-40C driving..what should be looked at before this trip?? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

KBK · 26th November 2005, 20:10

I'm looking to drive my M5 Home for christmas!

The temps in that location typically hit -25-40C, at least once, during my visit. The peak ranges will likely be -15 to -45C.

I'm serious about that, last christmas the Temp indicator outside my dad's house read -47.5C one night.

If a $80k 4 door car can't survive what a $2k used toyota Camry can (without a single blink!)..there is something wrong in this equation.

I know the car is performance oriented, but in the Northern Parts of Germany, where the car hails from, it does get to be nearly that cold. So the car is built with such things in some sort of mind.

My car has been in southern Ontario all it's life.

The car has no block heater and likely has no fitting for such an install?

What is the temp rating on the anti-freeze that is in the car now? (BMW product)

What is the temp rating on the windshield washer and the detergents..and where do I get them..and what are acceptable alternatives to the factory ones, if the temp ratings simply aren't good enough?

And..the Oil. Ohhhh...the oil. A mix of Mobil1 0W40 and 15W50? I'll need the extreme temp rating, I'd wager. At the same time I can't let viscosity drop too much.

Or, should I get the TWS10W60 for this? Build date is 2/2000, wich states that the car gets TWS10W60 only, is my understanding.

Need some help in the next few minutes, as I have to call up a few dealerships and see if they have the TWS, if needed..and drive a minimum of 180km in a snowstorm, today, to get this oil. And the required detergents. It's my only day off - where the dealers will be open.... and I need to do this now.

Thanks for your efforts!

Beamer_usa · 26th November 2005, 21:08

Like you say Northern parts of Germany can also get very frigid, so IMO I would stick to the OEM fluids. Our cars come from frigid climates so I'm sure BMW engineers took into consideration cold climates. MY00 has a build date of 4/00, and the sticker says TSW 10/60 and that is all I use. The thicker oil, just makes me feel more comfortable.

willm5ad · 26th November 2005, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beamer_usa

Like you say Northern parts of Germany can also get very frigid, so IMO I would stick to the OEM fluids. Our cars come from frigid sclimates so I'm sure BMW engineers took into consideration cold climates. MY00 has a build date of 4/00, and the sticker says TSW 10/60 and that is all I use. The thicker oil, just makes me feel more comfortable.

Northern part of Germany? I thought they came from the south dont they? Or at least they did when I bought my first BMW in 1980. Bayerische Motor Werker or something means Bavarian Motor Works doesnt it? Not trying to annoy here just interested if they have moved production.
WillM5AD

ard · 26th November 2005, 23:53

K-

Just my opinions:

Use straight windshield washer concentrate- really any fluid from any store will work. Remember to put it in BOTH the headlight reserve and the windshield reserves. The bottle will give you the min temps. If you need to, add isopropyl alcohol for a bit more 'reserve' (ie if the bottle says "-40C" then add 5% alcohol)

You can get a dipstick heater- I have used one in years (bitter cold here is mid 30s

) but I had used it on a few cars (VW, Chevy truck, MB)... Just replaces the factory dip over night....

I'd seen your posts on oils- for your mfg date I would stay away from the 5W30- Certainly not the non-BMW version, but I'd even decline the BMW 5W30.

On the other hand, the 10W60 scares the crap out of me at -40C ... the 15W50 Mobil 1 is a really good looking oil- Spec wise it is right between the 5w30 and 10W60- actually closer to the 10W60. ( I have an excel spread sheet with specs for the BMW oils, Silokene, Castrols, Mobils,...) *BUT* it still that looks a bit thick sitting at -40. I would go for a full synthetic which is rated 0W40, 5W40 or 5W50... AND plan on a change when you return.
http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...syntec_usa.pdf

Finally, I don't know the spec on the antifreeze...

A

PS If you convert -40C to Farenheit, you get..... -40F... factoid.

KBK · 27th November 2005, 02:23

Yep!

thanks for the info.

I went and bought a 6 pack of Quaker synth (all I could find) 5W50 for this 'month'. I'll run it in the car for about 3500-4500 km, no more and then swap out in Jan, first week, for the TWS 10W60.

I found the Castrol 5W50 synth (says a US and 'import' blend, on the side) Also found the Castrol 5W40? BMW LL and MB approved, that one. New products for our beloved crappy tire. Also some bit on the 5W40 about being an exact copy of some European oil formula.....

