Any Thoughts On My New 335i xDrive

[Tipstall]

Group,

Living in Chicago and having to drive 15,000/miles a year I wanted the 4 wheel drive. I had a 530 with snow tires that worked well but the run flat 18" scare me, even with a second set of snow tires/rims + cost.

Any major comments? Alarm? I did not find the paddle shifters a major advantage, I like using the "slap" stick.

Thanks for the help.

Base MSRP$42,300 Space Gray Metallic$550 Black Dakota Leather$0 Aluminium Trim$0 Cold Weather Package$1,000 Premium Package$2,650 STEPTRONIC automatic transmission$1,325 Navigation system$2,100 HD radio$0 iPod and USB adapter$400 Logic7 sound system with Surround Sound and Digital Sound Processing$875 Satellite radio with 1 year subscription$595 All Weather Rubber Floor Mats$90 Destination & Handling:$825 Total MSRP as Built$52,710

[Wabasha]

I have 17 inch run flats on my 335Xi that have worked well here in Minnesota snow. I was going to get some Blizzaks but decided its not necessary. The stability control works well on the ice and is often flashing.

[E92!Dreier]

I have 18" potenzas, and 17" Blizzaks -- I would reccomend the ZSP package, but if you get it, you have to pay extra for the 18's. The xi models come standard with 17's even on the ZSP.

[drgonzal]

I have 18" Blizzaks, and even though they were a bit expensive, and most people reccommend going smaller in the winter, I decided to go against that and just put them on my regualr wheels. They work amazing along with the AWD.

[Takashi]

The X-drive will keep you out of trouble as long as the tires stick to the road or any surface that you are driving on. The 18" snow tires will be fine, but most people will go with 17" mainly because it's a bit cheaper and less chances of damaging the tire if you hit a pothole (more rubber). Don't fall into the myth that you don't need snow tires because you have X-drive.

[mryakan]

If you didn't need snow tires, why are so many states and provinces thinking of making them mandatory or have already done so (e.g. Quebec). Also why would my insurance company give me a 5% discount for having snow tires on. Ice + summer tires = trouble, in fact even dry roads below freezing + summer rubber = spinout, ask me how I know :(. Don't learn the hard way, be smart, snow tires are the cheapest insurance you can get.

[abgarza21]

Hey Tipstall......I live in Chicago, and have a '08 335xi coupe, I dont have snow tires, and I think that the traction is not that great with all the bad weather we have been getting. I am looking for a second set of rims for snow tires as we speak. I also got my car at Perillo on Clark and only paid about $49k, and I have pretty much everthing you have less the satelite radio (I do have the paddle shifters though). Not sure if there is any major price change between '08 and '09. If that helps.

[Tipstall]

Guys,

Thanks for the input. I was going to stay with the 17" wheels. I'm not thrilled with them but I know I can't run summer tires in Chicago winters. With the std all seasons should I be OK in winter? What is I change out the run flats for std all season tires? It's a lease so I could run the tires that come with the car for the summer and switch this fall to save them when I return it, (must be returned with run flats).

[E92!Dreier]

Guys,

Thanks for the input. I was going to stay with the 17" wheels. I'm not thrilled with them but I know I can't run summer tires in Chicago winters. With the std all seasons should I be OK in winter? What is I change out the run flats for std all season tires? It's a lease so I could run the tires that come with the car for the summer and switch this fall to save them when I return it, (must be returned with run flats).

In snow conditions, nothing replaces dedicated snows -- AWD or not.

[Takashi]

All seasons are useless in snowy conditions and dangerous (and useless) in icy conditions. I have to take a day off work because the car was difficult to control in icy highways.

Sure enough you might say that AWD should be easier to control than RWD vehicles if both are rolling with all season tires. Guess again!! I got my paws on an AWD X3 and tried stopping the car on a patch of clean ice located on an empty parking lot. The car just slide right through the ice with the ABS on. The X3 cannot make sudden turns while travelling on ice.

