[pwrplaya]

Any advice in choosing between the 528i with or without X-Drive. This will be my daily driver for commuting between DC and Baltimore. Is there any reason I shouldn't get the X-Drive? Realistically, how much worse is the fuel economy with X-Drive?

I test-drove a 535i w/ X-Drive and 528i w/ X-Drive, and I have to say, the N20 engine is pretty awesome! The engine is quite and very smooth, not nearly as powerful as the N55, but it'll be plenty for just cruising to work.

Thanks in advance!

[bimmer man]

Xdrive is the best choice, automatic transmission is standard ix drive so price difference for the x-drive is small. Second Hand Value is much higher for the x drive. I have run the 525d xDrive and it is very good and stable direction is suberb. And it is as economical and has the same acceleration and top speed, the are only advantages with xDrive. I am super happy with my 535d xDrive and have no regrets that I chose xDrive.

[Bimmernerd]

Originally Posted by pwrplaya

Any advice in choosing between the 528i with or without X-Drive. This will be my daily driver for commuting between DC and Baltimore. Is there any reason I shouldn't get the X-Drive? Realistically, how much worse is the fuel economy with X-Drive?

I test-drove a 535i w/ X-Drive and 528i w/ X-Drive, and I have to say, the N20 engine is pretty awesome! The engine is quite and very smooth, not nearly as powerful as the N55, but it'll be plenty for just cruising to work.

Thanks in advance!

XDrive, no doubt about it! Then you also get the much better hydraulic steering!

[BmoreF10]

If you plan on modifying the car at all then go without xDrive. It's a little disappointing that there still are no coilovers available for my 535i xDrive.

[joey5622]

get xdrive!! i hate the electrical steering that comes on non xdrive cars... don't know if its the same everywhere tho because it is in canada.

and i've always been fond of all wheel drive cars

[rhinosaur]

It all depends. I chose not to add xDrive because I don't think it is necessary in mild climate countries such as Portugal. As it is, the standard version is already pretty safe and in fact the second hand market there rates AWD cars a bit negatively (as compared with the 2WD cars) because in AWD you have additional tire wear, lower mileage and higher emissions.

But again, it all depends on the kind of roads and how the climate changes in your area.

[Nobleman]

If you planned to daily drive DC to Baltimore, definitely you need xdrive car. I had 3 bmws 2 wheel drive before and bmw is really bad on snow. Specially F10 is very heavy car and with 2 wheel drive they will not move at all. Trust me, even though bmws are very powerful car, they will not move at all even with little snow fall. Many times I got stuck on snow, couldn't move at all. I Live NJ and I think DC area is almost same weather. Luckly we didnt have much snow this year but there will be a time snow falls like crazy again. If you have second car, its ok to get 2 wheel drive but if not go for xdive car. You will never regret when snow falls like crazy.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by pwrplaya

Any advice in choosing between the 528i with or without X-Drive. This will be my daily driver for commuting between DC and Baltimore. Is there any reason I shouldn't get the X-Drive? Realistically, how much worse is the fuel economy with X-Drive?

I test-drove a 535i w/ X-Drive and 528i w/ X-Drive, and I have to say, the N20 engine is pretty awesome! The engine is quite and very smooth, not nearly as powerful as the N55, but it'll be plenty for just cruising to work.

Thanks in advance!

I have driven a RWD BMW for the last 10 years in the DC region. Never felt the need for X-drive. The roads are cleaned fairly quickly now, I have never been stuck anywhere. I bought the F10 528 RWD

[sieben1973]

Question should be do you want a BMW or AWD car?

[bimmer man]

[QUOTE=sieben1973;11575043]Question should be do you want a BMW or AWD car?[/What do you mean by that.QUO

[535DMSport]

An XDrive 535d is definately slower than a RWD 535d, on a dry day

[bimmer man]

Originally Posted by 535DMSport

An XDrive 535d is definately slower than a RWD 535d, on a dry day

No. you're wrong. 535d and 535d xDrive does 0-100 km / h at the same time, 5.5 sec. For the 530d and 530d xDrive. XDrive is quicker 6.0 sec to 6.1 sec and the 550i xDrive is 0.2 sec faster than the 550i. Same is for 535i xDrive by 0.2 sec faster than 535i, etc. On M550d are xDrive standard because of maximum performance and grip.

