[Falafel Combo]

Last night we had a pretty bad rainstorm and it was really windy.


Just on my 20 mile drive I saw two accidents. One was an e46 M3 and the other an e92 335. It appears that they both hydroplaned and crashed into the guard rails, since they were either sideways or totally turned. Two separate incidents btw. No snow no ice. My xDrive was pretty solid. Couldn't even get the traction control nannies to kick in.


As much as I would love an f80, it would just seem pretty reckless as a daily driver, given my driving conditions and climate.

[FC4]

Cool.

AWD has no effect on a car's resistance to hydroplaning whatsoever.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by FC4

Cool.

AWD has no effect on a car's resistance to hydroplaning whatsoever.

True. But it helps tremendously on the auto correct. Throttle and the front wheels pull you back in. Throttle on a RWD and you are digging a deeper grave.

[tuned2ride]

AWD is clearly overrated (and as an ex-Quattro owner I hate it).

Gimme RWD with snow tires every time.

[Babo335]

AWD is the safer way go if live east coast of the U.S.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

Last night we had a pretty bad rainstorm and it was really windy.


Just on my 20 mile drive I saw two accidents. One was an e46 M3 and the other an e92 335. It appears that they both hydroplaned and crashed into the guard rails, since they were either sideways or totally turned. Two separate incidents btw. No snow no ice. My xDrive was pretty solid. Couldn't even get the traction control nannies to kick in.


As much as I would love an f80, it would just seem pretty reckless as a daily driver, given my driving conditions and climate.

Glad you like the comfort of AWD, I also have an X-Drive and it is pretty unflappable but, RWD being reckless may be a bit of a stretch. It really comes down to the driver and making good decisions. I always count the number of SUVs in ditches during snow storms, I think they forget accelerating is only half of the equation, you also have to turn & stop. This is my 1st and last X-Drive. I miss the stiffer suspension of RWD BMWs (even with Dinan Shockware & Springs). Back in 1987 I had a Mustang 5.0 with unidirectional Goodyear Gatorback tires. That car was on ice on anything but hot, dry pavement, but I never wrecked it. If everyone drove within their and their cars means, they would be safe.

I must admit, the X does get up and go with no drama in less than great conditions. But I miss the tail wagging , sideways antics of RWD. In controlled, safe conditions, of course.

[Falafel Combo]

I kind of agree. xDrive is a good compromise in the worst ways. I miss the RWD suspension sorely. DHP helps but is no substitute.

As a business owner though, I need the no-drama. I need the reliability and the get up and go in any climate, the xDrive provides. As a daddy, I need the safety and assurance of the tank-like xDrive utility.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

I kind of agree. xDrive is a good compromise in the worst ways. I miss the RWD suspension sorely. DHP helps but is no substitute.

As a business owner though, I need the no-drama. I need the reliability and the get up and go in any climate, the xDrive provides. As a daddy, I need the safety and assurance of the tank-like xDrive utility.

Good/valid reasons, especially for the family. I see most of my clients (also work for myself) in their offices or homes and also travel quite a bit. My 2011 E90 with snow tires was excellent. Obviously not as good as an X-Drive, but modern snow tires are brilliant.

BTW-Glad to see you are a manual guy, keep the faith so BMW doesn't discontinue them per the industry trend.

[34.50]

Oy, let's not do this again, we have far too many threads that debate this... It gets old. Choose what you like, and be on your way.

Me personally, I live in upstate NY, so it's nice to have AWD, but by no means a necessity. I daily drove a CLS 63 just fine for a couple of years in heavy snow, and it was a BLAST! Having said that, xDrive is just very handy.

[Mojave Spirit]

Loved my RWD 135i when I had it, but when faced with ice covered driveway/road on a slight grade the thing couldn't move. I've had to go on roads with more speed than anyone would be comfortable with due to stopping=stuck and low speed->wheelspin->stuck. Think it really depends on the terrain of where you live. RWD cars with snows don't fare all too well in steep hilly Western PA.

[uuugblemmv]

Gimme RWD with snow tires every time.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by FC4

Cool.

AWD has no effect on a car's resistance to hydroplaning whatsoever.

