Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire

JTWCT · 08-02-2012, 03:16 PM

Has anyone tried driving up the Mt. Washington Auto Road in a lowered automatic BMW 3 series?

I've done it in SUV and think I should be fine but was just curious if anyone else had done it.

JHB335 · 08-02-2012, 03:59 PM

Howdy,

I have made the trip comfortably many times in a 2008 328 XI (stock).

However, my one shot at it in a 2007 (I think) Z4 (stock) was fairly painful due to the current road conditions - very choppy, very broken pavement. In the Z4 I was dodging giant holes the entire way up and constantly getting my teeth knocked together.

My guess is you could do it, I don't have a ton of experience with lowered cars - I'm assuming you are as low or lower then the Z4.

JTWCT · 08-02-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHB335

Howdy,

I have made the trip comfortably many times in a 2008 328 XI (stock).

However, my one shot at it in a 2007 (I think) Z4 (stock) was fairly painful due to the current road conditions - very choppy, very broken pavement. In the Z4 I was dodging giant holes the entire way up and constantly getting my teeth knocked together.

My guess is you could do it, I don't have a ton of experience with lowered cars - I'm assuming you are as low or lower then the Z4.

Thanks, I may be fine. I also have a 328xi. But with 19" rims and go flat tires. It may not be bad. Thanks for your help!

Arustik1 · 08-03-2012, 01:25 AM

Just hike up. You'll have the time of your life.

JTWCT · 08-03-2012, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arustik1

Just hike up. You'll have the time of your life.

Thanks for the idea. But I'll be with two German girls and they're not experienced hikers.

jmh · 08-03-2012, 10:30 AM

Not a problem at all driving up.
We just did our annual Climb to the Clouds and had +30 BMWs up there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmh-pic...7630031050121/

- Jan

JTWCT · 08-03-2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmh

Not a problem at all driving up.
We just did our annual Climb to the Clouds and had +30 BMWs up there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmh-pic...7630031050121/

- Jan

Thanks! Those photos are amazing! How much did you use the hill descent control?

JHB335 · 08-03-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTWCT

Thanks! Those photos are amazing! How much did you use the hill descent control?

Hill descent control was awesome on the way down! It's the only time I have ever been in a situation where it was even remotely feasible to use.

I actually found myself playing with it quite a bit, it's very strange, its like you set your speed with the gas pedal, and it uses the brakes when you exceed that speed - i.e. if you back off the gas, the brakes come into play immediately to bring your speed down.

I agree climbing it yourself is a fairly magical experience. I keep wanting to go back but the first time I fooled myself contantly into thinking "Maybe I'm getting close..." and I started doing that roughly 1/5th of the way up.

I'm a little worried at hitting it again, but this time knowing the full extent of what I'm up against right from the start.

Thunder Dump · 08-06-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmh

Not a problem at all driving up.
We just did our annual Climb to the Clouds and had +30 BMWs up there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmh-pic...7630031050121/

- Jan

I was part of this group as well. My E93 has the Sport Suspension with 18s and I had no issues at all.

jlspeed29 · 08-21-2013, 11:54 AM

very nice! climb to the clouds looked awesome!

dkexige · 08-21-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmh

Not a problem at all driving up.
We just did our annual Climb to the Clouds and had +30 BMWs up there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmh-pic...7630031050121/

- Jan

Wow! Totally want to make a trip there now

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHB335

Hill descent control was awesome on the way down!

Yet to find a reason to use that in the Greater Boston Area. Interesting description. I'm not sure if I'd like it or find it intuitive. I guess it depends on how much you have to fight the system to get the speed you want. If its constantly going between gas and brake I think I'd prefer to have the control myself.

LuxAngelEyes · 08-27-2013, 01:05 PM

i hiked up Mt washington in December 20th a few years ago, i really do not recommend it. Below 0 degrees and 50+ mile an hour winds. Snow storm started to come in and it was pretty damn scary.

