1 Series in Snow?

[zznalg]

Hi All, I'm new to the forum and am considering a 128 Coupe. Can anybody tell me how the 128 should do in snow/ice and mountain roads? I expect the answer will be, "poorly even with dedicated snow tires", especially given that the 128 has no LSD. Might I be wrong? We currently have an '02 530i that does poorly in the snow. Could the 1-Series be better?

[atr_hugo]

If you do a search on 'snow' in the tires section of this forum you'll find a lot of discussions around this topic. Welcome to 1addicts, BTW.

[asv]

With dedicated snow tires you should be fine for 1-4 inches on the road, at least that is the case with my e46 with fresh pilot alpin's. I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with the snow too.

[jeremyc74]

I've found that well balanced RWD cars with a lot of HP are OK in the snow as long as you've got decent tires on them. The GTO I'm driving right now isn't bad, and my old 318ti was actually good (up until you start pushing snow with the bumper at least).

I've tried driving an F-Body in the snow, and that's a whole different story. You might as well just start out walking, becuase that's how you're going to wind up anyway, and you can save yourself the trouble of having to pull it out of the ditch if you just leave it at home

[BMW Dreamer]

I had a WS6 Firebird manual and even with great snow tires I would stop moving on a slight hill in 1" of snow. Makes me wonder how the 135i manual will do???

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

I had a WS6 Firebird manual and even with great snow tires I would stop moving on a slight hill in 1" of snow. Makes me wonder how the 135i manual will do???

I had an '86 and '97 T/A, and they were the worst cars I've ever driven in snow BY FAR! I think it was the weight distribution combined with stiff springs and the solid axle that made them so bad. The GTO isn't anywhere near as bad as those T/As were, even though it's got more power, about the same contact patch and is also a manual. I've driven it in some pretty nasty weather over the last couple of weeks, and I'm still on summer tires.

I'm betting the 135 with a decent set of tires isn't too bad even with a manual.

[jonack]

Do you have snows on your 5390i?

I, too, am a little concerned ... especially since I have been driving a 330xi for the past 5 years, which is outstanding in snow. However, the consensus is that with good dedicated snow tires, we will be fine.

135 i / sgm / coral red / loaded

Presently at the port in Bremerhaven awaiting its boat ride!

[BMW Dreamer]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

I had an '86 and '97 T/A, and they were the worst cars I've ever driven in snow BY FAR! I think it was the weight distribution combined with stiff springs and the solid axle that made them so bad. The GTO isn't anywhere near as bad as those T/As were, even though it's got more power, about the same contact patch and is also a manual. I've driven it in some pretty nasty weather over the last couple of weeks, and I'm still on summer tires.

I'm betting the 135 with a decent set of tires isn't too bad even with a manual.

I read about runflat snows and there aren't many of them, plus they aren't rated as good as other non runflat snows. I read the Dunlop M3 snow is great. What about getting 5 cheap wheels and 5 snow tires-non runflat, to keep 1 as a spare. I also wonder about the runflat summer tires that come stock, many people hate how hard they ride, weigh alot, and if you get a flat there garbage, and at $400 a tire, thats BAD. ????:iono:

[Convertible]

Just get rid of all runflat winter tires, they are rock hard and have no grip. I've had couple of E46 xi's, but got rid of those as I hate how they push when slippery, so I'm back at good ol RWD. The 1er goes fine in the snow, with proper winter tires. And the mechanical LSD is a winner in winter it lets you drive the car alot more freely than the E46 DSC(button pressed once).

In Scandinavia all have to change winter tires so we have a lot experiences from those tires. Really good ones are those Q ratet (max 160kmh/100mls). Not the German market H rated...

Michelin X-Ice (new model coming this year)
Nokia RSI (new model coming this year)
Continental Winter contact 3
Gislaved

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

I read about runflat snows and there aren't many of them, plus they aren't rated as good as other non runflat snows. I read the Dunlop M3 snow is great. What about getting 5 cheap wheels and 5 snow tires-non runflat, to keep 1 as a spare. I also wonder about the runflat summer tires that come stock, many people hate how hard they ride, weigh alot, and if you get a flat there garbage, and at $400 a tire, thats BAD. ????:iono:

I'm moving back to FL, so I don't really care what the car is like in the snow!


Honestly, I think I'd put a set of BBSs on it with really good tires for the summer, and then about Thanksgiving I'd swap the factory wheels back on with a set of snow tires and call it a day.

