[phat8186]

Hello all, figured I'd register to the sight and start trolling around what looks to be my new forum. I recently sold my beloved 20th anniversary GTI, to step my game up and get a BMW.
I'm turning 31yrs old this summer and I think I outgrew my GTI. So she was sold last week so I can start looking for a BMW 335i that I've been secretly crushing on since its release. I live in CT which is the dam New England area, and if anyone else is from here knows the weather is so unpredictable in the winter.
I have never owned a rear wheel drive car, always owned front wheel drive cars and had great studded winter tires for when it snows.

I guess some questions .
- How smart would it be to go with just the 335i and get studable dedicated winter tires.
- Should I really start looking into the 355xi

Any insight would be great on my quest for my first BMW. Hopefully this site is easy on newbies than my previous vwvortex,com
Thanks
Alex

[CamelBiscuit]

Ha! You said drive a rear wheel BMW during snow! When I picked up my car over here from the dealership they said that my 335 has 3 different settings in traction control and None of them work in the snow. Then he asked me if i had a winter car. Other people have had no problems in the snow though so it can't be that bad.

[kgb1637]

You'll hear different schools of thought, some will agree that winters are all you need, some will swear by XI, and some have dedicated winter cars. I am a part of the latter, I don't mess around with the snow, no need to in my opinion, I have a Honda that makes it out in the snow.

[Bimmerlover76]

Originally Posted by kgb1637

You'll hear different schools of thought, some will agree that winters are all you need, some will swear by XI, and some have dedicated winter cars. I am a part of the latter, I don't mess around with the snow, no need to in my opinion, I have a Honda that makes it out in the snow.

Yep. It'll be cheaper for you to find a beater and use it during the winter, putting your BMW in the garage for the meantime.

Gotta love my old 2001 Ford Focus. She's old and bitchy but damn if she doesn't love the snow! Lol

[Kolyan2k]

its my 3rd RWD car in Boston (go to NH and ME often too), been doing better then fine with studless tires. i would never put studded on my car, and would never consider a beater. i cant even drive a decent $10k car for 1 day, for 3-4 months......forget it.

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by CamelBiscuit

Ha! You said drive a rear wheel BMW during snow! When I picked up my car over here from the dealership they said that my 335 has 3 different settings in traction control and None of them work in the snow. Then he asked me if i had a winter car. Other people have had no problems in the snow though so it can't be that bad.

That sucks 3 different traction settings and none of them work

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by kgb1637

You'll hear different schools of thought, some will agree that winters are all you need, some will swear by XI, and some have dedicated winter cars. I am a part of the latter, I don't mess around with the snow, no need to in my opinion, I have a Honda that makes it out in the snow.

I have been thinking about getting a beater so the bimmer could sit in the garage for the winter. Don't know if this winter that could happen maybe.

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by phat8186

That sucks 3 different traction settings and none of them work

Ya that's what he told me and i have a Honda so no loss. Plus the salt over here will eat away at your rims if you don't stay on it.

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

its my 3rd RWD car in Boston (go to NH and ME often too), been doing better then fine with studless tires. i would never put studded on my car, and would never consider a beater. i cant even drive a decent $10k car for 1 day, for 3-4 months......forget it.

This is exactly what I wanted to hear lol. I never had studs on my tires but I had Hankook I-pikes (which could be studded if I wanted) for dedicated winter tires on my 20th GTI and I never got stuck anywhere
I do a lot of highway traveling anywhere from LI ----> NH

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by phat8186

This is exactly what I wanted to hear lol. I never had studs on my tires but I had Hankook I-pikes (which could be studded if I wanted) for dedicated winter tires on my 20th GTI and I never got stuck anywhere
I do a lot of highway traveling anywhere from LI ----> NH

I mean I dont know how bad it gets there, might consider XI. But in Boston area XI is overkill. High performance winter tires will do good for the most part, but if you want worry free driving in bad ass snow storms snow/ice tires do the job well. And BMW DOES have pretty sophisticated traction control and 3 different modes and it works wonders in 2, 3rd one is simply OFF

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I mean I dont know how bad it gets there, might consider XI. But in Boston area XI is overkill

Well the way mother nature has been last year we didn't get much of anything. I
to think the xdrive would be overkill....

[zipstic]

Originally Posted by phat8186

Well the way mother nature has been last year we didn't get much of anything. I
to think the xdrive would be overkill....

Does it rain on your drives from LI -----> NH? Just wanted to point out that there are other advantages of xi/xdrive outside of just driving in snow and winter conditions. Better traction off the line on dry pavement too

Based on feedback I've seen on this forum people can absolutely get around with RWD and snow tires. I went wtih an xi because I wanted that extra traction and running snow tires on an xi it's a lot of fun in the winter.

That being said there are some disadvantages of the xi/xdrive too - primarily the suspension/ride height. However, that can easily be corrected with a shock/spring combo or coilovers.

I'm not try to persuade one way or the other, but make sure you do your research.

[jcarv20s]

I live in CT, I own an XI. You can get away with RWD if you plan out all your routes so you can hit all flat roads. Which if your from CT as you mention know it's impossible. XI!

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by jcarv20s

I live in CT, I own an XI. You can get away with RWD if you plan out all your routes so you can hit all flat roads. Which if your from CT as you mention know it's impossible. XI!

I def know what your talking about....

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by zipstic

Does it rain on your drives from LI -----> NH? Just wanted to point out that there are other advantages of xi/xdrive outside of just driving in snow and winter conditions. Better traction off the line on dry pavement too

Based on feedback I've seen on this forum people can absolutely get around with RWD and snow tires. I went wtih an xi because I wanted that extra traction and running snow tires on an xi it's a lot of fun in the winter.

That being said there are some disadvantages of the xi/xdrive too - primarily the suspension/ride height. However, that can easily be corrected with a shock/spring combo or coilovers.

I'm not try to persuade one way or the other, but make sure you do your research.

Thanks for your input, I am trying to do all the research now so I can make a wise purchase. What do you mean by the disadvantages being suspension/ride height. I come from a modding background, so I know I will want to do a nice pair of coilovers. Is this something that is problematic with the xdrive a little confused.

[alexneil]

Originally Posted by phat8186

Thanks for your input, I am trying to do all the research now so I can make a wise purchase. What do you mean by the disadvantages being suspension/ride height. I come from a modding background, so I know I will want to do a nice pair of coilovers. Is this something that is problematic with the xdrive a little confused.

xDrive/xi rides higher than your standard suspension, regardless of sport package or not.

[slowSwede]

My concern when driving in winter is mainly stopping and not acceleration.
I'd consider an X if I lived somewhere with 4+ months of snow.
If you drive on lot's of icy roads, studs are a must.
If you drive on snowy/slushy roads studless winters works.

[zipstic]

Originally Posted by phat8186

Thanks for your input, I am trying to do all the research now so I can make a wise purchase. What do you mean by the disadvantages being suspension/ride height. I come from a modding background, so I know I will want to do a nice pair of coilovers. Is this something that is problematic with the xdrive a little confused.

Originally Posted by alexneil

xDrive/xi rides higher than your standard suspension, regardless of sport package or not.

Yep, exactly. If you're going to get coilovers then the factory oem suspension point will be moot.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by zipstic

Yep, exactly. If you're going to get coilovers then the factory oem suspension point will be moot.

X-drive is also extra few hundred pounds and steering ratio is different I believe. (non-sport)

[phat8186]

Originally Posted by zipstic

Yep, exactly. If you're going to get coilovers then the factory oem suspension point will be moot.

So going coilovers on an xdrive BMW doesn't screw with anything then sorry for the noob question.......