[Jules59]

Why dont BMW sell 4WD cars in the UK ?
Yes I know they sell SUVs but why not 4WD cars. Audi & Subaru do.

[beemerbird]

Think we've done this one to death if you do a search.

Basically cost is the biggest factor. As an example a Carrera S RWD is £76,172 & a Carrera 4S is £80,785 and we drive on the left of course so other factors. Audi is 'setting off' from FWD and only a £1,500 option to spec Quattro.

It would also increase the ride height as if you look at those sold in Europe or North America they do sit higher. To reduce the ride height would create more cost because of the amount of alterations that would need to be done to the car, therefore possibly pricing themselves out of the market.

BMW have always claimed there is no need for 4WD/AWD in the UK because of our climate............

[Frosticles]

Just come from a 55 reg Subaru STi to an E90 M Sport. The Subaru was awesome in the snow throughout December whilst all the BMW's in the village were at the side of the road
Subaru had to go due to extortionate running costs otherwise I would have kept it. Have been given some snow chains for the BMW "Just in case" LOL.

[edowen]

they are coming....

[AlanQS]

Up till now, the cost of type approval and conversion to right hand drive has been too high to warrant production in relation to the number of 4WD cars BMW would sell in Britain - there isn't the market, or the winter conditions (yet) plus the "character of the brand" in Britain has long been associated with rear wheel drive.

The money isn't there for them to bother.

[HighlandPete]

F30 platform is desgined to have RHD variants of the xDrive. Was talking with the Inverness dealer a few weeks ago and they are in the loop with BMW on this issue. Their customers are wanting 3-series cars with xDrive. BMW are to provide xDrive for the UK. The dealer can't wait as they lose sales to other marques, as not all BMW customers want an X series, when they want AWD.

HighlandPete

[edowen]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

The money isn't there for them to bother.

I guess Audi would disagree with you.

[ghb]

They offered the 5 Series in the late 80s with 4wd in a right hand drive version and sold very few as I recall. I suspect they needed some real evidence of demand before trying again in the relatively small RHD market.

The X models have now established a 4wd reputation for BMW in UK which might make it worthwhile with the new 3er. It will be interesting to see what is on offer.

[AlanQS]

I know Audi do but they only offer AWD with certain engine sizes so the cost of the AWD gets lost in the price for the bigger model. You get no choice with Audi (if I recall). Small engines are front wheel drive, bigger engines are four wheel drive. In Europe, BMW offer four wheel drive variants on all sizes of 3 series so the cost is much greater.

[Jules59]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

F30 platform is desgined to have RHD variants of the xDrive. Was talking with the Inverness dealer a few weeks ago and they are in the loop with BMW on this issue. Their customers are wanting 3-series cars with xDrive. BMW are to provide xDrive for the UK. The dealer can't wait as they lose sales to other marques, as not all BMW customers want an X series, when they want AWD.

HighlandPete

Id be very interested in a 4WD 3 series.
The only reason I have a 330D and not an Audi A4 avant V6 Quattro is that the Audi main dealer salesman really couldnt be arsed to even arrange a test drive let alone actually try and sell me one. In a fit of pique I did something Ive never done before; looked on the BMW website. A week or so later I owned my first BMW. Love it.
Admittedly, it wasnt great in the snow but no worse than alot of FWD cars. I'll get some winter tyres/wheels when the prices are sane again.

[edowen]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

I know Audi do but they only offer AWD with certain engine sizes so the cost of the AWD gets lost in the price for the bigger model. You get no choice with Audi (if I recall). Small engines are front wheel drive, bigger engines are four wheel drive.

Sorry chap, you're talking bollocks!

A3/A4/A6 quattro is available in:

2.0 petrol
2.0 Diesel
2.0 Turbo

and everything bigger.

[G82Dude]

They went to all the trouble of a RHD 4 door M3 and how many of those have they sold? I'm pretty sure that the number of 4WD BMW 3 series would exceed the total number of M3s in all variants sold in the UK!

They do a 4WD Mini (like that needs it), so faffed about with that and RHD 4WD...

[225_AB]

i think the demand for a 4wd bmw would be very good. It is one of the reasons why i might have to go back to an audi for my next car.

[doughboy]

X drive bmw cars are not available in sport models overseas.

They sit very high and the x drive cars seem more of a utilitarian 4wd system than a performance one.

It is much cheaper / simpler to add RWD to a FWD car than vice versa (ala audi)

Would you pay 3-4k more for it?

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by Jules59

Id be very interested in a 4WD 3 series.
The only reason I have a 330D and not an Audi A4 avant V6 Quattro is that the Audi main dealer salesman really couldnt be arsed to even arrange a test drive let alone actually try and sell me one. In a fit of pique I did something Ive never done before; looked on the BMW website. A week or so later I owned my first BMW. Love it.
Admittedly, it wasnt great in the snow but no worse than alot of FWD cars. I'll get some winter tyres/wheels when the prices are sane again.

Funny you should mention that. I found an Audi dealer who couldn't be arsed letting me have a test drive and now I have a 330d.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Jules59

Why dont BMW sell 4WD cars in the UK ?
Yes I know they sell SUVs but why not 4WD cars. Audi & Subaru do.

Audi's heritage is 4wd and Subaru's heritage is 4wd too, so they are bound to do 4wd, its their main selling point. Them dumbing down to 2wd is cheap and easy.

BMW's heritage is RWD, so adding costly 4wd is bound to be a selective decision.

There's a lot of RHD countries too, so a lot more than just us without x drive.