Originally Posted by Fraser

I think that you need to go back to your original statement, ie: "hi, i drive a 2002 X5 4.4i sport auto permanent 4wd , the 2004 onwards have xdrive , this means they usually only drive the rear wheels so that you feel as though driving a rear wheel drive." This is incorrect. Both xDrive and non-xDrive X5s are essentially permanent 4WD vehicles. xDrive X5s don't "usually only drive the rear wheels", they usually drive all four wheels.

Here's a quote from BMW's technical info on (X5) xDrive: "In normal driving situations, the drive torque is distributed in the ratio of 40:60 between the front and the rear wheels. xDrive can also vary torque between front and rear axles depending on the driving conditions and can distributed drive torque briefly to one axle in extreme conditions."

What you X3 handbook says is irrelevant as we were discussing xDrive and non-xDrive X5s.