Photo: BMW AG. The BMW M3 Competition Sedan and M4 Competition Coupé, both with M xDrive.
For decades, an M3 meant power to the rear wheels only. That changed when BMW introduced the 2022 M3 Competition xDrive sedan and M4 Competition xDrive coupe, which its US release describes as the first M3 and M4 models with all-wheel drive. BMW's 2022 M3 and M4 xDrive release
Whether an all-wheel-drive M car is "real" is an argument for the parking lot. The more useful question for an owner is what the system does in each mode, and when the 2WD setting is the right tool.
Rear-biased by design
M xDrive varies torque between the axles with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case. In normal driving, BMW says, torque goes to the rear wheels, and the front axle is brought in only when more traction is needed. The transfer case also has its own control unit with integrated traction control, so it can correct speed differences between the axles without involving the central DSC computer. BMW's 2022 M3 and M4 xDrive release
At the rear axle, the Active M Differential splits drive between the left and right wheels. M xDrive made its debut on the M5 in 2017, and that car's release described the differential's locking effect as variable between zero and 100 percent. It also said the drivetrain had been strengthened to cope with high torque, the rear bias and the 2WD option. BMW's M5 with M xDrive release
Three modes, and DSC unlocks one of them
The M xDrive versions of the G80 M3 and G82 M4 offer three settings. 4WD is the default, rear-biased split. 4WD Sport sends a larger share of torque to the rear and is intended for track use. 2WD sends drive to the rear wheels only, and it requires DSC to be switched off; BMW describes the result as pure rear-wheel drive with no system intervention. BMW's 2021 M3 and M4 launch release The 2025 M3 release describes the same logic: 4WD Sport is chosen in the M Setup menu, and switching off DSC is what makes 2WD available. BMW's 2025 M3 release
The M5 release spelled out the combinations. It listed five configurations drawn from three DSC states and three drive modes: M Dynamic Mode works with 4WD Sport, while all three drive modes are available once DSC is off. That car also returns to 4WD with DSC on every time the engine starts. BMW's M5 with M xDrive release The 2027 M2 with M xDrive, announced in June 2026, likewise lists a 2WD mode with DSC deactivated. BMW's M2 with M xDrive release
Two optional tools sit alongside the modes on the G80 and G82. M Drive Professional adds M Traction Control, with ten stages of permitted wheel slip, and the M Drift Analyzer, which records a drift's duration, distance, line and angle. BMW's 2021 M3 and M4 launch release BMW's international release places the ten-stage traction setting alongside 2WD with DSC switched off. BMW's M xDrive debut release
When 2WD earns its place
Our view: treat 2WD as a setting for particular venues, not a test of character. A skid pad, a car-control clinic or a drift event that allows it is where a driver can learn what the rear axle is doing on its own. On a road course, BMW's own descriptions make 4WD Sport the track setting, with the front axle still available when the rear tires run out of grip.
Because 2WD comes only with DSC off, choosing it also removes the stability net. Read the organizer's rules on driver aids before the event, agree on the plan with an instructor if one is riding along, and confirm the active mode after every restart. In 2WD, the rear tires also carry all of the drive torque, so plan the tire budget for the day around that.
What changes for a build
The xDrive cars are not rear-drive cars with an extra shaft bolted on. BMW's release lists a redesigned front axle geometry, a quicker 14.6:1 steering ratio in place of 15.0:1 and an adapted oil supply. It gives a curb weight of 3,990 pounds for the 2022 M3 Competition xDrive sedan. BMW's 2022 M3 and M4 xDrive release BMW's launch figures for the rear-drive 2021 M3 Competition sedan list 3,890 pounds. BMW's 2021 M3 and M4 launch release For 2025, BMW rates the US M3 Competition with M xDrive at 523 hp, against 503 hp for the rear-drive Competition. BMW's 2025 M3 release
Wheels and tires need more care than on a rear-drive car. The factory pairing is staggered, with 275/35 R19 tires in front and 285/30 R20 at the rear, yet by our arithmetic their nominal diameters are within about 0.6 percent of each other. Tire retailer Les Schwab notes that all-wheel-drive systems are designed to work with four tires closely matched in size and tread depth. Les Schwab on AWD tire replacement Keep any new combination's front and rear diameters as close as the factory sizes, and have the supplier confirm the full set for an xDrive car.
Think of the three modes as three tools. Leave 4WD for the daily drive, use 4WD Sport when the session is about lap times, and save 2WD for the venue where sliding the car is the whole point of the day.
Technical explainer based on BMW's published specifications for the stated models and model years. No driving, track or tire testing by TUNERS is claimed.
