[Closed] BMW's and the weather

Mine is utter gash in the snow and i haven't even attempted to move it off the drive.
Went to birmingham a couple of years ago sideways the wole way due to a mm of snow.

Just needs the correct equipment (tyres) and a bit of sympathetic driving

as said a thousand times it mainly comes down to tyres/chains/socks etc i.e having the right equipment to cope and having the nonce to drive in these conditions.

Sadly us Brits still haven't accepted that we have to spend a bit more on our motoring, i.e seasonal tyres etc to cope with our changing climate.

no weight over the driving wheels, plus wide tyres

I always buy 4 season tyres, is that because i am from the north so therefore have a bigger brain!! 😉

Just got rid of mine (just fancied a change) but RWD with engine weight at the front is never going to be great in snow/ice

The winters aren't fool proof. There's been posts on other forums of BMWs with them fitted still getting stuck. Modern cars have fat/wide tyes for their size. More weight in the boot can help, but adds to the pendulum effect if it goes pearshaped!

There is no doubting that BMWs are pretty poor in the snow, but other RWD marques are as well.

As noted above though a lot of it can be mitigated by switching to winter tyres.

BMW's have pretty much perfect 50/50 weight distribution, most FWD cars are 60% or more nose heavy. More weight over the driven wheels will equate to better traction in the snow.

BMW's pretty much always have wide, low profile tyres.

99% of the British public can't drive for toffee, and many of these people drive BMW's... And BMW's are a popular car!

Can't say I had any more trouble in my old 5 series in the snow when I had it than any other car I've owned... I'd probably rather be driving that than I would a great big Chelsea Tractor at 2.7 tonnes with 12" wide tyres with rubber band profiles, in the current conditions... But yes, a small FWD car with narrow tyres is preferable to both in the current conditions.

i saw one today struggle up a tiny incline. The lady driver was very good and carefully reversed it many times before eventually going forward.It's not the BMW's fault, just the choice of tyre.

Not just BMW's, any RWD car. I've got a Mercedes and it's just as bad, it has 255/35/18 rear tyres and just has no grip whatsoever in the snow and ice. Luckily the wife has a Toyota Aygo so I use that when the roads are bad.

It's the forth RWD car I've had that included BMW, Honda and Porsche and it's doesn't put me off buying a fifth!

Discuss

Wow. We haven't had this on the forum yet this year. I can't wait for the thread to fill up with interesting anecdotes about bmws being crap in snow. Keep 'em coming folks.

Absolutely no problem in mine, normal tyres and a driver that knows how to drive in snow.

Kind of sick of people slagging off BMW for being poor in snow. Yes they aren't the best car but as in so many other things it's the numpty behind the wheel who gets it stuck.

We recently drove from Cheshire up to Glasgow, then through to Dundee, up to Aberdeen, back down to Perth, up to Inverness and then down to Fort William and then down through Glen Coe home in my 5 series with no problems.

Yes we had sleeping bags, shovel, mats and rock salt onboard but the only time I needed the shovel was to create parking spaces in the huge amounts of snow in Dundee.

If you can drive sensibly and know your and the cars limits then there is no reason to get it stuck.
We would love to have got up to my wifes Grannies place but at 60 miles From Inverness and at the end of a singletrack road it just wasn't possible.

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i wonder if the powers delivered quite early in the rev range too , making it harder to drive slowly, although probably depends on the model.Although if this is the case then maybe people should use a higher gear, although the average driver may not be aware of this and keep spinning the wheels.

I have to say I quite enjoyed riding past a young guy in his BMW 1 series on a hill earlier, me on my rigid 69er ss and him going more sideways than up, I smiled and winked at the not unattractive girl in the passenger seat as I rode past them. I'm not too sure if she was that impressed..

me on my rigid 69er ss

I'm sure she was wetting herself with excitement after a wink from you.

Helped 2 mercs out on friday (including my boss' posh ltd job). One of our guys couldn't get his BMW out of the car park! The citroens, fords and peugeots had no problems.

All our neighbours with BMWs or Mercedes Benz had to leave them at the bottom of the hill we all on and drive their wives little run arounds.

i saw an aston that couldn't even move a flat road yesterday. It was not just wheelspinning but beached i think at the chassis.

Lots of latent jealousy being turned into kinetic jealousy in the bad weather.

I don't know why I'm rising to soops' trolling but I've just got back from Sweden and the Mercs and Beemers were getting about on the snow just fine. Marvellous things winter tyres.

BMWs are pants in the snow........until you put winter tyres on them. I have an Alpina B5 Touring - basically a 5 series estate with a 500bhp supercharged V8 in it with 19" wheels and big fat tyres. Last year it didn't go out of the garage in the snow, but I bought a second set of wheel with winter tyres back in April, and fitted them a couple of weeks ago.
It's now perfectly drivable on icy and snowy roads, and with the traction control turned off it's a real hoot!

