[Taxvictim]

This is my first all-whel drive car. I didn't intend to buy an Xi, but I got a good deal on it, and so far it's a great car (except for the acceleration lag).

For you guys who have owned one for a while, does it really work better in snow and icy conditions? Any tips for how to get max enjoyment out of an Xi?

[Ph0zenstone]

my car was a beast in the snow this past winter, and we had quite a bit here in NY. I've never driven an "i" though in the snow so i wouldnt be able to tell you the difference, though it was day and night versus my sisters' 03 civic.

do you really get a lot of snow in NC?

[mr.bob]

I have had both a non XI and my current E92 XI. If you put snows on all 4 corners of a non all-wheel-drive, its fine in the snow, but here in the NorthEast the XI is far superior. I have never had a problem with the XI.

[runthis]

Yea, we got ton's of snow here in Cincy, and while everyone else was sliding already Xdrive kept me on track.

It also helps to keep those pesky STI's at bay.

[undecided]

The freaking car feels like a snow plow. It went up my ice-covered steep driveway easier than my wife's Audi. Enough said....

[Taxvictim]

We don't get much snow, but we always have times when the roads and driveways get icy. I have a steep driveway, so it's good to know the Xi can handle it.

I also like to go up to the NC mountains, where there is more snow and ice.

Thanks for all the responses.

[DESI4life10]

Here in Canada ( the great North) we got way too much snow this past winter.
This was my first winter driving the xi and man was I impressed. This car plows through anything. Times where my van got stuck, the xi showed no signs of difficulty even at very slow speeds.

On top of that, I was driving with all-season tires. Imagine if I had all winter season tires, that would be the ultimate grip.

[PKumarM3]

yes

we blasted through the NY/NJ snowstorms this year in the XI. it was great

can't wait to rip it in the snow on coilovers this winter!

[wrickem]

Yup, you'll be happy with the xi in bad conditions. I also appreciate it in the rain, it feels so "planted" on the road.

[AWD Addict]

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

This is my first all-whel drive car. I didn't intend to buy an Xi, but I got a good deal on it, and so far it's a great car (except for the acceleration lag).

For you guys who have owned one for a while, does it really work better in snow and icy conditions? Any tips for how to get max enjoyment out of an Xi?

Yes.

If you want to optimize the winter capability, a nice set of snows will do wonders. All seasons will do fine though, if you're not up for swapping wheels and tires every other season.

I actually think the car is better with the DSC off in snow. It's more predictable. But with the DSC on, it's essentially idiot proof. It'll actually cut the throttle if you over do it (which destroys all the fun )

RWD in the snow is murder. It's not even a comparison.

With the nokian hakka RSi rubber I run in the winter, this car absolutely dominates snow, ice, and even the dreaded wet leaves in autumn (which I think is actually the worst of all driving conditions).

[MaxL]

I could not believe how well it handled some very rough conditions - I once was crossing a mountain range in West Virginia an as I came up the temperature dropped from 40F to below 10F. I ended up driving on winding road with sharp climbs and drops and with random patches of black ice. The car handled like a champ - I would not do over 10-15 MPH in any of my previous cars in this weather, but I was able to do 40mph most of the time without issues. When one wheel hits an ice patch the car does not spin - it does not even change direction a bit - you only feel slight clicks in the steering and shakes under your butt as if someone slightly kicks your chair to a side, but the car just keeps going where you point it.

But it is important to remember immediately reacting to condition changes is what electronic nannies do the best - if you carry to much speed into a turn or do something else stupid, they cannot save you.

[scooby9]

I'm pretty happy with the xi in winter. We have some steep hills around the river valley area in Edmonton. With winter tires, I drive on snow/ice with utmost confidence.

[Septro]

I threw a set of blizzaks on my XI this winter and it was a joke purposely trying to get the car to lose traction.. the thing would hug tighter than Michael Jackson on a 8yr old.

Utmost confidence is what winter tires + AWD gives you. There was no hill that gave me an inkling of problem. My MDX with SH-AWD and all seasons did well but not even in the same league as the XI.

[buddd]

lets just say i waited for the days we got feet of snow just so i could bring the xi out.

[xDrive Mike]

The XI system works great! I would have to say it handles better then all my previous Subaru's.
When I was doing my ED I got caught in a huge snow storm in the Swiss alps. I had no problem getting around, even with the stock Bridgestone turenza's
Now I can't wait till this winter, I have a set of Nokian Hakka 4 tires waiting to go!

[AWD Addict]

The Nokians are unreal, and they make the only speed rated true snow tire.

They definitely live up to their reputation.

[LiKWiD335xi]

My old E46 was an xi, I couldn't imagine not having AWD when I bought my E90. A couple friends hated on me for choosing AWD over RWD now that I was getting a much faster car - I took them out and showed them what a fast AWD can do and they stopped talking crap.

Having traction in conditions that need it is the greatest thing I could ask for in a car and BMW's AWD system does it very very well. My old xi E46 has seen some crappy roads in its day but always saw my garage at the end and not a ditch.

You made a good choice, you'll never buy a RWD daily driver again.

[AWD Addict]

Originally Posted by LiKWiD335xi

My old E46 was an xi, I couldn't imagine not having AWD when I bought my E90. A couple friends hated on me for choosing AWD over RWD now that I was getting a much faster car - I took them out and showed them what a fast AWD can do and they stopped talking crap.

Having traction in conditions that need it is the greatest thing I could ask for in a car and BMW's AWD system does it very very well. My old xi E46 has seen some crappy roads in its day but always saw my garage at the end and not a ditch.

You made a good choice, you'll never buy a RWD daily driver again.

Same thing happened when I took my buddy who owns an E46 M3. All he said was "wow, my car can't do that"

[TwinTurboXI]

Originally Posted by DESI4life10

Here in Canada ( the great North) we got way too much snow this past winter.
This was my first winter driving the xi and man was I impressed. This car plows through anything. Times where my van got stuck, the xi showed no signs of difficulty even at very slow speeds.

On top of that, I was driving with all-season tires. Imagine if I had all winter season tires, that would be the ultimate grip.

+1000... I was shocked at how well the car did on snowy hills with my all season tires.