Snow Story Anyone?

TambourineMan · 06-13-2008, 02:37 PM

I grew up in Maine when everyone had rear wheel drive and no one had any real problems. Lately I have had all front wheel drive cars until i got my Outback last Fall. I think the biggest improvement with my 335xi will be from a standing start on an incline, such as my driveway. Occasionally I had problems getting out of my driveway with my FWD, but none with the Outback and hopefully none next winter with my BMW..

Sam12345 · 06-13-2008, 03:38 PM

i drove with Xi in a offroad competition. i hit 155 swerving threw trees.....

UdubBadger · 06-15-2008, 09:49 PM

Kev can attest to the need for xdrive up here in Madison.

they like to pretend to salt the roads yet its more sand than anything. They also like to wait a day to plow because the city is cheap as hell and doesn't want to pay for an extra round of plowing incase it snows again right away (which it usually does). Anyway, there are some big hills down near the capitol (Wisconsin ave going up to Langdon from Gorham for anyone who knows Madison). In my TSX with NICE all season 17's I had tried going up and fought it all the way up, I actually had to turn OFF the trac control to get up, spinning the front wheels the entire way. It took me a good 2.5 min to get up the hill which is about 500-700 feet in length. ANYWAY, got my xi in Dec right before xmas. Came back up to Madison and had a HUGE storm about a week later and going up the same hill... it was like i was going DOWN hill the xi was so smooth. I won't lie that I wish it was a bit lighter/quicker like the 328i but am reminded why i got the xi anytime it rains/snows... which happens all to often up here.

THANKS BMW!!!

Kev · 06-15-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

Kev can attest to the need for xdrive up here in Madison.

they like to pretend to salt the roads yet its more sand than anything. They also like to wait a day to plow because the city is cheap as hell and doesn't want to pay for an extra round of plowing incase it snows again right away (which it usually does). Anyway, there are some big hills down near the capitol (Wisconsin ave going up to Langdon from Gorham for anyone who knows Madison). In my TSX with NICE all season 17's I had tried going up and fought it all the way up, I actually had to turn OFF the trac control to get up, spinning the front wheels the entire way. It took me a good 2.5 min to get up the hill which is about 500-700 feet in length. ANYWAY, got my xi in Dec right before xmas. Came back up to Madison and had a HUGE storm about a week later and going up the same hill... it was like i was going DOWN hill the xi was so smooth. I won't lie that I wish it was a bit lighter/quicker like the 328i but am reminded why i got the xi anytime it rains/snows... which happens all to often up here.

THANKS BMW!!!

LOL~ I know exactly where you are referring to. Also the little uphill outside of the west side DMV parking lot (University Ave at Segoe Rd) had me stuck there with my C320 (RWD) for a couple times.

UdubBadger · 06-15-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

LOL~ I know exactly where you are referring to. Also the little uphill outside of the west side DMV parking lot (University Ave at Segoe Rd) had me stuck there with my C320 (RWD) for a couple times.

oh yeah i know that one too

Kev · 06-15-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

oh yeah i know that one too

I lived on Sheboygan Ave for 5 years and then moved to Yorktowne on Yellowstone for about 7 months, so I drove through there quite a bit.

Two Sheds · 06-18-2008, 09:21 PM

My xi has performed admirably now for 2 winters with dunlop m3's. The first major snow this past winter was probably 3 to 4 feet and our road is never plowed till late evening. I went out to get pizza (they wouldn't deliver!) and going round a corner just a few feet from our home an suv had been left on the curve stuck in the snow. Since I wasn't far from home I decided to go around him which meant going through a higher snow drift which was around the height of the hood. The car just plowed through it no problem at all. I actually enjoyed driving around that day since hardly anyone was out on the road (it was a sunday) and the xi just steamed through everything.

The other time I was coming home late after a big snow storm and there was a foot or so on our road which was unplowed. As I approached my driveway one of my neighbours had got his car stuck blocking someone else's driveway next to mine and was trying to dig it out. He just looked at me as I pulled up to him, and then reversed up my driveway and into my garage

I did then grab my shovel and ice scraper and get his car dug out and he moved it to where it wasn't blocking anyones driveway and left it there.

Nikolas · 06-19-2008, 02:32 PM

I woke up to this sort of thing about 10 different occasions last January and February.

jpsimon · 06-19-2008, 03:19 PM

i don't really have any stories, but every weekend this winter I drove up to our VT house at killington (this was pre coilovers):

KEVIN88GT · 06-19-2008, 11:48 PM

Nikolas did you end up driving out (obviously after you dug our the path to the door and a little bit around the car)

tirana · 06-22-2008, 01:02 PM

Why would anyone leave their xi at home and drive a beater to work? Sure, other idiots on the road could plough into you but you can leave plenty of room for them. My best story (in two very snowy winters) was this February coming home from work in downtown Toronto. I left it late (9:00 pm) thinking the roads would have cleared but since the snow fell just before rush hour the main highway home (the Don Valley Parkway) was just solid with traffic going nowhere in at least 3 ft of snow. Just miserable. So I just used my nav system to find back streets (all completely unploughed) and got home that way. I drove entirely on side streets and no one else was on them.

