[DecemberStorm]

yesterday it was pouring rain with low temp (~40f), car behaved well overall but was expectedly tail happy. A lot of it is the p zeros being lackluster in the cold and the wet I suppose

[xmanpro]

Ordered a rwd for me, car will be garaged in the "sunbelt".

[mcjohnsonsg]

Originally Posted by M3AWD

I know I've seen a 120 lbs estimated figure somewhere but not from an official source

Pretty sure that 120lb is the difference between an M340i and M340xdrive.

[Jproos]

Originally Posted by Bimmerhawk

I live in the “snow belt.” My RWD 335i sport has been extremely reliable with Blizzaks for 14 years now. It’s close to the time to say goodbye to this fantastic car; maybe a year or two.

I think my next car will likely be the g80 M3, new or used. I can’t say I’m convinced that the extra expense of AWD would be worth it for me. I also love the feel of RWD in “normal” conditions.

I’ve also been driving RWD BMW’s in the snow belt (Michigan) since 2008 with very very few days that were too much for the car to be able to deal with on winter tires. It can be done.

[CanuckM]

RWD for me. Drove the 2C up here in the North over last few winters with no issues.

[Pantagathus]

Originally Posted by Jproos

I’ve also been driving RWD BMW’s in the snow belt (Michigan) since 2008 with very very few days that were too much for the car to be able to deal with with winter tires. It can be done.

There was some article I saw (may have been C&D) that did a bunch of tests between AWD and RWD + winter tires, and concluded that RWD + winter tires was as good as AWD + standard tires except in very specific circumstances. Given the standard on the M3 are summer tires suspect winter tires would trump AWD + summer tires

[E90M3velocity]

RWD for pure driving enjoyment, I don't need to proof anything with stop light racing and I don't want the AWD to lose any of the little steering feedback the car has already.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Pantagathus

There was some article I saw (may have been C&D) that did a bunch of tests between AWD and RWD + winter tires, and concluded that RWD + winter tires was as good as AWD + standard tires except in very specific circumstances. Given the standard on the M3 are summer tires suspect winter tires would trump AWD + summer tires

AWD + Winter tires would be the best set up though for those in colder climates. I want AWD so it can launch and also for the way it puts power down through the twisties.

[babaikram]

Is it not because M5 is all wheel drive, a lot of people find the steering to be numb and doesn't feel fast even though it is fast. Is it not more dangerous to turn off DSC completely in order to enjoy RWD like in the current M5.

What about the loss of push in the back enjoyment of rear wheel drive with progressive acceleration that would be lost with all wheel drive. The lighter nose and gliding into corners of rear wheel drive, to enjoy this I would have to turn off DSC completely on mostly wet U.K. road?

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Jproos

I’ve also been driving RWD BMW’s in the snow belt (Michigan) since 2008 with very very few days that were too much for the car to be able to deal with with winter tires. It can be done.

I've been driving RWD BMW's in the snow belt (Ontario, Canada) with snow tires since the 1990's and while I agree there are very few days where it's too much for the car, those few days could ruin your day. The biggest issue is going uphill, even a small incline, after or during a snow/ice storm and the road isn't plowed yet, and if you stop in the middle of that hill (say, at a red light), you're screwed. Then other cars are driving erratically around you while you spin your wheels zigzagging trying to get going again and it's an accident waiting to happen. This is worse with M cars because of the wider tires.

So if you're in the snow belt and you can get the car in either RWD or AWD and it's a daily driver, get AWD. Not clear what the issue is either because on the G8x you can AWD that is switchable to 2WD at any time, so you get the best of both worlds. I understand the weight penalty is 120lb which is not significant for peace of mind winter driving.

[Floridagator]

I've been daily driving my F80 M3 in Michigan, 365 days/year, for six years. On snow tires, it's manageable, but I live on a dirt road that doesn't get plowed, and inevitably I get it stuck 3-4 times/year. In the winter I carry shovels, 100lbs of sand, and traction boards to get it out of the worst stuff. I love the car, but can't wait for the traction of AWD that will make the car unstoppable. My wife has a X3 M40i, which on snow tires can make it through anything. I'll accept the mass hit to have more functionality.

[OSee]

I once got through an entire New England winter in a RWD CLS63 on Pilot Sports. I had to obviously be very strategic about when and where I took it out as unplowed roads on hills was a nonstarter.

The winter after I had it on Blizzaks and could go probably go up 45 degrees in fresh snow without a problem. My next car (AWD) felt no different than my experience on those Blizzaks.

The pain, albeit temporary and fleeting, of having to swap out sets made AWD worth it for me.

[Ikester19]

If weather is not an issue then RWD for me. RWD offers a more lively dynamic experience and much better steering feel as the front wheels are only tasked with one job as opposed to steer and power, which complicates chassis dynamics and handling. RWD also offers a less complicated gearbox and differential arrangement as well as less weight.

