M-car in snow sucks BIG time...!! (long) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Bagger · 15th March 2005, 01:50

Yesterday... after looking closely at the Weather Channel and seeing no snow "Up North", I gassed the M-car and headed to Vermont for a day of skiing.

I knew that there had been some snow there in the past couple days, but figured that the snow removal would be fine .... and also, I had the Dunlop M3 winter tires on all 4 corners. So, I wasn't all that concerned.

Just as I approached the town where my condo is located... it started to snow. It increased in intensity as I continued. In town, there was nearly an inch on the Tarmac and I continued to see it snow.

I started to go up a steep hill to the hotel that sells lift tickets 'after hours' and the back end started to come 'round. I feathered the "go pedal" and turned off the bi-Xenons and ran with just the fogs/running lights in order to see. It was a task to get to the hotel.... It was snowing like a sunuvabi#*ch!!

After getting my ticket, I headed up the mountain.... it was only another 3 miles, but ALL up hill and I was not confident that I would make it. No plowing had been done... and I was the only car on the road in either way. I was VERY nervous!

I headed the M-car up the very steep and curvy road.... the display panel showing the dreaded (!) light constantly. My forward speed was nil. I figure I could have walked up hill faster than I was traveling. I knew if I stopped, I was not going to make it.

Somehow... I continued to barely make it up the mountain. Finally, I found the entrance to my condo facility. I made the left hand 90 degree turn to find that this hill was even more of a problem. My speed dropped to barely moving. I still had only the fogs on due to the huge and heavy flakes falling obscuring my vision. A Chevy Tahoe came up on my butt and moved easily around me. Finally.... after 30 minutes to go 3 miles.... I arrived at my condo. Three inches of fresh, powdery snow coated everything.

What a nightmare!! I love this car, but it AIN'T no winter car at all. I don't care what tires you run.... it sucks in the snow. Even an INCH of fresh snow on an incline is a major problem.

BAGGER (home at last..., now where's my Expedition?)

hudson · 15th March 2005, 04:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagger

What a nightmare!! I love this car, but it AIN'T no winter car at all. I don't care what tires you run.... it sucks in the snow. Even an INCH of fresh snow on an incline is a major problem.

BAGGER (home at last..., now where's my Expedition?)

Bagger it's tough to feather 400 ponies.

I'd take the Expedition next time.

Joe

ELEVENS · 15th March 2005, 04:40

The silver lining is... the skiing was GREAT!

Man, I LOVE to drive in that kind of weather. I find turning off DSC greatly improves forward progress in the conditions you described. Just like going around corners in the slop. With DSC on, the brakes go on, and you're likely to get clobbered cuz you can't get out of the intersection fast enough.

In the snow and ice, I leave DSC off except for highway speeds. Then, it's indispensible. Especially on the freeway in the unplowed passing lane when the snow is heavy and can quickly pull you into places you don't want to go!

The only time I get nervous is worrying about the OTHER GUY. Deserted roads, bring on the white stuff! The balance of the beast is incredible.

Bagger · 15th March 2005, 04:56

ELEVENS....

Will turning off the DSC going up hill... at a severe angle, I must say, like moutains..... in fresh snow.... HELP??

Man, I gotta tell ya.... I've driven a '69 Firebird with studded snows at 70 mph in a Wyoming blizzard just to crash thru the snow drifts to ski. I'd rather do that than what I did last eve, m'friend.

I guess I don't fully understand the DSC and whatnot with this beast. I'm sure I'll get more practice.... but, the next time I go to Vermont to ski, it will not be in the M-car. That's a fact!

BAGGER

ELEVENS · 15th March 2005, 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagger

..... but, the next time I go to Vermont to ski, it will not be in the M-car. That's a fact!

BAGGER

The biggest problem with the M5 (with me) is that it's such a nice f'ing car, I would just hate-hate-hate to hurt it.

And the biggest problem with a nice 4WD (I own two with 4x dedicated snows) is that they are just plain boring in the snow, to the point that I get really impatient with (less equipped) traffic.

I know what you're saying - I always choose the 4WD on long trips in the winter. Weather is just too unpredictable to chance (the other guy) wrecking the beast.

Do experiment with DSC off to gain needed momentum, though.

So.... how WAS the skiing?!

ELEVENS · 15th March 2005, 05:35

69 Firebird? Now THAT sounds like fun!

Beamer_usa · 15th March 2005, 06:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELEVENS

The silver lining is... the skiing was GREAT!

Man, I LOVE to drive in that kind of weather. I find turning off DSC greatly improves forward progress in the conditions you described. Just like going around corners in the slop. With DSC on, the brakes go on, and you're likely to get clobbered cuz you can't get out of the intersection fast enough.

In the snow and ice, I leave DSC off except for highway speeds. Then, it's indispensible. Especially on the freeway in the unplowed passing lane when the snow is heavy and can quickly pull you into places you don't want to go!

The only time I get nervous is worrying about the OTHER GUY. Deserted roads, bring on the white stuff! The balance of the beast is incredible.

Bagger, I feel your pain, being from the same neck of the woods, although ELEVENS is correct in saying to turn off the DSC. It does greatly improve forward progress. Even though I run Bridgestone Blizzaks, when the weather gets that bad I take my Grand Cherokee instead, I know the weather can not be predicted but when in doubt SUV it

Lscman · 15th March 2005, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagger

I love this car, but it AIN'T no winter car at all. I don't care what tires you run.... it sucks in the snow. Even an INCH of fresh snow on an incline is a major problem.

The E39 V8 has approximately 52F/48R weight distribution, which is excellent for snow traction. Most rear wheel drive cars have more weight proportioned over the nose of the car (closer to 58F/42R). The main problems with driving the M5 in winter relate to: 1) excessive tire width and 2) tire type.

Obviously an M5 in snow will not favorably compare to an Explorer or similar SUV with 4WD. That said, the M5 will perform better in snow than the typical noseheavy ponycar or american 4dr sedan running similar tires.

I've seen plenty of rear wheel drive cars at the slopes....not too many with hi performance tires in 275 width (lol). A SUV with such tires would experience similar difficulties.

ELEVENS · 15th March 2005, 15:42

Lscman is right on the money, as usual. The best I've found is 235/45-17 Blizzak WS-50's mounted on Borbet Type E wheels. Wheels are lightweight at 23.5 pounds, and reportedly even work with big brake kits. The WS-50's are unequaled in the snow and ice, but the tradeoff is they're very soft and "mushy" on dry roads. Total package from (board sponsor) TireRack is under $1200.

Bonus: All being the same size allows you to rotate them to even out the wear out back - not that an M5 would need that

-Bill

ccieurzo · 15th March 2005, 16:02

It's the tires that make the difference. The Wintersport line are really not very good snows. I had the M2s on my old car and was very underwhelmed. I am running Nokian RSIs in 235/45-17 on winter rims and the car does quite well in the snow. The only time there has been a problem was when it was very heavy and deep snow (approx 2 ft). At that point even my wife's allroad had trouble and almost got stuck. The Nokians are not as good in the M2s in the dry, but with all the snow we have had lately, it's rare that the roads are clear anyway. They are nice and quiet and very comfortable on the highway. I just set the speed alarm at 110 so as not to exceed the T-rating.