[mecheng77]

Looking for opinions on whether or not to get x drive. We get snow but my E90 328i rwd does fine with snow tires for the 3 months we get occasional snow.

I think the RWD has the ease of maint advantage. I know the water pump is much harder on a E90 with x drive. And No transfer box and axels to maintain.

I assume it's more fun to drive and would be better for the odd track event?

Thanks

[leftoverture]

Sounds to me like RWD is for you.

[jzeiler4]

I toyed with getting a RWD but decided to hold out for an xDrive allocation when I ordered mine. I do not intend to drive it in the snow (because I don't have too). In North Alabama we usually only get snow on TOP of a layer of ice, so even 4WD have trouble with it. I am happy with the traction I get and how it handles the curves. No need for an LSD.

I have yet to spin a wheel except on loose gravel at a stop sign. It just feels good to me and what power I do command goes down to four contact patches rather than two. That's just my two cents.

[nazali]

xdrive without a doubt

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Looking for opinions on whether or not to get x drive. We get snow but my E90 328i rwd does fine with snow tires for the 3 months we get occasional snow.

I think the RWD has the ease of maint advantage. I know the water pump is much harder on a E90 with x drive. And No transfer box and axels to maintain.

I assume it's more fun to drive and would be better for the odd track event?

Thanks

[Sportstick]

RWD with winter tires does very well, far better than AWD with all seasons for example. AWD with winter tires is max winter performance if you need that for varied terrain or unplowed roads. I did well in Michigan for a long time with winter tires on RWD, and having RWD does produce better steering feel, lighter front weight, allows for using M2 lower control arms if you want that steering additional responsiveness change.

[mecheng77]

What does better lap times on a road course? Does the awd help get out of corners faster?

[freakystyly]

An LSD (which these cars do not come with) would do more, but I'm not a track person.

Also, AWD = automatic trans only, added weight and drivetrain losses, probably different steering feel, more mechanical parts and maintenance

In exchange for.. better 0-60?

[XutvJet]

If you've managed fine on snow tires and RWD for a number of years, doing so will be just as easy with a RWD M235/M240. If anything, it will be easier as there are various modes to manage wheel spin. Adding an LSD to a RWD M235/M240 improves things even more and makes the car way more fun and controllable.

The xdrive system is pretty reliable, but it does add complexity and about 130lbs more weight, all of which are over the front axle which isn't ideal. It also makes servicing certain parts more difficult. Lastly, the transfer cases do have some issues with failing and that is around a $1,800-$2,200 repair.

I've owned my 2016 M235 6MT with an LSD since new. It's been through a number of snowy winters in Kansas City. I haven't had issues getting around in light snow on winter performance tires (had those for 3 years) and currently all season performance tires (3 years). I don't venture out in deeper snow (4"+) on the roads as there is rarely a reason for me to do so. If I do, it's in my wife's 4Runner.

[Shovelman]

My 230 does ok with snow tires but it was poor on all season tires. Now I just use 2 snow tires and 2 all season tires. Sometimes it helps to turn off the traction control.

A six cylinder motor will not be helpful if you were going that way. More wheelspin and more weight imbalance.

[leftoverture]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

My 230 does ok with snow tires but it was poor on all season tires. Now I just use 2 snow tires and 2 all season tires. Sometimes it helps to turn off the traction control.

A six cylinder motor will not be helpful if you were going that way. More wheelspin and more weight imbalance.

Mixing winter tires and all seasons is a bad thing. Plain and simple, it is a bad thing.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by leftoverture

Mixing winter tires and all seasons is a bad thing. Plain and simple, it is a bad thing.

Agreed.

I really, really like it when all four corners of my car are doing the same thing.

[Shovelman]

If you're expecting the front and back of your RWD car to do the same thing you might be disappointed. In my case the roads are not often slippery. All season tires on the front provide better braking and steering than snow tires would. When getting moving is a challenge, snows on the back is best. Sure this combo is a little more prone to surprise oversteer but that's where skill comes in. Better to be able to steer out of trouble than to just understeer into it.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

If you're expecting the front and back of your RWD car to do the same thing you might be disappointed. In my case the roads are not often slippery. All season tires on the front provide better braking and steering than snow tires would. When getting moving is a challenge, snows on the back is best. Sure this combo is a little more prone to surprise oversteer but that's where skill comes in. Better to be able to steer out of trouble than to just understeer into it.

Originally Posted by Shovelman

If you're expecting the front and back of your RWD car to do the same thing you might be disappointed. In my case the roads are not often slippery. All season tires on the front provide better braking and steering than snow tires would. When getting moving is a challenge, snows on the back is best. Sure this combo is a little more prone to surprise oversteer but that's where skill comes in. Better to be able to steer out of trouble than to just understeer into it.

Better steering feel maybe but not better braking. Snow tires remain soft in extreme cold so you will always have better braking, steering, accel and overall traction preventing you getting stuck. For the cost of two extra tires and no salt damage to the rims it's worth it. I see there is already a large snow tire discussion in another thread.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

If you've managed fine on snow tires and RWD for a number of years, doing so will be just as easy with a RWD M235/M240. If anything, it will be easier as there are various modes to manage wheel spin. Adding an LSD to a RWD M235/M240 improves things even more and makes the car way more fun and controllable.