[john970]

Originally Posted by zznalg

Hi All, I'm new to the forum and am considering a 128 Coupe. Can anybody tell me how the 128 should do in snow/ice and mountain roads? I expect the answer will be, "poorly even with dedicated snow tires", especially given that the 128 has no LSD. Might I be wrong? We currently have an '02 530i that does poorly in the snow. Could the 1-Series be better?

Any single season M+S will do, performance winters slightly less so. The car has an eLSD which for winter driving purposes is 100% as good and prevents wheel spin in the snow and mud.

[zznalg]

I thought the 128 has an open differential. Does the 128 also have an eLSD?

[BMWeber]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

I've found that well balanced RWD cars with a lot of HP are OK in the snow as long as you've got decent tires on them. The GTO I'm driving right now isn't bad, and my old 318ti was actually good (up until you start pushing snow with the bumper at least).

I've tried driving an F-Body in the snow, and that's a whole different story. You might as well just start out walking, becuase that's how you're going to wind up anyway, and you can save yourself the trouble of having to pull it out of the ditch if you just leave it at home

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

I had a WS6 Firebird manual and even with great snow tires I would stop moving on a slight hill in 1" of snow. Makes me wonder how the 135i manual will do???

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

I had an '86 and '97 T/A, and they were the worst cars I've ever driven in snow BY FAR! I think it was the weight distribution combined with stiff springs and the solid axle that made them so bad. The GTO isn't anywhere near as bad as those T/As were, even though it's got more power, about the same contact patch and is also a manual. I've driven it in some pretty nasty weather over the last couple of weeks, and I'm still on summer tires.

I'm betting the 135 with a decent set of tires isn't too bad even with a manual.

I totally disagree. I had a 2001 camaro SS and with having an LSD and a set of blizzaks the car was awesome in the snow. never once got stuck. and I usually make it a point to go out during storms just to have some fun and practice for ice racing.

oh ya and I believe the 135i with its E-LSD and snow tires will be fine in the snow

[Wookie]

I also thought the 128 was an open diff - the eDiff was limited to the 135.

But more than just snow driving, my concern is snow packed hills - We've got some around my house that have claimed many RWD cars, even with snows. How have the E46's been on hills?

Not to sound cliche, but it is up hill both ways to my house, with off-camber corners and poor plowing.

[zznalg]

Originally Posted by Wookie

I also thought the 128 was an open diff - the eDiff was limited to the 135.

But more than just snow driving, my concern is snow packed hills - We've got some around my house that have claimed many RWD cars, even with snows. How have the E46's been on hills?

Not to sound cliche, but it is up hill both ways to my house, with off-camber corners and poor plowing.

Sounds like my situation (the hills). I also thought that only the 135 has the eLSD. Anybody know for sure?

[BMWeber]

I believe only the 135i has the ediff but the 128i does have DSC and DTC so in the snow those will help plenty it just wont be as fun as the 135i

[Wookie]

Seems like most of the discussion here revolves around driving on the flats, which is great and a lot of fun with RWD, but the info NEEDED is how these cars are on the HILLS. If I can't get out of my driveway and over to the flats to get to work, then I can't pay for the car - see the issues.

So some searching on other forums leads me to believe that E46 with Snows + Hills = really bad. can those on here with experience confirm or deny this?

I recall back around 2000 a dealer telling me that these car are not good on the hills in the snow,but would like to hear from those that have tried it. I know the 1er isn't out in the states yet - but E46 feedback would be useful as well.

[ChrisK]

bryan@mwerks & stu@mwerks said the 135i was scary in the small amount of snow they encountered.

Summer tires are crap in the snow no matter what car they are on. Hence the name.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

I had a WS6 Firebird manual and even with great snow tires I would stop moving on a slight hill in 1" of snow. Makes me wonder how the 135i manual will do???

Jeff did you get the summer tire option on the Civic Si? I had them on my '06 Civic Si and they were useless in 1 inch of snow.

[BMW Dreamer]

Originally Posted by chriskurn

Jeff did you get the summer tire option on the Civic Si? I had them on my '06 Civic Si and they were useless in 1 inch of snow.

No I got the Michelin All seasons. It still handles great and does good in the snow, but it has a LSD and the manual with traction control helps.

[curtdragon]

your arent going to know until someone whos had these in snow says something...

but throw some snow tires on there and some put a couple of bags of sand inthe back

[ChrisK]

bryan@mwerks & stu@mwerks said the 135i was scary in the small amount of snow they encountered with the 135i's summer tires last week.