[Benjamin_Nicholas]

RWD here. Dallas, TX. Weather is conducive for it.

No problems. No regrets. Never slips and is sticky as hell thanks to the added tire/oil/brakes package.

If I were up North, I might consider an X.

[hans007]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Rather than the lighter car with noticeably better steering feel?

the logic that this car was designed for awd because worldwide It is makes no sense. the g20 platform is designed for both and and rwd and it's not like they didn't spend time making sure the rwd m340i was also good

if I was buying an r8 id get the rwd one too. and that originally had to be a special edition and no one was saying it wouldn't be tuned right

[Shinel]

NYC here. Had awd before, and in my personal experience it is unneeded. If you live in michigan, maybe.

[Ilyam5]

No matter how much I love RWD and its balance - i think AWD is here to stay for performance cars.

Its a function for mass and power. With all the luxury and technology added to vehicles - they are growing heavier and heavier. To fight that - we need more and more power.To put this power down - need AWD. which increases the weight even more .

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/...E3B9BC80E2C91D

This article portrays very well how tough it is to manage huge power and torque in a heavy car with RWD only.

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

No matter how much I love RWD and its balance - i think AWD is here to stay for performance cars.

Its a function for mass and power. With all the luxury and technology added to vehicles - they are growing heavier and heavier. To fight that - we need more and more power.To put this power down - need AWD. which increases the weight even more .

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/...E3B9BC80E2C91D

This article portrays very well how tough it is to manage huge power and torque in a heavy car with RWD only.

What really matters is how you USE that power. If you are flooring your car from stoplight to stoplight, maybe you need it. But seriously who does that?

So much of this talk that the steering doesn't have any feel.... well if you are driving a AWD vehicle with run flat tires.... what do you expect???

The RWD cars drive SO much better, and the non runlet Michelins are a fabulous tire. You need to spec this car properly to experience just how sweet it is. AWD and run flats are a mistake.

I have a RAM 1500 truck and a jeep. I will drive the M340 year round but have 4WD vehicles for the obvious snow days.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

The RWD cars drive SO much better, and the non runlet Michelins are a fabulous tire. You need to spec this car properly to experience just how sweet it is. AWD and run flats are a mistake.

I'll agree with your run flat comment but not the RWD. I've driven both and own an xDrive M340i and can say there is hardly any difference between the two. This may have been true with the F30 gen but not now IMO.

[Score04]

Hey All. First, hope everyone is doing well and making the best of the world situation. Happy Easter weekend as well. While we are all in a way caged up in our homes we have our digital community on here where most of us have the time to be on more than usual. It’s a good and bad thing. The bad is less interesting content because there is less car activity going on in the world of any kind and good thing is we get to stay and catch up on some reads.

My questions and thoughts are on rwd vs awd. For simplicity, let this only be regarding the m340 model. Recently, I enjoyed reading a rather specific comparison on performance and differences of:

2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S First Test: The AWD 992 You Want?
Comparing the RWD and AWD versions of the 2020 Porsche Carrera S
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mot...irst-test/amp/

Can we begin a conversation in a similar manner based off any car experts and enthusiasts that can contribute on here? I’ve wanted to get the rwd but seems like the focus is becoming more and more for people getting the awd for various reasons. Please provide your opinions and expertise. I feel the rwd would be the more ultimate bmw experience. And it would be lighter by 200lbs making the car a little quicker and more fuel efficient (maybe minimal) than the awd model. But, awd has its pros of putting power down better and making it a pro for future power gains...agree or disagree? All in all how close is the stock or tuned performance? What are more benefits to consider one over the other? Also, my request is that no matter what you respond please conclude your comment stating which you would lean toward, rwd or awd.

Stay safe and hope to enjoy a good discussion.

[flilow06]

Once tuners release an "xDelete" or equivalent software for the G20, the only major penalties I see left for xDrive are weight and cost. Other than that, it would seem you can have your cake and eat it too...

[EXE46]

RWD for me, I don't ever need AWD and I will always choose lighter weight. Regardless of better initial acceleration etc.

These cars are already heavy as is. I know for some people they have to deal with winter and snow or they don't have an option of drivetrains. Luckily, I am not part of that demographic.

[cigaro]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

What really matters is how you USE that power. If you are flooring your car from stoplight to stoplight, maybe you need it. But seriously who does that?

So much of this talk that the steering doesn't have any feel.... well if you are driving a AWD vehicle with run flat tires.... what do you expect???

The RWD cars drive SO much better, and the non runlet Michelins are a fabulous tire. You need to spec this car properly to experience just how sweet it is. AWD and run flats are a mistake.

I have a RAM 1500 truck and a jeep. I will drive the M340 year round but have 4WD vehicles for the obvious snow days.

This makes me more excited to get these RFT off and put on the Michelin PS4 ... anyone know roughly how many miles I can drive on the RFT and still be within acceptable turn in tread? I have the bridgstone turanza T005 on there. I know it depends on how im driving, but just a rough estimate.

[Ilyam5]

Good article on the Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S First Test: The AWD 992 You Want?
Comparing the RWD and AWD versions of the 2020 Porsche Carrera S
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mot...irst-test/amp/

It is interesting that with Rear engine adn huge rear tires - launch times are similar for RWD adn AWD.
When in the different article it is another story with front engine M8
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/...pe-first-test/

But then again 911S has 430HP adn deals Ok with RWD, 911 Turbo - not so much - only available in AWD

what is that magic number of Power and torque?