I own a 1 series. Invested in some jeko belts and no issues in snow. Google jeko belts if interested

jealousy not at all. I love astons. They are brilliant cars. Just very low and caught by the snow. For the same reason it has put me off lowering my car.

I think that the problem is that in this country the majority of people don't know how to drive in adverse weather conditions, regardless of the car, and the knee jerk reaction of alot of people I have witnessed is one of heavy footed acceleration, which when in a RWD car only compounds the issue.

Rons right. The fact that some of the above cars have auto boxes doesn't seem to help either.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/101073-bmw-snow-chain-fail.html 😆

I think it's more to do with wide tyres than rwd.

Many years I used to regularly drive the A9 to Inverness through thick snow in cars ranging from Morris Minors to Armstrong Siddeleys. Never had any problem getting through. Skinny tyres were the standard back then.

Well I couldnt crawl up a 1 in 12 hill last night . Hit it with abit of momentum in 3rd , changed to second and let it chug up on idle for approx 100 yards . Fronts let go, so i was sat at 900 rpm in second gear .=stationary. Had a very cautious reverse down as a locked set of wheels might have put me in a wall / line of cars
Thats in an old Passat tdi 100 estate . Eashing lane in Godalming if anyone knows it.
So its not just rwd auto bmw's with 40 profile tyres that get stuck

Nice idea that it's all down to the driver. Doesn't explain why last year I managed to move my BMW 3 metres in an hour of trying, yet I was able to get in other half's Golf and drive it without difficulty in exactly the same conditions.

Lack of weight over the driving wheels is obviously part of the problem, but so are very wide wheels, fitted with very summery tyres. If you look at the tread pattern on the standard fit tyres on the "Sports" wheels, it's pretty obvious why they don't work in the snow.

This year I've got narrower, winter tyres on and it makes a huge difference. Not infallible, but you'll be one of the last to get stuck, rather than one of the first.

Ive had an E36 M3 saloon which was pants in the snow and now have a E46 330 sport diesel with traction control which is better, but yes it is tyres that cause he most issue. What I can safely scoot about in with the wifes zafira will stop the beemer dead. I am absolutely sure it would be much better with narrower higher profile tyres, but I am not shelling out for them, and it could make the insurance suspect if I did. So careful driving whilst its snowing and any depth means it stays put.

Its performance in normal road conditions make up for it though 😀

I'm curious.. this 50 50 weight thing.. what if you have stuff in the boot like most people do?
marketing tosh?

In the last 6 years I have owned a 3 and a 5 series.

They weren't bought for their performance in the snow!

Eh, 50:50 when there's nothing in the boot per chance? I don't think they're suggesting it's the case whatever the configuration of passengers and luggage; although if they are that's impressive engineering, even for the Germans!

Funny how people find so much joy from seeing BMW's struggle in the snow...

So as a balanced view - I've owned a 325 coup, a 528, and the missus currently has a 118. All are/were pants in the snow. Embarassing bad. Especially with speed bumps. Until someone somewhere mentioned winter tyres. Even then they just about equate to a normal car in the snow.

Since then we had an A3, A6 and a passat. All awful to get moving and dangerous if we ever did.

Nowadays we're back to 2 cars. A dingtastic japtastic fwd with winter tyres and the 118 that hasnt moved since Nov 26th.

The best combination imo. Even if you spend 20k on a 4wd some other idiot is going to slide into it in the winter. I've spent the last few days pushing / towing transits, civics, quasquais and faux 4wds. Fexk that. I've shut the blinds. Buy proper tyres.

I'm curious.. this 50 50 weight thing.. what if you have stuff in the boot like most people do?
marketing tosh?

So then angryratio enlighten us. What do you carry in the back of your car that would upset the 50:50 weight distribution of a 1.5 tonne car significantly?

Even if putting a couple of people in the back moves the weight distribution, starting with 50:50 distribution is a good starting point especially as in this country at least the driver is usually the only one in the car.

If you look at the tread pattern on the standard fit tyres on the "Sports" wheels, it's pretty obvious why they don't work in the snow

They're also rated to stay in one piece at 150 mph in summer which probably means they are considerably harder compound than standard tyres of years ago.

The fact that some of the above cars have auto boxes doesn't seem to help either.

