[BmwIowa]

Am contemplating ordering a 2025 M240i.....
My use case is primarily daily driver with some auto-x and limited on-track PDE's. I live in the Midwest and subject to snow conditions.

I can appreciate the value of the ZTK option for its improved brakes, cooling, wider front wheels and high performance tires.

With the ZTK option selected, I know I will need a second set of wheels and winter capable tires (selecting EITHER RWD or xDrive) so......

Is the xDrive $2,000 cost, its additional weight and likely more complex lifetime maintenance issues, unequal tire wear / replacement concerns something I should strongly consider...or just use those $ for the second set of wheels & tires?

For those of you who experience winter and a lot of wet weather driving, is RWD sufficient or should I consider xDrive?

TIA for all your ownership experiences!

[AlexC2er]

Originally Posted by BmwIowa

Am contemplating ordering a 2025 M240i.....
My use case is primarily daily driver with some auto-x and limited on-track PDE's. I live in the Midwest and subject to snow conditions.

I can appreciate the value of the ZTK option for its improved brakes, cooling, wider front wheels and high performance tires.

With the ZTK option selected, I know I will need a second set of wheels and winter capable tires (selecting EITHER RWD or xDrive) so......

Is the xDrive $2,000 cost, its additional weight and likely more complex lifetime maintenance issues, unequal tire wear / replacement concerns something I should strongly consider...or just use those $ for the second set of wheels & tires?

For those of you who experience winter and a lot of wet weather driving, is RWD sufficient or should I consider xDrive?

TIA for all your ownership experiences!

It’s all about tires. You’ll be dangerous on bald tires in the wet even on xdrive. And be completely fine if you have tread on RWD.

I suggest you buy whichever you want. Though I will say if you’re driving a lot in the snow I do recommend xdrive for the extra security.

Though you definitely should get snow tires regardless when snowing and have tread whenever you drive in the rain.

Whatever choice you make it probably going to outweigh the concern of maintenance

[BimmerBenzorBentley]

Would highly recommend the 230i over the M240i, save yourself some dough for a superior driving experience. There's a reason a bunch of reviews prefer the 230.

[oldbmwtech]

Originally Posted by BimmerBenzorBentley

Would highly recommend the 230i over the M240i, save yourself some dough for a superior driving experience. There's a reason a bunch of reviews prefer the 230.

I have driven both. The 230 sounds like a Subaru and the handling and ride comfort was not desirable. I would go for the m240 rwd sunroof delete if you plan on tracking. You save several hundred pounds, plus less maintenance and less things to go wrong. Drive both and make your decision.

[IanH]

This troll comes and posts in every thread about how the 230 is better than the 240. LMAO

If you are ok having less traction all the time when in winter mode, because you'll want to run a square setup most likely, and having all your performance fun in the spring/summer/fall then I think the RWD is the play.

I needed the AWD due to work/family obligations I dont get to choose to not drive in the snow.

[MPR]

Yes, please dont listen to BimmerBenzorBently, he bought a 230 and is coping with that decision by always posting about how much better the 230 is. I am not bashing the 230, for those who bought it for what it is.

I recommend getting the ZTK package for the larger brakes and unique wheels, its a great deal for what the package costs. Sell the Michelin PS4’s and pick up a set of all seasons. I live in NJ and ran the PS4’s for a year and had no issues during winter. I would have ran the PS4’s longer but I was at 15K miles on them and had a sidewall puncture and didnt want to buy 2 replacements when I ultimately wanted to go all season anyway. Ended up buying a set of Continental ExtremeContact all seasons.

[oldbmwtech]

Originally Posted by MPR

Yes, please dont listen to BimmerBenzorBently, he bought a 230 and is coping with that decision by always posting about how much better the 230 is. Not bashing the 230, for those who bought it for what it is.

I recommend getting the ZTK package for the larger brakes and unique wheels, its a great deal for what the package costs. Sell the Michelin PS4’s and pick up a set of all seasons. I live in NJ and ran the PS4’s for a year and had no issues during winter. I would have ran the PS4’s longer but I was at 15K miles on them and had a sidewall puncture and didnt want to buy 2 replacements when I ultimately wanted to go all season anyway. Ended up buying a set of Continental ExtremeContact all seasons.

I forgot to mention yes on the ZTK package, well worth it. I live down south and I don't worry about snow, plus this is my weekend car. The bigger brakes and oil coolers are worth the extra money.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by BmwIowa

Am contemplating ordering a 2025 M240i.....
My use case is primarily daily driver with some auto-x and limited on-track PDE's. I live in the Midwest and subject to snow conditions.

I can appreciate the value of the ZTK option for its improved brakes, cooling, wider front wheels and high performance tires.

With the ZTK option selected, I know I will need a second set of wheels and winter capable tires (selecting EITHER RWD or xDrive) so......

Is the xDrive $2,000 cost, its additional weight and likely more complex lifetime maintenance issues, unequal tire wear / replacement concerns something I should strongly consider...or just use those $ for the second set of wheels & tires?

For those of you who experience winter and a lot of wet weather driving, is RWD sufficient or should I consider xDrive?

TIA for all your ownership experiences!

I've had xdrive on several BMWs and the only issue I've encountered was when I had a puncture and temporarily had mismatched circumferences across the front axle while waiting for a new tyre.
How many non reparable punctures have you had in your lifetime?


As for snow, I've had both RWD and Xdrive in snow.
RWD is useless without winter tyres - and that was in a 150bhp 320d. So with more power it will be worse.
XDrive will get you moving with summer tyres but you'll have little control and long stopping distances.

Simple answer is to have a second set of wheels and tyres for winter (sub 7c temps). The cost will pretty much negate it's self as tyres will last nearly twice as long.

