330i in the smow/ice

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#1
Recently we just had very bad road conditions - Ice and snow. Here is NC we don't get much so the DOT didn't put any salt down. The roads were total black ice within only a couple of hours. I am from England so I am used to driving in these conditions. My 330i, Automatic, Low profile tires was TERRIBLE in these conditions. The ABS had me drive through 2 stop signs, I had to turn off the traction control, and the automatic transmission pushed the car when I was stopped - Fronts wheels locked up and back kept driving. Rear wheel drive is not the best in these conditions - unless you are in an empty parking lot, then they are fun! I see now these BMW are notoriously bad for driving in the snow.
Give me a dry, warm, sunny NC day and this car is great.
 
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ST.HUBERT
#2
No car will do good on low profile performance tires in the snow. We go through 5 months of winter with snow, ice, and slush (we t snow). My 5-speed manual 1999 E46 328i with ASC/T traction control (inferior to your DSC) does very well in all those conditions with four 205/55-16 winter tires on. In the summer I switch to 225/45-17 high performance.
 
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#3
Hey - I'm also in NC - Winston Salem, but they salted here. My 1987 E30 does really well in the snow/ice, and it doesn't even have traction control. I don't have low profile high performance tires on the car - the difference is all in the tires.
 
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#4
remember that whatever drive you have, it only helps you going, not stopping. tires do that. hopefully the weather will go back to normal... ALL over the world!!
 
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#7
The performance tires that come with your BMW 330i Sport are called "performance summer tires." They are not supposed to be used in temperatures below 40 degrees (even in the dry) and the tires do not even TRY to grab the snow/ice. The tread design is tailored to dry and wet roads, and has nothing to do with ice and snow.

When you were applying the brakes, the reason why the rear wheels lock and the front wheels don't, is for the best stopping traction while still giving you control. The ABS locks up the rear wheels so the rear tires can try to "dig in" to the snow to stop you, while the front wheels do not lock, so that if you're sliding down a hill, you still have some steering control. Unfortunately, as I said before, the tires do not even try to grab the snow, so when your rear wheels locked up for making those stops, the tires were not getting any traction from the snow at all.

Depending on how badly you feel the need for traction in bad conditions, you can invest in a set of snow tires and just swap the tires out for season changes, or you can invest in a set of high performance all-seasons that are performance-oriented, but still do an okay job in the snow. Last and least, you can just stick with your current tires and "tough it out" but that's definitely not easy (But as you said it doesn't really snow where you are).
 

Bmw 325i 7803

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#9
Just drive under 25mph and take turns like grandma, which would be around 5 mph... and control your mild sliding. The 330i isn't all that bad in the right hands[thumb]
 
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#10
330i and like it said:
...Rear wheel drive is not the best in these conditions ...I see now these BMW are notoriously bad for driving in the snow.
With all due respect, you can't make that generalization based on your experience with performance tires in icy conditions. It's been my experience having driven RWD BMW's in New England for over 12 years that these cars are not only not "nototriously bad", but they are exceptionally good in the snow, provided you're running the proper tires!
 
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#11
xmas63 said:
With all due respect, you can't make that generalization based on your experience with performance tires in icy conditions. It's been my experience having driven RWD BMW's in New England for over 12 years that these cars are not only not "nototriously bad", but they are exceptionally good in the snow, provided you're running the proper tires!
I second that.... Ive put quite a few miles in scow/ice on my 330i. I used steel BMW 17 inch rims and the blizzacks. It felt like I had AWD. I lived on top of a very very steep hill in Germany, and I would outclime the FWD econo-cars,
 
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#12
I've mounted Dunlop WinterSport M3's 16" tires on my 330i ZHP. My car handles very well in the snow.

If you would shovel snow from your driveway in a pair of Nike running sneakers, then it would make sense that you would drive your BMW on your summer performance tires. If you wear boots on your feet when you're out and about, then it would make perfect sense to do the same on your car.

Get snow tires and realize how perfect your BMW actually is in all four seasons.

Good luck,
JAF
 
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#13
I have Dunlop M3 16" as well on my 330i. it's great!! I'm in Toronto, we do get quite a bit of snow during winter and i'm lucky to say that so far i've had no problem with snow driving, feels as solid as fwd. And please don't even think of just getting snow tires for the rear, it's the front wheels that get you into the right direction not the rear.
 
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#14
I got a 01 330 with performance summer tires and I live in London Ontario, 200km west of Toronto. We get alot of snow on the roads but I still drive in my performance summer tires dosen't seem to be to bad at all just whips side to side once in awhile.
 
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Colton, NY
#15
Hello, as a State Trooper in nothern NY I figured I put my 2 cents in for what it's worth. I see and investigate accidents on a daily basis up here. The number one cause is speed of course, but you sound like an experienced driver. Snow tires as everyone else said will make a tremendous improvement. If you have icy conditions, studded tires are a big help. When coming to an intersection, put the vehicle in neutral. You will stop a lot faster and the car won't push you ahead. I know this sounds like common sense, but slow down way before an intersection, in case if there is ice. When cornering say on a left turn with rear wheel drive, you can shake the wheel fast and hard to the left back and forth about 3-4 inches as turning left. Sounds weird I know, but it gives your front wheels more traction as you turn. We did it in our emergency vehicle operator course on a skid pad and it really does work well. Biggest thing though that I can't beat to death enough is speed. Every winter up here people forget to slow down. Hope everyone has a safe 2005. Hope this helps a little...
 
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#16
Patriot-USA said:
Hello, as a State Trooper in nothern NY I figured I put my 2 cents in for what it's worth. I see and investigate accidents on a daily basis up here. The number one cause is speed of course, but you sound like an experienced driver. Snow tires as everyone else said will make a tremendous improvement. If you have icy conditions, studded tires are a big help. When coming to an intersection, put the vehicle in neutral. You will stop a lot faster and the car won't push you ahead. I know this sounds like common sense, but slow down way before an intersection, in case if there is ice. When cornering say on a left turn with rear wheel drive, you can shake the wheel fast and hard to the left back and forth about 3-4 inches as turning left. Sounds weird I know, but it gives your front wheels more traction as you turn. We did it in our emergency vehicle operator course on a skid pad and it really does work well. Biggest thing though that I can't beat to death enough is speed. Every winter up here people forget to slow down. Hope everyone has a safe 2005. Hope this helps a little...
Welcome to the board Patriot-USA! You make some great points and being the profession you are in they are coming from experience. Although, a lot of what you said is common sense, more people should follow this advice. Most people believe they have it under control and know what they are doing (most of us here at some point and time do it as well) and it is only when it is to late do they realize his/her mistake. Take it slow and easy and be safe….
 

Bmw 325i 7803

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#17
Patriot-USA said:
Hello, as a State Trooper in nothern NY I figured I put my 2 cents in for what it's worth. I see and investigate accidents on a daily basis up here. The number one cause is speed of course, but you sound like an experienced driver. Snow tires as everyone else said will make a tremendous improvement. If you have icy conditions, studded tires are a big help. When coming to an intersection, put the vehicle in neutral. You will stop a lot faster and the car won't push you ahead. I know this sounds like common sense, but slow down way before an intersection, in case if there is ice. When cornering say on a left turn with rear wheel drive, you can shake the wheel fast and hard to the left back and forth about 3-4 inches as turning left. Sounds weird I know, but it gives your front wheels more traction as you turn. We did it in our emergency vehicle operator course on a skid pad and it really does work well. Biggest thing though that I can't beat to death enough is speed. Every winter up here people forget to slow down. Hope everyone has a safe 2005. Hope this helps a little...
Great advice, I'm actually going to try the wheel-shake left turn tactic sometime...
 
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#18
Patriot-USA said:
...you can shake the wheel fast and hard to the left back and forth about 3-4 inches as turning left....
This sounds interesting, but can you explain a little more about what you mean by "shaking" the wheel?
 
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#19
xmas63 said:
This sounds interesting, but can you explain a little more about what you mean by "shaking" the wheel?

Sure. I'll do my best. Lets say your going around a corner either left or right. Do you know how sometimes if it is slippery the car will just slide straight ahead? The front wheels don't get enough traction, and even though you turn the wheels you continue on straight. Lets take a left turn again for example. Your starting into the turn and the start losing traction up front. The wheel is already turned to the left. Keep it turned left but jerk it back and forth about 3-4 inches as fast as you can while making the turn. You'll be amazed how well it works. Hope this helps. [:D]
 
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#20
Patriot-USA said:
Sure. I'll do my best. Lets say your going around a corner either left or right. Do you know how sometimes if it is slippery the car will just slide straight ahead? The front wheels don't get enough traction, and even though you turn the wheels you continue on straight. Lets take a left turn again for example. Your starting into the turn and the start losing traction up front. The wheel is already turned to the left. Keep it turned left but jerk it back and forth about 3-4 inches as fast as you can while making the turn. You'll be amazed how well it works. Hope this helps. [:D]
Thanks, I'm looking forward to trying it out!
 
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