[RussV]

I am ordering an M4 Competition in the next day or two. I’m undecided about getting the X drive as I live in Northern California and don’t drive in the snow. I’m also not going to be tracking the car and am a relatively conservative driver (sometimes). So is it worth the extra $4k?
Cogent replies appreciated.

[Forzanerazzurri]

The most "cogent" of replies would probably start with directing you to the search function. This topic has been beaten to death a dozen times.

[ksa]

Hard to offer cogent replies on something as subjective as this.

If you don't need x drive then why bother and spend the extra money? RWD is ultimately more fun anyway, right?

I live where half the year is snow so x drive is a must for me, it clearly isn't for you. Off the dig x drive is faster, but does a few millisecond difference makes it worth it for you to spend the extra money?

Assess your needs and place the order accordingly.

['Cane]

M xDrive is not intended for use in the snow, it is intended for grip in ALL conditions. And yes, this has been asked and answered many times.

[sdengineer]

I am located in SD where it barely even rains, let alone ice or snow and went for xDrive. Many G80/82's I see around here are xDrive. Nobody "needs" xDrive any more than they need an M3/M4, but here was my rationale for going with xDrive
1) Acceleration/grip benefits (and also confidence/safety). Doesn't hurt to have the extra grip when having fun in the twists. Being a more conservative driver may be even more reason to go for it as presumably at times you'll want to have a little fun here and there and if you're not doing this regularly, I think you'll find the xDrive will give you more confidence when you do give it a bit of stick.
2) The sheer novelty of having AWD in an M3 (in my case). Its new for the G80, so why not take advantage of the opportunity?

[SwankPeRFection]

Coming from someone in the Audi camp and who went AWD back in the day initially with a WRX, do you want “claw at the tarmac” traction in all weather conditions (rain mostly for you) or do you want to worry about am I going to get enough traction to do whatever I wanna do right now? If you’re an aggressive driver and want to put your foot down and be gone before anyone has a chance to think you cut them off or pulled out in front of them and forced them to brake or change lanes, then get AWD. Rain or no rain, you’ll be flat out gone. Or, you could get RWD and wait your turn… traction control only does so much to limit slip by cutting power, only true solution to not cutting power is having more grip and that means turning the front wheels too.

The beauty of x-drive is this… if you “want” RWD, you can still push a button and have it when you want. It’s the best of both worlds.

Me, I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it kind of guy… I’d never get just RWD unless I had no other choice for some reason, but that’s just me.

Also remember that AWD doesn’t just help with traction in straight line or slippery conditions. It’ll also help pull you around and out of corners as you take them and allow for more aggressive exit speeds and even aggressive in/out of traffic on/off gas lane changes should you need to dodge something quickly (you’ll have more stability as you get off and apply power again mid-maneuver).

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by RussV

I am ordering an M4 Competition in the next day or two. I’m undecided about getting the X drive as I live in Northern California and don’t drive in the snow. I’m also not going to be tracking the car and am a relatively conservative driver (sometimes). So is it worth the extra $4k?
Cogent replies appreciated.

My first question is - if you are a "relatively conservative" driver why are you buying an M4 Competition in the first place?

Now that's out of the way, a turbocharged car with this kind of torque has a difficult time getting that power to the road (especially in lower gears) through street tires. So if you're more interested in performance and speed than impressing others by smoking your tires you need as much traction as you can get. The main reason I bought this car is because it has X-Drive. But then again... if you're not going to drive this car the way it was intended don't waste your money on X-drive (or maybe even an M car).

[Needsdecaf]

I think while you are at it, you should also ask whether you should get buckets or standard seats, carbon roof or sunroof, and manual or auto. Just so we can get all the dead horses beaten in one thread.

[harperium]

xDrive is slightly heavier, but offers better grip under acceleration out of corners. Most of the time the car will basically be in RWD mode, only engaging the front axle when slip is detected. The car can be put into RWD mode, and if you get the $900 M Drive Professional Package, it will be equipped with 10-stage traction control for RWD mode.

[GolfCoyote]

xDrive seems like a no brainer to me. You’re buying an M3/4 for a reason and that reason is usually related to the performance that it offers. xDrive arguably offers the most performance. If you want similar amenities with less performance just drop down to a 340i or something similar.

[forcefed]

If you want to put all of the 500hp to the ground then get Xdrive.

[omaralt]

to me the RWD comp never made sense.

you want manual you go RWD

you want auto you get x drive

[RussV]

Originally Posted by turbojg

My first question is - if you are a "relatively conservative" driver why are you buying an M4 Competition in the first place?

Now that's out of the way, a turbocharged car with this kind of torque has a difficult time getting that power to the road (especially in lower gears) through street tires. So if you're more interested in performance and speed than impressing others by smoking your tires you need as much traction as you can get. The main reason I bought this car is because it has X-Drive. But then again... if you're not going to drive this car the way it was intended don't waste your money on X-drive (or maybe even an M car).

Relatively conservative driver=don’t do burnouts, don’t street race, don’t drive stupid.

[SwankPeRFection]

The other question you need to ask yourself is how big of an asshole you are. BMW and definitely M cars may not be for you if that number isn’t big enough. Lol 😜

[RussV]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

The other question you need to ask yourself is how big of an asshole you are. BMW and definitely M cars may not be for you if that number isn’t big enough. Lol 😜

True. When I was 18 I was quite the asshole. But I like a car with power and handles well.

[Bimmerfun82]

Get a manual or get x drive. That’s my vote. I haven’t owned a RWD comp but I’ve owned the other two.

There is a weight penalty with the x drive v RWD comp, but otherwise it’s prob worth it to make the jump to AWD as it is faster and more competent in all driving conditions.

Just for kicks I tried 0-60 times in various x drive settings and it was a substantial difference in acceleration with AWD. Because of how the gearing is set up, there are traction issues.. The car is an absolute beast.

I prefer the manual, but to each their own. Good luck

[xxyion]

I'm also in NorCal. I got xDrive. For me it was more about just making sure i can put the power down. I had an F87 M2C and honestly that had a pretty hard time putting the power down due to it only being RWD.

That being said, do you need xDrive? Nah. RWD alone is fine with these cars. Weirdly enough i feel like xDrive helps these cars more because they are just so big. If i was buying an M2, it's small enough that RWD is all you need. But the M4 is a bit of a boat in comparison and i think the extra grip helps.

[Alpine300zhp]

A contrarian opinion. I’m a RWD guy and like the feel of RWD cars. I contemplated an xdrive for the upcoming M4, but decided to get RWD just like the one I have now. It’s a very subjective thing like everything else.

[M4Lou]

I read the question from OP....

Check my math, but if you are "ordering an M4 competition" - then you get an xdrive - correct??

If you want RWD only, then its not a comp. Isn't that correct?

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by M4Lou

I read the question from OP....

Check my math, but if you are "ordering an M4 competition" - then you get an xdrive - correct??

If you want RWD only, then its not a comp. Isn't that correct?

You can get a Comp that’s just RWD.

The only time you can’t get x-drive is if you get a base that’s manual.

[Rukka]

I had x drive on my first G82. Now got a RWD G82.

Ther is plenty of traction available in the RWD car. Has the x drive got more? Should have but unless you are launching it in the traffic light GP or driving at 9/10ths then I doubt you’ll notice.

I don’t get much snow where I am and I can moderate the throttle when it’s a tad icy or very wet.

Its a personal choice like any other option IMHO.

[harperium]

also: The lightest spec G8x is manual, RWD, CCB, carbon roof, carbon buckets ... and M Perf Exhaust