Utter cobblers. Autobox means you can feed the power in more gently than a manual, the changes are smoother and if you need engine breaking going downhill then the box can be manually restricted to lower ratios. There's a reason the Icelanders put autoboxes in their glacier travelling 4x4s you know.

mr. Toab works for bmw in the corporate leasing bit and is fielding a lot of calls from people struggling- he's getting very bored of telling people to turn off the traction control, put in second and go easy on clutch (or just overide into second if auto) which is what head office in munich told them.
1 series seems particularly bad, we can across one of his colleagues who needed pushing up a fairly small ramp yesterday.
There are rumours of a front wheel drive one next year though

couldashouldawoulda - Our A3 is a doddle to get moving and behaves itself pretty damn well in the snow and ice. Used to have a passat too which was better than the A3 in snow. Think it might just be the driver...

mmmm. Coulbe be. But we live up a hill. You;ve met me near there. The only cars up and down the hill in the last 2 year in these conditions (eg tonight) have been mine. I might be a crap driver. Probably am! But the A3 & A6 were surprisingly bad gettting up our hill. Our bmw is totally a non starter!

Oh - I only met you a couple of times - but if you fancy dropping round for a coffee - let me know. I've got cabin fever. I'll guarantee you a giggle getting up our hill in the snow!

Aye. We used to live at the bottom of a hill. Scandinavian flick at the bottom of it at use momentum as your friend. It's the only way to fly.

I am not much of a coffee person, but if you fancy going for a wee spin on the bikes in the snow later in the week I quite fancy that.

if you fancy going for a wee spin on the bikes in the snow later in the week I quite fancy that.

Sorted! I've got cabin fever 🙂 Tea / beer is available too!

he's getting very bored of telling people to turn off the traction control, put in second and go easy on clutch (or just overide into second if auto) which is what head office in munich told them.

Yeah tried all that when I used to own a 3 series. Doesn't work if there's a gradient.

Above 4 inches of snow (especially with ice below) and you are goosed.

Less than that and with a bit of momentum and you can get places as long as no-one decides to stop...

1 series seem to be slightly more capable than the others although generally let down by the drivers.

A bmw survey showed 4 out of 5 owners didnt know if it was front or rear wheel drive. this is why they are considering making it fwd after the next generation.

Laughing at all the expert drivers who can go anywhere in their bmws, you can come and try mine as with 23years of offroad driving experience i cant get it to perform anyting like a fwd in the snow.

I've been out and about in my E23 728i auto this weekend. a bit of sideways action here and there but some forward planning on hills and junctions saw me right. I like the comment in the owners manual that up to 50kg of ballast can be added to the boot to aid traction! 😆

Nothing wrong with bmw's. It speaks volumes for most of the drivers though.

Its not that BMW's are crap in snow, its just that becuase there are so many BM's on the road compared to other rwd's it makes them look worse.

The fact is that most people who buy a BMW probably dont even realise its rwd, or understand how a rwd drives differently to a fwd.

Any rwd are fine if you have momentum, if you stop you can be knackered, even on a flat road the camber can be enough to stop you going any where.

Recently I have seen some really well driven BMW's going very side ways under control, however I have seen plenty of fwd's going no where fast stopping rwd's going anywhere.

Have people never heard of letting air out of their tyres? If you get stuck, let the tyres down to fairly flat (10psi) - instant traction - even on RWD BMWs, Mercs, etc etc

Works on the driven wheels only though, so you do need to know which end is doing the work.

Apply what we know on bike tyres to your car!

LOL at diggers clip - instead of just filming the muppet could've just gone out and given her a shove - it's the same around here! Neighbour was struggling to get out of the courtyard, there were at least 5 neighbours just watching out the window, so I just chucked some trousers on and went to help instead - hopefully the favour will be returned one day

large418 - Member
Have people never heard of letting air out of their tyres? If you get stuck, let the tyres down to fairly flat (10psi) - instant traction - even on RWD BMWs, Mercs, etc etc

Works on the driven wheels only though, so you do need to know which end is doing the work.

Apply what we know on bike tyres to your car!

Work with RFT though? unlikely...

To fuel the myth, on my journey yesterday I saw five abandoned cars. one merc, one Toyota and three BMWs I'm a row on a hill near Towcester.

its no myth, ive abandoned mine, outside my house mind...

M6TTF - Member
LOL at diggers clip - instead of just filming the muppet could've just gone out and given her a shove - it's the same around here! Neighbour was struggling to get out of the courtyard, there were at least 5 neighbours just watching out the window, so I just chucked some trousers on and went to help instead - hopefully the favour will be returned one day

Yes, it is a bit sad that whoever filmed it did not pop out and try and help her.

Of course letting air out of the tyres will work with run flats - what you are doing is to get the tyre to mould to the ground rather than sit on top of it. (It worked with my Galaxy a couple of years ago)

I am not talking about letting all the air out, just down to 10psi so they are nice and soft.

Did she jam something onto the throttle or was it a software fault?!

Must admit, I'd have helped.

My 1995 328i has been fine in the snow in Surrey, I did stick a couple of bags of sand in the boot though. Only running 15" wheels though, so not the wide low-profiles which come on all the new models.

Bit of momentum carried in the right places, and I've been managing where other more suitable looking vehicles were struggling.

