RWD or xDrive?

Start at the gearbox and follow the arrows. Which axles actually receive drive?

Rear-wheel drive sends drive to the rear axle. BMW’s F10 M5 launch material identifies that model as rear-wheel drive and describes its Active M Differential. This is a documented example, not a rule for every BMW.

BMW describes M xDrive as the all-wheel-drive system in the M3 CS. All-wheel drive can send drive to both axles, but its hardware and behavior depend on the specific model. The diagram compares basic power paths, not exact BMW hardware.

A badge or chassis code alone does not confirm a particular car’s drivetrain. Check the exact model, production details and market documentation before identifying its configuration.

1. 1
   Engine and gearbox

   The engine’s output passes through the gearbox in both simplified layouts.

2. 2
   Rear-wheel drive

   A propeller shaft sends drive to the rear differential and rear wheels.

3. 3
   All-wheel drive

   A transfer path can also send drive to the front axle; the implementation varies by model.

4. 4
   Check the model

   Use the exact BMW model documentation instead of inferring a system from its badge.

Think it through

Compare the documented F10 M5 and M3 CS examples. Which sends drive to the rear axle as rear-wheel drive, and which is documented with M xDrive?

Show the reasoning

The linked F10 M5 example is rear-wheel drive; the linked M3 CS example has M xDrive. These describe those configurations, so another car still needs its own model and production details checked.