Hi, 

We have a 3 series touring and its great for us here, it has been magic for the winter months. Though we have winter tires which I think is indispensable (and its obligatory in Switzerland).

My husband knows all the technical things about it so I can't really give you detailed information on the mechanic side of it at the moment but I am sure there is more info on the bmw website). BUt to answer you question, yes, 3 series is fine. 

However, I think our car has a 4wd "option" so I don't know which one you were considering buying. 

We are debating whether to sell ours so if you are interested, let me know. My email is [email protected].

If you have some more questions on the technical side, I can also ask my husband. 

Regards, 

Hyacinth 

The 3 series is rear wheel drive. If you have proper tires, it will be no problem to go up to the mountains. You'll be driving on reasonable roads throughout your trip(s).

Four wheel drive may give you more traction in specific situations, but I'd rather have the right tires on a RWD or FWD (forward wheel drive) car than AWD (all wheel drive) with poor tires.

It's not as if you'll be going offroading on a 3 series either. It's just not tall enough for that. But the trips I've done to the mountains have usually been on roads which were cleared, as were the parking lots, and you narely ever had to set foot off from the given roads in order to get to your location or parking spot.

hyaos: winter tires are NOT obligatory in Switzerland. You may drive in winter with summer tires. The only problem you may end up having is if you're in an accident, as your insurance may not pay you if you were using summer tires.

But no, it is not obligatory, this is a myth.

I also think you risk getting fined if you get stuck in snow and slow down traffic :-)

I am thinking worst case scenario - not cleared roads and snow or icy roads - I dont want to be the "missy being stuck in the snow" ;-)

What I am trying to figure out is whether I can "survive" buying a normal serie 3 or if I should get an X-version - 4 wheel drive.....

Don't worry about a thing, buy the BMW. I would much more worry about driving slowly on the left-lane on the highway. The roads are cleared fairy well in CH and if there is pure ice on the road, the 4x4 won't help you either.

Winter tyres are NOT obligatory here, only in certain EU countries (Austria for example). But really, I cannot understand how daft some people are to drive in winter to the mountains with summer tyres.

In any event, I would buy the normal 3 series (more fun but u don't care I guess, cheaper in price, cheaper in consumption, especially since you dont ski every weekend).

Enjoy....

Actually my plan IS normally to ski every weekend :-)

if you buy a rear wheel drive car, buy all the stability control options; I would prefer a front wheel drive car any time.  A BMW's dynamic 'advantage' will never be recognised except for the extreme minority of the 'boy-racers' here...

I would also prefer a front wheel drive car!!!

I have just bought a Audi A4-that it´s a great car;-))

Maybritt

I

I have been looking at the Audi A4 for a time, however there just aren't enough cars in the market for me to get what I want with my budget.... I am buying a used car... That is kind of why I started checking out the BMW....

I also have a 3 series with a "dynamic stability control" that sort of works as 4W drive whenever needed. I can tell you that I have been everywhere with my car in different kinds of snow without any problems at all. And I do love my car :-)

Eliana

Eliana - this dynamic stability control is that what would for instance be a 320 X something?

Exactly. And it works. I have a 325 xi coupé and never had any problem.

Great - thanks for your input!

All the modern BMW's will come with the stability control systems as standard, you don't even tick a box for them anymore. Don't confuse this with X drive which is the word for the BMW all wheel drive system. It just means that all four wheels are able to push the car in either direction, and the car has technology in place to alternate the amount of power it places on each wheel when it detects loss of traction.

I personally prefer RWD due to the greater handling capabilities one can have with it versus FWD (torque steer comes to mind) and the greater pleasure I derive from driving such a car in a more spirited manner. FWD is great for inexperienced drivers and may have certain advantages in non-perfect situations (such as sleet, slush, snow) if driving at a steady rate, but for proper control of my car, RWD is where it's at (tires play a massive role in winter, don't neglect them). Very few FWD cars are able to emulate the "fun" that a RWD vehicle consistently has. But this is not important for everyone.

AWD then gives you a little bit of both and can be useful (coupled with the right tires) on certain surfaces (rough, potholes, very bumpy stuff... not necessarily snow... we're talking about you losing contact with the ground for certain wheels at a time), but comes with the disadvantage of adding considerable weight to a car and disconnecting the driver from the road due to greater intervention from the cars electronics these days.

It all depends on your wants versus needs.

Oh by the way, it doesnt seem to be a very economical car fuel wise, have you been complety ruined or is it ok?

Caroline,

I do not see much difference compared to other cars I had. Certainly not economical but nothing different from others of the same category, I would say.

Hi Heikki,

I am not an expert at all. Just speaking from my experience.

Anyway, thank you for the comprehensive explanation :-)

Eliana

Experience is good, better than someone speaking about something they have no clue about ;)

Besides, we're not all experts in every subject out there. I like cars and I spend some time researching them. Thus I may be able to chip in on something, but I'm by no means an authority on all things automotive.

