Is xDrive worth getting on a BMW 3 Series?

Hi,

I have been driving a BMW 320 diesel automatic for two years now. I can't believe how poorly it sticks to the road on typical wet or damp Irish roads. I have owned two front-wheel-drive cars previously and miss the grip and poise they offer. I am thinking of going for a second hand 320d with xDrive. Will it make much of a difference to the handling?

Barry Jackson (Dublin)

Nov 2019 Filed under: tyres

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Expert answer

Hi Barry,

I think this sounds more like a tyre issue than anything else. Is there a possibility that the car is on cheap, aftermarket, tyres? If so, get them replaced with a set of something decent — Michelins or Bridgestones. Going for xDrive would help, of course, as the extra bit of traction is never a bad thing, but it does add (slightly) to your running costs because of the weight and the extra frictional losses.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe