BMW 3-Series - AWD or RWD?

kdshapiro · December 2007

UJs feeilings do have some merit. It's interesting to note, and has previously been noted, the Bugatti only comes in AWD. People spending $1.2million on a car don't have a choice of AWD/RWD?

circlew · December 2007

This discussion is rather simple to me. I am what RB refers to as a newbie to the Bimmer world. The driving feel between the 2 platforms is very discernible form my butt-o-meter. Both cars are excellent and on the top of the food chain in the small sedan category. I have NO remorse for my decision because even with the disadvantages that are real, this car is a trip and a half. It blows away all know US models I have been in for all around performance. As a former V-8 junkie, I never dreamed a Straight Six would even closely compete. I was dead wrong but I learn every day.

When we talk track cars, if you plan a weekend with your daily commuter i or xi, they are both very limited. You really need to do a lot of mods to get the complete joy out of the experience on a road course as you gain experience and want to go even further.

But for this discussion, on public roads, it's the peoples choice that matches their needs, either perceived or real. At the end of the day, there is no panacea.

In the future, cars will be completely computerized and the speeds that we will get to/from our destinations will necessitate the need to block out any vision to the roads to reduce vascular degeneration leading to heart attack and stroke. Picture 150+MPH with 6 inches between cars a s far as you can see, 4 lanes wide!

The place for real fun is the track after all. You get to meet people that have vast knowledge and help you get the most out of your experience just like the wise contributors on this forum

For now, pick your tool and have your definition of fun!

Regards,
OW

roadburner · December 2007

interesting to note, and has previously been noted, the Bugatti only comes in AWD. People spending $1.2million on a car don't have a choice of AWD/RWD?

I think that's a reflection of the VAG AWD philosophy; some Lambos get saddled with AWD as well. Note that the McLaren F1 and the Mercedes SLR are both RWD. My point is and has been that BMW does not currently consider their AWD cars to be their top performance vehicles- as kdshapiro has eloquently demonstrated. Anyone who believes that the xi models represent the pinnacle of BMW performance design is either woefully misinformed or delusional.

circlew · December 2007

But Audi does consider their Quattro AWD cars in the high performance light.

There is a real market for the performance side of the platform. BMW just does not hold AWD as the performance goal. Other brands do. Things might change, however.

Regards,
OW

shipo · December 2007

"But Audi does consider their Quattro AWD cars in the high performance light."

Yeah, but Audi HAS to consider their Quattro necessary for their high performance cars. Why? Because their nose heavy FWD sleds cannot perform worth a darn without the addition of the AWD system. Slapping a band-aid (AWD in this case) on a handicapped car (FWD in this case) doesn't a superior car make (RWD in this case).

Donning my Nomex and heading for cover.

Best Regards,
Shipo

unlimitedjoe · December 2007

how are you? what i;m trying to say OW said it well, these are not track cars. i own a rwd Z06 for that, and as we speak looking at the 2008 model.

but i still stand on what i said about tenths of a second difference either way, yes i have no proof yet, but you guys don't either.

we had some snowy weather in N.Y. today, but what a beautiful day it was.

1) ate lunch in the sky at the rainbow room: $175

2) xmas shopping on madison ave. in the snow: $1,140

3) driving from long island to the city, in the snow, with wife in 335xi: PRICELESS!

redsoxgirl · December 2007

Now that I have a second garage space available, I have been shopping for a sedan or small SUV. I will be keeping my 2007 911 C2S, but probably limiting its use to "pleasure" driving during warmer months.

The X3, 335i and 335ix are all on the short list. Here is my take on what I've test driven so far, for what it's worth:

335i, sport package 6-speed: great performance sedan. Short of an M3, the best BMW has to offer. Although even it, in RWD form, is no lightweight any more.

335ix, non-sport automatic: not quite in the same handling, steering and performance league as the 335i. Added weight and additional body roll was definitiely noticable to me, but it is still very good relative to other AWD alternatives, like the Audi A4 Quatro, Infiniti G35x, etc. The all weather versitility with all season tires is attractive, given my location/circumstances.

