

[quote=""535dboy""][quote=""Minda""][quote=""535dboy""]It is the lack of four wheel drive normal models that will see me leave BMW soon, that and the terrible customer service[/quote]
The grass always looks greener on the other side![/quote]

It is from where I've been sitting![/quote]
Cant always be that bad

[535dboy]

[quote=""Minda""][quote=""535dboy""][quote=""Minda""]

It is from where I've been sitting![/quote]
Cant always be that bad [/quote][/quote]

Audi dealer I use is 1000% better than BMW

Just waiting for new RS4 to be announced and then I'm out of here!

[stevox5]

Out of interest what's the issue with your BMW dealer?
Is it just the one dealer you are not happy with or several?

[535dboy]

[quote=""stevox5""]Out of interest what's the issue with your BMW dealer?
Is it just the one dealer you are not happy with or several?[/quote]

The first dealer with my 535 were totally incompetent and at one stage actually managed to break a part that I had to wait 6 weeks for them to replace, trying to leave me with a mini in the process!

This one is pretty similar failing to rectify repeated faults until I demanded my solution be used which in fact fixed both problems entirely!

[X5Sport]

My original dealer wax good but then changed hands and went down hill rapidly. I switched dealers and thy were even worse! But I have given them another chance and touch wood all seems fine for now. The indy we have been using I'm now suspicious of after they chsnged the battery on the E46 and needed two weeks to fix the electrics after blowing somw major fuses (no idea what they did to cause it) and then said the E53 was fine after it's fuel relay failed but missed the imminent expiry of the brake linings and the death of the battery (I know that can just happen, but...), and they still thought that it needed checking for swirl flaps (a subject we've done to death her).

I personally like RWD but in tricky situations having a 4WD system certainly helps. But then again, what did we do before? Or was it just that there was much less traffic and 'interference' from on board systems.

[535dboy]

[quote=""X5Sport""]

I personally like RWD but in tricky situations having a 4WD system certainly helps. But then again, what did we do before? Or was it just that there was much less traffic and 'interference' from on board systems. [/quote]

Audi have started to get their 4wd right now which means the system is much more rear wheel drive biased. I have done hundreds of miles in both the R8 and new RS5 and I like the set up plus added bonus of 4wd in these bad months