[Aronis]

my two cents....

Drove '94 325is four winters Connecticut/New Hampshire Blizzaks Mark 1
Drove '97 M3 five winters New Hampshire/Upstate NY - Malone - Blizzaks Mark 2 (better) real snow.
Never had any issue driving in the snow with either car.

Swapped to AWD, also with snows, got fooled by drifts covering ICE (20 mph maybe 25) slid into drift, all four wheels spinning as the car sat on pile of snow) no damage LOL.

I drove my M3 from Malone to Maine in a snow storm (both ways) never had an issue.

Spun around on highway when I was in College (again no damage LOL) with Front Wheel Drive car (all seasons was Honda Accord '81).

Drove home from Canada with Sienna AWD, all seasons, got stuck in snow 1/2 mile from house due to unplowed hill.

So I'd say I have had better luck with Rear Wheel Drive cars than AWD LOL...I put 48,000 miles on the 325is, 60,000 miles on the M3, etc.

If you have snow tires and can drive well, you'd be fine with either the AWD 4 series or the RWD M2........that being said, the 440ix is a very nice car....can't go wrong really.

Mike