X3: The vehicle I would likely get, if it came with the 335 twin turbo engine. Why is BMW is putting that engine in the 1-series and NOT the X3?

Bottom line, the X3 would be a very interesting choice if it had the twin turbo engine. It could use the extra 75 ft. lbs of torque. The 335i sport would be my no brainer choice if I still lived in North Carolina and didn't have a 911. The 335ix is a tweener - definitely a compromise between performance and all season versitility (but still not capable of serious snow, given the lower ground clearance compared to an X3/X5).

Lastly, I asked my brother for his opinion on the AWD vs. RWD issue and, as a current/former performance driving school instructor for both Porsche and BMW, he pretty much echoed what others here have speculated. RWD in both BMW and Porsche is preferred by 99.5% of the instructors. At this point, a 911 Turbo at the track is given a ho-hum thumbs up, but the GT3 still causes a foot race to get the keys. They are all salivating over the opportunity to get their hands on the GT2. But, as my brother noted, my 911 has only made it to the track twice in it's first 14 months of life. It's had to slosh me through light snow a few more times than that. So I don't really need another performance car and the 335ix might be a good compromise. But only with a 6-speed manual. One can only compromise so much.

roadburner · December 2007

A very good analysis. I especially agree with your comments regarding the manual transmission. Regarding the X3, there is an outside chance that BMW NA might fit the 3.0L twin turbo diesel to the X3. 286 hp and 427 lb-ft.(!) of torque should make that truck very entertaining to drive. I'd estimate that fuel economy would average around 30 mpg. I had the chance to drive a 535d and I was very impressed. On the other hand, have you considered waiting for the 2009 X6?
Finally, don't forget that you can always fit winter tires/wheels to a 335i; so equipped the car will be able to handle anything but deep snow.

circlew · December 2007

I know you are an enthusiast and your family is at the 99th percentile with respect to automobile savvy if I comprehend your posts correctly.

I think your choice depends upon the snow conditions you will face in ski country and the confines of New England. I remember you also would consider the Cayenne, which would give you a little more clearance. The X3 is nice but IMO, the 335xi would be a better choice considering the level of performance you intimate from your posts.

Given the esthetic value of the 335 coupe or sedan vs. your other choices, I assume the 335xi will be hard to put asunder..but that's getting too personal!

Regards,
OW

baumer1 · December 2007

What's the difference between 325i and 325xi? Is it AWD on the xi and RWD on the i? Thanks.

shipo · December 2007

Yes, the "xi" denotes AWD. Basically they are the same cars (with the exception of the driven wheels) unless you order the Sport Package. The Sport Package on the "xi" models is pretty lame as it only includes seats and steering wheel, while the "i" models get a better suspension and wheel/tire assemblies as well.

Best Regards,
Shipo

roadburner · December 2007

And, although some first time BMW owners say otherwise, the RWD models handle better and most enthusiasts consider them to be more fun to drive. You might find this Road & Track article to be of interest.

unlimitedjoe · December 2007

first off i am not a first time bmw buyer, in fact, it is my fourth purchase of a bmw vehicle, unlike OW who i truly respect.

this is a reality for all rwd enthusiast, like shipo, RB, H1, ect.

when audi's awd quattro system first appeared on race cars on various, sport car series,in the 80's and started winning everything in sight, quattro was summerily BANNED from many series like, IMSA, TRANS-AM, EUROPEAN RALLYING, and the list goes on.
audi had developed this awd system which simply left the compitition in the dust, so rather then spend the money and BRAIN power in developing thier own awd system, the other car-makers, did not have any trouble getting audi's BANNED.
you can not really blame the sanctioning bodies, or the other manufactures, audi had developed quattro to be RACE winning traction system ready, which would eventualy trickle down to their CONSUMER round cars.

can you blame them, if they won't let you race.

on that note, may redsoxgirl (who should not need are opinion on chosing a winner, sorry for the loss on mondaynight, lets just hope miami gets another record). find safe & fun awd.

forgot 1 thing, audi V12 won the 24 hr. lemans!
but guess what?
BANNED from racing again!
HMMM, i wonder why.

