[nmulax]

I know this is a bit early being summer still, but I'm starting to think about my choices come November/December. The way I look at it, I have three options for how to tackle the winter weather.


1. Continue on as originally planned and invest in some quality winter rubber. The cheapest solution, but at the same time I'm worried about my car in the snow... not the traction, but the height. I'm worried that the front end is going to get wrecked driving in and out of parking lots (and my driveway) all winter. I would also like to eventually get some lowering springs... I don't really think that's an option if I plan to drive in the snow.

2. Buy a beater. Fourtunately I live at home, so I could garage my Bimmer and keep it safe from the elements. Issues with this include that for the price I'd spend on winter rubber/rims, I would get a crummy beater and most likely have to invest more money into it. I'm also concerned about issues with storing a vehicle for that length of time (3 months).

3. Look into leasing a new vehicle (possibly taking over an existant lease through leasetrader or something). I know I can find a low mileage lease in that price range, and I wouldn't have to worry about repair costs. Downsides include additional insurance; and again, potential problems with letting my E90 sit for 3 months.


What would you do; or for those of you who live in regions with 4 seasons, what do you do?

[bavarian19]

get a dedicated winter wheel and tire setup... make sure you get good winter rubber on there, and youll be fine...


that and be smart when you drive... if there is a foot of snow on the roads, do youreally need to be out there

[Kamando]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

that and be smart when you drive...

...dont be the person that complains their 162's suck in snow

[Ryan@Motorwerks]

You should have buy a porsche turbo as an option. They do pretty well in snow.

[KL2DC]

Agreed...buy a decent winter and tire setup, and 3M your whole front, that should give it some protection in the winter...I'd rather be driving in a winter-optimized e90 (with its safety technology) than a suspect beater.

If you follow some basic guidelines, storing your car for 90 days is not gonna harm it...

[Mr. BMW]

I’m struggling with this same issue. I really don’t want to drive this car in the winter just because of the harsher environment and I don’t want to worry about someone sliding into me. Plus right now in parking lots I park far away from other cars and walk. In the winter that would be a pain.
I’m seriously thinking about leasing something. If I can get something for under $200 a month I may do it.

[bavarian19]

theres so much more to buying a beater for winter...

maintenence, insurance, registration, storage during non-winter months...

A good winter wheel setup will cost you $1400 or so from tirerack.com. Id like to see you get your car plus all the above for that cost...

As Donny stated, maybe a clearbra would help you too (it has done wonders for me)...

[nmulax]

There's definetely leases available for under $200 a month... hell, you can get them for under $150 a month if you do your homework.

I've been looking into the clearbra (more for stone-chip protection), and it's just so expensive. That's the biggest disadvantage to having the M-Technic kit on my car... no patterns available for clearbras; I have to have it custom done, which will cost over $1,000.

[Gitta]

I have the beater vehicle and I STILL do winter rubber. Why you might ask? Because sometimes it just snows out of the blue. No warning and there you are at work... it's 4:30 and what's that you see out the window?... crap it's snow and you left your beater at home today because the weather person said no snow until next week and you needed to run your e90 because it sat for a week.

Plus like bav19 said, there is much more to it than getting a spare vehicle. I vote get the rubber!

[RGRAY]

Nothing!

[ALPINE6SPD]

ill use snows this year.

[moneys330]

i have a manual tranny but i feel that its reallly a long throw. I want to get a short shifter but my car is leased and i was told not to put any money into it besides maybe wheels. Would the extra cost for the short shifter be worth it ?

[beauderek]

I know that Jaguar of Troy was leasing X-Types for 199 a month. Those are nice cars and all wheel drive, too. That might be an option for you.

[ex-poster]

Originally Posted by Gitta

I have the beater vehicle and I STILL do winter rubber. Why you might ask? Because sometimes it just snows out of the blue. No warning and there you are at work... it's 4:30 and what's that you see out the window?... crap it's snow and you left your beater at home today because the weather person said no snow until next week and you needed to run your e90 because it sat for a week.

Holy crap yes.

While I'm lucky enough to also have a winter auto, I've been caught a couple of times on performance tires in ice and snow in both my E46 and E90 and it's freakin' agonizing and white-knuckle time.

Just last March I went up to my parent's house (about 75 miles), had checked the weather forecast and found it good, but got caught coming back in about one inch of snow... NO traction, I repeat: NO traction. 4 wheel slides at speeds as slow as 2 mph, ABS and DTC totally confused, you name it.

GET THE WINTER RUBBER.

[carjon]

my 330xi is my winter car. Now I only drive this once a week at the most. I'll put winter tires and wheels on and make it my daily drive. If it gets bent by someone sliding - you get it fixed - it is only a car - a really great one but it is a car.

[Kuma]

Whats this winter you all speak of?

I dont envy you out in the snowy parts, i remember having to pull my car up a driveway in reverse when i lived in Boston, rear wheel drive in ice/snow.. yay..

I'll stay put in California, i hate the snow..

Ed

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Kamando

...dont be the person that complains their 162's suck in snow

162s will be fine in the snow if you wrap the proper rubber around them.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by RGRAY

Nothing!

You can get away with the all-seasons, but I'll take a 330i with snows over a 330xi with all seasons.

[nmulax]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

162s will be fine in the snow if you wrap the proper rubber around them.

Yeah, I'd rather put winter rubber around my 162's instead of buying winter rims. That way come spring I can upgrade my "summer rims" to some BBS'.

[lux.sh]

Buying a "POS" will solve the whole issue about maintaining your E90 in great condition, then again, you are risking your life with that POS rolling during the winter.

[voltron1011]

Put winter tires on it and get the car washed religiously to prevent corrosion from road salts... Make sure you get the underside rinsed too.

[ages944]

All seasons are acceptable, just put away the Mario Andretti genes for the season.