So this morning as I was getting on the highway I decided to punch it going around a huge clover-leaf....granted the ground was a little wet, but the car nearly completely broke free and sent me into a giant ditch!! I mean I hit the gas, but by no means did I open it up 100%. Is this because of the crappy Bridgestone Turanza RFT tires that I have, or is the AWD just a bunch of BS?

AWD doesn't make you a better driver. I am surprised the computer didn't step in and help you but again, it only can make up for a little bit of bad driving. I have to say, everybody always looks to blame something else other than their own actions.

So this morning as I was getting on the highway I decided to punch it going around a huge clover-leaf....granted the ground was a little wet, but the car nearly completely broke free and sent me into a giant ditch!! I mean I hit the gas, but by no means did I open it up 100%. Is this because of the crappy Bridgestone Turanza RFT tires that I have, or is the AWD just a bunch of BS?

The cloverleaf probably wasn't the best place to test your xDrive system...but let's be honest, I don't think the Bridgestone tires that come stock are the best performance tires you can have...so it may have been just the conditions in conjunction with mediocre tires at the wrong time. If it just started raining the ground will be more slick...particularly if the ground wasn't completely wet.

Good question from this is...does the system that corrects the "out of control" problem always on or do you have to turn it on...the manual was unclear on this as it is on so many other things.

When I get a chance I plan on testing performance on wet roads, snowy roads and other conditions...but in an empty parking lot free of lightpoles and cars...should be a safe place to test.

The VDC is always on, you have to hold the DSC button for more than 3 seconds to limit it to 90%.

As I stated, it's not auto pilot, it's not collision avoidance and it's not a driver error fixer. It help you control the car when limits are pushed. Hammering the gas and slipping into a ditch is DRIVER ERROR.

Is the OP really retarded??

yes the car is REALLY AWD.

Swear it

Well good news is that x-drive works fine... bad news is that your driving was so bad that even the hoards of BMW engineers and more processing power than man used to land on the moon couldn't save you from yourself.

Take it down a notch.

If there was any kind of bump in the road no one could save you from your RFT's there awful.

So this morning as I was getting on the highway I decided to punch it going around a huge clover-leaf....granted the ground was a little wet, but the car nearly completely broke free and sent me into a giant ditch!! I mean I hit the gas, but by no means did I open it up 100%. Is this because of the crappy Bridgestone Turanza RFT tires that I have, or is the AWD just a bunch of BS?

The laws of physics still apply, not withstanding marketing hype. So while AWD may do a lot of things, it does not magically change the amount of adhesion between the road and those 4 patches of rubber. And with regard to those 4 patches of rubber, keep in mind that all tires involve a set of compromises. This is why it is not unusual for very serious drivers (and I am not one) to change out the tires on new cars.


And if you think about it the car did not almost send you into a ditch, you did. This is a matter of semantics that I also fall prey too, but language aside it is important to have a clear understanding of who/what is responsible for these things.

I've been gradually pushing a bit more and more, exploring where the limits are (when it's relatively safe, of course). And the harder I push, the more I can feel the DSC doing it's thing. Sometimes it's almost disconcerting going into a corner expecting a particular line, and the cars shifts some power from one place to another and it takes a slightly different line (and this is without active steering, but with AWD, so it is moving the power front/back).

It certainly feels more normal with DSC off and a straight 40/60 split, though I can see how the DSC does add a margin of safety for those not sensitive to what the contact patches are doing.

Allow me to reply....

It had been raining all night, so any oil on the road should have been gone by this time. I just felt as though a car with this type of supposed technology would be allowed to handle such a turn....I am pretty positive that the tires were responsible (or should I say that I was responsible for pushing the crappy tires that BMW decided to put on the car) for the poor performance. My last set of tires were Goodyear F1's and I never....NEVER felt them break free in ANY road conditions....The ultimate driving machine deserves a new pair of shoes.

All these systems are supposed to help/save your ass when you are not aware of certain dangers not when you try to defeat the laws of physics. No wonder I used to see so many BMWs in the ditch and scratch my head thinking how this could happen with all the computer assistance. I guess some people are intent on proving Darwin right.

