Thinking about a E46 XI for winter - what should I know before hand?

[Kershaw]

i wasnt aware walmart parking lots have rally stages.

[bmwguy325is]

A lot of the owner watch way to much rally and often take them to walmart parking lots and rally jump them. Ripples around the sun roof is a tell tell sign.

[Kershaw]

Not having any first-hand experience in a X-Drive car, I would have thought the opposite (especially being the almighty BMW). I would have figured they'd have their shit together with AWD.

it's all downhill after the e30.

buy an ix.

[sector6]

you should know it's not an e30.

Obvisously it's not an E30, like I said above, I have no first-hand experience with X-Drive and would have assumed they might have their shit together by now. Guess not from what I'm reading!

[sector6]

I've lived in eastern Canada and Boston for a bunch of years, so I have lots of experience driving in the icy/slushy/slick conditions up there. In my experience, the BMW "X-Drive" system is among the absolute WORST when it comes to really slippery conditions. It basically just cuts power. Very difficult to control in a slide, and very hard to get moving once you're stopped if it's really slick. Honestly, you'd be better off with a regular RWD BMW. As long as it's got snow tires and a functioning LSD, you'll be in better shape than you would with an X-Drive car.

If you insist on AWD, get a Subaru with mechanical/viscous diffs. My dad's '05 Forester 2.5 XT was very surefooted in the snow and ice. It had reasonable ground clearance without being wallowy. Never got stuck. Much better than my '03 Lancer Evo VIII (although that car had 400hp, was very low, and ran 255/40-R17 rubber).

Honestly, my old '90 325iX was pretty much the perfect winter beater. I still regret selling it. It was a 1-owner car originally purchased by a BMW CCA life-time member and came with full service history from day 1. With 205/55-R15 snow tires, that thing was a billy goat. Best winter car I've ever driven.

Thanks for the input. I'm trying to keep the E30 out of the snow/salt as it's counter productive for restoration purposes. :)

Not having any first-hand experience in a X-Drive car, I would have thought the opposite (especially being the almighty BMW). I would have figured they'd have their shit together with AWD.

I was actually first thinking about getting a Subaru, so I will look into that further. One reason I was asking, is that the two seem to be around the same price range of 10k for what I was looking at.

Being in the higher elevations of MA, I'm definitely leaning towards AWD. Perhaps a basic Subaru WRX with a nice set of blizzaks or something similar.
Thanks again.

[Kershaw]

you should know it's not an e30.

[Emre]

I've lived in eastern Canada and Boston for a bunch of years, so I have lots of experience driving in the icy/slushy/slick conditions up there. In my experience, the BMW "X-Drive" system is among the absolute WORST when it comes to really slippery conditions. It basically just cuts power. Very difficult to control in a slide, and very hard to get moving once you're stopped if it's really slick. Honestly, you'd be better off with a regular RWD BMW. As long as it's got snow tires and a functioning LSD, you'll be in better shape than you would with an X-Drive car.

If you insist on AWD, get a Subaru with mechanical/viscous diffs. My dad's '05 Forester 2.5 XT was very surefooted in the snow and ice. It had reasonable ground clearance without being wallowy. Never got stuck. Much better than my '03 Lancer Evo VIII (although that car had 400hp, was very low, and ran 255/40-R17 rubber).

Honestly, my old '90 325iX was pretty much the perfect winter beater. I still regret selling it. It was a 1-owner car originally purchased by a BMW CCA life-time member and came with full service history from day 1. With 205/55-R15 snow tires, that thing was a billy goat. Best winter car I've ever driven.

[sector6]

Hi guys,
As the title says, I'm looking for a E46 (preferably a 330) for winter. I don't know anything about the E46 series.
Anything specific i should be on the lookout for when considering a purchase? Any input would be greatly appreciated. TIA