BMW in NJ???

[salvo]

TO all you jersey folks out there...is it very difficult maintaining your car during the winter (salt, snow, etc.)??? Im considering a job out there....Merck, Rahway....I just bought a 04 330ci.
thanks.

 

[Average Jae]

not from nj, i'm in michigan which sucks in the winter.. but slap on some snow tires, and take her to a car wash once a week w/ undercarriage wash, or at least try to. oh and when the temp is hovering in the teens, don't take it to a car wash, even if it's sunny out door might freeze shut on you.

 

[Tweet227]

Salvo - we really don't get that much snow in the winter, but like Jae said, with some snow tires and a good car wash every week, you should have no problems.

Hope you have heated seats!

 

[MrElussive]

Get snow tires and find a reliable auto car wash nearby and just get it washed once a week. It is simply too cold outside to hand wash the car, but you don't want that all that salt on the body and underneath the car.

 

[Piggy]

I'm from NJ (S. Plainfield) and I don't have a problem with snow (though I do have the xi). The main roads are usually cleared pretty quickly.

I go to a "hand wash" car wash that just opened up in my area. During the warmer months I clean my car at home.

I bought and service my car at Open Road BMW (on Rt 1 in Edison).

 

[AWD330XI]

I would only own an XI unless you get snow tires or have a beater car.

 

[Average Jae]

but just because you have awd doesn't mean anything unless you have good tires to keep you on the road in the winter.

awd: good for going but if your tires don't grip you just might be sliding into a ditch.. awd won't help you there..

i got conti extreme contacts on my "winter beater" and so far they have been pretty good in the snow, esp for a high perf a/s tires (oxymoron? ) but if you live in the snow belt, or in a region where temps will hover around freezing for most of the winter, snow tires maybe needed.. whether your car pushes, pulls, or both..

 

[AWD330XI]

The bottom line is that AWD will prevent you from getting stuck on an icy hill or in deep snow. I never said that it is a substitute for good driving skills. However, a rear wheel drive BMW will get stuck in a few inches of snow no matter what your driving skills.

 

[Average Jae]

i was talking about tires. because in the snow, it's all about how much traction you can get. if you have summer tires or crappy in snow a/s tires on your awd, you'll still be stuck in an icy hill or in deep snow.

but you are right about rwds being stuck in deep snow, it'll def be harder to get out compared to an awd.

i'm not a fan of awd giving drivers false sense of security in the snow, just because the car can make itself unstuck. seeing all the suvs lined in a ditch on a snow day shows physics still works and idots will always be

 

[MrElussive]

If you get a 325xi or 330xi, you get all-season tires that will do fine in the snow (even if you get the Sport Package).
The decision is whether you are willing to get the 325xi/330xi and take the acceleration and handling hit, or if you are willing to get the 325i/330i and just purchase snow tires for the winters.
Personally, I would get a 330xi. I would then get a modified ECU chip to get more horsepower out of it and I would also lower the car like 1.2" (the 325xi/330xi are raised 0.8" over regular models). My final step would be to throw away the stock all-seasons and purchase a set of snow tires and have those installed on the stock rims. Then I would purchase another set of 18" rims with high-performance summer tires. And that would give me wheels for the summer and wheels for the winter, and I would not be sacrificing anything...it would cost a crapload to do all this, but in the end there is no need to sacrifice anything.