Allow me to reply....

It had been raining all night, so any oil on the road should have been gone by this time. I just felt as though a car with this type of supposed technology would be allowed to handle such a turn....I am pretty positive that the tires were responsible (or should I say that I was responsible for pushing the crappy tires that BMW decided to put on the car) for the poor performance. My last set of tires were Goodyear F1's and I never....NEVER felt them break free in ANY road conditions....The ultimate driving machine deserves a new pair of shoes.
No offense, but I would have to say the money is probably better spent on a driving course at this point in time. Believe me, you can compensate for bad tires but not for bad driving. I know, I used to drive my dad's 730 with bald tires, and I did make mistakes, but I never blamed the tires, it was all me getting too confident, which is not rare when you are 18.

you guys are all too funny...The road that I was drinving on was well banked and lets face it, the car is not all that powerful.....simply put: the tires suck....and as far as Darwin goes, trust me my friend, I would definitly make the final cut....If someone can produce a review of these tires that says anything other than that they are sub-par at best, I will eat my words....I must say I am not looking forward to the first snow...

you guys are all too funny...The road that I was drinving on was well banked and lets face it, the car is not all that powerful.....simply put: the tires suck....and as far as Darwin goes, trust me my friend, I would definitly make the final cut....If someone can produce a review of these tires that says anything other than that they are sub-par at best, I will eat my words....I must say I am not looking forward to the first snow...
Not a smart idea to stick with all seasons in the snow anyway. Invest in a good set of snow tires, believe me it is well worth it. We don't want to hear stories about you kissing the guardrail or hugging the ditch and then complaining about the tires. Do the smart things, get the right tires for the job.

awd isnt magic

I'm going to give the stock all-seasons (Continentals in my case) a shot this winter. I know snow tires are better, having run 4 studded snows on some of my Mustangs GTs in the past, but I got along fine with all seasons on my Yukon, which the Bimmer now replaces.

I plan to buy some nice aftermarket 18" wheels and good summer tires in the spring. If I need better winter tires, I'll buy them as required and store the Conti's for when I return the lease.

Should be interesting.

I'm going to give the stock all-seasons (Continentals in my case) a shot this winter. I know snow tires are better, having run 4 studded snows on some of my Mustangs GTs in the past, but I got along fine with all seasons on my Yukon, which the Bimmer now replaces.

I plan to buy some nice aftermarket 18" wheels and good summer tires in the spring. If I need better winter tires, I'll buy them as required and store the Conti's for when I return the lease.

Should be interesting.
Yeah let us know how it goes this winter. I heard they don't use salt in AB, same in MB? Does the gravel/sand or whatever they spray improve traction? and how long does the snow stay on the ground? I heard the Chinook usually melts it frequently.

Yeah let us know how it goes this winter.

Barring getting t-boned by a semi, will do.:rolleyes

I heard they don't use salt in AB, same in MB?

Oh, no. They use mucho salt here.

I understand why they do - salting snow/ice off the roads is waaaay cheaper and faster than plowing/scraping it off as long as the temperatures are high enough - but it does not factor in the detrimental effects on not only cars, but concrete as well.

Our Public Works does do ongoing experimentation with various kinder and gentler deicing technologies (I used to work for them), but salt still remains the first weapon of choice.

I gotta side with dirty here. I've been very disappointed in the all seasons thus far. I have not been pushing the car that hard but I have felt the tires starting to go, or at least making not feel confident, around the ramps. While the 335 is faster than my old car, I miss my 255's all around, couldn't lose those tires unless you really screwed up (even all seasons).

I have many times pushed the limits of traction on exit ramps / cloverleafs but it always makes me feel a bit uneasy. Where do you think your car is going when you lose it in a tight turn? Thats right, straight into the wall or ditch. You need to explore the limits of the car in a place that is more forgiving.

