[ezmaass]

I've driven RWD BMWs for a long, long time in the snowy northeast. It's perfectly acceptable so long as you know how to control the car in each circumstance.

However, I decided to go xDrive with the 550 purchase. The reality is, while RWD is perfectly fine, AWD is superior in the snow - there's no doubt about it. Find yourself in a slightly slick situation trying to get up a hill, and AWD can do wonders when giving all four wheels the ability to help motivate the car.

That said, where people go wrong:

1. AWD isn't a substitute for good tires. If you're going to be in a heavily snowy area, winter tires are going to have the biggest impact on finding traction. Winter tires on an AWD car? Priceless.

2. AWD helps cars find traction to accelerate - doesn't help STOP them, though.

I enjoyed RWD on my previous 3-series cars, but the 5 certainly does well with xDrive. I bought this car to be as comfortable, powerful, and pampering as possible - and I think xDrive is integral to that mission, as it's one more aid that will help ensure the car controls to the best of its ability regardless of driving environment.