[Davidoff]

Hi all, could anyone tell me what the xdrive system is like. Is it strong and reliable? I don't know whether to purchase awd or rwd on a 330d. My current car has been taken off the market as it is in the garage again with awd problems. This is kind of putting me of awd, hence the question.
Thanks

[teaston]

I've never heard of anyone having problems with it!

[MickyD'bo]

All I know is that I have total confidence in all weathers unlike any of the 9 RWD BMW's I've had in the past. Traction from a standing start and out of corners is ROCK solid. In terms of overall reliability, not sure only had the xDrive for 6 weeks...fingers crossed.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Davidoff

......My current car has been taken off the market as it is in the garage again with awd problems.....

What do you own at the moment then? Under your user name, its says you own a 330d. So do you already own a 330d xdrive?

[Davidoff]

Originally Posted by dopper99

What do you own at the moment then? Under your user name, its says you own a 330d. So do you already own a 330d xdrive?

I don't have one yet. I had to say I owned one in order to register with the forum. I am trying to sell my current car so I can buy a 330d. It's taking forever and doing my head in.

[ronime]

Not heard of any failures reported here recently. There have been widely reported issues with transfer cases in the past with older models but the impression that I get is that this was a fairly long time in the past and they are now fairly trouble free.

The specific issue that I have knowledge of is a weakness in one of the gears in the actuator for the torque biasing clutch rather than any weakness in the power transfer mechanism itself. The offending part is a fine toothed nylon gear wheel that tends to strip its teeth and has since been replaced with a stronger design. The actual drive transfer is via a chain/steel belt.

For rapid emergence from a wet T junction the xDrive is spot on. No fuss or drama. We have had a very mild winter here in the UK so I will get a better idea of it's capabilities if we have harsher conditions next Winter. Be aware that xDrive will not help with braking and turning on icy roads, you will need winter tyres to remedy this particular problem.

I suspect that steering lock is reduced with xDrive and therefore a larger turning circle but this might be simply due to a longer wheelbase than my previous car.

[robbiep]

Just be aware that, in the past, there have been issues if tyres are of differing circumferences - so you had to replace tyres in pairs. Basically, the system sees the difference in rolling circumference as slippage, and engages the AWD, this can lead to transmission windup and wear.
That was true of older X-drive models, not sure if it's still the case.
If your concern is for grip - especially in winter - then RWD with winter tyres is pretty good. Yes, AWD with winters is better, but even that can't overcome the laws of physics.

[335dxdrive]

System is too new to have common faults in 10 years time we will see

[ZigmundUK]

I've had an Audi A3 Quattro, which is the haldex system and I had horrendous problems with that. It worked well when it worked but gave in the ghost and turned into a 2wd car. Quotes over £5k to fix so I ended up selling for a £2k loss. I'll never go near an Audi again.

I test drove the g30 530d xdrive on the wet and as stated on this thread already coming out of a wet junction/roundabout it's beautiful. Instead of that moment on rwd where the traction goes and power is cut to straighten out, in the xdrive the power just moves to the front and you keep pulling and it corrects the line.

It still felt like the push was from the rear around corners rather than the classic understeer on fwd cars.

Why don't you look into the 335d - you get xdrive standard on that don't you plus I'm sure some other extras as standard....

Edit: oh and I had the 330d rwd f31 on winters and it was ok but not super impressive. I'm always conscious on my rwd cars with winters that it will not pull miracles - it's mainly for the cold and wet with the odd smattering of snow. But I frequently feel the rear go in the wet - winters arguably aren't as good on the wet as summers and summers aren't as good in the cold as winters. Result: at under 7 degrees C in the wet you can't really push the car to limits coz the traction is pretty lame. This is where I think x drive excels in the uk...

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Just be aware that, in the past, there have been issues if tyres are of differing circumferences - so you had to replace tyres in pairs. Basically, the system sees the difference in rolling circumference as slippage, and engages the AWD, this can lead to transmission windup and wear.
That was true of older X-drive models, not sure if it's still the case.
If your concern is for grip - especially in winter - then RWD with winter tyres is pretty good. Yes, AWD with winters is better, but even that can't overcome the laws of physics.

I thought all the Bmw standard options maintained the circumference front and rear? It's the width that alters on the staggered setup right?

[Davidoff]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

I've had an Audi A3 Quattro, which is the haldex system and I had horrendous problems with that. It worked well when it worked but gave in the ghost and turned into a 2wd car. Quotes over £5k to fix so I ended up selling for a £2k loss. I'll never go near an Audi again.

