Specifically, what is the difference in the front suspensions between the RWD and X-drive cars? I've heard that there is a noticable difference between how they drive, but never came across any specifics.
What I really want is a 535i wagon, but they only came to North America in AWD form. If it's a fairly simple deal to change it over to RWD then that would be amazing.
sorry but I don't know E36 M3 about E60/E61s
I also don't have any specifics, but it seems the obvious differences (front driveshafts and CV joints, front spindles and bearing) could have a pretty large effect on unsprung weight and that might be the majority of the effect right there. I have also heard that BMW ride heights are a bit taller for AWD cars vs RWD, but can't confirm that with any real proof. So maybe different springs?
I'm just speculating, but if they have different rate springs, the shocks will be tuned differently than the RWD cars.
seeing that one of the front axles passes through the oil pan, I'd venture to say that there's a few differences
Well, I sorta expect most of these (not the axle and oil pan thing, that's just lame). Would it be possible to swap transmissions, knuckles, struts and quite probably the steering rack and have a badass RWD German wagon?
The BMW awd cars often have a totally different subframe and front suspension design. Go look at realoem, it will show the differences.
bmwbav wrote: The BMW awd cars often have a totally different subframe and front suspension design. Go look at realoem, it will show the differences.
Wow, that's a pretty useful website! Thanks! It's going to take me a minute to figure out how to tell what I'm actually looking at though. 
The way that modern BMW's are integrated through their various computers, I seriously doubt swapping the transmission and reprogramming the myriad of sensors would be a trivial project. How much money are you willing to spend to build this? I'm assuming you're talking about one of the '08 6 spd MT cars? You're looking at $25-30K just to get the base car, before you start swapping stuff.
I totally understand the desire to get a non-AWD version - I'm in the same boat, but in this case I'd just suck it up and live with the car as-is. Hell... this isn't even a car I'd want to do ANY wrenching on other than maybe oil changes.
In reply to sobe_death: Is it legal for you to import a RWD wagon from Canada? They probably get more euro spec 5-series, even the diesel manuals.
Not even sure if I could get one of the Canadian models. The whole "feds impounding legal Land Rovers" thing has me a bit freaked out on that one.
Around here, the '08 non-AWD 535i sedan can be found all day for 14-20k, and the wagons for not much more than that. 20-25k would be the absolute max to spend on this, and it seems like it'd be cutting it close.
Consequently, my lust for a RWD Euro-wagon has now pointed me to E39 wagons and old Volvos. My coincident lust for a turbo 5 cylinder is steering me heavily towards the Volvos...
I hear that even with the sports package they didn't come with the (lowered) sports suspension and/or electronic dampers.
I recommend checking to see if the driveshaft and rear half-shafts are the same as the RWD model. If they are, I would imagine that they could handle the full amount of power if you disconnected the front half-shafts. Even if they aren't it is a RWD based AWD system so it still may be capable on handling the power.
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