m240i vs m240iX performance

Gladius · 10-20-2016, 11:44 AM

I'm interested in an m240 but was thinking RWD, while a local dealer has an almost-desired spec iX in stock. I'm curious if the extra weight from the AWD is noticeable, and if the AWD affects performance in a noticeable way. Obviously you'd have to have driven both cars back to back to assess - are there any instrumented numbers out there?

I'm currently driving both an '11 328iX as well as an '07 MCoupe (RWD obv.) The 328 is a dog, but some of that comes from the slushbox as well as the lower HP...not sure if I want to go the AWD route if I get the 240.

Joe240 · 10-20-2016, 02:21 PM

If you want manual, RWD is your only option. The 8AT has been tested by numerous outlets and they all agree it's phenomenal. The ix model is faster to 60, but some say it loses the fun of a rwd car (although the xDrive system is rear bias anyways). I haven't test drove the 6mt, but I own the 8AT m240ix and I love the way it drives. With all seasons on, wet roads and coming out of a roundabout the back end doesn't get squirmy when I gas it. This can be fixed by going sport or sport+ I'm sure. I personally like the confident feel the car has when taking turns fast and powering out of them. You can see if the dealer has a 235 in both drive types for you to test drive and that might help you decide as well.

Kolyan2k · 10-20-2016, 05:40 PM

I think steering is different on X-drive models

BEM-S4 · 10-20-2016, 06:05 PM

I got rid of my 235 RWD coupe for an xDrive vert, so even worse than coupe to coupe from a "driver's car" downgrade. I haven't finished the break in on the vert yet but I'm not bothered in the slightest by the extra weight. The AWD is really nice to have, especially in the northeast where I am.

RedKloud · 10-20-2016, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I think steering is different on X-drive models

Can anyone confirm this?

pikcachu · 10-20-2016, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedKloud

Can anyone confirm this?

what's sure different is the suspension arms as they interfere with the drive axle of the xdrive so for example .... M2 LCAs won't fit... which means your only way to more camber is camber plates

Kolyan2k · 10-21-2016, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedKloud

Can anyone confirm this?

Someone said in here that steering feel is different on awd vs rwd. It was so in e90/92 as well

Sportstick · 10-21-2016, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Someone said in here that steering feel is different on awd vs rwd. It was so in e90/92 as well

Whomever said it, I agree. I've found this to be true on both BMW and MB, where an all wheel drive option is offered over a rwd base, that I've had the chance to A/B test drive. Adding mechanisms to drive the front seems to inevitably take its toll in both steering feel and the added weight. I'll take rwd, but, in fairness, you will also find people who don't feel this difference and claim it doesn't exist.

bimmerfile · 10-22-2016, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Someone said in here that steering feel is different on awd vs rwd. It was so in e90/92 as well

True. Steering feel and handling is better on the xDrive than the RWD..

harma24 · 10-22-2016, 11:09 AM

I test drove a rear wheel drive but bought an xDrive. They feel the same to me, but obvoiusly I did not push the car to the limits on the test drive. Maybe it makes a difference at the edge?

Sportstick · 10-22-2016, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

True. Steering feel and handling is better on the xDrive than the RWD..

That's a first!

Quote:

Originally Posted by harma24

I test drove a rear wheel drive but bought an xDrive. They feel the same to me, but obvoiusly I did not push the car to the limits on the test drive. Maybe it makes a difference at the edge?

Not necessary to go to the edge. Here's the analogy. You're out for a walk and texting while you go. Now imagine the same with a couple of pounds of weight on each arm. Can you still text while walking? Sure. Will you feel a difference...some will, some might not. But, added weight where things need to move with speed and precision will have an effect and it does slightly shift away from the base car 50/50 weight distribution. If you don't feel it and/or it doesn't bother you, great! But, it's there. Just like the small loss of performance I have by choosing the 4 instead of the 6 means nothing to me in my daily use.

Kolyan2k · 10-22-2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

That's a first!

