BMW to go all wheel drive route

antijoke

antijoke

antijoke

Caporegime
Joined
28 Jan 2003
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Location
England
So I read in a paper over the weekend that BMW are looking to introduce all wheel drive across the range of 3/5/7 series BMW's in the UK.

I am trying to find a source to back this up, but at the moment failing.

So what would be the opinion on this? Would this be a wise move to add this as an option to the line up?
 
I suppose as long as its offered as a choice on models rather than the only specification then its not a bad thing. If thats what the customer wants then he can now have it. Rather than Audi who dont have a non quattro option for any of their top of the range models.
Probably wont go down as well in the second hand market when purists want RWD and nothing else. They have offered ix models on the continent for years.
 
panthro said:
Probably wont go down as well in the second hand market when purists want RWD and nothing else. They have offered ix models on the continent for years.
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"Purists" will have such a hard time finding a non- *20d SE that I think they will compromise :D
 
I somehow doubt this will see a wholesale change in their ranges, more likely and option which does make a lot of sense. Reality is in British conditions 4WD makes a lot of sense in a car putting out proper power and while it does impact on the 'purity' on a sunny day when you're pushing on (in small ways) the reality is most of the time it is epic, not least when it's wet or snowy.
 
I doubt they will catch on, I assume there will be fuel economy loss etc for not much benefit 51 weeks of the year.
 
You know how 4x4 have 2wd (front) and 4wd, couldn't someone do the reverse? So RWD and AWD selectable?
 
I don't know how the old ix cars were run but I can't see someone like BMW putting adjustable centre diffs on the cars, however good that would be. That's something I'd only expect to see on cars designed for off roading to be honest (which BMW don't make).

I expect it'll just be a car version of what the X5 etc. have (which I don't know how that runs) though.

Sukh said:
You know how 4x4 have 2wd (front) and 4wd, couldn't someone do the reverse? So RWD and AWD selectable?
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Technically yes, but I can't see someone doing it to be honest, most people favour FWD as it's 'safer'.
 
The 4WD on my RS4 will bias RWD which was a first for Audi I believe and the R8 is even more so, putting up to 80% to the rears.
 
Sukh said:
You know how 4x4 have 2wd (front) and 4wd, couldn't someone do the reverse? So RWD and AWD selectable?
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Vauxhall Frontera, normally RWD. Can't use 4wd on grippy surfaces (non icy tarmac) though because there's no centre diff which causes the front axle to wind up and break.
 
Housey said:
The 4WD on my RS4 will bias RWD which was a first for Audi I believe and the R8 is even more so, putting up to 80% to the rears.
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This is what I'd want to see on the BMWs personally and it's something that upsets me about the Quattro Audis (A3, A4, A6 etc, not RS4 etc.) that they don't do it, I'd much rather rear bias to front bias. Saying that, my AWD experiences have been Jeeps and Land Rover Defenders and I'm unsure if they even have a bias. :p

Still, prefer RWD to FWD and the Quattro Audis I have been in just seem like FWD ones to me, didn't feel any different really. What annoys me the most about the Audis though is people that have them assume it means they have AWD/4x4. :/
 
The RS4 is 40:60 F:R split I believe, it does feel more RWD than FWD when pushing on, well until the nose starts to push wide like all Audi's!
 
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