325xi vs. 330xi

[AWD330XI]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a 2004 black/tan BMW 330xi with the premium package. I just want to introduce myself. Also, can you tell me if I will be able to drive my car in snow with ease? Is this car just as good in the snow as the 325xi? This will be my daily driver and I live in New York. Thanks in advance for the input.

-Mike

 

[Militant-Grunt]

what does stand for any way?

 

[SoonerE39]

what does stand for any way?

What does what stand for?

 

[codex57]

xi stands for all wheel drive (BMW's version).

Since the 330 is basically just the 325 with a bigger engine, it should be pretty much the same cept more fun because of the extra power.

 

[carcus]

xi stands for all wheel drive (BMW's version).

Since the 330 is basically just the 325 with a bigger engine, it should be pretty much the same cept more fun because of the extra power.

Yep. The X is for AWD. Great selection.....nice bit of bump in power also with the 330. Any pics?

 

[Tom]

Welcome aboard Mike.

 

[donmbmw]

I have a friend with the 330xi and she loves it. After last weeks snow, I was thinking I maybe
should have gotten it instead of the rwd 330i, but after putting on dunlop winter sports and driving in todays rotten snow w/no incident. I have no regrets. Good luck with your new car. Is it the steptronic transmission? If so, I uge you to view the "sliptronic" thread and make comments. I am curious to know if new samples are still being shipped with the defect.
Welcome aboard

 

[AWD330XI]

Traded in my 350Z for this car

...and do not miss it one bit. It was very overrated in power and terrible in even the lightest snow. I will post pics in a couple of weeks.

 

[recognize]

I have a friend with the 330xi and she loves it. After last weeks snow, I was thinking I maybe
should have gotten it instead of the rwd 330i, but after putting on dunlop winter sports and driving in todays rotten snow w/no incident. I have no regrets. Good luck with your new car. Is it the steptronic transmission? If so, I uge you to view the "sliptronic" thread and make comments. I am curious to know if new samples are still being shipped with the defect.
Welcome aboard

hey donbmw...good to hear your car did well with the dunlops as i am awaiting my 04 330i and have ordered the dunlops as well. i also am worried about the sliptronic even though i haven't even gotten my car yet...i'm praying the new ones won't have this problem.

 

[xi guy]

Hey welcome aboard!

I have a 2004 orient blue/sand 325 Xi with a manual tranny. Between teh stick and having AWD, I laugh at all inclement weather. Wish I couldve sprung for the 330! 330 has bigger brakes, bigger motor, 6 speed (with manual), some aesthetic differences, etc. Nice choice.

 

[Average Jae]

your car should be every bit as good as 325 xi in the snow, but i as i keep saying, awd helps going, but once the car's in motion awd doesn't do all that much for you. that's when smart driving instincts and good winter tires come into play.

just remember that over confidience in a bad weather is never a good thing. just look at most of the cars in the ditch during a snow storm. there are cars that are just stuck in a ditch, then there are the suv's w/ awd that plowed straight into a ditch, not factoring in vehicle dynamics and such because they have this bad ass awd suv..

be careful out there, but it's good to have the x tho huh?

edit: oops, nice little {thumb]

 

[carcus]

your car should be every bit as good as 325 xi in the snow, but i as i keep saying, awd helps going, but once the car's in motion awd doesn't do all that much for you. that's when smart driving instincts and good winter tires come into play.

just remember that over confidience in a bad weather is never a good thing. just look at most of the cars in the ditch during a snow storm. there are cars that are just stuck in a ditch, then there are the suv's w/ awd that plowed straight into a ditch, not factoring in vehicle dynamics and such because they have this bad ass awd suv..

be careful out there, but it's good to have the x tho huh? {thumb]

I agree 100 percent, I have pretty good snow driving skills, learned at 16 hitting black ice I did not expect. Funny thing is people who have 4x4 vehicles think their vehicle is great in the snow and they can speed. In Idaho, I drove my RWD Camaro LS1 25 MPH.....the SUV guys with all time 4WD....they passed me pretty fast...most ended in a ditch....an object in motion....well, you know the saying. If you grow up in snow.....you learn fast. From your own mistakes.

 

[MrElussive]

I agree as well, but I think AWD has an advantage in the slowing-down process over FWD and RWD cars, particularly if the vehicle is stick shift. When you want to slow down to stop in the snow in an AWD car, you can just downshift and you have the compression of all four wheels in an AWD car, rather than just the front two or the rear two. Also, when driving through thick, unplowed snow, nothing beats a vehicle with all four wheels driving the car forward.
There is also another advantage with AWD. An AWD vehicle in the snow drives "on top of the snow", getting traction from the snow itself. A RWD or FWD car tries to get traction with only its two wheels and the only thing keeping it going in thick snow is its inertia...as it loses its inertia it starts to sink into the snow, which keeps making things worse and worse.
Overall, a 2WD car with snow tires can get around fine on the streets, but when it comes true capability in the snow (especially on inclines or in thick snow), AWD is easily superior to 2WD and very well worth its price for those who experience a lot of snowfall and NEED to be out and about during a snow storm.

 

[codex57]

Hehehe, I remember my first time encountering ice. I thought 25 mph was slow enough with 4wd engaged. Nope. Spun and hit a snow bank. Mom (passenger) was not pleased.

 

[gbf1lm]

ice? snow? whats that ?

i live in southern california. lol