Test drive BMW 3 E90 2005 - 2008 sedan

Winter fairy tale

Xdrive came to our world long ago - 3 years ago, but conversations around the smart system of all -wheel drive do not die. Moreover, the interest in the point of boiling in every new all -wheel drive BMW is largely due to the presence of XDRive in it.
 

The last of the current Car of cars X reached us the third series, which will be offered in the options for 325xi, 330xi and 330xd. We met the first - the most modest.

 
By appearance and interior, the all -wheel drive treshka almost completely repeats the rear -wheel drive. We were able to detect 2 differences - this is 325xi nameplate 325xi and the button of the system control system from the mountain (Hill Descent Control) at the very bottom of the central console. From this point of view, 325xi is an ordinary representative of the third family, with its laconic forms, excellent ergonomics, comfortable seats, chic leather -colored cream -colored and coolness in relation to the driver.
 

In fact, the differences between 325i and 325xi are mass. We’ll start with the mass. Installing the distribution and the front leading bridge is an additional 115 kg of weight. A lot. But with the efforts of Bavarian engineers, this supplement almost did not affect the weight of the BMW traditionally pay concise attention. Instead of 46:54, in the rear -wheel drive 325ia, the all -wheel drive modification has a ratio of 48:52. The difference in dynamics is more significant - additional kilograms and another main pair reduced the maximum speed from 242 to 236 km/h. And acceleration to 100 km/h occupies 325xi 0.4 seconds more - 8.1 seconds. You can also mention the grown radius of the turn and the volume of the fuel tank, but the main thing is not that.

 
The main thing is four leading wheels. However, all four wheels at once at the BMW are no longer always rowing. In XDRive theory, everything is extremely simple and therefore can be said - brilliant. In the parking mode of 325xi - an exclusively rear -wheel drive car. When starting from the place and intensive acceleration, the electromechanical coupling is completely blocked, setting the rigid distribution of torque in a ratio of 50:50. XDRive holds a dead grip until a speed of 20 km/h reaches. And it completely blooms and transfers 100% of the moment to the rear wheels only after reaching 180 km/h. The most interesting thing happens inside this fork 20-180 km/h, with straightforward movement, the electronics maintains the ratio of 40:60 in favor of the rear wheels, but when changing the nature of the movement, it plays with a coupling, varying the distribution of the moment from 0: 100 to 50:50 in its own way discretion. More precisely, at the discretion of the programmers who laid the corresponding algorithm into it. It is on them that now all responsibility for the behavior and nature of any all -wheel drive BMW lies.
 

On the slippery coating, Xdrive jugles the torque almost constantly and at any speed. In winter, in Russia you will not find other coverage - which means that God himself ordered us to check the quick wits and reliability of the Bavarian supercomputer in practice. For the matter!
 

God, well, the voice of this in -line six! Soft, velvety below and violently ringing at high speeds. The character of the motor is an invaluable gift for the gambling driver: more than sufficient thrust in the entire speed range, willingness to pull the car out of a evenly current flow at any moment and turn it into part of the landscape flickering behind the door glass. Perhaps this 2.5 -liter engine is one of the best in its class. But happiness would not be complete if a well-tuned 6-speed machine did not work in pairs with the motor. Even in a comfortable delay mode, it is minimal when switching, and if you pass the selector to yourself with a passionate movement, converting the box to the Sport mode, then the mutual understanding in the tandem engine transmission becomes completely idyllic. Changing the programs manually, you only violate this magical harmony.
 

At starting from a place of 325xi, it accelerates as efficiently as possible - in this case, XDRive blocks the coupling ahead of time, even before the start of the slip. This is what Bavarians are most proud of, because many competitors have a signal to block the differential that the wheels begin to slip. You can confidently accelerate on the all-wheel drive 325th on almost any coating. The exchange rate stability and clarity with which the car responds to the movement of the steering wheel when accelerating and driving at high speeds cannot but cause confidence in this three -tire. Plus - great brakes with sensitive and informative pedal, plus - hard assembled suspension ...
 

There is only one minus. When a track or other road irregularities appears under the wheels, this self -confident, it would seem, person begins to rush nervously from side to side, forcing the driver to strain. The situation is worsening longer than in the rear -wheel drive cars, the steering wheel - the gear ratio is increased from 16.0 to 18.2. Yes, and the bagel itself with a thin and smooth rim seemed large - BMW has much more delicious offers for the third series.
 

Finally, 325xi is chosen on deserted suburban paths. Hello, freedom! Under the wheels, rolled snow, gas - from the heart, and Treshka immediately tries to lead the stern, demonstrating the innate rear -wheel drive habits and very liberal settings of the stabilization system. The moment of electronics intervention allows the DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) - here you can already get tickling slippers and small slides. But only to a certain speed limit. Having finally thrown off the DSC bonds, this car will deliver you to the world of a real driver high.

