[Diesel power]

Hey everyone, looking to come back "home" to a BMW after a few Audi's. I've gotten spoiled with Quattro + Snow tires. Now I'm Looking at a M3 comp and am debating if I can get by with RWD and snow tires. Does anybody daily their M3? How is it in the snow slush with RWD or AWD?
Appreciate any input any of you might have.

[Chapter2099]

I think it’s a matter of preference and opinion, but at the end of the day, I think for the extra money, get the xDrive AWD option and have peace of mind.

I think AWD will undoubtedly be superior in regards to helping to manage those conditions during your drive, but obviously people with RWD do it all the time as well.

[Diesel power]

In my younger days I drove a Buick Grand National (RWD, No ABS, No TC) year round and never thought twice so it doesn't really bother me. As fast as that car was the M3 Comp is on a whole other level so I was wondering if the extra power is balanced by the modern chassis aids or if it's really a handful. Car and Driver did a long term test and had no complaints about their RWD with snows.
It's not just the 4K delta in price there's a 4% difference in residual so you're talking about 200 bucks a month on a lease.

[Kminor2578]

I’m in south NJ and I daily my RWD G80. However I mentioned this previously in a different thread, I was impatient and placed my order the day the car was released. I would much rather have an AWD. If there is 3+ inches you’re not getting very far in tbe RWD.

[big_ed]

Originally Posted by Kminor2578

I’m in south NJ and I daily my RWD G80. However I mentioned this previously in a different thread, I was impatient and placed my order the day the car was released. I would much rather have an AWD. If there is 3+ inches you’re not getting very far in tbe RWD.

I would disagree. People got around for ages in RWD cars before awd became a thing. Is AWD more convenient...sure. Are the only cars getting around when it snows awd? No.

I'm in NY and used to daily my RWD e93 pushing 28psi in the rain, sleet or snow. If it snows you just need the appropriate tires.

Granted the real question is do you want to drive your nice car in that kind of weather? Do you plan on it being a garage queen? Will a little salt getting on your car bother you?

I ordered a RWD g80 and plan to daily it. It can be done.

[Kminor2578]

Originally Posted by big_ed

I would disagree. People got around for ages in RWD cars before awd became a thing. Is AWD more convenient...sure. Are the only cars getting around when it snows awd? No.

I used to daily my RWD e93 pushing 28psi in the rain, sleet or snow. If it snows you just need the appropriate tires.

Granted the real question is do you want to drive your nice car in that kind of weather? Do you plan on it being a garage queen? Will a little salt getting on your car bother you?

I ordered a RWD g80 and plan to daily it. It can be done.

Sure it could be done, I never used snow tires before ( they were all back ordered last winter) maybe it’s night and day, but with the summer tires, traction control interferes to much to the point the car won’t move and then when it is moving the back end of the car is always sliding down the crown of the road.

[big_ed]

Yea but even on an AWD car summer tires will not work well in the snow. You'll have that slipping sensation you described because the tires thread pattern and seasonal designation.

All comes down to correct tires. Again, AWD is king not disagreeing about that.

[stalintc]

I have a manual, and come from the AWD family of vehicles with winter tires. I live in MI. Rwd M3 base in m6 with winter tires is great. Previous ride was a Focus RS with winters and this car has better ground clearance. The RS was a beast in crazy conditions for 10 min before AWD turned off. M3 is not far from the RS before AWD off.

Summer tires in winter on this car however is for idiots.

[kgelfen360]

Originally Posted by Diesel power

In my younger days I drove a Buick Grand National (RWD, No ABS, No TC) year round and never thought twice so it doesn't really bother me. As fast as that car was the M3 Comp is on a whole other level so I was wondering if the extra power is balanced by the modern chassis aids or if it's really a handful. Car and Driver did a long term test and had no complaints about their RWD with snows.
It's not just the 4K delta in price there's a 4% difference in residual so you're talking about 200 bucks a month on a lease.

I wonder why that is? The AWD has lower residual?

[Boogie2121]

Anyone here saying anything other than getting AWD is severely mental. Find an AWD car they are better all around and in the snow.

[nunzo]

Tires make more of a difference than the drive wheels.

I’ve been driving for 25 years. Learned how to drive in the snow in a fox body mustang. Drove RWD BMWs, FWD VWs, and AWD Audis. In a hilly, snowy environment, tires are it.

My S4 was absolute garbage in the winter running Michelin X-ice xi3. Pushed into corners, no confidence on slushy highways. Horrible, highly rated tires. Switched to my go-to Blizzaks (WS80) and it was a tank.

[Diesel power]

Originally Posted by kgelfen360

I wonder why that is? The AWD has lower residual?

I think AWD it just the hotter seller so BMW is taking advantage. Using the better residual to keep RWD cars moving

[BMWRacer523]

When it comes to traction, tires are more important than AWD vs RWD. Don't use summer tires in winter. With winter tires on AWD will be easier to drive than RWD but RWD is still very manageable if you know how. I've driven RWD for years in the winter with no issues and now have AWD.

[M3LISSA]

Originally Posted by Diesel power

Hey everyone, looking to come back "home" to a BMW after a few Audi's. I've gotten spoiled with Quattro + Snow tires. Now I'm Looking at a M3 comp and am debating if I can get by with RWD and snow tires. Does anybody daily their M3? How is it in the snow slush with RWD or AWD?
Appreciate any input any of you might have.

I drive my RWD all year long. At the time I got it they didn’t have a dedicated snow only tire. So I got an all season. And it was fine. My previous e90 M3 was RWD as well. I’d swap tires and wheels to blizzaks for that. I’m fine with it. For the amount of snow we truly get idk, I’m a girl and I have no worries

[rak299]

How well people deal with winter and RWD depends, to a great degree, on where they learned to drive. I grew up with snow, and, when I moved to California, I was amazed how poorly native drivers did with just a little snow. RWD with snow tires is fine if you know how to drive. Having said that, if you routinely drive on snow-covered, narrow mountain roads, AWD is almost a must-have.

[nunzo]

When there were heavy rains a few months ago, I swear California drivers were acting like it was 12" of snow and ice. People were losing control left and right.

To be fair though, I was driving an NC1 NSX around and the oily roads made it quite the butt clencher on Cup 2's even with the AWD.

[Diesel power]

Thanks for the input everyone. I totally agree that AWD or RWD I have to get snow tires. Driving on extreme summers below freezing temps is a recipe for disaster. This car is going to be a daily, at least for the first few years so I have to make peace with it getting some salt and grime on it.
I had to laugh at some of your experiences with "other drivers" I was in Detroit a few years ago (a place not immune to extreme weather) and I was shocked at how many people were in the ditch with 2 inches of snow on the ground. My POS FWD rental seemed to be the only car moving at posted speeds.

[brianray18]

If you want manual only option is rwd but if your getting automatic get awd, I dont see any advantages getting automatic rwd as you can do two wheel drive on the awd model. I’ve driven my M3 manual in the snow, its a lot of fun.

[BGM-M3COMP]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

When it comes to traction, tires are more important than AWD vs RWD. Don't use summer tires in winter. With winter tires on AWD will be easier to drive than RWD but RWD is still very manageable if you know how. I've driven RWD for years in the winter with no issues and now have AWD.

This.

I’ve dailyed a 5th gen camaro for 3 years and had snow tires each winter. It drove better than my suv with all seasons during that time.

However if you’re getting a g8x, and you don’t want a manual get the xdrive.

I wish I got the xdrive.

[JDUNITNOW]

I have a 22 RWD and almost at two years ownership. I have almost 13k on odometer and have nit switched out my summer tires. Disclaimer here, I have a X5 to drive in bad weather so the M3 stays parked when the temperature doesn't go above freezing or weather on the road. Not once have my car gave me pause or lost traction and I can get another 3k before new tires. Now I don't drive like an ass hat and not dumb enough to drive with traction off to prove to everyone I'm a great driver and don't need nannies on.
Don't have a xdrive or care to have one but it's unfair to say you shouldn't buy the car if it's not xdrive. Maybe I'm the better driver...

[golf4kal]

Originally Posted by Diesel power

Hey everyone, looking to come back "home" to a BMW after a few Audi's. I've gotten spoiled with Quattro + Snow tires. Now I'm Looking at a M3 comp and am debating if I can get by with RWD and snow tires. Does anybody daily their M3? How is it in the snow slush with RWD or AWD?
Appreciate any input any of you might have.

I have a '15 S5 and first winter I had it, I did a 180 in the Palisades because I was on summers and it snowed unexpectedly (yes, idiot..). But after that I got Conti DWS AS's and had zero issue for the last 4 years. Drove it everywhere including ski trips to VT in 3"-6" of snow and the Quattro/tire combo was amazing. However...

Originally Posted by brianray18

If you want manual only option is rwd but if your getting automatic get awd, I dont see any advantages getting automatic rwd as you can do two wheel drive on the awd model. I’ve driven my M3 manual in the snow, its a lot of fun.

^ This 100%. My simple decision tree is if you want a manual, deal with the con of only being RWD and enjoy the other 9 months of the year. If you don't care for or need the extra pedal, don't understand why anyone north of the Mason-Dixon line would go for anything besides X-Drive since you have the option with the drivers package of flipping it into RWD!

[Xtremsiege2]

Having the adequate snow tires installed by November until early April will preserve your summer tires and prevent you from being caught in any early or late storms with RWD. Pretty sure a RWD with snows will significantly out perform the X with summers/all season.
If you've lived and learned to drive in the snow its pretty simple, just don't get caught in anything more than a few inches or less in higher altitudes. If you're some kind of road warrior, adrenaline junky, skier or first responder; just get the X drive.