Edit: Just found an interesting thing I need to do, every time I go to set foot in this car, in the winter....clean the wheels of snow! Talk about an off-balance issue. whoa!

Ok. truth be known, my scottish side won out. Found both the Castrol Synth and the Quaker synth. Both 5W50. But..the castrol was full price...$8.99 cdn a liter. The quaker was a manufacturer's/store sale price. Special lot, etc. $21.99 cdn for a 6 quart box. Sounds good to me! Yes, scots can own M5's too. Wow. that's cheap. I'll buy a box or two for the oil hungry Mazda, too. Hard driving? makes it eat 1 quart every 500km, or less. Gee..I wonder if my Probe's Cat is clogged....

Salty · 27th November 2005, 06:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBK

Yep!

thanks for the info.

I went and bought a 6 pack of Quaker synth (all I could find) 5W50 for this 'month'. I'll run it in the car for about 3500-4500 km, no more and then swap out in Jan, first week, for the TWS 10W60.

I found the Castrol 5W50 synth (says a US and 'import' blend, on the side) Also found the Castrol 5W40? BMW LL and MB approved, that one. New products for our beloved crappy tire. Also some bit on the 5W40 about being an exact copy of some European oil formula.....

Edit: Just found an interesting thing I need to do, every time I go to set foot in this car, in the winter....clean the wheels of snow! Talk about an off-balance issue. whoa!

Ok. truth be known, my scottish side won out. Found both the Castrol Synth and the Quaker synth. Both 5W50. But..the castrol was full price...$8.99 cdn a liter. The quaker was a manufacturer's/store sale price. Special lot, etc. $21.99 cdn for a 6 quart box. Sounds good to me! Yes, scots can own M5's too. Wow. that's cheap. I'll buy a box or two for the oil hungry Mazda, too. Hard driving? makes it eat 1 quart every 500km, or less. Gee..I wonder if my Probe's Cat is clogged....

Some digital pictures of the experience would tell a thousand words.

I wonder how this "thoroughbred" will fare at -40C?
My concern would be the electrics.
Condensation & brittle plastic at -40C can be interesting to say the least.
On the CD changer & SatNav, it does say something like "do not expose to temps below -25C".

You are a braver man than I.
I would rent a big dodge truck for the journey if it was me.

Good luck with your adventure KBK.
Salty.

KBK · 27th November 2005, 07:03

Thousands of cars of far lesser quality fare incredibly well for extended periods of time in the North, so in the end, I wouldn't be too worried.

On the other hand, Volvo did or still does their cold weather testing for NA, in a nearby town. For 20 years or more.

I wonder about things like the steering wheel motor. Trying to inch it's way down as I sit in a car, where the seats are as hard as rock....

Ah, the car will be fine. Just like every $30-60k remtal I've driven up there. Things like the air dam. For example, in the place I am at right now, I could not go out this evening. The road is too sloped. The car slides sideways when I try to leave on the one side (left hand hill-down corner, wrong camber) of the driveway..and a uh... 9 foot hill on the in side.. with a wiggly up hill-corner run to it, with no grip (bad camber) either. And still the dunlop 9000's. And it was about 9 or more inches of snow this afternoon. No problem with the snow tires (still not on, waiting for the wheels), but the Dunlops, heck.. couldn't touch the throttle without slipping. Still made it up that hill. I was very suprised. Cuz, you see..missing means potentially scraping the paint to, um... smithereens.

Great house in the summer, though!

Beamer_usa · 27th November 2005, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by willm5ad

Northern part of Germany? I thought they came from the south dont they? Or at least they did when I bought my first BMW in 1980. Bayerische Motor Werker or something means Bavarian Motor Works doesnt it? Not trying to annoy here just interested if they have moved production.
WillM5AD

Uhhh, I never said they were produced in northern Germany???

willm5ad · 27th November 2005, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beamer_usa

Uhhh, I never said they were produced in northern Germany???

I know the car is performance oriented, but in the Northern Parts of Germany, where the car hails from, it does get to be nearly that cold. So the car is built with such things in some sort of mind.

Uhhhh Didnt say you did

. Sorry just realised I posted to your post, my durrrh
WillM5AD

Evil Vanos · 27th November 2005, 12:40

I would sugest a big winter coat and a flask of bovril !!!! a friend of mine used to drive to China from England and he used to put the strongest acoholic drink he could find in his rad,windscreen washers(and his flask!!) try absinth its 99.9%prof or vodka what ever you use take it esay mate