Excuse my french, but I think you are being stupid to push your car when you don't know it's limits. When you almost cause an accident, you go and blame your tires and your equipment. There is this old saying where "A carpenter always blames his tools". In this case, I think the driver always blames other things but himself.

I think you should learn how to drive your car properly before you start 'testing' it. The last thing we need is a raise in our insurance because some stupid driver doesn't know how to handle an AWD vehicle and rights off his car into the ditch.

Once again....way too funny...If you guys read my post, you would realize that no, I did not end up in a ditch. The reason being the fact that
I AM a good driver....I have had numerous sportscars over the years, and tires make all the difference in the world. Especially in varying road conditions. The reason that I pushed it, and like I said, I only pushed it a little, was to see how this so-called AWD system worked....in VARYING road conditions....The car is supposed to hold the road better than a RWD or FWD car....All I was saying was that I noticed it started to break free a little earlier than you would expect...excuse me if I was a bit dramatic in the first post.....jeez

Once again, I'm with you. I think the all season rft's on a 335 weren't the best choice for OE. I've had other "performance all season" tires that were better. Maye they don't make a decent run flat all season?

Why did we buy these cars if not, in part, to test the limits?

Why did we buy these cars if not, in part, to test the limits?
Get better tires then. You can barely approach 70% of this car's limits with all seasons. AS tires are for lazy people who don't wan to swap summer/winter tires or for those who don't push their cars towards the limit. For anyone wanting to pretend to be an enthusiast, get proper tires and leave the all seasons for when you return your car at lease end or sell it off.

Get better tires then. You can barely approach 70% of this car's limits with all seasons. AS tires are for lazy people who don't wan to swap summer/winter tires or for those who don't push their cars towards the limit. For anyone wanting to pretend to be an enthusiast, get proper tires and leave the all seasons for when you return your car at lease end or sell it off.

wow really? "Get better tires." thanks, couldn't figure that one out

"A good carpenter never blames his tools" is how the saying goes, I believe.

I'll go on record as having been through an upstate NY winter, in hilly country, in a town that proclaims itself "Snow Capitol of Western NY" and never having had any problem running on the Conti AS RFTs that came with my 328xit.

I don't doubt that snow tires are superior to AS. Of course! But the Contis worked well for me. The only time I put the front end into a snowbank it was at the entrance to my driveway and it was my fault (I usually back in but decided -- too late -- that I'd nose in instead, and did a low-speed slide). I didn't blame that on the tires. It was me.

wow really? "Get better tires." thanks, couldn't figure that one out
Well no offense, but anyone who read your post must have wondered if you knew anything about tires and adhesion, or am I the only one thinking that?! Again please don't take offense, but maybe in the future you should present/represent yourself in a way that is not easily misconstrued.

Get better tires then. You can barely approach 70% of this car's limits with all seasons. AS tires are for lazy people who don't wan to swap summer/winter tires or for those who don't push their cars towards the limit. For anyone wanting to pretend to be an enthusiast, get proper tires and leave the all seasons for when you return your car at lease end or sell it off.


That is one opinion with a liberal does of BS . There are some very good all season tires out there that perform well so summer tires are optional to enjoy the car.

If you purchase summer tires and push them beyond what a very good all seaon tire can do (think Michelin Pilot Sport A/S), you should be on a track and not public roads. The public should not be subjected to that kind of juvenile driving.

That is one opinion with a liberal does of BS . There are some very good all season tires out there that perform well so summer tires are optional to enjoy the car.

If you purchase summer tires and push them beyond what a very good all seaon tire can do (think Michelin Pilot Sport A/S), you should be on a track and not public roads. The public should not be subjected to that kind of juvenile driving.
You are right. I was referring to the round of the mill AS tires. The Micheline Sport A/S is more of a performance tire with an A/S or winter compound added in. I had them on my e36 for the last 5 years or more and was quite happy with them in the summer, they are more than capable to approach 90%+ of my car's limits and they performed well in around freezing temps and light snow, but again I say those are the exception as they are performance tires 1st with all season compound added in. Not the case with the all seasons that come on the xi or standard on any other car for that matter. Thanks for clarifying though.