BMW’s xDrive at its Best

When you have a "very good driver" you can keep cars on the road in almost any condition. Put the cars on a hill and you get a real test. See the link below

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4TfbcvRg7MY

— IamEvilHomer (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 12:07:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

What matters on a hill are the tires.

— mstangpny07 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 12:22:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

That YouTube video is the last generation xDrive and the Audi did perform better. The new generation xDrive and current Quattro have yet to be compared. It will be a tough race and I hope so becuase the more these two compete, the safer you and I will be when conditions get bad. For now, Audi holds the title, but let us see a new comparison between the two and then we can judge.

— LJ745 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 5:36:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The Lexus RX would have done the worst on the slope.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 6:16:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Well technical specs would suggest x-drive is the better system, but then again numbers aren't everything.

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 6:23:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

bmw530i/cl550, wherever you are....if you're reading this know one thing.
WE MISS YOU
that's all.
this does seem to be a likely post that you'd read
try getting a new screen name like MBBMWCL530i?

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 6:44:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

No, LexusDude, no, i don't.

— SilverAero (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 7:20:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

no and i don't like BMW

— IamEvilHomer (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 12:50:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

My fault, I thought that XeroK00L said the RX would have made the slope (this is what happens when you name your vehicles so confusingly) The LX would probably do fine, but they were mostly testing wagons/crossovers.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 7:17:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

How many here have actually driven in the snow?

I have many times and it's not fun like those guys are having because when it snows they put down that saly solution to melt the ice and snow and that crap cakes in your wheel wells to the point the tries is rubbing on the ice.

But, what they're doing with those BMW's looks like a good time.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 8:37:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

i driv ein the snow often. the s drive will do very well if not outdo the lowly engineered quattro.

— AmazingBimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2006 10:28:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Another irelevant post by "AmazingBimmer"...

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 1:39:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

It was a good video but as someone or a couple of people above said, those were professional drivers going beyond the safe speed for that type of weather/driving. Whether or not it's the current generation it was a very good showing of very good AWD system. The fact that at those speeds they were able to give the car enough to drift just a bit around those curves was very impressive.

I don't think comparing them would ultimately make a winner, since most comparisons on this site and many others don't have a "end all" winner.

But the fact of the matter is that good winter tires with proper inflation and an AWD system is key in bad weather. But just the same, a talented driver with good tires can do almost as well with a FWD or RWD car. I still prefer AWD for year round driving.

This reminds me of a couple of days ago I was going into a shopping center and saw a silver probably 04 330xi parked at the curb. But it had steel wheels (17's to be exact) with winter tires. Now that driver is ready for anything.

— Mark (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 10:32:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I have both venerable cars and their respective upto date AWD versions from BMW and Audi. I own the latest generation A4 and the latest generation X3.

Both AWD systems apply themselves very well. However, I've always noticed when the X-drive is working under slippery conditions cause the car seems to jerk in the rear when engaged. The quattro works very seemlessly, I've never noticed it working at all, you're left driving through harsh terrain wondering if it was ever used at all.

BMW X3 - 40/60 AWD Torque Split = RWD goodness but under slippery condtions very noticeable transmission changes.

Audi A4 - 50/50 AWD Torque Split = No RWD dynamic but works effortlessly and unoticed. high confidence inspiring.

If i had to climb a hill of snow. My bed is that the 50/50 Torque Split is the most effective and much more predictive. I drive my cars very hard and noticed they're faults on each AWD systems. Drive the quattro and you wont feel like you're abusing the AWD system.

I enjoy both but i drive the x3 as my daily driver. I enjoy the road more with it.

— rom64 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 12:16:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I have both venerable cars and their respective upto date AWD versions from BMW and Audi. I own the latest generation A4 and the latest generation X3.

Both AWD systems apply themselves very well. However, I've always noticed when the X-drive is working under slippery conditions cause the car seems to jerk in the rear when engaged. The quattro works very seemlessly, I've never noticed it working at all, you're left driving through harsh terrain wondering if it was ever used at all.

BMW X3 - 40/60 AWD Torque Split = RWD goodness but under slippery condtions very noticeable transmission changes.

Audi A4 - 50/50 AWD Torque Split = No RWD dynamic but works effortlessly and unoticed. high confidence inspiring.

If i had to climb a hill of snow. My bed is that the 50/50 Torque Split is the most effective and much more predictive. I drive my cars very hard and noticed they're faults on each AWD systems. Drive the quattro and you wont feel like you're abusing the AWD system.

I enjoy both but i drive the x3 as my daily driver. I enjoy the road more with it.

— rom64 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 12:17:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

if I'm not mistaken the X3 can actually transmit almost 100% of its power to the front or rear wheels as needed and is infinitely variable, meaning the X3 can actually be almost completely front wheel drive, completely rear wheel drive, or anything in between (90/10, 13/87, 1/99, 97/3, etc.). I saw a demonstration, in person, where the X3 and new X5 pulled themselves up an inclined bed of rollers where three wheels were completely tractionless and only one wheel had traction. They did this with all four of the wheels and the X3 and X5 were able to make it up each time. The only other vehicle that was able to make it up the slope was the Acura MDX. The Volvo XC90, Lexus RX350, Mercedes ML500, and Audi Q7 were unable to complete the test.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 2:12:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Has anybody seen the Audi commercial where an 100 Quattro drives up the ski jump ramp? Truly awesome.

Question to ask - are studded tires being used? You could put 4 'studs' on a Camaro and it could get up most everything.

I've got 4 Blizzak's on my RWD MB S430 and the thing is unstoppable in the snow. Proper snow tires make a HUGE difference - go out and get them for your car, you'll be amazed.

— nybimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 12/18/2006 4:03:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1