Industry seems to think it is 500 HP and 600lb of torque

M340 is on the cusp of that with 400 HP and therefore is usable with RWD, but M5, M8 are not.

The point is not “how you use the huge power” – the point of the article is – “You cannot use this power” since it is simply impossible to put it down in RWD. If you cannot use it – why have it? Solution becomes – if you have a RWD car – limit its power and torque so it’s usable and possibly make it lighter. (hence the new M3 coming with AWD and 500HP and limiting power to 400+ for RWD version)

[greekcs]

RWD is more fun but AWD is more capable all year 'round.

[TheRetroGuy]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

That being said, I totally get why you would get the RWD if you are in a climate that doesn't need AWD. Save some money, save a little weight, lose a bit on traction, but possibly gain a tiny bit on fun (again not by much and especially not so much in Sport Plus).

And an extra .3 seconds shaved off the 0-60 times for xDrive models.

[StealYourFace]

I live in a city known for snow.

There is no reason for an awd car in most circumstances. It's been drummed into peoples brains that it is a requirement or you will be stuck someplace. Really its good for non car people that think all season tires are just fine in the snow.

If I lived in a very hilly areas with s lot of snow, over a large portion of the year, I would probably lean towards having an xi, or some other awd car. But after two rear wheel drive bmws over the past 11 years and 200,000 plus miles, including several very snowy trips into ski country, I can't justify it.

I had a 2002 wrx right out of college that I drove for 7 years and 150,000 miles. When I first got the car, on st patricks day, way back then, we had as late snow. Heavy wet, fairly deep snow. With the factory tires, the car didn't want to move very well, and stopping was a nightmare. The following winter, I had a set of Blizzaks mounted to the oem 16" rims, and the car was great. I got stuck once in that car.

I never got stuck in my 330i, and I only recently got my F30 328i... had a couple snowy days but again too late in the year to justify snows. It was a little annoying in terms of storage space for tires and wheels with the 330i - Winter, Summer and track...(that problem has been solved with an e36 m3, which only has two sets of tires, street and track ) but the tires are the only part of the connecting it to the ground, so optimal tool for the job right? I wouldn't wear cross trainers to run a marathon, and I wouldn't wear running shoes to an important meeting at work.

My 2 cents (3 canadian).

[W288SH]

Originally Posted by DZ F30

As someone who lives in a place where it almost never rains, I think I would be more inclined to get an M340i with RWD. However, I'm just curious to see if anyone would rather spec an M340i with AWD instead. If so, why?

Originally Posted by DZ F30

As someone who lives in a place where it almost never rains, I think I would be more inclined to get an M340i with RWD. However, I'm just curious to see if anyone would rather spec an M340i with AWD instead. If so, why?

As an owner of an M340i RWD in a warm climate I would recommend xDrive. The RWD struggles to get traction and bounces off the traction control all the way through at least first gear even on the 255 tires.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

My e92 M3 with Blizzacks did just fine in the snow.

The added traction really helps in certain situations with the current Quattro system as well with the rear torque vectoring diff. You really feel the car just grip and go. For a daily in a climate has been unpredictable the past couple of years, I'd stick with AWD for my daily.

The thing we don't know is what the point of adhesion is for the tires. How far has tire technology come? The power going to the tires is only as good as the tires that are putting them down. The rubber on your car is a huge factor. Does the M340i struggle to get power down?

[530iDriver]

My problem with the G20 interior is that it has a strong Honda Accord vibe to me. Is not that it is badly put together or has questionable materials, quite on the contrary. It just that the cabin ambiance doesn't match its high asking price

Not such issue in the G30. Its like a night and day difference.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

My problem with the G20 interior is that it has a strong Honda Accord vibe to me. Is not that it is badly put together or has questionable materials, quite on the contrary. It just that the cabin ambiance doesn't match its high asking price

Not such issue in the G30. Its like a night and day difference.

The equivalent G30 is also $13k+ higher in price.

[Ilyam5]

5 series is a different type of car. Great Highway cruiser and a comfortable limo. But - It is very big and not playful.

I was seriously shopping M340 against M550 and handling wise - M340 is miles ahead.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

My problem with the G20 interior is that it has a strong Honda Accord vibe to me. Is not that it is badly put together or has questionable materials, quite on the contrary. It just that the cabin ambiance doesn't match its high asking price

Not such issue in the G30. Its like a night and day difference.

The G20 interior is competitive to everything in its class. Of course it's not going to have the ambiance of a 5 series but it's not priced that way either. Definitely not a Honda Accord interior...actually far from it.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

The equivalent G30 is also $13k+ higher in price.

Depends on how you configure it.

2020 BMW M340i RWD base price: $54000

2020 BMW 540i RWD base price: $59,450

2020 BMW M550i base price: $76,650

Well worth the price difference imo.

And remember you can get decent discounts on the 5er.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

The G20 interior is competitive to everything in its class. Of course it's not going to have the ambiance of a 5 series but it's not priced that way either. Definitely not a Honda Accord interior...actually far from it.

Agreed. I am not seeing the G20 has a Honda Accord interior but it does have a vibe when you sit inside.

I haven't been alone on this impression. Could it be because of an all black interior?