UJ

Mr_Shiftright · December 2007

yeah but Lemans is a wide open road course. They wouldn't do so well in a tight track or an oval. And one has to be careful about comparing mega-million race cars with what you get in the showroom.

unlimitedjoe · December 2007

wide Open or not ( the other manufactures will not let them drive there awd beasts on the track) why would the penske team ( which is porsche),want them to be banned, and get their wish like in previous tight & oval track racing events, from other manufactures.

this fact & i repeat fact shows that awd is superior.

name such an event when a rwd or fwd has ever been BANNED once, unlike awd too many times, these guys from audi even tried not to win decisively, so they would not get banned.

these are the facts, i have been driving rwd cars all my life, from american muscle to tii's, to m3's.
when audi decides to race, they usually win.

from a guy who is a true american (wish they made more better cars for the public, but understands the union problems ) enthusiast, & still a bmw lover.

pat · December 2007

Joe, as I mentioned to you (and linked for you), there are other discussions which include the Audi. This one is about the 3-Series. Thanks.

circlew · December 2007

This first timer says the xi handles a twinge beter than the i non-SP.

Regards,
OW

circlew · December 2007

I did exactly that showroom-ready awd 2006 330 xi handled better on the exact same roads, IMHO.

Regards,
OW

Mr_Shiftright · December 2007

Thanks. I thought we were talking about AWD vs RWD, as per these two BMW models. Perhaps the connection to AWD on the track is too much of a stretch? Okay!

Shiftright
Visiting Host

pat · December 2007

AWD vs RWD pertaining to 3-Series vehicles, yes indeedy!

Extending this to a general AWD vs RWD topic for other vehicles when we have other places where those conversations are taking place doesn't seem to be the thing to do; that's the point I was trying to make.

Edit ten minutes later: This just hit me - when I said "Joe" I was replying to unlimitedjoe about Audi's quattro. Sorry if you thought I was talking to you!!

roadburner · December 2007

Knowing of your automotive experience as well as your connection to R&T, what is your opinion regarding the article I linked to in post #333?

circlew · December 2007

Now that the 335 has 300/300 power, I experienced "fishtailing" which a poster experienced with his 335i convertible in ice and snow with the performance tires. Only my ride had the 17" AS RFT's in the rain. The DSC light was flashing like a NYS Trooper!

Anyone had that problem with the AWD 335?

Regards,
OW

nkeen · December 2007

I took my 325i in for its winter RE050A to LM-22 tire and wheel swap today. I used a 328xi with 17" EL42s for the day. Impressions: 4WD makes the front end feel much less responsive, more "pedestrian". Glad I bought a manual -- the 6spd auto hunts a lot, but in sport mode is too tenacious in holding onto a low gear. EL42s are not the greatest -- crashy on 17" rims and give a "course sandpaper" feel to the ride. Rougher at 5K miles than my RE050As at 15K and also, surprisingly, than the LM-22s. 4WD made the 328xi feel secure on the snow that fell today, but I found that my 325i had no problems on the steep snow covered hills in our PA neighborhood this evening -- it steams right up without issue. You can get the tail to step out easily but it's predictable and a snap to manage. The 16" rim size for my winter package does provide better shock absorption -- makes me wonder whether the step from 17" on the lesser RWD models to 18" on the 330i/335i might be too much of a good thing.

bav_fan07 · December 2007

Can anyone recommenda BMW dealership in the Greater Toronto Area that will perhaps give you a good deal on the car. Looking for a '07 335i or '08 335i. Probably '08 since I want specific features and colour.

redsoxgirl · December 2007

I'm glad this discussion got reigned if from trying to promote one or the other 3 series model from what is done with $1 million+ race cars. That seems to be a common misgiving in other areas as well. As in "Michael Schumacher's Ferrari has an SMG transmission, so this must be the better choice in my everyday BMW or VW". If the safety police followed that logic, we'd all be required to wear fireproof suits, shock resistent helmets and 5 point safety harnesses on our way to pick up a gallon of milk at the grocery store. The advantage of the Audi RS AWD system in lightweight race car capable of a hairpin 3.5 g turn with 700+ horsepower 10,000+ rpm engine bears absolutely no relationship to the disadvantage their obese A4 Quattro sedan has compared to the much nimbler, quicker and more fun to drive 335i.

