05-02-2017, 08:58 AM | #1 |
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LCI 440 RWD vs xDrive
I'm trying to get back into an MT car (while supplies last!) and would really like an AWD vehicle. About a year ago, I drove a 340i xDrive with MSport and DHP and thought it handled like crap. It sat high, there was a lot of body roll (for a car its size) and the steering was far from BMW's past high standards. I never quite understood it, but with that car, I believe there was a difference in the MSport suspension components between RWD and xDrive vehicles.
Now I'm back at it, considering an LCI 440i xDrive 6MT. I'd spec the car with all the performance bits including MSport and Track Handling. But I was wondering whether anyone knew whether there is still a difference in the suspension componentry between the 440i and 440i xDrive. Any help is appreciated. btw, this is not a RWD v AWD thread. As you'll see from my sig below, I have a long history driving RWD BMWs.
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05-02-2017, 09:36 AM | #3 |
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The ride height is 10mm higher on the xDrive cars, otherwise the M adaptive suspension (part of track handling pack) is the same, I believe.
The M Sport suspension, OTOH, is only available on RWD cars. |
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05-02-2017, 10:34 AM | #4 |
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Drives: 2016 340i M Sport 6MT+RWD
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Location: Toronto, Ontario
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4 series standard height is lower than a 3 series by maybe half an inch so the xDrive height should still be lower than the 340i you drove but it'll still be too high and I think you'll experience the same issues as you had during your test drive. For the 4 Series, the suspension components ARE different between the two.
I've personally never bothered even trying an xDrive 3/4'er model because they sit quite high and I know that 10mm difference is going to make a difference, let alone the driving dynamics with the less sporty shocks/springs (I suspect the spring rating isn't as high as the RWD models). RWD models get beefier anti-roll bars as well. Based on your car history and the fact you didn't like how that 340i xDrive drove (440i isn't much smaller/lighter), you should go for RWD in your 440i. Although, best thing would be if you could test drive RWD and xDrive back to back to make an informed decision. In my opinion, only benefit of xDrive in a performance mindset is the acceleration... but it's marginal. PS. I tried to make it a response that wasn't RWD vs. xDrive but it's so hard not to! :P
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2016 Estoril Blue II 340i M Sport | ///MPPSK | 6MT | RWD | Fully Loaded
BM3 Stage 2+ 93 | B58TU HPFP | VRSF v2 Catted Downpipe | 550i Clutch Last edited by DrifterX; 05-02-2017 at 10:40 AM.. |
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05-02-2017, 11:35 AM | #5 |
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And this is exactly my conundrum . . . My 911 is my primary summer car (90%+). The 440 would be my "winter beater". That's why I'd really prefer to have an AWD vehicle.
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05-02-2017, 11:54 AM | #6 |
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the xdrive also comes with a square tire setup, correct? whereas an msport rwd will come with a staggered tire setup.
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05-02-2017, 12:31 PM | #7 | |
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Drives: 2016 340i M Sport 6MT+RWD
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Will you be the only one driving? - If not, do you trust anyone else to drive a RWD car with that much power? If you don't trust em, go AWD. - If you are the only person driving, go with RWD + Winter tires and enjoy. I had zero problems with traction this past winter (I have Blizzak WS80 winter tires). Done deal
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05-02-2017, 12:32 PM | #8 |
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No. The xDrive with Track Pack comes with staggered 19x8.0/19x18.5. Are the tires RFTs?
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05-02-2017, 12:35 PM | #9 |
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Drives: 2016 340i M Sport 6MT+RWD
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You can get an 18" square setup from factory for RWD as well. Or if you order 19" with all season tires (this option also removes the M Sport Brakes in Canada, btw!)
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05-02-2017, 01:10 PM | #11 |
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Was exactly what I was thinking, don't overthink this one. I own RWD, drive it year round, and recommend it over current generation of xDrive to anyone who will listen (mostly due to "softer feeling" and higher stock suspension on xDrive), but xDrive is better winter car, absolutely no doubt.
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05-02-2017, 01:50 PM | #13 |
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I'm in the same boat, pondering to go rwd or awd. Except a fwd Civic Type-R that i crashed, i've only driven rwd all my life. Haven't sampled a xdrive 3/4 yet, but i always managed to get through winter times with good tyres. Difference being i never had 320hp to play with.
You can have staggered with xDrive. Also you can get adaptive suspension and modify after if you don't like the feel. I think i'm going this path as well. |
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05-02-2017, 03:48 PM | #14 |
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I found an LCI 4GC at a local dealer. It has MSport and Track Packages. I'm going to drive it tomorrow. Hopefully that will give me a better perspective.
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05-02-2017, 04:03 PM | #15 |
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Nice find. First hand info is always valuable.
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05-02-2017, 07:24 PM | #16 |
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I confirm. Stagerred rft's
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2017 340i LCI //Glacier Silver Metallic //xDrive//MPPSK//Premium Package//M sport brakes //Vossen 20" CV7//6 MT//Performance front spoiler//Performance side blades//Performance diffuser//Performance trunk spoiler//Tinted//Coded//Painted reflectors//Matte black 340i badge//Powder coated MPPSK tips
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05-02-2017, 09:10 PM | #17 | |
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05-03-2017, 06:59 PM | #18 | ||
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Net, net . . . it's very good. I set the car to Sport and drove very twisty country roads (full of spring potholes). The car handled well and was very compliant. I wouldn't mistake it for an M3, but I won't complain about saving $10K and having the added security of xDrive. The GC had the black 18" wheels and they looked very small on the car. There was a lot of gap. The 19s will fill the wheel wells better, but I do believe that the car does sit higher than a similarly equipped RWD. The 4GC was Snapper Blue. It looked very nice on that car. I wish there was a black 19" wheel available. It'd be perfect with that color. Anyway, I was happy and ordered a 440i xDrive Coupe for early-September ED. It's fully loaded except for a few small things like rear sunshade and CarPlay. And it's a 6MT! I tentatively spec'd Snapper Blue with Cashmere Beige Merino Individual interior. Both exterior and interior colors may change, but the merino is a must for me to dress up what is otherwise a very down-market interior (imo). I'll have the MPPSK and a few other bits installed at the port.
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05-03-2017, 11:39 PM | #19 | |||
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According to BMW presser they didn't change the ride height for xdrive vs pre-lci but they put work into stiffening the suspension and steering across all variants. We will not see see shared sport suspension ride height between xdrive and rwd until the g20/g22 following the trend from the full g30 line and m240. |
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05-04-2017, 06:46 AM | #20 | |
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As an aside, the steering on the 4GC was a bit more interesting. In the 3er that I had driven last year, it was very light and not precise. In this car, I definitely felt more feedback (again, not like my Porsche), but it was very, very firm. In fact, I stopped shortly after I began the drive, because I thought that I could adjust the steering firmness independently of the suspension. You can't. So I lived with it on the drive and quickly got accustomed to it. However, for city driving - especially getting into city parking spaces - I'm gonna guess that I'll switch to comfort mode (or maybe spend more time with the weights at the gym). I think that's right. It should follow the G30 in that regard.
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05-04-2017, 10:23 AM | #21 |
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I don't know the technical differences but the x drive GC handles much better than the 340 with x drive. I drove both back to back on the same roads and liked the GC steering and suspension better: more planted, less body roll.
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05-04-2017, 11:00 AM | #22 | |
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