These days, just about any modern car will do just fine with the right tires in snow.

Caroline: if you're worried about fuel economy but you want a German engineered Audi or BMW, then you've got your finances somewhat mixed up. They're not exactly the cheapest vehicles you'll find on the market these days, especially if they have AWD. We're speaking of an initial investment of +50k chf (if buying new... are you?) and then there's insurance and services/repairs to consider as well.

Gas would be the last thing on my mind at that point... unless of course you're planning to put OVER 20,000 kilometers on it a year. At that point over the course of a 5 year ownership, a car which does 11l/100 versus 8l/100 will run you an additional gas bill of some 5000chf (1000chf a year... very rough calculation).

Dear Caroline ,

Some facts you need to consider as you are evaluating driving a BMW .

1. Audi and others use ESP which basily is a sytem developed by BOCH. However BMW uses DSC (also used by Lexus and other premium builders) The DSC is available in two settings. a) 100% fully disconected only for stamine drivers and gentlemen racers ;) and b) 25% partial disconected option. This extremely useful for situation very common in ths country . For instance when you have to "climb up" the garage entrance the risk of lossing control by the overdo of full power into the wheels is reduced. The 25% leaves the rear back goes just a bit so the energy which finally goes to the rear wheels is the minimun enough to move the car and avoid loosing control .

This is impossible to get in a standard ESP becouse the setting are not "Taylor made". Audi is only reliable - and quite a lot if you choose a Quatro. However at this stage a couple of things about Audi.

1- Audi has been using a Torsen System by 25 years and it is a wonderful system but with a little "point". It is mecannical and not electronical systems. That means that he can not be able to learn like BMW´s one. Second it is too heavy and increase the cost of running becouse it can not be electronily disconected. BMW system works only when it is absolutely necessary . it lighter than Torsen, more acurate and tecnicaly top of the range. The desing of this system makes it small. This is important becouse the position of the engine goes lower and it increases the stability in bends. Remenber that BMW 3 SERIES is a specif platform or chasis . it is built only for 3 series and the weight of the cars goes 50% front 50% rear back.  this in conjunction with the ESP makes the car extremily safe. The X drive system is not really a need, unless you want to improve the driving performance. (in normal english: you can go to Glaciar 3000 each weekend with a standard 3 series and it manages fine. X drive is only a peace of mind or a need if you drive in sport manners. ( I assume you are not this sort of person but anyway it is all about budget. For me the best is a 3 series with 6 cilinders L 6 ENGINE  and X drive but a standard 4L is enough.

Oh my, Heikki and Carlos could you please just come with me when I buy my car :-)

Heikki, in regards to the fuel economy I do know I am looking at consuming cars however it is nice to hear peoples experience (I have also been considering diesel) - like do they feel they get out of the garage before having to fill the tank again ;-)

how about buying a horse? you can even take in all zig zags ? just kidding, have a nice car search.

FWD VS RWD.

if you see the tree you re driving a FWD . if you listen the tree you re driving a RWD.

i dont know how to explain this in english but it is said that a car with less than 125 bhp is better FWD, more than 125bhp RWD and more than 230 bhp AWD. Why?

if you came into a bend very very fast a RWD the car  turns more that you are trying.. you crash against the tree.

in a FWD the car go straight even when you are bending so you crash against the car from the opposite lane.

if a have to choose I prefer the tree. (however ESP and common sense are there to avoid this sort of situation)

I have worked for BMW in Spain and I can help youif you need personal advice. I am here in lausanne with a friend to work through the Swiss Rally Championship (pilot and copilot) so we are available for any extra info or help you can need. (no worries . professionals and with FIA licenses of course) jaja.

take care. my mail is [email protected]

.  email  [email protected]

the optional system is dsc or the xdrive?

both are electronicals. the xdrive works only when it is mandatory. . and more important BMW x drive is the only system with can give 100% power in a wheel and 0% in the rest.  Audi and Mercedes uses a system which can give as maximun 50% and 68% of power in a wheel. This is an advantage in situations where the car seems to be surrounded by snow.

I live in Lausanne. :( but if you send me your doubts if you finally goes for BMW,

btw: even saying that a car with 50/50 (front/rear) weight distribution is "extremely safe" may not be telling the full truth.

Yes, in certain situations this is the weight of the car, but when you brake, and brake hard, much more weight is transferred to the front. For example, take the "often" rear heavy Porsches (with their engine in the rear). They are hardly ever even close to 50/50 in weight distribution, but these cars can brake late and hard when coming into a corner, and still keep steady BECAUSE the weight is transferred in such a way as to give the a closer to 50/50 weight distribution in that particular situation, and therefore the car remains "giddy" on its feet.

