Like many rear-wheel-drive cars, BMWs can struggle to get traction on icy and snowy roads. The German brand's solution? A system called called xDrive.
xDrive is BMW's four-wheel drive system, and it's something worth considering if you often drive on slippery roads.
What is BMW xDrive?
BMW xDrive is brand's four-wheel-drive system, designed to improve traction and stability in challenging conditions such as wet, ice or snow-covered roads. Unlike conventional four-wheel-drive systems, xDrive is proactive, continuously monitoring grip levels and adjusting power distribution between the front and rear wheels accordingly. BMW says this electronic system can respond faster than the hydraulic systems used by some rivals, such as Volkswagen and Audi.
In BMW models that, in standard form, are rear-wheel-drive – such as the 3 Series and 5 Series – the xDrive system ensures that most of th power is sent to the rear wheels in normal driving conditions, so as to keep BMW signature driving dynamics. The front wheels are only brought into play when extra grip is needed.
On cars that are normally front-wheel-drive, like the BMW 1 Series and the X1, xDrive provides extra grip at the rear wheels when needed.
On performance models, like the M5, xDrive is used to improve cornering ability and allow better traction while still delivering the rear-wheel-drive experience that BMW is known for.
What are the advantages of BMW xDrive?
There's one big advantage of BMW xDrive and that's grip. With xDrive fitted to your BMW, it has essentially 50% more grip of a two-wheel drive model by doubling the contact patches (or tyres) that put power to the road. This is most beneficial on icy and snowy roads where a traditional rear-wheel-drive BMW on standard tyres struggles to make progress.
On these kinds of roads, a normal BMW will easily spin up its back tyres and get, well, nowhere. An xDrive BMW will sense the slip, sending power to the front wheels to find the grip.
While extreme weather is where you'll feel xDrive doings its best work, it's worth having on wet roads, too. The extra grip will make your BMW more stable under accleration and less susceptible to slipping if you hit standing water coming out of a corner.
This extra grip will also make your BMW a more well-behaved tow car. xDrive-equipped models should ensure smoother power delivery and minimise wheelspin when retrieving your caravan from a drenched muddy pitch.
What are the disadvantages of BMW xDrive?
The disadvantage of xDrive is cost. Adding xDrive to an otherwise identical BMW can cost thousands extra. And it doesn't end there because the xDrive model will also be more costly to run, using more fuel in part because of extra weight, and it can be more expensive to maintain, too, due to the complexity of the system.
It's worth asking yourself whether you really need it – a good set of winter tyres on a rear-wheel-drive car will outperform an xDrive car on summer tyres.
BMW xDrive is a highly effective all-wheel-drive system that improves a car’s ability to maintain traction in a variety of conditions. Unlike some competitors, xDrive retains BMW’s signature handling characteristics, ensuring that the driving experience remains engaging, dynamic and fun. The system is particularly useful for drivers who encounter wet or slippery roads regularly but don’t want to sacrifice the sporty feel associated with BMWs.
Yes, BMW xDrive performs well in snowy conditions, sending power to all four wheels to prevent wheel slip and improve stability. The system can significantly improve your car’s ability to maintain grip and drive safely in icy and snowy environments. However, for the best winter performance, it's still a good idea to fit winter tyres, as they provide better grip than standard summer tyres, even with xDrive.
While xDrive generally prioritises traction and grip, some performance models with xDrive, such as the M5 and M340i 3 Series, feature settings that allow for controlled drifts. Such models generally come with a rear-wheel-drive bias and let you send more power to the rear wheels. In the right conditions, an xDrive BMW can certainly be drifted, especially if traction control settings allow more wheel slip. All in a controlled environement, of course.
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