[josehb]

The reason you want AWD is for better handling if you take the car to the track or drive it hard in canyon roads, not for the snow but yes it also helps in the snow. I heard a few people say that AWD has less steering feel, but this is a myth since it has never been proving ask Porsche if this is true of there AWD cars.

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by josehb

The reason you want AWD is for better handling if you take the car to the track or drive it hard in canyon roads, not for the snow but yes it also helps in the snow. I heard a few people say that AWD has less steering feel, but this is a myth since it has never been proving ask Porsche if this is true of there AWD cars.

Driven both of the latest Carrera S models, a 2WD and a 4WD, and drove them hard on some back roads. And my friend has a 2018 M5, and I've driven his car hard.

Not a myth.

The 911 2WD has better steering feel than the 4WD, and the 2WD's grip is healthy and planted. In a 911, you only need AWD for all-weather purposes. Of course the 911 Turbo certainly needs AWD, to put all of its massive power down (though I've never driven a Turbo).

As for the M5, it needs the AWD in any weather, to put all its massive power down. And the steering in the M5 is direct, but numb, whether you're in 2WD or 4WD mode, it doesn't matter. The M5 is basically an isolation chamber - a super fast executive road missile. Maybe the LCI and CS models brought a little more feel and zeal to the platform.

[Hotflare]

RWD for me. Had evos, stis and 3000gt vr4s for the last 12 13 years. Rwd is perfect as heritage for bmw stems from this. 1 year in my F80 6mt and i love the difference.

There's better AWD cars in the market to be had at this price point

[Jproos]

Originally Posted by Pantagathus

There was some article I saw (may have been C&D) that did a bunch of tests between AWD and RWD + winter tires, and concluded that RWD + winter tires was as good as AWD + standard tires except in very specific circumstances. Given the standard on the M3 are summer tires suspect winter tires would trump AWD + summer tires

Yep, I pretty much agree. The days that have stopped me where always an issue of the amount of snow (like a foot overnight and none of it removed or packed down yet). I don't think I've ever actually been stopped due to traction issues.

I probably could have made it on those other days, too but I don't like packing the engine bay with snow.

[Jproos]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

I've been driving RWD BMW's in the snow belt (Ontario, Canada) with snow tires since the 1990's and while I agree there are very few days where it's too much for the car, those few days could ruin your day. The biggest issue is going uphill, even a small incline, after or during a snow/ice storm and the road isn't plowed yet, and if you stop in the middle of that hill (say, at a red light), you're screwed. Then other cars are driving erratically around you while you spin your wheels zigzagging trying to get going again and it's an accident waiting to happen. This is worse with M cars because of the wider tires.

So if you're in the snow belt and you can get the car in either RWD or AWD and it's a daily driver, get AWD. Not clear what the issue is either because on the G8x you can AWD that is switchable to 2WD at any time, so you get the best of both worlds. I understand the weight penalty is 120lb which is not significant for peace of mind winter driving.

I'm perhaps helped by the roads I usually need to travel; there's nowhere that I will need to stop on a hill. I have hills to deal with but I don't need to stop on them. The AWD option doesn't attract me, mostly based on the extra cost for not enough value (for me).

[uniqueMR]

When can we order AWD M3/M4 Competition ??

[Wills2]

Having had the RWD F10 M5 with 560hp I'd only have the xdrive version of the new G8* unless the rwd was a lot cheaper, it gets frustrating not being able to put the power down in the 1st 2 gears after all once in 3rd through to 4th you're breaking speed limits by a long way.

AWD makes the power accessible/usable.

[PortImperialBMW]

I see a lot of people choosing AWD for winter weather driving. I'm leaning towards AWD myself, but when you really think about it, does the winter weather driving really make a difference? I live and drive in NY/NJ. In the last few years I could think of maybe 3 days that I couldn't get by with RWD on winter tires. That said, those 3 days my X5 on winter tires struggled in certain places because there were 20+ inches of snow on the ground. Ground clearance and salt spreading were my biggest fear to my vehicle. So when we get those once every several year storms are you really needing to go anywhere anyway? And if so are you putting your AWD M3/4 out on the road?

[DecemberStorm]

much nicer weather in Toronto for the long weekend, it was sunny and 60F. Car had no problem hooking up even in 1st gear in Sport+ and MDM. This is finally conditions where the Pirelli PZ4s can really stretch its legs properly!

on the rwd vs aws debate i concur with Tacoma .. its gucci until that one day when you get stuck. Fortunately for me I have no commute for work (pre covid or post, whenever that is in ontario...), so I don't HAVE to drive everyday, which is a huge luxury I'm grateful for. Also your ability to get anywhere hugely depends on your municipal snow plowing infrastructure, which is generally excellent in Canadian cities but YMMW elsewhere... I know London tends to be paralyzed by even 1cm of snow from the 1yr I worked there