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

[sector6]

Ok, so down with the E46 XI. Thanks for all the input.

I guess I should have made this a Subaru thread :)

[nando]

And so what that it does not limit slipping? There are three pedals supposed to be in car for a reason. Treacherous understeer? Downshift or clutchkick. Way too much oversteer? Lift your right foot. And so on...
.

you can't control differential slip based on your foot. I'm talking torque going to the wheel with the *least* grip. you get stuck because all the differentials are open. No amount of footwork will change that. These kinds of AWD systems are pointless, you'd be better off in a RWD car with an LSD and studs. Except BMW doesn't offer LSD anymore except on M models..

[atmobenzin]

No amount of footwork will change that. These kinds of AWD systems are pointless,

Agreed, but I am just saying that the TC does not help at all, just makes it worse by creating larger chance to get stuck due to not letting any of wheels spin when needed.

you'd be better off in a RWD car with an LSD and studs. Except BMW doesn't offer LSD anymore except on M models..

Ground clearance and good winter tires would be more important in my book, after that would come an lsd and other things.

And studs or no studs is yet whole another discussion...

:)

[mrmckie]

I was in your boat earlier this year when i picked up my 5 spd 99 CRV awd for $3500 from a friend over a e46 xit for $11k w/ 68k on it in april and i don't regret it. I considered a wrx/9-2x wagon as well but decided to go the cheaper road and sacrifice the speed for gas mileage and maintenance

I'm looking forward to seeing how this thing does in the snow once winter hits with my snows on...

did i mention it uses 87 and i get 26mpg...hehehe..it's kinda slow though lol

[nando]

26mpg is about the same as our subaru gets. But the subaru has other drawbacks I guess.

[nrubenstein]

Honestly, the E46 xi is not bad in the snow at all. It isn't a performance system, but on the other hand you don't have to worry about burning out a viscous coupler, either. It's mostly annoying when you're driving at the limit in the dry. It's actually wicked fun to autox one with the ABS fuses pulled.

Is it as good as an iX? Maybe not. On the other hand, they have more ground clearance.

On similar tires, I always thought my E46 xiT was better than the '02 Subaru WRX in the snow. The Subaru's front heavy understeer tendencies were quite annoying and the braking performance was horrible.

[sector6]

again, thanks!

So, E30 IX vs Subaru...I think I might lean towards a Subaru. I know a guy who is a dealer and goes to the auto auctions regularly. I'm going to see what he can dig up in the lines of a WRX (non-STI).

[bimmer630]

I never had a problem driving an xdrive in the snow. When you do get really stuck and the dsc starts cutting power and activating brakes etc, just turn it off.

other than that ive been saved a few times going into a corner sliding, the dsc and x drive sorta pointed the car back in the direction i was trying to go