The xdrive system is pretty reliable, but it does add complexity and about 130lbs more weight, all of which are over the front axle which isn't ideal. It also makes servicing certain parts more difficult. Lastly, the transfer cases do have some issues with failing and that is around a $1,800-$2,200 repair.

I've owned my 2016 M235 6MT with an LSD since new. It's been through a number of snowy winters in Kansas City. I haven't had issues getting around in light snow on winter performance tires (had those for 3 years) and currently all season performance tires (3 years). I don't venture out in deeper snow (4"+) on the roads as there is rarely a reason for me to do so. If I do, it's in my wife's 4Runner.

Originally Posted by Shovelman

If you're expecting the front and back of your RWD car to do the same thing you might be disappointed. In my case the roads are not often slippery. All season tires on the front provide better braking and steering than snow tires would. When getting moving is a challenge, snows on the back is best. Sure this combo is a little more prone to surprise oversteer but that's where skill comes in. Better to be able to steer out of trouble than to just understeer into it.

Originally Posted by XutvJet

If you've managed fine on snow tires and RWD for a number of years, doing so will be just as easy with a RWD M235/M240. If anything, it will be easier as there are various modes to manage wheel spin. Adding an LSD to a RWD M235/M240 improves things even more and makes the car way more fun and controllable.

The xdrive system is pretty reliable, but it does add complexity and about 130lbs more weight, all of which are over the front axle which isn't ideal. It also makes servicing certain parts more difficult. Lastly, the transfer cases do have some issues with failing and that is around a $1,800-$2,200 repair.

I've owned my 2016 M235 6MT with an LSD since new. It's been through a number of snowy winters in Kansas City. I haven't had issues getting around in light snow on winter performance tires (had those for 3 years) and currently all season performance tires (3 years). I don't venture out in deeper snow (4"+) on the roads as there is rarely a reason for me to do so. If I do, it's in my wife's 4Runner.

Interesting I've never heard about the transfer cases going bad.

Do you have to match the tire wear to prevent failure?

[leftoverture]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

If you're expecting the front and back of your RWD car to do the same thing you might be disappointed. In my case the roads are not often slippery. All season tires on the front provide better braking and steering than snow tires would. When getting moving is a challenge, snows on the back is best. Sure this combo is a little more prone to surprise oversteer but that's where skill comes in. Better to be able to steer out of trouble than to just understeer into it.

You failed the skill test just by mixing winter tires with all seasons in the first place. Your choice is indefensible. Period.

[mecheng77]

If anybody has a RWD M235i Auto only for sale in Canada please let me know. No major mods and no tunes. Any color
But silver or Grey. Thanks

[Shovelman]

And yet I have defended it heretofore.

[morphomeman]

OP: rwd cars are as scarce as hens' teeth in Canada, because most people are more comfortable with awd in the winter. Also, rwd cars appeal more to enthusiasts, who tend to drive harder. If your main goal is to find a good car, I suggest demoting the rwd requirement and simply looking for a 235 that is in good shape, regardless of the number of driving wheels.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

OP: rwd cars are as scarce as hens' teeth in Canada, because most people are more comfortable with awd in the winter. Also, rwd cars appeal more to enthusiasts, who tend to drive harder. If your main goal is to find a good car, I suggest demoting the rwd requirement and simply looking for a 235 that is in good shape, regardless of the number of driving wheels.

Originally Posted by morphomeman

OP: rwd cars are as scarce as hens' teeth in Canada, because most people are more comfortable with awd in the winter. Also, rwd cars appeal more to enthusiasts, who tend to drive harder. If your main goal is to find a good car, I suggest demoting the rwd requirement and simply looking for a 235 that is in good shape, regardless of the number of driving wheels.

Good advice, I'm finding some RWD 2014 models but they are either in accidents, have tunes on them or they are asking for too much when I noticed the market has stalled

[morphomeman]

Also, 2014 was the first year of production and there are a couple of known issues. I would stay clear of those. And, as you note, the market has stalled or even declined. In the old days, a 9-year-old car would not have been worth much more than 10% of the original list price.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Also, 2014 was the first year of production and there are a couple of known issues. I would stay clear of those. And, as you note, the market has stalled or even declined. In the old days, a 9-year-old car would not have been worth much more than 10% of the original list price.

Just curious, the engine itself was in it's later stages when the 2 series rolled out, what were the issues for the 2014 N55s? Or was it more along the lines of the rest of the car?

Like my 2017 B58 is the first year in the 2er, but the engine had been out in the 3 series for a few years prior. Same with the N55, it had been in the E chassis for a long enough time.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Like my 2017 B58 is the first year in the 2er, but the engine had been out in the 3 series for a few years prior. Same with the N55, it had been in the E chassis for a long enough time.

When I factory ordered my 2011 E90 335xi it was the very beginning of the N55 run. I was kind of disappointed at the time as the N54 was so well regarded and everyone said it was better for moding. Now I see there are no shortage of mods and people making lots of power with N55s. All it took was some time for the market to catch up. If anything, I think the N55 has a better reliability record than the N54. I hope the B58 continues that trend.