booster_tx

I've been eyeing a RWD 2008 535i m sport for its benefits of sports transmission.
Now that I found out that all you need is the ECU+shifter to get the heavy steering wheel + SAT I question if the RWD option is the right choice.
I fear the 400+HP (my goal) and open diff may result in severe lack of traction.
Would the 535xi m sport with the SAT shifter/ECU be a better option. What else would be different between the two? How reliable is the XWD system?

I wouldn't bother installing the paddle shifter, as I don't really see it being beneficial, unless you have a real DSG transmission.
Opinions?

JDeezyNYC

I vote Rwd. In almost any application the awd version of a car is heavier and slower because some of the power is lost on the way to the distribution of both axels. Also if you are going to mod the car, the awd factor can make certain things more difficult/ unavailable.
If you are not going to be driving the car more than 4 months a year in snow or even if you have a 2nd beater car, i say RWD is the way to go. Never in my life have I regretted RWD...even when it snows heavy realistically my car MIGHT be out of commission for 5-6 days out of the ENTIRE year and to me that doesn't justify getting AWD.

rice_rocket88

I agree with JDeezy ... but even though I have the luxury of having an extra car... it's for the kids and a FWD minivan. Being in Boston downtown area is vastly different than in the suburbs where I am. Also, parking/putting your car in and out of a snow ditch is hell. I've gone with AWD Turbo for every single car I have bought since I've had $$. Growing up in Calgary it was all FWD and you can certainly get by. There are certainly a ton of limitations on the 535xi that I have.. mainly suspension components.. and heck even the exhaust. The downpipes that fit the Xdrive has a serious dent in it to clear the front, which to me is a big drop in performance even if it was straight pipes. But.. to get 400hp is going to be pretty easy with or without that restriction.

Any RWD car with fat wide traction on the back is going to be just as good as an AWD car.. it's just a hell of a lot easier with an AWD car If I didn't worry so much about the incliment weather I would have had an M car a long time ago..

booster_tx

Hmmm, thank you for your options.
It's not just the RWD that's the problem, it's the one wheel drive.
I currently own a RWD G37, with and open diff (328hp). The lack of traction is really annoying, I can't come out of a turn, while accelerating moderately without wheel spin. That's in dry, forget about wet and with dedicated summer rubber (can't remember the brand).
How fat would the tire have to be to keep the power down with an open diff?

rice_rocket88

That's a question I can't answer since I don't have the RWD. But.. don't be fooled, even with my mild modded car I can fishtail out of a corner if I romp on it.. but there will be no fantastic burnouts or tire patches... I just love AWD, unless of course I am aiming to do the "fun" stuff.

JDeezyNYC

I think BMW traction assist does a pretty good job at keepin my car in check....or maybe It's because I've been driving for 17 years...or maybe I just drive like a granny I don't know LoL

my first car was an 85 Monte Carlo with no traction and my last 3 cars have been Rear drive and I haven't had that "oh shit" moment since I was about 21-22 years old. I guess I pick and choose where I floor the gas in everyday situations.

booster_tx

I'm used to XWD, with eLSD...you punch it and it goes, in dry or wet.
It's a bit of an adjustment, I suppose.

mweine

I have an E60 535i XDrive MSport 6M with the Dinan stage 2 upgrade (360+ HP and torque). I never lose traction and never have torque steer. It just goes and throws me back into my seat!! Still considering if it is worth it to upgrade to Dinan Stage 3 (400+ HP and Tq)

rice_rocket88

I was impatient today stuck behind some douchebag to decided to drive all the way up to an entrance lane (on the outside lane) and slam on his brakes and signal to "cut" in. Although I was pretty silent about it, the two cars behind me were non stop honking their horns.. my assumption was for the idiot blocking the lane and not me.. since there was no possible way of me getting by him.

So when there was enough room after about 5 or 10 minutes of us being stuck there I just floored it. Even with the x-drive and.. my jb4 car I managed to spin all 4 and get traction control to shut down my power for a split second to stop it. I did "crabwalk" it for a few seconds and went on my merry way.

I would still call that losing traction, and I would hope your Dinan stage 2 could do the same