Not necessary to go to the edge. Here's the analogy. You're out for a walk and texting while you go. Now imagine the same with a couple of pounds of weight on each arm. Can you still text while walking? Sure. Will you feel a difference...some will, some might not. But, added weight where things need to move with speed and precision will have an effect and it does slightly shift away from the base car 50/50 weight distribution. If you don't feel it and/or it doesn't bother you, great! But, it's there. Just like the small loss of performance I have by choosing the 4 instead of the 6 means nothing to me in my daily use.

i think he was joking ))

bimmerfile · 10-22-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

i think he was joking ))

ummm, no!

Dylan86 · 10-22-2016, 06:02 PM

Steering feel between the two is noticeably different. For example, ruts in the road.. In a RWD car, it'll move the steering wheel quite a bit in your hands as there's no axles to keep the tires pushing forward. In an xdrive car, it'll feel a bit more stable in those situations and roll over the ruts without a blip, similar to a fwd car. I don't think anyone would be unhappy with xdrive from a performance perspective, unless racekar, it's just a different feel for the car. If it's a summer only fun car, I wouldn't see why you'd go with xdrive unless you were a drag racer

I also heard the xdrive cars have a larger turning radius? Can anyone confirm?

Joe240 · 10-23-2016, 01:24 AM

Can't confirm, but makes sense because the axles can only turn so much.

Spydeputy · 10-23-2016, 06:14 AM

Your in CO. why not Xdrive?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gladius

I'm interested in an m240 but was thinking RWD, while a local dealer has an almost-desired spec iX in stock. I'm curious if the extra weight from the AWD is noticeable, and if the AWD affects performance in a noticeable way. Obviously you'd have to have driven both cars back to back to assess - are there any instrumented numbers out there?

I'm currently driving both an '11 328iX as well as an '07 MCoupe (RWD obv.) The 328 is a dog, but some of that comes from the slushbox as well as the lower HP...not sure if I want to go the AWD route if I get the 240.

Kolyan2k · 10-23-2016, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

ummm, no!

The steering feel been better on RWD since like 2006-2007 when I had e92. I don't know if steering rack is different or its the suspension components. I never really cared because being in Northeast I buy RWD cars due to better driving dynamics.....well and weight savings since AWD is useless to me.

Sportstick · 10-23-2016, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

The steering feel been better on RWD since like 2006-2007. I don't know if steering rack is different or its the suspension components. I never really cared because being in Northeast I buy RWD cars due better driving dynamics.....well and weight savings since AWD is useless to me.

As I also noted earlier, some may claim they don't feel the difference of rwd having different (to them, better) steering feel, and I can understand that for them. However, there is no rational basis I know for awd having improved steering feel. The added weight and mechanisms alone create that barrier. Perhaps we each think what we chose feels better to us, and I completely get that as well.

XutvJet · 10-23-2016, 12:23 PM

I don't see how X can be a better handling car. Even though the X is more RWD biased, the two extra axles and front diff add more weight and rotational inertia, both of which will result in more understeer and theoretically, reduced steering feel as you approach the limits. The AWD components will add 80lbs+ to the front end. Far from ideal.

amw896 · 10-23-2016, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Someone said in here that steering feel is different on awd vs rwd. It was so in e90/92 as well

True. Steering feel and handling is better on the xDrive than the RWD..

think u got it backwards mate

Gladius · 10-23-2016, 04:56 PM

AWD being required in the winter is a myth.
That myth sells a lot of AWD cars, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Your in CO. why not Xdrive?

Sportstick · 10-23-2016, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gladius

AWD being required in the winter is a myth.
That myth sells a lot of AWD cars, though.

Unfortunately, with lots of folks so persuaded, they remain on all season tires, thinking awd will somehow protect them, despite winter tires being far more critical to maintaining traction for braking and steering on snow/ice.

