Old AWD system vs. xDrive in the snow...need opinions please!

[Stewthebassman]

We are starting to shop for a replacement for our '02 X5. The road out of our place is about 25 kms, and is exposed and collects a lot of ice and cross winds in the winter. My wife had a bad winter last year with the X5, even with Winter Scorpios.

Strangely, the DSC rarely intervenes on this vehicle, even when I think it should. I can't even MAKE it intervene like I could on my E46 RWD...and yet I know it still works or there would be lights flashing everywhere, and I turned it off to get it unstuck from the mud (twice).

Our plan is to find an '04 that has come off lease (they're starting to now), and have xDrive as her winter companion. Last winter in my E90xi was amazing, that system is brilliant.

Has anyone driven the old system AND the new in horrible weather and is xDrive on the BMW SAV as awesome as I know it can be on my car????