530d xdrive or RWD
Discussion
Hi folks,
I know this question has been asked before, and also know that the overwhelming consensus was go RWD, but I'd appreciate some input for my specific needs.
I'm interested in getting a 2017 + 530d (probably saloon) and am leaning towards xdrive.
The main reason for this is that I live in rural Scotland where the weather is generally s
t and the roads are usually wet and not infrequently covered in diesel courtesy of lorry drivers over filling their tanks (as far as I can work out).
The winters are pretty cold, wet and can be snowy. Lastly I live down a 1/2 mile dirt track - which is a not a huge issue for any drive train but I guess worth mentioning.
A few years ago I had a 5.0 XKR (the one with 510 bhp and tons of torque) and frankly it was virtually undrivable up here. I should probably have changed the factory fitted tyres and all that but still, I got very tired of the back end spinning up even under the mildest of provocation.
Clearly the 530d is a VERY different car from the Jag but it does have lots of torque - and I'll be driving on the same roads - so how does the RWD 530d behave when driving on less than ideal road conditions?
It is not as if I'll be mashing the throttle to the floor out of corners all day long but in the real world I suspect that I'll quickly value traction above tail out giggles.
I did briefly flirt with getting an A6 Allroad with the biturbo diesel engine but they are rare as hens teeth and the BMW really does appeal.
I'll be doing about 70 miles a day commuting on a mix of country B roads and motorway.
All input much appreciated.
I know this question has been asked before, and also know that the overwhelming consensus was go RWD, but I'd appreciate some input for my specific needs.
I'm interested in getting a 2017 + 530d (probably saloon) and am leaning towards xdrive.
The main reason for this is that I live in rural Scotland where the weather is generally s
t and the roads are usually wet and not infrequently covered in diesel courtesy of lorry drivers over filling their tanks (as far as I can work out). The winters are pretty cold, wet and can be snowy. Lastly I live down a 1/2 mile dirt track - which is a not a huge issue for any drive train but I guess worth mentioning.
A few years ago I had a 5.0 XKR (the one with 510 bhp and tons of torque) and frankly it was virtually undrivable up here. I should probably have changed the factory fitted tyres and all that but still, I got very tired of the back end spinning up even under the mildest of provocation.
Clearly the 530d is a VERY different car from the Jag but it does have lots of torque - and I'll be driving on the same roads - so how does the RWD 530d behave when driving on less than ideal road conditions?
It is not as if I'll be mashing the throttle to the floor out of corners all day long but in the real world I suspect that I'll quickly value traction above tail out giggles.
I did briefly flirt with getting an A6 Allroad with the biturbo diesel engine but they are rare as hens teeth and the BMW really does appeal.
I'll be doing about 70 miles a day commuting on a mix of country B roads and motorway.
All input much appreciated.
Very much personal preference, but I much prefer xdrive with the 30d engine.
It has plenty of power and torque and easily overwhelms rwd.
Being able to put down power anywhere, anytime and any weather is much preferable.
Needing power out of a junction or roundabout and being faced with the orange triangle isn’t fun, made worse by weather or less than perfect surfaces it’s a no brainier to me.
Downside, marginally worse fuel economy, but I’d say a price worth paying.
It has plenty of power and torque and easily overwhelms rwd.
Being able to put down power anywhere, anytime and any weather is much preferable.
Needing power out of a junction or roundabout and being faced with the orange triangle isn’t fun, made worse by weather or less than perfect surfaces it’s a no brainier to me.
Downside, marginally worse fuel economy, but I’d say a price worth paying.
Random thoughts from a BMW tart:
E36 330d was a delight until it snowed in London when it was a bit poor and when we visited mates in Yorkshire it was even less poor but still got us home
RR Sport was pretty good in the Derbyshire snow and on Wintrac Extremes was often the only thing mobile across the whole county
F31 335d replaced it after kids grew a bit and was an utter weapon at traffic lights in the dry
Stereo was rubbish and interior space poor also but driver (me) didnt care much smoking most things
Unfortunately 4wd counted for nothing with run flats and it was probably the worst winter car I have ever run - accolades here for the MX5 I once drove to the family home of a GF with her in the boot to give extra traction to get up a frosty knoll to her parents house
Dear reader we didnt get married
And so to my current 530d
It was a complete bargain and so is a keeper hence I bought a set of winters from Mr Winter with Mr Winter Dunlops and it as been immense over the last few years - seriously folks 4wd may be great but winter tyres are the utter business
Cheers
numtumfutunch said:
F31 335d replaced it after kids grew a bit and was an utter weapon at traffic lights in the dry
Stereo was rubbish and interior space poor also but driver (me) didnt care much smoking most things
Unfortunately 4wd counted for nothing with run flats and it was probably the worst winter car I have ever run - accolades here for the MX5 I once drove to the family home of a GF with her in the boot to give extra traction to get up a frosty knoll to her parents house
Dear reader we didnt get married
And so to my current 530d
It was a complete bargain and so is a keeper hence I bought a set of winters from Mr Winter with Mr Winter Dunlops and it as been immense over the last few years - seriously folks 4wd may be great but winter tyres are the utter business
Yeah exactly. People often confuse traction with lateral grip. Stereo was rubbish and interior space poor also but driver (me) didnt care much smoking most things
Unfortunately 4wd counted for nothing with run flats and it was probably the worst winter car I have ever run - accolades here for the MX5 I once drove to the family home of a GF with her in the boot to give extra traction to get up a frosty knoll to her parents house
Dear reader we didnt get married
And so to my current 530d
It was a complete bargain and so is a keeper hence I bought a set of winters from Mr Winter with Mr Winter Dunlops and it as been immense over the last few years - seriously folks 4wd may be great but winter tyres are the utter business
The biggest issue with all modern BMWs in terms of winter grip is sodding run flats. They are like concrete in minus conditions, absolutely no give in them what so ever, which reduces lateral grip to a vague possibility of it, or none at all, and as BMW steering is so tragically poor in terms of feedback, you have no clue when they are about to slide into a kerb.
As for 30Ds losing traction easily.....only if you stab your hoof onto the pedal with all the finesse and delicacy of a jack hammer.
I'll have to look into Mr Winter and his Winter offerings, cheers for that. Next winter it's a must for me I think.
As for 335d vs 30d, the punch of the 35d is always amusing but the mpg difference and X-drive's pickiness with tyres put me off, and I prefer RWD steering with no driveshaft corruption.
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