I've now had the opportunity to take a few more longer test drives of a 335i and 335ix. I am leaning towards the ix, perhaps influenced by the snow we got yesterday. But just shoot me if, after buying an xi, I would ever feel compelled to promote it as a better dry weather handling, steering, accelerating or feeling car. It simply isn't. And even though the difference is most noticable between an ix and i equiped with the sport package, the added weight and different steering feel was still a noticable enough difference from the non-sport, as well.

The 335ix is a great car, with all season / climate versitility. It performs and handles a heck of a lot better than many so-called RWD sport sedans I've driven. But not the 335i or 335i sport. And if I get one, I won't change my tune. Nor would I advise a friend living in Palm Desert to get one.

bruceomega · December 2007

..... But just shoot me if, after buying an xi, I would ever feel compelled to promote it as a better dry weather handling, steering, accelerating or feeling car ..... The 335ix is a great car, with all season / climate versitility. It performs and handles a heck of a lot better than many so-called RWD sport sedans I've driven. But not the 335i or 335i sport .....

Very well put. This is basically the same reasoning I used when I chose an AWD BMW, a choice that only applies to me.

Thanks
Bruce

Mr_Shiftright · December 2007

Those guys like to drive like hotshots, so I'm not surprised that the combination of (to them) a low HP engine, some extra beef on the car, and the interference of various AWD controls numbed the car for them.

circlew · December 2007

The 335xi is what it is. You can debate the pros and cons but to me, it is a tenacious traction-abundant luxury performance sedan that is on top of the food chain for it's class.

I am extremely pleased to have the 330xi which is a formidable upgrade to the usual US marque offerings (Cadillac,Lincoln,Pontiac,Chrysler) I've experienced. The 335xi is the baseline for my 2009 choice.

Regards,
OW

cbanct · December 2007

I received my 2008 335xi in October. My impressions after driving it for 960 miles is that the suspension is a little soft. However, going around corners on roads that are rough is more secure to me in the xi compared to the i.
BMW makes a performance suspension upgrade which is not available right now in the 335xi, but is available for the 328xi. I am hoping that it will be made for the 335 xi in the near future. With this upgrade which makes the car lower and flatter around corners the 335xi may not be as much fun around corners as the 335i but may be faster.
I chose the 335xi after assessing a few things. The auto 335xi is heavier (3825 pounds) than the 335i (3605 pounds) by over 200 pounds. However, this amounts to only 5 percent more weight.
Also, the 335i doesn't have a limited slip differential. The more knowledgeable on this forum can debate the pros and cons of the LSD.
In essence I feel that you cannot go wrong with either the 335xi or 335i. I would not consider a 328xi over 328i because the performance difference is significant. For those of you who may not know, the 335xi is faster from 0 to 60 mph than the 335i according to BMW.

cbanct

shipo · December 2007

"BMW makes a performance suspension upgrade which is not available right now in the 335xi, but is available for the 328xi. I am hoping that it will be made for the 335 xi in the near future. With this upgrade which makes the car lower and flatter around corners the 335xi may not be as much fun around corners as the 335i but may be faster."

I'm curious, where did you hear about this suspension upgrade for the 328xi? I attempt to keep up on things like this and this is the first I have heard of such a thing. FWIW, the "Build Your Own" feature of the BMW-USA web site makes no mention of this option.

