[jnkhan82]

Hey everyone,

I was looking around at some pre-owned models.

I came across this one: http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

Looks interesting and going to test drive it today..but it not an X-drive

I wanted to know what are your thoughts? is it a must feature to have? do cars without in drop in resale value quickly?

also what other features should I been looking for when I'm looking at used cars?

and out of curiosity, how does this compare with the 2011? I love the design of the news one, but 2011's seem to be going at good prices.

Thoughts?

Amir

[adhrp]

At that price and looking at the seller, I would avoid this one. Might have an unclean history. I never found x drive to be necessary but some other people swear by it. Features wise, I have several packages (look in my signature). I would get them all again if I got another car. As for 2011 vs 2012, I felt a huge improvement in interior feel and the engine/drive felt way more refined.

[eyeloveteeth]

that does not seem like a good deal at all. Something is not right. I have always been wary of non CPO'd luxury cars.

If you're in NY, the xdrive is pretty crucial (of course you need good winter tires too). Could you make by with just good snow tires and no xdrive? probably, but once you've driven anything with awd in NY winter conditions, i don't think you will want anything else.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by eyeloveteeth

...If you're in NY, the xdrive is pretty crucial (of course you need good winter tires too). Could you make by with just good snow tires and no xdrive? probably, but once you've driven anything with awd in NY winter conditions, i don't think you will want anything else.

I drive with no xDrive (with snow tires) in far more severe conditions than NYC (or the entire east coast FTM) and don't need it. I wouldn't mind having it occasionally, but it's not "crucial".

IMO, the cold weather package is the most important, especially if you park outside.

[BMRGUY]

I live in NY and have driven awd now for many years and can tell you that it's a must... Unless you live in NYC. NYC roads are all flat, speed limits a low due to traffic and generally roads are clear right after a snow fall. Long Island or upstate different story (I live on log island). This past winter convinced me more about awd. More than once I concurred hills and high snow banks where fwd an rwd got stuck. Lon island especially they are horrible with snow removal... Upstate they are better.

Awd all the way! If your outside a snowy area or an area that knows how to clear snow in a timely manner then awd is a luxury and not a necessity.

[WilliCO]

The xDrive debate gets religious quickly on this board.

One aspect of it that isn't debatable, though, is that BMW uses the standard non-sport (soft) suspensions on the xDrive cars and gives them about 10mm in additional ride height. Many people don't like the resulting look and the compromise to driving feel. Many other people don't notice or care. These days, Dinan, BMW M-Performance, and others offer aftermarket suspension components to resolve the differences, albeit at a cost of thousands of dollars.

Personally I have owned a RWD E60 5 series in a hilly part of Colorado, with snow tires in the winter, and I now have an xDrive F10 5 series running all-season tires all the time. The xDrive does better on slick, steep hills but the RWD on snows felt more stable in every other situation and was a more fun car to drive overall. I see myself going back to RWD on my next car.

IMO and IME.

[RedlinePSI]

At the end of the day you are going to have to make your own decision. You will hear people who have x-drive say "oh it's an absolute necessity". Even if they never drove a RWD car haha. The fact is, the tires are THE most important aspect of winter driving. Is AWD better? Yes it is, but it's not even close to a necessity if you get winter tires. You just have to determine whether you want to sacrifice the RWD driving experience or not.

[newoldbeemer]

For me, xdrive is a must-not-have. Soft suspension even if you go sportline or Msport. To me BMWs are all about RWD. If I needed awd, I'd get Audi or Subaru instead. The essence of BMW is in RWD and a tight sporty suspension.

Of course, this is all just personal taste - not absolute facts.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by RedlinePSI

At the end of the day you are going to have to make your own decision. You will hear people who have x-drive say "oh it's an absolute necessity". Even if they never drove a RWD car haha. The fact is, the tires are THE most important aspect of winter driving. Is AWD better? Yes it is, but it's not even close to a necessity if you get winter tires. You just have to determine whether you want to sacrifice the RWD driving experience or not.

I live way up North than you guys, and it's my second RWD 335i.
Maybe 3 - 4 times a year people can hear me say that at that moment, I wished I had AWD.
For the rest...

[NOBLE MOTORCARS]

i had a 09 335i x-drive for 4 years it was great, but i just ordered a 4- no x-drive, im interested to see the difference.

[jnkhan82]

I have a RWD at the moment, a Z4 and have had no issues in NYC yet...but wanted to hear everyones take.