Must help that I'm a driving god 😆

Cheers, Rich

My x5 has been fine in serious snow here in NE Scotland and thats on 20" 315 road tyres. I've even had it up glenshee. I reckon it would be pretty much unstoppable with snow tyres. I've towed 2 people (both in fwd vauxhalls) out in the last few days. It still can go a bit sideways at times but that's easy to catch and keep the power on. A lot of people here love to rubbish BMWs, but I'm on my second one and I'd go for another one next. It's a great car, and whilst most of my neighbours cars have been stuck out the fronts of their homes ours has been going every day and we've had some of the worst conditions in the country

Rear wheel drive cars aren't that bad if you(as others have said) stick some weight(3 bags of sand used to do it for me) in the boot.Those of us who been driving a few years remember when nearly all cars were RWD & this was the only way to keep them moving in bad weather.Just watch it when cornering & take it easy as the weight does have a habit of wanting carry on in a straight line when you turn if you go to quick.....

Get yourself some snowchains.. no problem!

[img] [/img]

😳

the snow chains ont he non drive wheel and the you-tube clip have just had the office in stitches. Saw a fair few beemers and mercs parked up in jaunty angles. One beemer had part parked in a layby and part parked in the road.... he was a wing mirror lighter in no time.

frogstomp lol

and there isnt even snow on the road !

KT - Is your x5 not a 4x4 ?? what are most BMW's??? your sounding like a proper BM driver...

Never mind what wheels the burk has put them on.....snowchains on suburban roads? Boy bet thats fun to drive with the vibration at any speed etc.

Simply not using mine while it's snowy. When you have a Defender, why risk it?!

We have 17" 225/45 tyres (i.e. not massive) and non run flat (the RFTs were gash) tyres which helps but they are still fundmentally not good snow cars. And yes, many just don't realise a RWD car needs to be treated with care so crash.

They hate mud too - almost got stuck in a couple of damp grassy car parks with ours. 335d + anything slippery = not going anywhere.

But what makes them pants in snow and mud, makes them brilliant on proper roads so I really don't care. Saves washing it all the time too...

My 535i is parked up too. The wife has a 4x4 (with normal tyres) and no problems at all.

Must be a one series thing? 😉

[img] [/img]

This weekend large mercs were easily the car most likely to get stranded in Brum closely followed by A3/Golfs, whith special mention to a Civic Type R.

To slightly defend the silly 1 series owners, I guess grip on the steering wheels is slightly useful. Ermmm...

Neighbours E92 M3 seems to cope just fine. Proper winter tyres though and good driver might help a bit...

mmannerr - Member

Neighbours E92 M3 seems to cope just fine. Proper winter tyres though and good driver might help a bit...

Good point mmannerr

Many moons ago as a 17 year old working on a farm, I pulled a well known rally driver out of a ditch in his 4x4 rally Cosworth car thing with my tractor.

He had let a friend of his have a spin in the snow & the driver had dumped it on the first bend he had come to 😉

Not a big car/rally fan tbh, but watching this pro drive off and set the car up for the bends was amazing to watch.

I've got a 330d tourer it's getting better the more I drive in this stuff, it's knowing how to handle it properly that's the problem for a lot of people, i guess they don't feel the grip they just look out of the window and expect results when they floor it.

BMW or not, snow will screw you over if your driving is pish. Gentle on the throttle, get into second sooner and take it easy. DSC helps loads but it's no replacement for common sense.

I did LOL at those 1 series pics. Freshers.

I'll tell you what is scary... the amount of people doing 90+mph in -10c! 😯

Have to say 4WD does make a big difference even with rubbish tyres - was hooning it around in my 4motion Golf yesterday on uncleared roads and even with Pilot Sport summer tyres, never had any issues with grip - unless I booted it and had all 4 wheels roostering 🙂 Engine braking seems way more effective as well (which I suppose it is with 4 wheels to brake with).

We have had no problems with X5 at all with standard run flats tyres and 20's.

135i with Bridgestone RE050A summer tyres goes nowhere.

Goodyear Eagle Ultragrip GW3 winter tyres. Goes everywhere so far.

15% hill round a right angle turn, on untreated road, to get out of my village , no struggles yet.

135i - apart from the "controversial" looks, VERY nice!

You see that punter who has put the snow socks on the front of a rear wheel drive car. If I only had one set of snow socks I'd be tempted to do the same.

Unlike snow chains the manufacturers do not tell you to only fit them to the driven wheels.

Infact their own website says "it's recommended that users of rear wheel drive cars should also fit a set to the front wheels to provide better directional stability, especially under braking."

Personally, I find that stopping and turning are much more important that going.

Turning and stopping are useless if you cannot move. However if you can move you can move appropriately slowly so that you can still turn, and your rear wheels also have brakes.