Best Regards,
Shipo

unlimitedjoe · December 2007

hello RSG,
if we are talking about an everyday driving car, on the dry roads and are keeping within, the speed limits or just above, i found no benefit with the i over xi at all.
handling, steering & especially accelerating, but quite the reverse when on wet, snowy & even sandy roads.
not sure what kind of a test drive you went on, i'll assume that at times you went into corners hard, lets say 20 mph over the posted limit and felt a difference, or stopped at a light and made a turn really fast and felt a difference,i did not.
imho for everyday somewhat normal (keeping within the limits) dry road driving, just shoot me, if there is a significant difference.
what i'm trying to say is for an everyday and who knows what the roads or weather will throw at you driving, i choose the awd bmw.

hope we can agree to disagree on this topic, it's just my opinion.

safe & fun driving ladies and gentleman!
UJ

cbanct · December 2007

Hello Shipo,

Here is the link for the performance suspension. It is an aftermarket option.

http://accessories.bmwusa.com/Accessories.aspx?modelId=216&perf=true

cbanct

circlew · December 2007

cbanct, thanks for the news...I'm sure the 335xi will be next.

Regards,
OW

redsoxgirl · December 2007

I don't need to drive a car like I stole it to feel what others might consider subtle differences in performance. I can easily feel the extra weight of the 335ix in "normal" driving and the differences in handling and braking. The acceleration of the i vs. ix is similar in absolute 0-60 numbers, but the i feels quicker when you don't mash the pedal to the metal. I am willing to put up the keys to my 911 that I could tell whether I was driving the i or ix within 1/4 mile of starting the car, and never break the speed limit in the process. I don't think I have any extra natural talent in this regard, just that I've been sensitized to the difference by taking performance driving courses and hanging around my brother and uncle, current and former race team and driving instructors for Porsche and Ferrari, respectively.

I know a lot of people, perhaps even most BMW drivers, that couldn't tell much difference between the i and ix on dry pavement. And a fair number of BMW owners that couldn't tell that much difference between a 335i or ix and a C350, A4, G35 or even a FWD TL. But the fact that one person can't tell a difference doesn't mean there isn't one. I would be quick to admit that anything more than $30 / 91 rated bottle for wine is likely a waste of money on me. But I'm not about to suggest that those who can actually distiguish between a $30 bottle and a $150 / 95+ rated bottle that there is no difference and they should be just as happy with that $30 bottle.

Remember, I did say I was leaning towards the 335ix. It is the best performing AWD sedan I've driven, compared to the A4, C350 4-matic, G35x and the RL But I CAN tell the difference between it and the RWD 335i. The fact that I may be willing to trade off superior dry weather handling for very good dry handling and all weather versitility is my personal choice. If you can't tell the difference and don't think that you have made any trade off, then all the better for you. But you don't need to persist in the suggestion that there is virtually no difference. If you want to put up the keys of your 335ix to my 911 coupe, I'll be happy to prove you wrong - and complete my garage in the process.

shipo · December 2007

Hmmm, interesting aftermarket goodie, and at a reasonable price too. That said, since I won't have an AWD car in my garage, I won't be needing that package. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

roadburner · December 2007

Hmmm, interesting aftermarket goodie, and at a reasonable price too.

I guess BMW NA has observed the success of Mazdaspeed, NISMO, and other manufacturers' performance divisions in offering performance parts. Me, I'd rather they bring over more Alpinas such as the B3 Bi-Turbo sedan:

I'll even forgive its lack of a proper -i.e. manual- transmission...

shipo · December 2007

It would seem that you're WAAAAY more forgiving that I am. :P

Best Regards,
Shipo

habitat1 · December 2007

It would seem that you're WAAAAY more forgiving that I am.

Make that WAAAAY WAAAAY more forgiving than me.

The Alpina B3 does essentially nothing for handling over a 335i sport, gives you 20% more horsepower and torque on paper (but nominally better actual acceleration), and forces you to take a 6 speed slushbox automatic in exchange?

