Bob > wrote:
>Floyd,
>
>Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it. I'll see what I can
>find in Car & Driver.
>
>In the meantime let me run this by you... The whole idea behind my
>interest in a 325xi is as a safe replacement for my wife's FWD Passat
>equipped with Michelin Alpins during the winter. We both really like the
>VW 90% of the time but I'd like something a little better for her during
>some of our pretty bad driving days here in Upstate NY.
>
>How will the BMW 38/62 AWD system with manual transmission compare to FWD
>in real world use? The 325xi I'm looking at comes with Pirelli P6's, will

it will blow any FWD (and RWD) away on snow, like any full-time
AWD. the difference is incredible. it makes the snow "go away" -
acceleration is almost like in summer. no matter how you push the
pedal the steering and handling will stay neutral.

this is also the biggest potential problem: braking is not more
efficent, it's easy to get too comfortable to drive fast on bad
weather and if you're going too fast into a corner you'll hit the
woods regardless of AWD, DSC or other acronyms.

>I need to replace them with "winter" tires for snow & ice?

yes. proper winter tires such as Nokian Hakka's, and not one of those
M+S things.

>(BTW, isn't the DSC system "defeatable" via a dash switch which would
>allow full power to any wheel?)

as far as I know, yes.

--
harri
525ixT -95

>Thanx again,
>Bob
>
>
>"fbloogyudsr" > wrote in
:
>
>> "Bob" > wrote
>>> Seems kinda strange that both salesperson and service guy would tell
>>> me 2005 325xi and X3/X5 AWD was the same... Makes me wonder what else
>>> they said wasn't true...
>>
>> Yeah, that's the whole problem with salesmen; they'll say anything to
>> make a sale.
>>
>>> Anyhow, assuming you guys are right and 325xi is "original" 38/62
>>> system, what are the Pros & Cons of this approach over XDrive?
>>
>> The Pros revolve mostly around simplicity. The Automatic Differential
>> Braking
>> (ADB) is just another mode of ABS that stops spinning wheels, allowing
>> the opposite wheel on that axle to get torque. The fixed-split
>> planetary gearset
>> is light, simple and not likely to break (unlike the Torsen-like
>> system it replaced.)
>> The Con is that it's not really able to apply full engine power (DSC
>> kicks in
>> to prevent wheelspin), especially on dry roads which makes it not as
>> "performance-oriented" compared to Audi's system.
>>
>>> Also wondering about things like... If I've got 2 back and 1 front
>>> wheel on ice does the remaining traction wheel get "full" (100%)
>>> power as needed?
>>
>> It won't get 100%, since the torque split will prevent that, but it
>> will get torque (which Subaru & Audi can't claim.)
>>
>>> Someplace I can get a better understanding in detail on how these
>>> systems work?
>>
>> Best bet is old Car & Driver issues in the library.
>>
>> Floyd
>>
>