A day later the freeway was still bad and covered with ice and snow but this was worst in the left lane so this lane was empty. I drove home in that lane and overtook every other car on the road (assuming 15 km in length, one car per 10 metres X, two lanes and me at a speed at least 2X theirs) that is *at least* 1500 cars. BMW should have run an aerial advert of the situation.

P.S. I also run on 17" Dunlop Wintersport DSSTs in the Winter (with 18" staggered Potenzas in the Summer). The combination of Winter tires and AWD is key if you have any decent snowfall. xi alone does little for stopping and Winter tires are so much better than All Seasons (plus Summers are better than All Seasons in the warm as well). I have driven two full Winters (Nov-Mar) on the Dunlops and they are good for at least one more if not two. Very little wear (but swap them out for Summers as soon as the cold is gone).

Nikolas · 06-23-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVIN88GT

Nikolas did you end up driving out (obviously after you dug our the path to the door and a little bit around the car)

Yes, the street was plowed. I just needed to snow blow the berm behind the car which was about 5 feet tall.

Sherpa · 06-25-2008, 05:02 PM

My 335xi was outfitted with Nokian RSI's on the second day of ownership, just before a nice snow storm in the twin cities. I live in downtown Minneapolis where the streets are only plowed well after the storm subsides. I completely turned off traction control almost every time I hopped in the car and there was snow/ice on the ground. I have found, especially after driving Quattro's for years that ESP or any sort of traction control can actually be dangerous in certain situations (sounds counter-intuitive, right?).

Anyway, this car definitely kicked the shit out of any Audi that I have ever owned.

Needless to say, I really beat the crap out of my xi this past winter.

equ · 06-25-2008, 06:01 PM

I've had a mild winter with my xi. No deep snow moments, but I did get to play with it one evening. On a steep, empty slope, there was snow on ice. At this time, I had the turanza a/s. I got up to about halfway and stopped. I was curious if I could get going again. Just then, while about to put it in first, I noticed that the car was sliding backwards. Whether I put my foot on the brake or pulled the handbrake, it didn't matter. Engaged first, no go. Hit dtc, a little better but some annoying chatter. Wonderful gf held dtc down for me, turning it all off. Then I was able to gun it nicely out.

Dshak · 07-14-2008, 10:53 AM

Slid into a telephone poll. Had to replace 3 panels and a window. $6,000. Not good.

