x drive

[gatorjaws]

i ordered my 2013 x5d from the factory and am very happy with everything except how the xdrive handled in the snow this last winter. the ass came around when I turned a corner and it would slip and slide around on take off.  i have almost always owned 4 wheel drive vehicles and am disappointed. my x5d dosn't do nearly as well as the dodge hemi quad cab 4x4 i sold to buy it. honestly it pretty much handles like a 2 wheel drive car. i can only hope it is the tires or i am doing something wrong. should i be switching the xdrive off under these conditions or will things get better when i replace the tires or is this just it?

[Horizon]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Yes the X5's do not handle well in snow. It's all down to the tyres. I believe the 20" set up is the worst. I had a set of 19" winter tyres on mine and it would go anywhere safely in the snow, you could put your boot down and it wouldn't even flicker the traction control light.
Most re comment going to 18" and keeping the width of tyre down, but I had 19" staggered setup same tyre profiles as my summers and it was still fantastic in the snow.

[X5Sport]

As above.  Try a set of winter tyres, and you can also turn the DSC off so that it goes into 'snow mode' by pressing the button for a moment.

Snow needs narrower wheels & tyres to increase the 'ground pressure' otherwise they just skate.....as you found

[The Mechanic]

I agree with Horizon.  I have winters on my E70 in the, err, winter, and have driven in deep snow and hard pack and never had a problem.  The car goes wherever you point it.  Mine are the same size as my summer tyres, 19 inch staggered set up.  I use Vredestein Wintrac 4s non-Rft.

[kkx5]

It goes like hell in a snow... with winters on...