AlfaHoser · 09-02-2013, 09:30 AM

Just did this drive yesterday for the first time after living in NH for 16 years in my stock '08 335i, was a great drive. The dirt section was a little sketchy trying to get past the huge SUV's coming down but other than that, no issues. Was cloudy at the top so no views.

Kevin

infidel335 · 09-02-2013, 02:25 PM

I did it in a lowered 335xi 6 speed just fine. Keep the A/C off and watch oil temps if you don't have an oil cooler. You should be fine.

08-02-2012, 03:16 PM	#1
JTWCT Private First Class 13 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 09 328xi E92 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fairfield County, Connecticut iTrader: (4)	Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire Has anyone tried driving up the Mt. Washington Auto Road in a lowered automatic BMW 3 series? I've done it in SUV and think I should be fine but was just curious if anyone else had done it.
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08-02-2012, 03:59 PM	#2
JHB335 New Member 1 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2011 335 XI Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Auto Road Howdy, I have made the trip comfortably many times in a 2008 328 XI (stock). However, my one shot at it in a 2007 (I think) Z4 (stock) was fairly painful due to the current road conditions - very choppy, very broken pavement. In the Z4 I was dodging giant holes the entire way up and constantly getting my teeth knocked together. My guess is you could do it, I don't have a ton of experience with lowered cars - I'm assuming you are as low or lower then the Z4.
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08-03-2012, 01:25 AM	#4
Arustik1 HYEPWR 102 Rep 2,868 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Just hike up. You'll have the time of your life. __________________ 2002 330ci Titanium Silver / Gray 2005 X5 3.0i Black Sapphire Metallic / Black 2002 M3 Laguna Seca Blue / Black 2001 M5 Jet Black / Black
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08-03-2012, 10:30 AM	#6
jmh Internet Crash Test Dummy 346 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: F97 X3MC / F80 M3 / F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Under a rock in NH and BOS iTrader: (5)	Not a problem at all driving up. We just did our annual Climb to the Clouds and had +30 BMWs up there http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmh-pic...7630031050121/ - Jan __________________ 21 F97 X3MC Toronto Red/Black and more \| 18 F80 M3 Tanzanite Blue/Amaro/CCB and more 15 F10 M5 Individual / Brilliant White / Extended/Full Cohiba Brown (Exec/Driver/B&O/20") / A few Euro add-ons / Stealth K40 / Upgraded B&O / ///M Performance Carbon Interior Trim / IND / Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust / HRE S107
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08-21-2013, 11:54 AM	#10
jlspeed29 Major 510 Rep 1,389 Posts Drives: F80 SO ZCP CCB Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somewhere along PCH... iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 335 coupe [8.00]	very nice! climb to the clouds looked awesome! __________________ A fisherman always sees another fisherman from afar
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08-27-2013, 01:05 PM	#12
LuxAngelEyes 483 Rep 4,937 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, CT iTrader: (13)	i hiked up Mt washington in December 20th a few years ago, i really do not recommend it. Below 0 degrees and 50+ mile an hour winds. Snow storm started to come in and it was pretty damn scary.
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09-02-2013, 09:30 AM	#13
AlfaHoser Private 2 Rep 89 Posts Drives: '13 335i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Just did this drive yesterday for the first time after living in NH for 16 years in my stock '08 335i, was a great drive. The dirt section was a little sketchy trying to get past the huge SUV's coming down but other than that, no issues. Was cloudy at the top so no views. Kevin
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09-02-2013, 02:25 PM	#14
infidel335 Lieutenant 28 Rep 454 Posts Drives: 2009 335xi Join Date: May 2012 Location: NoVA iTrader: (0)	I did it in a lowered 335xi 6 speed just fine. Keep the A/C off and watch oil temps if you don't have an oil cooler. You should be fine. __________________ 335xi: JB4 G5 \| KW V1s \| muffler delete \| BMS DCI \| VRSF 7" FMIC \| VMR v703 18x8 \| and your mom
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