[ft1330]

RWD is more sporty so I went with that. For snow days my car is dangerous though. In this case I take the wife's SUV. If you can only have one car don't buy a BMW.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by adhrp

At that price and looking at the seller, I would avoid this one. Might have an unclean history. I never found x drive to be necessary but some other people swear by it. Features wise, I have several packages (look in my signature). I would get them all again if I got another car. As for 2011 vs 2012, I felt a huge improvement in interior feel and the engine/drive felt way more refined.

Don't know about the seller but what's wrong with the price? This car retailed for $42-43K, has fairly low mileage and is still under the factory warranty.

[Professor///M]

Xdrive is a personal preference. Many will tell you the benefits of RWD and how much better their car is because of RWD. The reality is that if this is your daily driver, and you must get to work, or out of your house in all weather conditions you will need xDrive AND snow tires.

If you track your car, and if you have a relatively flat commute, relatively flat driveway, maybe RWD with snow tires will be a good option. Otherwise AWD is a good way to go.


Which trade off do you want to take? The few times that you need the AWD in the year for the increased weight, diminished mpg, increased cost, and nominal difference in handling. Or the few times that you get stuck getting up a hill because you don't have AWD?

Which headache would you rather?


Back to the deal. That's pretty sour. You can probably get a CPO 2011 or 2012 335xi for 24-30K, varying in mileage from 25-50k miles. I'd pass on that, and really only use the BMW site for your car purchasing needs.

[warmtoes]

A must, no, nice to have for me, yes. It doesn't snow a lot in Vancouver but I live in an area where it's quite hilly. When it did snow and I was driving my 135i cab with snow tires it was quite hard to get up my hill. Eventually had to switch all the stability and traction controls off and went up the hill somewhat sideways slanted.

After that I've gone for xDrive vehicles with proper snows and it's been fine. I also find xDrive to be very good in the wet which is a lot here in Vancouver. If xDrive makes you more comfortable then go for it but RWD with good snows is perfectly fine as well.

[Cyberdemon]

I survived Snowpocalypse and a 60 mile roundtrip commute in a 335i with decent snow tires.

Is the car highly stable at high speeds in a few inches of snow? No. But at that point you shouldn't be driving that fast anyways.

I had maybe 1 issue with traction during the first ice storm in April (which was unexpected, happened very quickly, and was solid ice with no salt or sand on the roads) but while tons of cars were getting stuck I kept on trucking without any issues.

If you must do tons of driving in the snow, then AWD + snow tires is valuable. Would I take good snow tires and RWD over AWD and all seasons? Absolutely. Available traction > drive wheels.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Don't know about the seller but what's wrong with the price? This car retailed for $42-43K, has fairly low mileage and is still under the factory warranty.

I meant that the price is kind of low. When I see suspiciously low prices from sellers like this one, a red flag pops up in my mind. A few I had checked out (Carfax or other means) came up with an accident history.

[64-bit]

I live in Boston, and I got a RWD, with snow tires you are golden.

Now, that car is cheap, drive it the bring to bmw for a full inspection.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by adhrp

I meant that the price is kind of low. When I see suspiciously low prices from sellers like this one, a red flag pops up in my mind. A few I had checked out (Carfax or other means) came up with an accident history.

Thanks for the explanation.

[Fronzdan]

I live in eastern MA and I had RWD before my F30 XDrive. After being unable to get my car up the steep hill of my street and having to leave it to get buried by plows in a parking lot...AWD is a must.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

For me, xdrive is a must-not-have. Soft suspension even if you go sportline or Msport. To me BMWs are all about RWD. If I needed awd, I'd get Audi or Subaru instead. The essence of BMW is in RWD and a tight sporty suspension.

Of course, this is all just personal taste - not absolute facts.

+1

I'd go to STi/EVO if I needed AWD or get an old beater truck for winter rather than get an xdrive bmw.

Now, if BMW made the option 704 suspension available on AWD cars and made the AWD a fixed rear biased torque split with a torque vectoring electronic rear LSD that might change my mind....

[Ali Shiralian]

My previous vehicle before the 335 and X5 was a 2010 toyota 4runner limited with all the bells and whistles. I live in a snow belt region of Ontario and believe me when there was huge snow storms up here, I would be the only one on the roads along side the snow plows. Say all you want about your rear wheel drive cars with the best winter tires, they are no match for a proper all wheel drive vehicle. If I lived in Florida, sure no awd needed and I would be fine with a rear wheel drive. If you get snow a lot, do not think for a second that awd is not needed. Can't wait to try the X Drive this wonter