The "BMWs are crap in the snow because they're RWD" thing...
Discussion
Apparently BMWs are crap in the snow BECAUSE they're rear-wheel-drive. BUT, if, as BMW claims, their cars have near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, then they'd be no better in the snow if they were front-wheel-drive because there'd still be no more weight over the driven wheels. Discuss.
They're crap in the snow because the vast majority are running summer tyres, rather than winter tyres as they're designers intended them to be in conditions like these. And a lot of the newer ones are running extra stiff sidewalled RFT, which makes matters even worse.
Amd many owners haven't a clue how to drive in these conditions as well, but the same can be said of many fwd car owners too.
Amd many owners haven't a clue how to drive in these conditions as well, but the same can be said of many fwd car owners too.
kambites said:
TheEnd said:
front wheel drive aren't 50/50, so BMWs can only have half of the weight on the driven wheels, (plus a little extra for weight shift)
Front wheel drive have more weight over the front, and more pressure onto the front tyres
That's my take on it, too. Front wheel drive have more weight over the front, and more pressure onto the front tyres
Also most BMWs actually have wider tyres, especially as they are rear wheel drive and having nice thick tyres are rubbish in the snow but great for getting that rear wheel drive power down. Front wheel drives tend to have thinner tyres which work much better in snow.
But having said that... BMWs are great fun in the snow BECAUSE they are RWD!!
But having said that... BMWs are great fun in the snow BECAUSE they are RWD!!
I always thought BMW was poorly represented in the 'car stuck in snow' films on the news because they are rear wheel drive, but crucially are bought by people with no enthusiasm for driving whatsoever, they just wanted the badge. Therefore you get people who haven't got any driving skills getting into all sorts of trouble, when they'd have been fine if they'd gone for the other favourite of the badge-boner brigade, a FWD or Quattro Audi.
JR said:
kambites said:
TheEnd said:
front wheel drive aren't 50/50, so BMWs can only have half of the weight on the driven wheels, (plus a little extra for weight shift)
Front wheel drive have more weight over the front, and more pressure onto the front tyres
That's my take on it, too. Front wheel drive have more weight over the front, and more pressure onto the front tyres
Urban Sports said:
They are pants in the snow, I used my Astra all day today which was great.
The BMW is cack in the snow.
And it is because it is RWD.
My E38 7 series has been sterling in the snow. We've had shed loads of it over the last couple of weeks and I've yet to slide/wheelspin significantly / get stuck / crash / roll / die. I've navigated roads that many a front wheel drive car has got stuck on too. That's RWD, and I'm no more talented a driver than most other people. I just have decent tyres. The BMW is cack in the snow.
And it is because it is RWD.
Dick_Phallus said:
I always thought BMW was poorly represented in the 'car stuck in snow' films on the news because they are rear wheel drive, but crucially are bought by people with no enthusiasm for driving whatsoever, they just wanted the badge. Therefore you get people who haven't got any driving skills getting into all sorts of trouble, when they'd have been fine if they'd gone for the other favourite of the badge-boner brigade, a FWD or Quattro Audi.
A slight generalisation? 
There are a fair few car enthusiasts on here who own BMW's, me included.
My driving skills are fine thank you very much, I didn't get into trouble today purely because I knew the limitations of my car. I therefore used a car that was better in the snow.
deeen said:
the poor traction's not cos they're rwd, it's cos the weight is not over the driven wheels.
so mid engined should be fine?
Yup. Although you still have the problem that mid engined RWD cars tend to have rather wide tyres for their weight.so mid engined should be fine?
Still, the Elise has managed fine so far.
Stu R said:
Urban Sports said:
They are pants in the snow, I used my Astra all day today which was great.
The BMW is cack in the snow.
And it is because it is RWD.
My E38 7 series has been sterling in the snow. We've had shed loads of it over the last couple of weeks and I've yet to slide/wheelspin significantly / get stuck / crash / roll / die. I've navigated roads that many a front wheel drive car has got stuck on too. That's RWD, and I'm no more talented a driver than most other people. I just have decent tyres. The BMW is cack in the snow.
And it is because it is RWD.
MY S2000's where an absolute disaster.
Dick_Phallus said:
I always thought BMW was poorly represented in the 'car stuck in snow' films on the news because they are rear wheel drive, but crucially are bought by people with no enthusiasm for driving whatsoever, they just wanted the badge. Therefore you get people who haven't got any driving skills getting into all sorts of trouble, when they'd have been fine if they'd gone for the other favourite of the badge-boner brigade, a FWD or Quattro Audi.
Completely explains why my brother slide his quattro into a grass bank and why my BMW is fine. It's all about the correct tyres for the conditions as well as the adaptation of driving to the conditions.Not all people buy the car for the badge. Actually, I lied. The reason I bought my BMW is for the badge because I love driving. (Hint, it's not a blue and white one)
Edited by krallicious on Tuesday 5th January 20:34
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