[mspeasl]

How often is AWD needed to justify the expense..........? Snow is cleared usually within 24 hours in most cities and Interstates.

[JNoSol]

xDrive = More weight + More things to break. Just throw in a nice set of winter tires when it gets below 40, and the F10 rolls around like a tank. I got around for 2yrs w RWD BMWs, with no winter tires and no issues. When there are 1ft of snow out, you shouldn't be driving no matter what car you have (unless it's been plowed of course). When you do drive on snow/ice, just use common sense (i.e. Don't take on a big steep hill w/o momentum, etc.)

Keep in mind those old American RWD cars w/o traction control have been doing this w/o AWD for a century. Talk to the guys in Europe, they just swap out tires when the season change.

[Radamez]

I say Xdrive if you live in a region where the weather is rough in the winter. I'm in Jersey so Xdrive was necessary for me. If you have 2nd car that can get you through rough winters go without the Xdrive and put that money to something else.

[Radamez]

Originally Posted by mspeasl

How often is AWD needed to justify the expense..........? Snow is cleared usually within 24 hours in most cities and Interstates.

Here in Jersey that's true for major roadways only. The problem is most folks live on side streets that are not even easy to walk along let alone drive car without traction control.

[bimmer man]

Of course, there is considerable where you live in the world. running on hot asphalt in Saudi Arabia or driving on Norwegian winter roads. Driving on roads with lots of turns or driving straight roads. But Xdrive costs as little extra and automatic transmission is standard on the X drive. So there's nothing to regret if you buy Xdrive.

[raleedy]

xDrive sacrifices fuel economy and traditional BMW handling in exchange for a drive train that will quickly get you up to a speed at which you cannot brake or steer. RWD and 4 winter tires is a better choice.

[sieben1973]

[QUOTE=bimmer man;11575211]

Originally Posted by sieben1973

Question should be do you want a BMW or AWD car?[/What do you mean by that.QUO

This is why
xDrive sacrifices fuel economy and traditional BMW handling in exchange for a drive train that will quickly get you up to a speed at which you cannot brake or steer. RWD and 4 winter tires is a better choice.

[AlexK]

Originally Posted by pwrplaya

Realistically, how much worse is the fuel economy with X-Drive?

Go to www.fueleconomy.gov and compare yourself.
As for whether it's worth it or not - I have an extensive experience with xDrive equipped vehicles, and in my honest opinion it's not really worth it. There IS a fuel consumption difference (regardless of how small it is), as well as price difference between these models. Plus even the "base" RWD F10 is, in general, already overweight (and really feels like it), adding in xDrive will further increase its weight (regardless of how small it is). Plus you have to remember that xDrive only helps you to start moving, it will NOT help with stopping distance or prevent any skidding/sliding while the car is already moving - these things are ONLY affected by the quality of tires (which you should NEVER try to "save" money on), and with bad tires (like 99% of "all-season" tires) you won't even be able to start moving (if all the tires have 0 traction - it doesn't matter if you have FWD, RWD or AWD). Also remember that most public roads are cleared very well in most regions here, and if the road is still not cleared and have like 10" of snow - you shouldn't even attempt at driving through it because F10 (all of the models) has very low ground clearance and you'll have a high chance of "high centering" your car (where too much snow "gathers" underneath so front or rear wheels lose contact with road surface) or breaking something off (like I broke the fragile plastic mesh on front bumper when trying to use my 328xi as "snow plow").
Long story short - get a RWD model and invest saved $$$ into a set of dedicated winter tires.

[Bimmernerd]

Originally Posted by raleedy

xDrive sacrifices fuel economy and traditional BMW handling in exchange for a drive train that will quickly get you up to a speed at which you cannot brake or steer. RWD and 4 winter tires is a better choice.

No, xDrive and four winter tires are the best choices - at least here in Sweden where winters can be really bad with LOTS of snow...

[BMWMB]

My 530d xDrive has 10% more fuel consumption. Handling is perfect. Greatest advance is that you have allways full traction. This is my first xDrive, but for sure not my last. ;-)