I am buying an M5 within the week and was wanting to know how many of you drive your M5 during the winter. I have read on other treads that I have searched that the car will do great with devoted snow tires. I am just curious on how many of you drive it in the winter and do you buy devoted snow tires or just all season tires.
Every day to and from the ski resort with a grin on my face. All season tires are worthless if you have snow and /or ice. Just get a dedicated set of good snows and enjoy. Some have suggested keeping your performance tires/wheels around so you can change them depending on the weather. I've kept my summer set, but so far have been too lazy to put them on even though the high pressure has melted the snow so I guess it depends on your motivation/time availability.
Given the fact that I live in Finland (with a loooong winter) and I just love my beast, I just have to drive all year. At least here we have plenty of winter tyres to choose from, but I guess that they are not the same that are available in the US. Anyway, wintertime I drive with Continental's ContiVikingContact 3.
__________________ 2000 E39 M5. Le Mans Blue/Black. Driveability: KW Variante 3 coilovers, AC Schnitzer Sway Bars, Weicher strut bar. Rogue Engineering SSK, TCD sway bar brackets. Powerflex bushings Sound: Inside: Infinity Subwoofer/JBL amplifier. Outside: Kellener SuperSound exhaust, SuperSprint X-pipe Looks: Facelift, G-Power front flippers, Black Kidneys, M-pedals, AngelIBrights 3.0, 19" Dotz Mugello wheels
It does well in the winter. The limited slip diff helps. Another trick is to disable the engine throttle control on the ASC. Hold down the ASC button for about 10 sec. The warning triangle will light up and then turn itself off. Let go of the button when the triangle turns off. This keeps the engine from shutting down when the wheels are slipping but keeps the ABS portion of ASC active.
I use Nokian Hakkapellitta RSi tires in 235/45-17 on a spare set of rims. They are a great non-studded snow/ice tire with pretty reasonable dry performance.
How do you guys deal with the salt? just wash, wash, wash?
Wash, Wash, Wash! I'm the second owner and my car spent it's first 4 years in VT. I run it through a brushless car wash, do the under body spray, rust inhibitor and the wax. So far it doesn't show too much wear.
I can have a winter car or the beast, but not both.
I have a dedicated set of Hankook "Ice Bear" 235/40R18. Pretty good in snow and ice in NW NJ.
One thing I notice though, is the DSC works a lot more on dry pavement if I push the car than it does with my summer Pirellis.
Surprisingly, the beast is the best in snow of the 5 BMWs I've owned.
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That's my opinion, although I might not agree with it.
Goodl luck with the purchase. Post some pics for us when you get it. Happy motoring!!!
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