I sort of disagree. And here's why.. Many times when a car hydroplanes it's because the two drive wheels lose traction due to a puddle of standing water (a puddle that isn't the entire size of the car).. So, for example, when the front tires hydroplane in a AWD car on a turn at 65 MPH, power is sent to the rear wheels and when the front tires are out of the puddle and it's the rear wheel's time to hit the puddle the power is sent back to the front wheels and the car stays on the road. This scenario happened to me a few years back in a FWD car, and so I purchased a xi when it came time to buy a new BMW.. Never again will I own an AWD car.. I'd rather crash and burn.

Edit: and for the record my 4 is RWD.

[Ali Shiralian]

Xdrive>RWD in snow rain mud and all the other horrible road conditions
RWD>Xdrive in every other conditions but the above.

Hope we can end this discussion very soon...

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

Last night we had a pretty bad rainstorm and it was really windy.


Just on my 20 mile drive I saw two accidents. One was an e46 M3 and the other an e92 335. It appears that they both hydroplaned and crashed into the guard rails, since they were either sideways or totally turned. Two separate incidents btw. No snow no ice. My xDrive was pretty solid. Couldn't even get the traction control nannies to kick in.


As much as I would love an f80, it would just seem pretty reckless as a daily driver, given my driving conditions and climate.

Aquaplaning is heavily influence by the tires themselves and the tire thread wear.
It wouldn't surprise me in the bit if it was the tires, not the lack of AWD, which caused the accident.

In any case, anyone, regardless of vehicle, will have a crash if he doesn't adapt to the road conditions, vehicle capabilities and most importantly his abilities to cope with those conditions.

[spuntyb]

My current E90 is the first automatic, AWD I've ever owned. I grew up driving FWD manuals with regular tires in the northeast, mostly upstate NY, including Buffalo. I've driven in insane amounts of snow, on icy roads, and wet with all of those cars, and the worst that ever happened to me was I drifted on some snow/ice driving home from work late one night going about 40mph. Almost turned sideways, but I corrected, got straight and kept on going. I've also drifted on black ice on bad roads, and had to struggle a bit to get out of large snow drifts, but I never had an accident or got stuck.

AWD, RWD, FWD, snow tires, bald summers. Makes little difference if you don't know how to operate a motor vehicle in inclement weather.

That said, the right tires for the right situation probably have the biggest impact, after driver experience. The drivetrain probably makes little difference.

[btbossman]

Past X drives were garbage. The new models IMO are excellent, especially in the 3/435.
IT grips instantly, and if you know what you're doing its not hard to drift this thing with the I6 motor and proper tires. ALL in all I will always have at least 1 X-drive in the stable

[300hp]

Xdrive plus summers in the summer, fall and spring

Xdrive plus winters or all seasons in the winter months
/End thread

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Babo335

AWD is the safer way go if live east coast of the U.S.

It's not necessary. However, if you stick with RWD, it's paramount to have two sets of tires, one for summer and one for winter.

Outside of that, it's a matter of not driving like an idiot during inclement weather.

[Michael Schott]

It all depends on your priorities. No MT in xDrive cars, not interested. Yes AWD may be more stable in some conditions than RWD. I'd rather be more cautious and have the lighter, more sporty RWD car.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by Mojave Spirit

Loved my RWD 135i when I had it, but when faced with ice covered driveway/road on a slight grade the thing couldn't move. I've had to go on roads with more speed than anyone would be comfortable with due to stopping=stuck and low speed->wheelspin->stuck. Think it really depends on the terrain of where you live. RWD cars with snows don't fare all too well in steep hilly Western PA.

I think that's a good point people forget. The hills. Mid westerners are ok with rwd and snows where it's flat.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

It all depends on your priorities. No MT in xDrive cars, not interested. Yes AWD may be more stable in some conditions than RWD. I'd rather be more cautious and have the lighter, more sporty RWD car.

335 X's are available with a manual, don't know why they don't offer it on 328, probably no demand.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I think that's a good point people forget. The hills. Mid westerners are ok with rwd and snows where it's flat.

Yup. Once the grade is more than 10%, you become an easy job for some tow truck driver.