I test drove the g30 530d xdrive on the wet and as stated on this thread already coming out of a wet junction/roundabout it's beautiful. Instead of that moment on rwd where the traction goes and power is cut to straighten out, in the xdrive the power just moves to the front and you keep pulling and it corrects the line.

It still felt like the push was from the rear around corners rather than the classic understeer on fwd cars.

Why don't you look into the 335d - you get xdrive standard on that don't you plus I'm sure some other extras as standard....

Yep, Haldex. Utter shite. It's an Insignia VXR I have with this system. I've already had the Haldex reconditioned and uprated, now it is leaking oil. Been off the road and off the market for 3 weeks now. This is what is holding me back from another BMW.
Good to hear positive things about xdrive though. I'll be looking to buy a car with around 35000 on the clock, so I would hope it is still bullet proof.

[GEP77]

I've put 68,000 miles on my 335d xdrive and I've not had a single fault relating to the transmission. I've had a few others faults, all rectified under warranty, but these were all on components shared with sdrive cars.

Try both back to back. Ideally in both the dry and wet to get an idea of what you're buying. A good dealer should be able to accommodate that.

[dopper99]

I dont know of anyone on here reporting major xdrive issues so one could assume its very reliable.
If you can stump up the extra go for the 335d. Hardly any difference in fuel consumption from what folks have said on here but its a quicker, more torquey car. It'll make your VXR seem slow.

If you buy a 330d xdrive, you'll be constantly wishing you'd bought the 335d, especially when you see one on the road.


Dont forget, BMW have been making xdrives for years, just not selling them in the UK until the last 4-5 years, so they'll had plenty of experience at it.

[skipraider]

I think the Insignia VXR is known for having issues with the 4wd system. Haven't heard of any issues with the x drive.

[NISFAN]

xDrive is very reliable, but bland, heavy and costs you at the pumps.

Does it have to be AWD?

[Mattyk]

Welcome OP

I find xdrive great, especially in the wet.

I've nailed my old 335d from lights in very wet conditions on 3mm tread tyres and it still squatted down and set off with gusto / not a murmur of wheel spin.

IMO it's well suited to our climate, but that's just my view.

(obviously winter tyres will help stopping in winter etc, there's probably a good argument for rwd and winters being better than awd given they are the interface with the road but that's for after you've bought the car)

On a general note, so we know how best to spend your money, Did you get the full forum membership where you just add you bank / PayPal details and we shop for you? It saves time in the long run

[Mattyk]

If your buying new, I found the 435d GC cheaper than a 335d based on low finance rates at the time (last Dec).

[RalphyBMW]

I've got 14 plate 330dx estate
Traction is great, with a 2WD rear ARB (now standard) and ACS springs it will step out on a damp roundabout if you are aggressive with the throttle.

The 330 is quick; I felt the Focus RS was slow by comparison, but that was probably down to requiring more effort/change of driving style, but it does lack a bit of involvement.

xDrive was fine in winter (with winter rubber) but rubbish on mud/wet grass, I very nearly got mine stuck on a gentle incline.

On the plus side, very refined, and mine has averaged over 41mpg from new / 32k miles.

I'd like to replace mine with an M3, partly because I want more involvement, but am torn as it will inevitably be worse at most day to day things where the 330dx excels.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by RalphyBMW

I've got 14 plate 330dx estate
Traction is great, with a 2WD rear ARB (now standard) and ACS springs it will step out on a damp roundabout if you are aggressive with the throttle.

The 330 is quick; I felt the Focus RS was slow by comparison, but that was probably in terms of effort, but it does lack a bit of involvement.

On the plus side, very refined, and mine has averaged over 41mpg from new / 32k miles.

I'd like to replace mine with an M3, partly because I want more involvement, but am torn as it will inevitably be worse at most day to day things where the 330dx excels.

That's good mpg for 330d xdrive. I had an f31 rwd and did about that (maybe a tad less )

[Davidoff]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Does it have to be AWD?

It doesn't have to be. I'm just used to the awd(when it works) on the Insignia. Despite it's problems, it's a very well balanced car. Especially for 2 tons.

[Davidoff]

Originally Posted by dopper99

If you buy a 330d xdrive, you'll be constantly wishing you'd bought the 335d, especially when you see one on the road.
.

I have considered this.

[Davidoff]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

On a general note, so we know how best to spend your money, Did you get the full forum membership where you just add you bank / PayPal details and we shop for you? It saves time in the long run

I never got the full membership, I only registered to do some detective work before I take the leap into buying. I only have half the money for a car at the moment as the rest is tied up in the Insignia.