Open diffs are not all the same. The 2006+ DTC program in bmw rwd's is much better than the e46 option. The rear brakes do a fairly good simulation.

My xdrive experiences are not good enough to recommend. Less grip/traction compared to audi & subaru (even if I prefer bmw overall as a car).

Is the Xdrive in the 3 series the same as the X5s?

I already have an extra set of wheels -- the original 19's from the car. I bought a set of the current base 19's just about a year ago, and put those on when I got new tires earlier this year. I boxed the originals back up thinking I may need them for winter tires here...

I need to stop at Discount Tire this weekend to have them check one wheel -- I have a super slow leak in one tire (think its the valve stem…). I'll see what options they have for winter tires and the in-wheel TPMS sensors needed...

I have no experience with audi's or subaru, but last winter I found my BMW '06 xi wagon on x-Ice 3's to be just awesome. It clawed up anything. Twice I went out mid-storm just for fun and I was as confident as could be.

The scariest part was braking. The confidence in acceleration left me disappointed in my ability to stop.

What were the scenarios where you felt it was lacking? Trying to get un-stuck (while parked, etc.. Something I never tried) or handling issues while moving?

Or just spray the hell out of it with soapy water and stare at it waiting for bubbles. Easier than hauling it to a store.

Ordered a set of Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II for my OEM rims.

Figured I'd just pay my guy to switch the tires this year (and next, I guess, then maybe one more?) instead of dealing with my old BBS rims and spacers with non-functioning TPMS, on which the old Michelin PA2s are just about spent.

https://www.tirerack.com/images/tire...II_pdpcrop.jpg

Why not just get new TPMS? The cost of job having to mount and unmount would pay for them, no?

This decision was all about convenience (aka laziness).

I think I've pretty much lost any and all motivation to do any of the work of owning a car myself at this point. Not sure if it's because I'm old, because I can afford it more easily now, both, or something else.

But this way I put a set of tires in my trunk, drive 5 minutes to a guy, go get some lunch, pay the guy and get my car back, drive home, and put a set of tires in my garage. Sounds pretty good. :lol:

245/265 snow tires are pretty ridiculous to start with, but I hope they don't suck too badly. More about the cold than the snow really.

I didn't have a bad experience with my 06 330xi (that I had to get rid of after it got rear-ended, hard). It did a few VT ski trips and a few storms. It did well clawing up in a straight line.

My bad xi/xdrive story is from '11 335xi (car was under warranty and 25k miles or so, no malfunction suspected). I simply could not get into an icy parking spot, trying all possible nanny levels (on/partial/off). I had decent tread alpin pa3's on it. Then after many tries, I gave up and a Mini Cooper FWD with all-seasons promptly took the spot. Maybe it was an edge case, maybe they fit better between the ice piles. I don't care, the car was spinning diagonally, one front and one rear wheel with little forward traction.

That, and the floaty feel xi's have as the engine and thus the whole car is raised over the front driveshafts.

These have been great. Grippy and sharp in the dry, but also comfortable. Good snow performance in up to about 2”, which is as much as I’ve tried. I like them much more than my last set of winters which were Michelin PA2s.