Forget it. That is an entirely unacceptable tradeoff. Put the B3 next to a 335i sport 6-speed manual for exactly the same price and I'll take the latter. What happened, did a Motorsport engineer retire and Alpina recruited someone from AMG?

roadburner · December 2007

In my experience Alpina does a better job than BMW at combining comfort and handling prowess. I'll be the first to admit that the B3 is certainly not as adept or as hard-edged as an M car, but that's not the car's purpose. Rather, it is a very comfortable and very competent grand tourer. I'd want a B3 for effortless long distance cruising, but I'd still need an M car for a truly sporting drive- something no E90/92 can truly provide.

roadburner · December 2007

Another thoughtful and entertaining post. It's a pleasure to have another experienced driver participating in this topic. Your comments are appreciated.

fedlawman · December 2007

I just finished my January issue of Road & Track including a nice (but brief) test drive of the new WRX STi.

If I were looking for an AWD sports car, this is the one I would choose (and I would very possibly choose it over the RWD 335i/135i). Subaru's Driver Controlled Center Differential really is the way to go. In manual mode, the driver can select any of 5 preset front/rear torque splits, including a very RWD-like 25/75 Front/Rear split. Then, in inclement weather, the driver can simply leave it in automatic mode and let the computer send torque where it's needed.

Add to that genuine mechanical limited-slip differentials front and rear, a no-nonsense cockpit, a time-proven bulletproof 2.5L turbo engine (with sufficient oil-cooling ability), a user serviceable drivetrain including transmission/differential drain plugs, an engine oil dipstick (!!!), and a highly usable (and good-looking) 5-door body.

I remember poking around underneath a 2006 STi a couple years ago before a test-drive and being hugely impressed by the strength and design of the body/suspension. Very beefy components and reinforcements in all the right places - it's overengineered in an E30 sort of way. I like that.

BMW's AWD system is perfectly adequate for a soccer mom (or dad) driving an X3 to the supermarket in Portland, but for a sport sedan, it's an embarrassment. The STi will absolutely eat up and spit out any AWD BMW on any road, in any weather.

roadburner · December 2007

If I were looking for an AWD sports car, this is the one I would choose (and I would very possibly choose it over the RWD 335i/135i). Subaru's Driver Controlled Center Differential really is the way to go. In manual mode, the driver can select any of 5 preset front/rear torque splits, including a very RWD-like 25/75 Front/Rear split. Then, in inclement weather, the driver can simply leave it in automatic mode and let the computer send torque where it's needed.

Agreed. That STi a very impressive bit of kit, as they say across the pond. I think that I will have to test drive one at the very least. You know, I bought my MS3 with the idea that it would serve as my track rat/commuter until the 135i came out and prices stabilized. It turns out that "Gojira" has proven very entertaining. Methinks I'll keep the little beast and perhaps buy a vintage M car to tinker with, such as an E28 M5 or E36 M Coupe...
I also like the Nissan GT-R, but at its lofty $70K price point I lean towards vehicles from Garching and Zuffenhausen...

circlew · December 2007

I would opt for the Lancer Evolution vs. the STI but unfortunately, I must be a soccer Dad because I truly enjoy the xi. I can do much more with this car ALL of the time.

It is NOT a WRC contender or a weekend track car but as I will continue to remind everyone, it's a real good sedan. Against the i, it is a different driving feel that more than makes up for itself when the weather conditions warrant.

I did not intend to take it to the track when I got into this 330xi. The experience has been flawless quality wise and the traction is at a level that I have not experienced from any road car with the same level of fit and finish as well as solid road feel.

If I wanted a BMW track car, M3, please. Otherwise, the future will look real good for AWD sedans with the addition of the proactive torque vectoring that will proliferate. I say " Bring It On".

Regards,
OW

bruceomega · December 2007

Very interesting.

I'd be curious to hear the opinions of experienced drivers comparing the 328Xi with this performance suspension to the 328i, or the same for the 335 cars if / when they offer a kit for the 335Xi.

I would be interested in a kit like this for the 5 series Xi cars, although BMW may not go there because the sport suspension in the 5 series has active anti-roll which could be too expensive to add post production.