10-20-2016, 11:44 AM	#1
Gladius Two Wheels or Four? 93 Rep 655 Posts Drives: '18 Perf Edition m240i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1)	m240i vs m240iX performance I'm interested in an m240 but was thinking RWD, while a local dealer has an almost-desired spec iX in stock. I'm curious if the extra weight from the AWD is noticeable, and if the AWD affects performance in a noticeable way. Obviously you'd have to have driven both cars back to back to assess - are there any instrumented numbers out there? I'm currently driving both an '11 328iX as well as an '07 MCoupe (RWD obv.) The 328 is a dog, but some of that comes from the slushbox as well as the lower HP...not sure if I want to go the AWD route if I get the 240. __________________ Current: '18 AW Performance Edition m240i Gone: '15 Mineral Grey m235i \|\| '07 Silver Grey M Coupe \|\| '11 Space Grey 328i XDrive \|\| '08 SparkG M3 \|\| '01 LSB M3 \|\| '01 TiAg 330ci
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10-20-2016, 02:21 PM	#2
Joe240 Major 2924 Rep 1,303 Posts Drives: 2021 C8 Corvette 1LT Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pensacola iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 GMC Sierra AT4 [0.00] 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	If you want manual, RWD is your only option. The 8AT has been tested by numerous outlets and they all agree it's phenomenal. The ix model is faster to 60, but some say it loses the fun of a rwd car (although the xDrive system is rear bias anyways). I haven't test drove the 6mt, but I own the 8AT m240ix and I love the way it drives. With all seasons on, wet roads and coming out of a roundabout the back end doesn't get squirmy when I gas it. This can be fixed by going sport or sport+ I'm sure. I personally like the confident feel the car has when taking turns fast and powering out of them. You can see if the dealer has a 235 in both drive types for you to test drive and that might help you decide as well.
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10-20-2016, 05:40 PM	#3
Kolyan2k Major General 922 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	I think steering is different on X-drive models
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10-20-2016, 06:05 PM	#4
BEM-S4 Major General 4516 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	I got rid of my 235 RWD coupe for an xDrive vert, so even worse than coupe to coupe from a "driver's car" downgrade. I haven't finished the break in on the vert yet but I'm not bothered in the slightest by the extra weight. The AWD is really nice to have, especially in the northeast where I am. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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10-22-2016, 11:09 AM	#10
harma24 Captain 403 Rep 744 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i Glacier Silver Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: 19.5mi NNW of Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M240i [0.00]	I test drove a rear wheel drive but bought an xDrive. They feel the same to me, but obvoiusly I did not push the car to the limits on the test drive. Maybe it makes a difference at the edge? __________________ Fun Cars (daily drivers) 2001-2016: 2001 Honda Prelude \| 2016 - present: 2017 M240xi Glacier Silver Coupe Family Cars: 1993-2014: 1993 Honda Accord 10th Anniversary Edition \| 2014-Present: 2014 Honda Odyssey Stable-mate: 2019 - present: 2020 230xi Seaside Blue Convertible
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10-22-2016, 06:02 PM	#14
Dylan86 Colonel 1330 Rep 2,214 Posts Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Steering feel between the two is noticeably different. For example, ruts in the road.. In a RWD car, it'll move the steering wheel quite a bit in your hands as there's no axles to keep the tires pushing forward. In an xdrive car, it'll feel a bit more stable in those situations and roll over the ruts without a blip, similar to a fwd car. I don't think anyone would be unhappy with xdrive from a performance perspective, unless racekar, it's just a different feel for the car. If it's a summer only fun car, I wouldn't see why you'd go with xdrive unless you were a drag racer I also heard the xdrive cars have a larger turning radius? Can anyone confirm? __________________ My F22 Road/Track Build Last edited by Dylan86; 10-22-2016 at 06:16 PM..
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10-23-2016, 01:24 AM	#15
Joe240 Major 2924 Rep 1,303 Posts Drives: 2021 C8 Corvette 1LT Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pensacola iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 GMC Sierra AT4 [0.00] 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	Can't confirm, but makes sense because the axles can only turn so much.
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10-23-2016, 12:23 PM	#19
XutvJet Major General 5551 Rep 5,369 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	I don't see how X can be a better handling car. Even though the X is more RWD biased, the two extra axles and front diff add more weight and rotational inertia, both of which will result in more understeer and theoretically, reduced steering feel as you approach the limits. The AWD components will add 80lbs+ to the front end. Far from ideal.
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