[Tipstall]

If I'm going to get snow tires than I may just go with the non x drive and sport package w/18" rims. I've had rw drive cars before in Chicago. We also have a Tahoe for really bad days. I knew I was making a sacrifice with the x drive vs handling and I like a nice handling car.

[TeaRoy]

I have a 335i manual with sport package, but in the winter I switch to a dedicated set of snow tires and wheels (I have 17" Dunlop WinterSports - though there are many good options). I also live in Cleveland.

Right now we have about 15 inches of snow on the ground and that has accumulated over the past two weeks. I have had ZERO problems getting around. Sure, if I turn off the traction control and punch it, I can go tip-to-tail pretty quickly, but with normal, smart driving with the traction control in the normal engaged setting I have no issues whatsoever.

My wife's FWD altima with mediocre tires handles much worse than my car.

That said, I am sure all of the aforementioned would be even rosier with X-Drive...but I didn't want to compromise on that (personal decision). And I have never regretted my choice. I have put 20K miles on my car and I got it last October (this is my second winter) and I love it as a daily driver.

[Bonds 25]

If I'm going to get snow tires than I may just go with the non x drive and sport package w/18" rims. I've had rw drive cars before in Chicago. We also have a Tahoe for really bad days. I knew I was making a sacrifice with the x drive vs handling and I like a nice handling car.
This has been said before, there is very, very little difference in the way a 335i and 335xi handle if they both have the sport package, and actually some people (like myself prefer the xi). So really your not sacrificing handling, your sacraficing some $, the ability to fishtail and a couple inches of front wheel gap.

[mryakan]

your sacraficing ... a couple inches of front wheel gap.
That is not a sacrifice, that is actually one of the advantages of the xi in the winter :). A few times I wished I had the adjustable suspension so I could raise it a couple of inches to clear the snow or not hit that huge block of snow that fell off the rear wheel arch of the bus in front of me :mad.

[Tipstall]

OK, so I reconfigured my future car. I'm going to go with the 17" sport package rims w/ all seasons and figure that out next fall. I'm I missing anything? I'm ordering the car so I can do anything.

My 335i xDrive Sedan Space Gray Metallic
Black Dakota Leather
Dark Burl Walnut wood trim
Cold Weather Package
Premium Package
Sport Package
Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
STEPTRONIC automatic transmission
Navigation system
HD radio
Logic7 sound system with Surround Sound and Digital Sound Processing
Satellite radio with 1 year subscription

[TeamSlowdotOrg]

Don't forget 200 or so extra pounds which means slightly worse fuel economy and overall performance than the rear drive cars. The EPA ratings may be similar, and the 1/4 mile times may be similar too, but braking, handling, and acceleration are all affected by the extra weight, as is fuel economy. That's the sacrifice you make for all-weather performance. :) Doesn't have to be snowing for it to make a difference. Floor a 335i from a slow roll in 1st gear next to a 335xi in the rain, and the 335i will either be sitting there spinning a rear tire or lighting up the DSC if the driver left it on, either way the 335xi will be gone. :)

[mniemiec]

All seasons are useless in snowy conditions and dangerous (and useless) in icy conditions. I have to take a day off work because the car was difficult to control in icy highways.

Sure enough you might say that AWD should be easier to control than RWD vehicles if both are rolling with all season tires. Guess again!! I got my paws on an AWD X3 and tried stopping the car on a patch of clean ice located on an empty parking lot. The car just slide right through the ice with the ABS on. The X3 cannot make sudden turns while travelling on ice.

Dude, I don't know of any car that can stop or make sudden turns on ice. It won't matter what kind of tires you have once if you hit an ice patch.

I have 18" plus sport package on my 335xi and haven't got stuck yet and we have a couple bad snowstorms so far. As for driving in snow you just have to use common sense in bad weather. Don't look for a car to do this for you.

[Tipstall]

I ordered my car today and have opened a new thread.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=15383425#post15383425

Thanks for the help.