I've made up my mind
#1
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From: Zoo York
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Since I've firmly decided to sell my car (oh, about 5-6 mods ago ), I haven't really been able to decide between 535, 550, 335 coupe and e92 M3. While all of the above would make your humble narrator EXTREMELY happy, I've decided to go with the lightest and most economically moddable of the four - the 335 coupe. Now, I'm trying to figure out whether the coupe is really better in RWD or should I just opt for Xi and not worry about winters - it does snow in NY on occasion, global warming or not. Northeasterners driving RWD cars, what would you recommend?
#2
go with the xi, but then your gonna want a drop. I live in NY too, snow sucks. But if you do go with RWD, getting winter tires may be all you need. I know C's Bimmer used winter tires on his m5 and had no problems.
#3
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From: Zoo York
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Originally Posted by aresh' post='920831' date='Jun 23 2009, 05:57 AM
go with the xi, but then your gonna want a drop. I live in NY too, snow sucks. But if you do go with RWD, getting winter tires may be all you need. I know C's Bimmer used winter tires on his m5 and had no problems.
I like having AWD on the 530 bc the car is pretty heavy and having some extra traction helps in the twisties. On an e92 a RWD is both - better balanced and lighter, so it makes for a better experience. But again, I'm just guessing, since my driving experience of a RWD e92 is limited to one test drive I took about a year ago. Another thing I'm curious about is the LSD - it appears ludicrous that BMW would refuse to fit a proper Limited Slip Differential on their basically fastest non-M coupe.
Looked into some aftermarket LSDs real quick, but its retarded how much money they are. I'm planning to lease, so no LSD for me, unless I get the Xi, which - if I understand it correctly - has to come with at least some sort of differential...
PS COME TO THE BBQ MEET ON THE 11th!!!
#5
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From: New York, New York
My Ride: See my signature
335i is a great choice. A beautiful looking and very fast car -- fully capable of smoking my 550 in a stoplight war (I need the 5 Series' extra room).
I run 4 dedicated snows in the winter and always have (no 4 wheel drive for me -- I am sort of an old-fashioned puriust). Generally, I have been able to get around fine in a RWD car with 4 snow but it is not nearly as much traction as a 4WD. I have no run my 550 in the winter yet. My 540 was fine in the winter with 4 snows and I took it up to Vermont for skiing without a problem.
I run 4 dedicated snows in the winter and always have (no 4 wheel drive for me -- I am sort of an old-fashioned puriust). Generally, I have been able to get around fine in a RWD car with 4 snow but it is not nearly as much traction as a 4WD. I have no run my 550 in the winter yet. My 540 was fine in the winter with 4 snows and I took it up to Vermont for skiing without a problem.
#6
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From: 11791
My Ride: 2008 BMW 535XI white
Model Year: 2008
Originally Posted by aresh' post='920831' date='Jun 23 2009, 05:57 AM
go with the xi, but then your gonna want a drop. I live in NY too, snow sucks. But if you do go with RWD, getting winter tires may be all you need. I know C's Bimmer used winter tires on his m5 and had no problems.
winter tire can handle light snow, when it comes to heavy snow, nothing compare to AWD
i live in new york as well, i get RWD only if i have another AWD, but too bad, i only have one car, so must be AWD
#7
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From: SoCal
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
I grew up in Denver, so I got more snow (even have a Nov birthday so I took my driving test in the snow), I couldn't give up the handling advantages of a RWD car, not to mention the weight savings. I would get the M3 4-door. Then get a good set of winter tires and you should be fine. I know very well how to drive in snow, but the main concern living in the Northeast (and I lived in NY for years) is black ice and 4WD won't help you at all on that. Get the RWD and have more fun when it isn't snowing.
#9
The 335i coupe curb weight is only 60 lbs less than the 535i. Throw on some light wheels, non runflats, and dump the spare tire and the curb weight will be even. Any xi is going to be a few hundred lbs heavier. Since the E60 is also in its last year of production it will be the better financial deal as well aka incentivized. The M3 is nice but you'll pay a premium to have it in cost and insurance. The M3 V8 and the I6 TT have about the same amount of torque.
RE: Xi, you don't need it. Get a set of dedicated winter wheels/tires.
RE: Xi, you don't need it. Get a set of dedicated winter wheels/tires.
#10
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From: Zoo York
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
if you got the money
But I'm decided on the 335 - just not sure whether I should get the xi or i
Originally Posted by ObD' post='921026' date='Jun 23 2009, 12:29 PM
The 335i coupe curb weight is only 60 lbs less than the 535i. Throw on some light wheels, non runflats, and dump the spare tire and the curb weight will be even. Any xi is going to be a few hundred lbs heavier. Since the E60 is also in its last year of production it will be the better financial deal as well aka incentivized. The M3 is nice but you'll pay a premium to have it in cost and insurance. The M3 V8 and the I6 TT have about the same amount of torque.
RE: Xi, you don't need it. Get a set of dedicated winter wheels/tires.
RE: Xi, you don't need it. Get a set of dedicated winter wheels/tires.
I don't want to pay the extras - neither is price, nor insurance. Nor do I particularly see the reason for paying so much money for an M3, when you can get a 335coupe, customize the sh!t out of it and still have 10 g's left for a cross-country vacation drive.