 
The fact is that the XDRive settings, adapting it to cars of the third series, endowed 325xi not the most flexible character. At the entrance to the turn, a treshka demonstrates a unequivocal reaction to gas - it willingly go to the skid and easily gets into the turn. But to stretch the car sideways throughout the arc is not easy - a constant change in the moment supplied to the front, then the skid is extinguished, then, on the contrary, it brings it to a critical angle. To carry out BMW in sliding exactly along the turn of the turn, clear, verified actions by the steering wheel and gas are needed. She was late with the first and went too far with the second - get a turn. But when everything is done on time and in moderation, it turns out a masterpiece - firing back by snow volleys from under the wheels, the treshka fan passes the turn and with a minimum skid at the exit rushes to the next. The beauty is fabulous! And it is more pleasant to control the machine in this mode: the sensitivity of the accelerator, the effort on the steering wheel, the operation of the machine gun - all this creates a thin but strong connection between the driver and the car. In the cabin, nothing rattles and does not creak, the hardness of the body and the assembly quality at a height. Such driving in this case cannot be called extreme. For 325xi, this is a natural state!
 

But those who turn their eyes toward an all -wheel drive threek in the hope of finding an increased cross -country ability, not superfluous when entering a country house or in a snowy courtyard, will be disappointed. A small road clearance and absolute rear -wheel drive in the parking mode is unlikely to be allies. An indicative situation: resting with front wheels in snowy nanos when entering the parking lot, BMW helplessly rotates the front in place to connect the front and take the barrier only a sharp gas increase. By the way, BMW cars are not designed for such exercises. And, by the way, they are bought by the lion's share in the USA - in a completely different reason.
 

In Russia, the share of all -wheel drive modifications in the total sales of cars of the fifth and third series is less than 8 percent. One of the main reasons is the price. For the current BMW 325xi, Russian dealers ask 3600 more than for the rear -wheel drive version, the cost of which can not be called sparing with all the desire. So for many she will remain a winter fairy tale.
 

BMW 325xi Prices and Assembly

Full -wheel drive cars of the third BMW series are offered in Russia in the only configuration for each version: for 325xi this is the execution of Business for 45 100, for 330xi and 330xd - Dynamic for 58,700 and 60 600, respectively. Universals are more expensive than sedanov by 3000.

The equipment of 325xi includes 6 airbags, the DSC stabilization system, the braking control system in corners, the leather upholstery of the salon, 16-inch wheels, climate control, cruise control, a paractor, a stereo system, a folding rear seat and a bag for skiing.
 

4x4 from Munich
 

1985. BMW 325IX (E30)

The first serial BMW with all -wheel drive. Power selection on the front wheels was carried out through a self -locking center differential and a handout with a chain. Initially, a constant distribution of torque was laid down in a ratio of 37:63 in favor of the rear wheels. The BMW 325ix Touring appeared in 1989 was produced until 1994. The next generation of the third series (1991; E36) did not have a full -wheel drive.
 

1991. BMW 525IX

The first all -wheel drive five (E34). Constant four -wheel drive, an interdose differential with electromagnetic locking. Distribution of the moment - 36:64. The next generation of the car (E39) was deprived of all -wheel drive.
 

1999. BMW X5

The first SUV BMW brand. Permanent all -wheel drive - through a free center differential and a handout with a chain of Morse. Distribution of the moment in normal conditions - 38:62.
 

2000. BMW 330xi

The next generation of the third series (E46) receives 3 all -wheel drive modifications - 325xi, 330xi and 330xd. The transmission design is similar to X5. The moment on the front wheels is constantly transmitted through a free center differential and a handout with a chain of Morse. The ratio of the transmitted moment is 38:62.
 

2003. BMW X3

The emergence of the XDRive system, which involves the rejection of the center differential and the permanent all -wheel drive. From now on, only the rear wheels are constantly given. Twisting the moment on the front axle is transmitted through an electromechanical coupling and a Morse chain.
 

2003. BMW X5

As a result of restyling, X5 receives a transmission with XDRive.
 

2005. BMW 525xi

3 all -wheel drive modifications of cars of the fifth series (E60) - 525xi, 530xi and 530xd are offered. All with the XDRive transmission, in which the Morse chain is replaced by a gear gear.
 

2005. BMW 325xi

The debut of all -wheel drive tremors of the current generation. Modifications 325xi, 330xi, 330xd.
 

2008. BMW X6

A full-wheel drive coupe on the units of the 5th series should receive a transmission with XDRive.
 

Technical details

Drive

The role of the center differential in the XDRive system performs a set of frictions (friction clutch). The degree of locking of the coupling varies using an electromechanical drive - a small electric motor, which, at the command of the control electronics through an eccentric, turns the lever connected to the friction bag. Blocking range - from 0 to 100%. The full lock of the XDRive mechanism requires 100 milliseconds.

1. A package of frictions

2. Electric motor

3. lever

4. Eccentric

5. Electric motor

 

Text: Sergey Knowemsky

 
 

Source: Motor magazine [April 2006]