Bruce

bruceomega · December 2007

OW,

If I wanted a BMW track car, M3, please

FWIW, my wife and I own AWD BMWs, but we recently had the chance to drive a 335i sport at the BMW Performance Center. It was a screamer on the track, and really fun to drive, although I have no idea how it compares to an M3. Subjectively, it felt faster than a 650i and Z4 coupe.

I personally liked driving the 335i sport at least as much as the M5, and felt it may have been as fast / faster, but there are caveats to this- a short course, my driving skill, and my inexperience with SMG.

Thanks
Bruce

circlew · December 2007

I meant the new M3. I can see the cons regarding the size weight issue with the E92 M but there must be some semblance of additional fun considering the power/suspension superiority. Against a 335i sport, I assume the added benefit must be utilized on the track at some point during ownership with the new M3 as opposed to public roads.

The 335i sport can double duty whereas the 335xi would not see track time, IMO. If they start adding "real" sport suspension to the xi, watch out! I think you need to set up/maintain your track car more aggressively and carefully if you start to get serious. I'm talking most weekends would qualify as a serious sport.

I am surprised you felt it (335) faster than the M5. Did you you push the "M" button when you drove the M??

It's nice to have the option to choose your weapon based on what you need. I'd be tempted to get the M3 but at that price point, you have a lot of other options for your daily driver and weekend track car, especially when you can get a high performance AWD car the comes close to the M for almost half the price.

Regards,
OW

bruceomega · December 2007

OW

I am surprised you felt it (335) faster than the M5. Did you you push the "M" button when you drove the M??

My expereince in the M5 was very brief- hopping into it for the first time at the starting position on the track, quickly trying to adjust the seating and steering wheel, and then taking off quickly so as not to hold up the other drivers.

We only got 3 laps in it. I did not see a sport button in the M5 like I found in the 650i SMG that we had been driving, so I have no idea what mode the M5 SMG was using. It felt like the transmission was slow to downshift when I was trying to power out of a corner.

The 335i sport that we drove once, for 3 laps, and the Z4 coupes we drove in the main class (kept switching between the Z4 and 650) had steptronic, which I kept in sport mode. I liked the steptonic in sport mode better than the SMG, but my comments should not be taken out of the context of my caveats.

Thanks
Bruce

habitat1 · December 2007

can we stop with the 5th grade mentality.

I read redsoxgirl's posts as being fairly complimentary of both the i and ix. But somehow you seem to think that anyone who can tell the difference, and prefers the handling of the i, is a threat to the validity of your purchase decision.

These are opinions for goodness sakes. Just get over the fact that not everyone agrees with yours. Suggesting that those articulate enough to express an opposing view in real English are the ones with a 5th grade mentality is beyond hypocritical, considering the source.

No one here has claimed the 335ix isn't a fine car. Re-read if necessary.

circlew · December 2007

Well, I NEVER get the questions on the show correct so perhaps that's why I ended up with a 330xi!

Just kidding. I did have a visit yeaterday from a new VP from our Corporate office in his Carrera 4 which he loves. (I must be attracting AWD from the universe!) He informed me that a company owners's son was close on closing a deal on the new Turbo. Isn't that ~ $150,000?

All these are great cars that weren't on the radar screen that long ago.

Regards,
OW

roadburner · December 2007

If I wanted a BMW track car, M3, please.

A REAL -E30- M Drei, I'd hope...

And once again, I wouldn't rule out an E28 M5. Then again, as I mentioned in another topic-
Some poor sod up the road from me has a 1991 318i four door for sale. The guy spent a ton of money(rebuilt engine, clutch, radiator, and so on) on and now wants to get out of. The guy isn't mechanically inclined, didn't have it checked out, and wouldn't take any advice. The body has a few dents and the red paint is faded. I think I can get it for under $1500. I just might have found my new track rat- and
I can also let my 13 year old son drive it around the farm, and if he sideswipes a tree it will be no big deal... :P

BMW 3-Series - AWD or RWD?

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles