[jmg]

Originally Posted by CSH1959

What are the advantages, other than off the line, for the XDrive?

X-Drive advantages:

• Sooner throttle application on corner exit for faster overall cornering and lap times
• Easier recovery should you lose traction. This is adjustable with M Drive Professional.
• Unlike front biased AWD, X-Drive is 100% rear biased so it will not understeer.
• Increased controllability in adverse weather
• Increased controllability in adverse road conditions

X-Drive disadvantages:

• X-Drive is about 98 lbs heavier than RWD
• Cost
• No manual for the G8X
• X-Drive is one more component to maintain
• Tires need to be within 1% rolling diameter wich limits tire options and potential increases tire expenses

Originally Posted by Tyga11

RWD is the pure experience...I would avoid X Drive

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Same. I have a RWD and love it. If I get another, it will be a RWD. I’m in Florida and have no need for xdrive.

Originally Posted by house

I decided to go with just the Competition. For me this is a summer car, and after having 2 previous M4s, I enjoy the fun and feel of rear wheel drive.

I know I can turn xDrive off, but I’d end up doing it every time I started the car.

If you plan on tracking it or driving in the snow, I’d go for the xDrive.

There are PLENTY of valid reasons to get RWD instead or X-Drive, but wanting that RWD experience isn't one of them.

X-Drive is rear biased. 100% power is sent to the rear wheels by default, so all street driving characteristics of RWD is carried over to the X-Drive. Even with AWD enabled, it will oversteer just like my M3 CS did. There is no reason at all to turn off AWD other than for drifting on the track and I have never felt the need to turn it off on the street because there is no legal way to take advantage of it. I do not feel any difference whatsoever even if I push it a bit in the canyons. Guaranteed if you are doing this on the freeway, it's simply not an issue or it will be the placebo effect.

[AhsanU]

Can’t think of any reason to get the RWD Comp over xDrive. xDrive will retain value better over the non-xDrive, grip is excellent in 1st gear so dig races and launches are fun, all season drivability with confidence, availability both in the new and used market since that’s what most people are getting, etc.

If you even remotely want the manual, then get the manual. xDrive with a manual would’ve been great but heaven forbid BMW actually spend money into R&D to make it work, or to make the 6MT better.. nah - the manual boys and girls will take what BMW shoves down their throat, there’s nowhere else for them to go so why spend money there?

If you could genuinely go either way, get the xDrive. The car was clearly created and designed with the xDrive/ZF8 in mind, so you may as well go that way.

[BGM-M3COMP]

I got the RWD comp when i had the opportunity to get the x-drive. SA even asked me if i wanted x-drive and i said no and he said, "good choice".

I'm used to RWD cars anyway as my z06 has over 700hp and i can handle that no problem. However after owning a tesla for over a year now, that instant traction (although nothing beats tesla's torque vectoring system) every single time you get on the throttle is so satisfying, i do wish i've gotten the x-drive.


There's still a VERY small chance i'll get another M3 after this lease is over and if i do go that route again, it will 100% be x-drive. However if i don't get an M3, but still staying with BMW, i'm getting an M5 comp which is AWD anyway.

[chicagofan00]

This argument again? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[yousefnjr]

Get the xDrive, she’ll love it too *wink*

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by beamlord

Experience of doing what exactly? Drifting? Donuts?

Sorry, that's just not an argument.

Unless you mean it's pure experience of being slower off a red light than a golf GTi (or any random grandma in a diesel audi when its raining) or losing traction in a critical situation, or being slower on track (unless you are a pro race driver which, let's face it, none of us here are). Then yeah..pretty pure experience.

Jesus, it's just five thousand bucks.

I prefer RWD. Not a fan of AWD. If I had the option, I still wouldn't get X Drive but I didn't when I got my car.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by beamlord

Experience of doing what exactly? Drifting? Donuts?

Sorry, that's just not an argument.

Unless you mean it's pure experience of being slower off a red light than a golf GTi (or any random grandma in a diesel audi when its raining) or losing traction in a critical situation, or being slower on track (unless you are a pro race driver which, let's face it, none of us here are). Then yeah..pretty pure experience.

Jesus, it's just five thousand bucks.

Yes!
Because all I think about is how am I going to beat the next kid in GTI at the net traffic light!!
And yes, because 2s slower time on the track is going to ruin it for me...LOL

There is a reason why BMW offers both versions...

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by DFW_M

Yes!
Because all I think about is how am I going to beat the next kid in GTI at the net traffic light!!
And yes, because 2s slower time on the track is going to ruin it for me...LOL

There is a reason why BMW offers both versions...

Yes. People who can't afford extra 5000.

[Humdizzle]

im indifferent to it. the xdrive doesn't really offer much advantage or disadvantage where i live in missouri. my 335i rwd on all season got around fine . the ring time and 5-60mph times are pretty much identical. launching my gtr was cool the first 2-3 times and after that it got old.

all that said i'd still spec it because of resale value and ease of sale. most people want xdrive and the 'comp' model designation carries some weight in the used market.

[buckybadger]

X drive for sure.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by beamlord

Yes. People who can't afford extra 5000.

I think on a $90k vehicle, $5k is irrelevant...
On the other hand, it gives an option to those that do not want/need an AWD (and do not want to waste $5k)

If you're getting an AWD so you can race kids in GTIs (as you described), I can understand your obsession and bragging about $5k

[Laurie100uk]

If buying new x-drive is a no brainer as the price difference isnt vast. I bought 2nd hand with cash so went for the RWD as for the same spec in AWD was around £10k more expensive which seemed too much for what I was getting extra

[Gfit]

X drive on a high performance car is not for snow or for “stop light racing”. It’s to take advantage of all the HP as effectively, efficiently AND safely as possible.

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by DFW_M

I think on a $90k vehicle, $5k is irrelevant...
On the other hand, it gives an option to those that do not want/need an AWD (and do not want to waste $5k)

If you're getting an AWD so you can race kids in GTIs (as you described), I can understand your obsession and bragging about $5k

Seriously missed the point there. Once again, the argument of "not needing AWD" is absolute nonsense. There is no situation where you would sanely say "oh no, AWD is bothering me!".

[vj123]

Originally Posted by beamlord

Seriously missed the point there. Once again, the argument of "not needing AWD" is absolute nonsense. There is no situation where you would sanely say "oh no, AWD is bothering me!".

This is the first generation with xDrive and all of a sudden RWD is not relevant anymore. So you can definitely brag about spending 5k more on a xDrive and smoke those kids in their GTIs.

Roughly 20% of the G80s are comp rwd (LINK). If this variant was irrelevant, BMW would not have conceived and developed this vehicle.

[Juanero]

I chose x-drive. I live in the south. but there were a couple moments the past years when people were on hills during ice storms, spinning either their fronts and rears, and I would drive around them in my awd. so for me it's just been good to have the option in certain situations.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by Laurie100uk

If buying new x-drive is a no brainer as the price difference isnt vast. I bought 2nd hand with cash so went for the RWD as for the same spec in AWD was around £10k more expensive which seemed too much for what I was getting extra

Tell you a lot about what the market values more. It is rare for an “option” to add much more value on a depreciated car than the option cost on a new car.

[Cmassey3]

I've been lurking the track boards and if you plan on doing any serious track days, I'd stick with RWD, the x-drive is really sensitive to non-oem wheel sizes like the track day standard 18x10.

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1901031

[beamlord]

Originally Posted by vj123

This is the first generation with xDrive and all of a sudden RWD is not relevant anymore. So you can definitely brag about spending 5k more on a xDrive and smoke those kids in their GTIs.

Roughly 20% of the G80s are comp rwd (LINK). If this variant was irrelevant, BMW would not have conceived and developed this vehicle.

And we continue with zero substantive arguments against xdrive. And zero substantive arguments for rwd - for someone who is about to make a purchse choice.

Even your favorite "smoking kids in GTIs" was a more substantive argument, even though given as one of many examples, than anything I am hearing here, except maybe the weight - which is negligible anyway as the car is far from a track tool.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by beamlord

Seriously missed the point there. Once again, the argument of "not needing AWD" is absolute nonsense. There is no situation where you would sanely say "oh no, AWD is bothering me!".

Not everyone likes AWD...sounds like you don't have much experience driving and that's fine but stop generalizing.

[vj123]

Originally Posted by beamlord

And we continue with zero substantive arguments against xdrive. And zero substantive arguments for rwd - for someone who is about to make a purchse choice.

Even your favorite "smoking kids in GTIs" was a more substantive argument, even though given as one of many examples, than anything I am hearing here, except maybe the weight - which is negligible anyway as the car is far from a track tool.

And if we looks through the posts in the thread, anyone can notice who initiated the claims without concrete data. Couple of second improvement in the track time wouldnt mean anything for 95% of the people here.

Instead of trashing the options, I am glad that BMW is offering three powertrain options to the customers unlike other OEMs. You own a xdrive and for some, thats a irrelevant trim as it misses a manual gearbox. At the end, there is no right or wrong and its just a matter of personal preference.

[Gandalf The White]

Originally Posted by beamlord

And we continue with zero substantive arguments against xdrive. And zero substantive arguments for rwd - for someone who is about to make a purchse choice.

Even your favorite "smoking kids in GTIs" was a more substantive argument, even though given as one of many examples, than anything I am hearing here, except maybe the weight - which is negligible anyway as the car is far from a track tool.

Do we need a substantive argument for anything here? You (I?) buy a sports car more with your heart more than your brain, so it is more how it makes me feel, what I value and what I wanted, than what is the best in X situation.

To me an M3 is RWD, I also would not want a Carrera 4 and if I was able to buy a Huracan it would be the RWD version as well.

No doubt the X drive or a C4S are super capable cars and probably objectively better than their RWD counterparties, but the argument against it would be that that is not the version I want :-)