[VinnyS]

Hey guys, stupid question. I'm thinking of selling my E90 328i and noticed a 2012 335i for sale at a great price but it's being sold at Nissan. I was going to pull the trigger until I realized that it doesn't mention xDrive anywhere on the car or in the specifications. I was really hoping to get an xDrive due to the snow we get here in Montreal even though it's been mild winters in the last few years.

I couldn't find many threads or search results on google about this. I did read that BMW started introducing xDrives on all models as of 2013. Is there any way I can confirm with the dealer or you guys tell me for sure that the 2012 definitely did not come with xDrive. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by VinnyS

I did read that BMW started introducing xDrives on all models as of 2013. Is there any way I can confirm with the dealer or you guys tell me for sure that the 2012 definitely did not come with xDrive

You could ask the dealer or run VIN check here http://www.bmwvin.com/

Your statement about all models as of 2013 being xDrive is not correct though.

[Sukhjot Grewal]

you can just ask dealer

[VinnyS]

Thanks guys, but that was the first thing I asked. He doesn't know hence why I'm asking

[DDD31]

Tell the dealer to get off his/her lazy duff and go look at back of car for xdrive badge or get the VIN and check that way. You would think someone who is working on commission might actually show some effort

Looks like for 2012 models, xdrive wasn't available until 7/2012.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by VinnyS

Thanks guys, but that was the first thing I asked. He doesn't know hence why I'm asking

Jeez--does he want to make a sale, or no????

Make the dealer send you a picture of the trunk lid so you can see the badge yourself. I wouldn't trust them to tell you yes or no accurately if he does decide to show a little effort.

[BEM-S4]

Call your BMW dealer or wherever you will service the car. Provide the VIN and they can email you a build sheet with every detail you could ever want to know. Can also see if there are any disclosures on the car that would show in their system but not Carfax.

[HotTea69]

What I did was call BMW Corp, and asked them to run the vin for me. They tell you everything, production date, options added, delivery ports, etc

[VinnyS]

Thanks guys. On the photos, I don't see any xDrive badges, only Sport. It's a 2hour drive away from my place or else I would have gone down and gotten the VIN myself.

I e-mailed him this morning and hoping to hear back from him today. I usually don't listen to anything the dealer says unless it's a BMW dealership. I'm not saying third-party dealers don't know cars, but I usually end up knowing a lot more as an enthusiast then they do.

Without seeing the xDrive badges on the car though, I'm pretty sure it's not an xDrive model. We'll wait to see anyways...just in case...lol

[wrickem]

Run the VIN through the decoder. The x-drive badges on my x-drive BMWs never even makes it to my garage from the dealership before my dental floss eliminates those hideous badges.

[ajob]

Or ask dealer to fully turn steering wheel and email you a picture of the inner side of front disk brakes and wheel well innards, if you see a half-shaft connecting to the wheel hub then it's an xDrive...

[wknddrivr]

If it drives like crap (i.e. bouncy ride, huge turning radius, slow steering, heavy feeling) then you know its x-drive.

Don't bother. I did and it was a mistake. Get RWD with snow tires and you'll be fine.

[Nick340xi_qc]

Ask for the vin, then vin decoder.

I presume he's not giving it because it's not xdrive

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Nick328i_qc

I presume he's not giving it because it's not xdrive

Which really is an excellent reason to make the trip and buy it.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Nick328i_qc

Ask for the vin, then vin decoder.

I presume he's not giving it because it's not xdrive

^^This. The salesman may be too lazy to do the "work" to figure out if it's xDrive, but he should know how to find the VIN.

[Ali Shiralian]

You live in Montreal. If it's not Xdrive don't buy it because when snow hits your town you'll regret it...

[Sukhjot Grewal]

I'm from Toronto and you need xdrive for the winter. do you mind posting the ad wanted to see it or can you pm it to me. I have a 13 335i xdrive msport

[Kingpin4]

Seriously????

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

You live in Montreal. If it's not Xdrive don't buy it because when snow hits your town you'll regret it...

Maybe you're right, maybe not. I'm in Quebec often during winter with RWD, and, it's not as bad as everyone thinks it is. RWD is in my opinion a lot better handling car the rest 9 months though.

[wknddrivr]

Originally Posted by Sukhjot Grewal

I'm from Toronto and you need xdrive for the winter. do you mind posting the ad wanted to see it or can you pm it to me. I have a 13 335i xdrive msport

I've gone skiing in northern Vermont and Whistler BC many times in RWD cars with snow tires without a problem. The ground clearance is more of an issue than traction on these cars.

Even with x-drive, you need snow tires when you're driving in snow, otherwise you've still got absolutely no stopping power and the handling sucks vs. no-seasons

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by ssquared

Even with x-drive, you need snow tires when you're driving in snow, otherwise you've still got absolutely no stopping power and the handling sucks vs. no-seasons

I have xDrive with all seasons. It totally smokes RWD or FWD with snows all around in traction and handling. Stopping power is a bit less, but unless you absolutely positively can't do the sensible thing during a storm, which is to stay home, they're adequate. It's a different story, of course, if you go with summer tires for the rest of the year.

RWD is in my opinion a lot better handling car the rest 9 months though.

It may be if you're into drifting and other things that you probably shouldn't be doing other than on the track, but in normal driving I can't tell that it's there...until it snows.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I have xDrive with all seasons. It totally smokes RWD or FWD with snows all around in traction and handling. Stopping power is a bit less, but unless you absolutely positively can't do the sensible thing during a storm, which is to stay home, they're adequate. It's a different story, of course, if you go with summer tires for the rest of the year.
It may be if you're into drifting and other things that you probably shouldn't be doing other than on the track, but in normal driving I can't tell that it's there...until it snows.

We'll have to disagree on this one, suspension (and handling in normal conditions) on xDrive and RWD are miles apart in my opinion. I don't track or drift my cars, not my thing at all. I just feel that RWD is a lot better handling car those rest 9 months when it doesn't snow, just my personal preference.

I do agree with you on xDrive being better choice during winter, no doubt at all. We own both, AWD and RWD in my family and live in area that has tons of snow at least 3 months a year. But I also drive that RWD daily and so far, no trips, to ski hill or otherwise were postponed.