I for example drive an AMG with a very heavy 5.5 V8 in the front. This car is front heavy by default and in hard corner braking can be a little touchy as the weight distribution gets so heavy. But on pure "foot to the metal" action during heavy acceleration, those rear wheels get plenty of weight and the car feels quite steady unlike some others which can begin to swerve left and right (once again, very objective and depends a lot on the car, the weight, the tires used etc), but I know of some powerful cars which I've experienced first hand, that require the pilot to keep a few steady hands on the wheel when accelerating hard.

But one could go on hours and hours about the "finesse" of each car, the engines be it a straight 6 or v8, AWD or "other"WD, and still not get very far until they've actually drive the car.

Really, you just need to go up to a dealer and tell them "I want a new car, I have a list of cars which interest me. This car of yours is on the list and I want to give it a drive, now". You'd be surprised how few dealers will say no.

Don't forget that a Mini is a BMW "0" series, and that the old BMW Rovers were BMW's too.

tax_exile: and....?

BMW X1 - hard ride, not that much fun to drive

BMW X5 big, difficult to park, it will scratched, need to have parking sensors, expect to get annoyed when not to Smart cars park in the bays for big cars

BMW 3 series avoid 316 or 318 unless you like to see people on bikes go faster.  Not much fun to drive but the 320, 325, 330 are.  X drive versions are 4 wheel drive versions. 

5 series - good car but horribly ugly since 2001. 

Alternative small 4 wheel drives - Fiat, Suzuki, Saab.  Lexus RX300 is a great car but thirsty V6.  Rides like a limo though. 

Best bet would be a 1 series or  Mini (front wheel drive).  Put the winter tyres on and go any where.  If it snows that much you can't drive easily then don't. 

I thought AMG was for Mercs?

Tax_exile: My choice of the 3 series is due to the size - it is an alternative to an A4 I have been considering...

I will be skiing a lot as well as going for longer trips here and there so I want to be able to bring skis, luggage, friends, family etc :-)

Yes, AMG is a Mercedes-Benz division.

Just to add on EAPINTO's concern, the all new and last face lifted 3 Series is out on the Geneva Car Show, the 320d Efficient Dynamics (ED)...not Dynamics Edition which already exists. Anyways, in terms of consumption it's on book 4.1 AVG !!!

As Heikki once again correctly said, if you drive 20k+ per year (like me for example with 35k) then yes, it's the best in the class and saves you a lot of cash.

Anyways, I don't think there will be an x-version so probably less interesting for you. Anyone want to buy my 525 btw???

p.s. Tax_Exile, the 5 series became ugly in 2003, not 2001. The new one is out in Geneva too in less than a week btw....

Hi Caroline,

I asked myself those questions before buying in october 2008 a new 320i Touring Break as I'am a member of swiss alpine club and on the road most of the WE regardless of the weather, the new generation of BMW works quite good in snow due to various electronics systems. Driving a propulsion on snow is quite a fun and I never really get stuck and if I does I see only 4WD vehicles climbing up steep slopes, traction car get also stucked. For thoses cases I have rapid chains in the car.

But I would say by experience that traction cars might be slightly better than propulsion but the difference is quite small. BMW is not any more the mess is was used to be on the snow.

Thanks a lot, while looking I have "unfortunately" fallen in love with a 330 Xi so if only I am able to go there it will probably be that one.... It has all the equipment I want and I will hate the insurance hehe :-)

Enjoy it!

cheers.

Eliana

well six cilindres and xdrive sounds amazing!!

just to know is it a sedan, coupe, or station ?

Regarding the insurance fee., if you buy the car in BMW official dealers you could ask for the insurance service.In Spain this product is new (no more than 3 years and the prices are attractives). No idea about specific conditions in this country. :( sorry.

Also I am sending you a link to BMW Ch website. In Geneve you can get a list of driving school where you can learn how to enjoy the new car to the maximun.

Good luck and enjoy yourself.

@ Carlos S: "well six cilindres and xdrive sounds amazing!!"

She better not complains about fuel economy anymore.... Six Cils and AWD is about 15% more fuel consumption!

Hello,

Nice choice. I have the old 330xi for more than 6 years now and even if it's getting old, it's still the same pleasure. It's efficient in every condition.

And for insurance, have a look at allianz or zurich.

I am not complaining just researching ;-) Wanted a fuel economic car at first but now I want to have fun haha.....

Hopefully I will go to the area of Zurich saturday to look at 4 potentials :-)

Looking for a used one? not too old and few mileage? or older?

About fuel, the 330 is in fact an economic car when you consider  the power.

Another point is about service. It's free (well almost) for 10 years or 100000km. And parts can last very long. On my car, the brakes has been replaced for the first time after 90'000km.

If you buy a used one in a non official BMW agent, ask if it is a "swiss" car. Meaning that it is registerd with BMW Schweiz and has the swiss warranty and service package. It will be easier and cheaper for the service.