[rman]

I keep going back and forth on this - maybe some knowledgeable people here can help me reason this out.

I live in the Northeast so I do see some snow and could not get by in the winter in a RWD 325i without snow tires. I don't have a real problem with the extra cost of the 325xi (it's reasonable enough) but I'd rather not have the complexity and weight penalty (and the degraded performance it would bring).

Is there any advantage to the AWD of the 325xi other than driving in snow (or maybe heavy rain)?

Is a 325xi with All Season Tires good enough for winter driving? I've heard that even with AWD braking may not be good in snow compared to a 325i with good Snow Tires. If I still had to put Snow tires on the 325xi anyway I don't think it would be worth it to me to get the xi.

Thanks to any who can help.

[Ed_330i]

AWD will bring better handling.

[bmwboy29]

I live in Massachusetts and I can tell you that I am waiting for my AWD

[JonnyCrash]

Here's a dumb suggestion: wait until September, and then drive the i and xi back-to-back. That is likely the best way to make up your mind. Get the one that feels best for you!

[ACZakka325i]

i disagree with awd bringing enhanced handleing.

I just came from an e46 325xi:
- i will tell you that it was great for the snow and rain. i live in connecticut and also spend time at school in ohio. it snows a lot and i have been driving from ohio to connecticut is some very serious snow and i never encountered problems nor was i not confident in the car in such adverse conditions for such an extended period of time.

- i will tell you that when i purchased my e90, i specifically looked forward to a rear wheel drive sports car. to be honest, driving a 4 wheel drive sports car takes some of the fun out of it for me. it was almost idiot proof, if you took turns at excessive speed that car would drift equally at the front and the back. it was certainly reassuring, but it you are looking for authentic sport driving, the rear wheel drive aspect should appeal to you. great drivers may use power sliding or manipulation of the throttle in a turn to manuver the car, rather than just steering.

i heard many a time that an authentic sports car should always be rear wheel drive and front wheel steer.

as for the winter, i definatley intend to buy some serious snow tires, since this is my only car i need it to be functional in those months of the year.

its up to you, the all seasons are up to the task in the snow. BUT MAN THESE SPORT TIRES THEY EQUIPED ON MY SPORT PACKAGE ARE LIKE NOTHING IVE EVER EXPERIENCED.

[deutschmann59]

Definitely go for what feels best, and obviously the xi will perform better than the RWD (in the snow), but I got the RWD and live in the Poconos, where we get anywhere from 14"-35" of snow easy in any particular season.

But you really have to ask yourself, first how often will you be out in the snow with your new car? Does your job require you to drive to work, or can you borrow a family member's car and let the E90 sit for the snow day? How much snow are you really expecting (because you know usually one day after a storm the roads are completely clear)?

If you do some searches on the base E90 in the snow on this site, you'll find LOTS of different ideas, but I can't stop thinking about the story I told on here once before when I saw the industrial snow plows stuck last winter. If they aren't getting through, neither is any AWD car!

[ACZakka325i]

also it is worthwhile to note that the AWD cars get narrow tires. my e46 was equipped with narrow tires front and back to accomodate AWD steering up front. I believe they were 205 width at all four corners.

i think it is sooo cool that the e90 has wide asss tires on the back end - 255 and a little narrower at the front - 225. i always wondered how my e46 325xi would handle with some more serious rubber either wider or more aggressive, non-all season, tires.

find out what the widths are going to be on the Xi, i am very curious!

[MCS]

I had the same delimma, decided to buy the rearwheel drive and use the money saved (?!?) on snow tires and wheels from the tire rack link. Although the front and read on my ordered car (330i ZSP) don't match, I will get the snows in all the same size (skinnier and smaller rims) to handle the snow and ice better.

Just my $.02 worth.

[xyz123]

My E46 328i came with summer tires as will my E90 325i when I take delivery so for me, there is no choice - I have to have a separate set of winter tires. Where I live, summer tires would be outright dangerous in winter but I think I could make it through most snowfalls with all-season tires. But even if my car came with all-season tires, I personally would still get a set of winter tires. The reason is not for performance in snow but for traction on ice. Evidently, the rubber compounds on winter tires are specifically designed for cold temperatures and I have found that winter tires do give superior traction on ice as advertised. I imagine that all-seasons are specified with a rubber compound designed for a wider temperature range and are not as good at the cold end. If you don’t get icy roads where you drive, then all-season tires might be a reasonable choice but I would think that if you are worrying about driving through snow then you will also experience ice sooner or later. I have no experience with AWD so my comments apply only to RWD.

[akmchan]

I live in Canada where it snows...a lot....and my last car was an E46 325i...i put on winter tires and it was amazing in the snow...way better than FWD with all seasons....so in my opinion save the money and just get good winter tires...I am just as comforatable in the BMW with winters as my AWD Volvo...with DSC the car will do fine in winter...we drive in snow more than half the year so I should know....

[tjalt]

With an x, for snow tires, do you get all 4 the same size?