[BmwIowa]

Originally Posted by BimmerBenzorBentley

Would highly recommend the 230i over the M240i, save yourself some dough for a superior driving experience. There's a reason a bunch of reviews prefer the 230.

Thanks for your input...previously owned a '19 230i xDrive with the Track Package and MPSS tires..enjoyed it but traded for our x3 M40i. Now that I've experienced the B58, its smoothness and power and intoxicating exhaust...it's a hard decision to go back to a B48; albeit it is a fine engine.

[BmwIowa]

Originally Posted by IanH

This troll comes and posts in every thread about how the 230 is better than the 240. LMAO

If you are ok having less traction all the time when in winter mode, because you'll want to run a square setup most likely, and having all your performance fun in the spring/summer/fall then I think the RWD is the play.

I needed the AWD due to work/family obligations I dont get to choose to not drive in the snow.

Thankfully...we have the x3 M40i if winter conditions are terrible and we HAVE to go somewhere....

[Littlecoupe]

I have driven many FWD, then FWD biased AWD (Kia), then a 2015 Mustang GT (RWD manual), then Stinger GT and (2) M240i's in AWD.

In my city, I rarely need to deal with overly deep snow. A few inches, sometimes up to the bottom of the bumper. Most roads are plowed, lots of icy conditions.

I would rank their driving as AWD > FWD > RWD. The RWD is completely drivable in winter with a good set of winter tires (I had Nokian Hakka R2's). You often need to fight the rear end if you drive with traction control off (I do), but that's part of the fun. You won't be much slower than anyone else in stop and go traffic, nobody moves quickly. With AWD, it feels like you're waiting on everyone else to get moving.

I never got stuck with the Mustang, but that's admittedly because a few times when parking lots were not plowed and over 6 inches of snow, I just turned around LOL.

You can drive RWD in the winter, it's generally fine. It's just not ideal.

AWD for summer means better straight line full throttle launches and a bit more stability on a track, but with more plow and a less pointy front end. I'd think the overall delta on track times would be very little. The RWD will be playful, but the AWD should be a bit more predictable and less of a handful.

Had I been able to choose RWD or AWD for mine (RWD not an option in Canada when I ordered), I would still do AWD all the way, purely because of our winter conditions. Just because I CAN drive a RWD in the winter doesn't mean it's the right tool for the job.

[luckylingy]

Lots of threads and posts on this general subject, but AlexC2er hit the nail on the head: it's all about the tires. That contact patch is the only thing connecting you and your car with Mother Earth. Get a dedicated set of winter tires (or all seasons, if dealing with sub-45° temperatures but no snow/ice); mounting them on year-round set of rims or a dedicated set is your call.

My daily drivers have been exclusively BMWs/MINIs for 30+ years and AWD for most of those years. In foul conditions xDrive will help with acceleration to a large degree, with steering to some degree, but not at all with braking -- that's down to tires. Traction control today delivers much of what AWD used to do.

Where I live/drive, I expect to plow through deep snow at least once a year. The combination of good winter tires and xDrive gets me through it effortlessly.

[IanH]

It's worth noting that all winter tires give up quite a lot of performance on dry pavement, and some tires a lot of wet performance too.

You have to be honest about the situation that you are actually in and adjust accordingly. I'm a big proponent of using 4 season tires, as wintr tires, unless you drive on snow surface at least once a week in winter.

I went with the pirelli cinturato weatheractive for my car. Have also had a great experience with the Michelin CC2, but that is not really a performance oriented tire.

[BmwIowa]

Originally Posted by IanH

It's worth noting that all winter tires give up quite a lot of performance on dry pavement, and some tires a lot of wet performance too.

You have to be honest about the situation that you are actually in and adjust accordingly. I'm a big proponent of using 4 season tires, as wintr tires, unless you drive on snow surface at least once a week in winter.

I went with the pirelli cinturato weatheractive for my car. Have also had a great experience with the Michelin CC2, but that is not really a performance oriented tire.

The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 are good performance all season tire I’ve used in the past
Thanks for your insights

[Ricochet48]

Originally Posted by BimmerBenzorBentley

Would highly recommend the 230i over the M240i, save yourself some dough for a superior driving experience. There's a reason a bunch of reviews prefer the 230.

Ya no, just stop. It's cheaper for a reason. The reviewer are comparing it on value if you're doing like SCCA. For 99% of people the M240i is the better option with a top tier B58. The power more than makes up for the weight and is well worth the price.

[MPR]

Consider the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06+, they are cheaper and ride smoother than the Pilot AS4’s. I had initially bought the AS4’s but I was getting a vibration feeling at highway speeds and after having the balancing rechecked/confirmed, I returned them to TireRack and went with the Conti’s. My brother had a similar experience with the AS4’s on his Audi.

Oddly, I went through 2 sets of the AS3’s on my BRZ and they were completely smooth/perfect. Must be the new tread and/or compound.

[BmwIowa]

Originally Posted by MPR

Consider the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06+, they are cheaper and ride smoother than the Pilot AS4’s. I had initially bought the AS4’s but I was getting a vibration feeling at highway speeds and after having the balancing rechecked/confirmed, I returned them to TireRack and went with the Conti’s. My brother had a similar experience with the AS4’s on his Audi.

Oddly, I went through 2 sets of the AS3’s on my BRZ and they were completely smooth/perfect. Must be the new tread and/or compound.

Thanks MPR...have had previous versions of the ExtremeContact DWS tires and liked those too. And they're typically a bit less expensive than the Michelin.

[IanH]

I've had DWS but they are not very good in the snow after the first year.

The Weatheractive is a true 4 season tire with snow rating. All season is a totally different category.

However, if you are going to run one tire year round I do think that DWS-06/PSAS4 are the best option.