06-13-2008, 02:37 PM	#23
TambourineMan Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 335xi coupe Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Born in ME, In exile in MA iTrader: (0)	I grew up in Maine when everyone had rear wheel drive and no one had any real problems. Lately I have had all front wheel drive cars until i got my Outback last Fall. I think the biggest improvement with my 335xi will be from a standing start on an incline, such as my driveway. Occasionally I had problems getting out of my driveway with my FWD, but none with the Outback and hopefully none next winter with my BMW..
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06-13-2008, 03:38 PM	#24
Sam12345 Lieutenant Colonel 108 Rep 1,534 Posts Drives: jet black 335i coupe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: So Cal iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 335i Coupe [0.00]	i drove with Xi in a offroad competition. i hit 155 swerving threw trees..... __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(e90post.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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06-15-2008, 09:49 PM	#25
UdubBadger Banned 648 Rep 24,685 Posts Drives: '04 330i ZHP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW 330i ZHP [9.50] 2011 135i [7.46] 2008 328xi [8.76]	Kev can attest to the need for xdrive up here in Madison. they like to pretend to salt the roads yet its more sand than anything. They also like to wait a day to plow because the city is cheap as hell and doesn't want to pay for an extra round of plowing incase it snows again right away (which it usually does). Anyway, there are some big hills down near the capitol (Wisconsin ave going up to Langdon from Gorham for anyone who knows Madison). In my TSX with NICE all season 17's I had tried going up and fought it all the way up, I actually had to turn OFF the trac control to get up, spinning the front wheels the entire way. It took me a good 2.5 min to get up the hill which is about 500-700 feet in length. ANYWAY, got my xi in Dec right before xmas. Came back up to Madison and had a HUGE storm about a week later and going up the same hill... it was like i was going DOWN hill the xi was so smooth. I won't lie that I wish it was a bit lighter/quicker like the 328i but am reminded why i got the xi anytime it rains/snows... which happens all to often up here. THANKS BMW!!!
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06-18-2008, 09:21 PM	#29
Two Sheds First Lieutenant 11 Rep 358 Posts Drives: Mini Cooper JCW Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	My xi has performed admirably now for 2 winters with dunlop m3's. The first major snow this past winter was probably 3 to 4 feet and our road is never plowed till late evening. I went out to get pizza (they wouldn't deliver!) and going round a corner just a few feet from our home an suv had been left on the curve stuck in the snow. Since I wasn't far from home I decided to go around him which meant going through a higher snow drift which was around the height of the hood. The car just plowed through it no problem at all. I actually enjoyed driving around that day since hardly anyone was out on the road (it was a sunday) and the xi just steamed through everything. The other time I was coming home late after a big snow storm and there was a foot or so on our road which was unplowed. As I approached my driveway one of my neighbours had got his car stuck blocking someone else's driveway next to mine and was trying to dig it out. He just looked at me as I pulled up to him, and then reversed up my driveway and into my garage I did then grab my shovel and ice scraper and get his car dug out and he moved it to where it wasn't blocking anyones driveway and left it there.
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06-19-2008, 02:32 PM	#30
Nikolas Colonel 313 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains iTrader: (0)	I woke up to this sort of thing about 10 different occasions last January and February. Attached Images
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06-19-2008, 03:19 PM	#31
jpsimon Team Zissou 3151 Rep 10,200 Posts Drives: 2022 AWD M3 Comp - SMB Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	i don't really have any stories, but every weekend this winter I drove up to our VT house at killington (this was pre coilovers):
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06-19-2008, 11:48 PM	#32
KEVIN88GT Captain 85 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 06 Audi A4 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Nikolas did you end up driving out (obviously after you dug our the path to the door and a little bit around the car) __________________ Now: '11 BMW X5 xDrive35i Then: '07 X3 3.0si '07 335xi '06 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
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06-22-2008, 01:02 PM	#33
tirana Lieutenant 15 Rep 575 Posts Drives: M2 6MT + F25 35i AT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (2)	Why would anyone leave their xi at home and drive a beater to work? Sure, other idiots on the road could plough into you but you can leave plenty of room for them. My best story (in two very snowy winters) was this February coming home from work in downtown Toronto. I left it late (9:00 pm) thinking the roads would have cleared but since the snow fell just before rush hour the main highway home (the Don Valley Parkway) was just solid with traffic going nowhere in at least 3 ft of snow. Just miserable. So I just used my nav system to find back streets (all completely unploughed) and got home that way. I drove entirely on side streets and no one else was on them. A day later the freeway was still bad and covered with ice and snow but this was worst in the left lane so this lane was empty. I drove home in that lane and overtook every other car on the road (assuming 15 km in length, one car per 10 metres X, two lanes and me at a speed at least 2X theirs) that is at least 1500 cars. BMW should have run an aerial advert of the situation. P.S. I also run on 17" Dunlop Wintersport DSSTs in the Winter (with 18" staggered Potenzas in the Summer). The combination of Winter tires and AWD is key if you have any decent snowfall. xi alone does little for stopping and Winter tires are so much better than All Seasons (plus Summers are better than All Seasons in the warm as well). I have driven two full Winters (Nov-Mar) on the Dunlops and they are good for at least one more if not two. Very little wear (but swap them out for Summers as soon as the cold is gone).
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06-25-2008, 05:02 PM	#35
Sherpa Black Metal 6 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	My 335xi was outfitted with Nokian RSI's on the second day of ownership, just before a nice snow storm in the twin cities. I live in downtown Minneapolis where the streets are only plowed well after the storm subsides. I completely turned off traction control almost every time I hopped in the car and there was snow/ice on the ground. I have found, especially after driving Quattro's for years that ESP or any sort of traction control can actually be dangerous in certain situations (sounds counter-intuitive, right?). Anyway, this car definitely kicked the shit out of any Audi that I have ever owned. Needless to say, I really beat the crap out of my xi this past winter.
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06-25-2008, 06:01 PM	#36
equ First Lieutenant 22 Rep 331 Posts Drives: Croc & toaster Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dogville iTrader: (10)	I've had a mild winter with my xi. No deep snow moments, but I did get to play with it one evening. On a steep, empty slope, there was snow on ice. At this time, I had the turanza a/s. I got up to about halfway and stopped. I was curious if I could get going again. Just then, while about to put it in first, I noticed that the car was sliding backwards. Whether I put my foot on the brake or pulled the handbrake, it didn't matter. Engaged first, no go. Hit dtc, a little better but some annoying chatter. Wonderful gf held dtc down for me, turning it all off. Then I was able to gun it nicely out.
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07-14-2008, 10:53 AM	#37
Dshak Enlisted Member 0 Rep 49 Posts Drives: E92 328xi Space Grey Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Deal, New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Slid into a telephone poll. Had to replace 3 panels and a window. $6,000. Not good. __________________ All Grey B-M
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