Just how bad will E36 be in the snow?
Discussion
Was chatting to my mates last night about what car I was going to buy next, and I pointed out a really nice E36 in the car park. Every single one of them said "oh don't get one of those, you won't be going anywhere in the snow".
I have heard from many people that BMWs are awful in the snow, but just how bad are they?
I remember people telling me that my Mondeo would get nowhere because of its wide tyres, and it never got stuck once.
Surely a couple of sand bags or concrete blocks in the boot would help a bit in the winter months?
I have heard from many people that BMWs are awful in the snow, but just how bad are they?
I remember people telling me that my Mondeo would get nowhere because of its wide tyres, and it never got stuck once.
Surely a couple of sand bags or concrete blocks in the boot would help a bit in the winter months?
My brother's E36 318is is really bad in snow. However, last winter we fitted a set of Vredestien Quadtrac 3s. It was nigh-on invincible on them, and they're all-season not full-on winter tyres. He is running them now and they're fine too. I have the same tyres on our Golf GTi MKV and I can feel they're not quite and good at full-on roundabout cornering in the summer as Continental Sport Contacts, but no big deal (I have the TVR for that kind of driving).
Podie said:
It's all down to tyres.
Winter tyres and you'll be fine.
Add Me to those endorsing this statement.Winter tyres and you'll be fine.
Winter tyres are not only designed to work better when there's snow though, they're designed to work properly any time the temperature drops below 7°C.
This is because the rubber compound used in winter tyres is much softer than summer tyres so when the temperature drops below 7°C, they remain flexible and able to grip.
Summer tyres on the other hand become extremely rigid and inflexible so they get a lot less grip below 7°C.
The winter tyres will also have a different tread pattern designed to cope better with snow.
Ideally owners need to change to winter tyres when the temperature drops below 7°C but the problem can be that you either need a second set of wheels with the winter tyres already mounted or you need to have your summer tyres taken off your wheel rims and winter tyres then fitted to them.
In both instances you need somewhere to store the extra set of tyres/wheels, which can take up a lot of room.
Pretty much every BMW (or any other car for that matter, be it rear wheel drive, front wheel drive or even four wheel drive), that you see in winter spinning it's wheels and going nowhere will be because they're on the wrong tyres.
BliarOut said:
The problem seems to be that the slush box wants to crawl at 5MPH when you try to do 2.5, hence much fun with the brakes on and the back end trying to drive all at the same time.
I would get a manual, so no problems there 
I remember my mate's automatic Astra was hopeless in the snow, when he put in in drive it would just sit there and spin!
SD1992 said:
I didn't have winter tyres on my Mondeo this year though, and I never had any problems just driving very carefully, being light on the pedals, and taking much longer to brake.
I assume this will not work on a BMW just with decent normal tyres?
As I understand it front wheel drive works better in snow as the weight is over the driven wheels, improving traction.I assume this will not work on a BMW just with decent normal tyres?
CommanderJameson said:
sparks_E39 said:
The E39 is terrible.
Is it, hell.Set of Avon Ice Tourings on mine and it was like driving in the wet.
Couple of big paving slabs in the boot of mine did the trick - pulled away from following fwds on a steep hill in fresh thick snow last winter.
Did a sixty mile round trip that night in Dec'09 when it all came down - no problems.
I have an E36 M3 Evo, I drove most days over the winter including daily journeys from Shropshire to Manchester with no problems except other crap drivers I actually have a set of winter tyres in the shed, as my old 200sx did struggle a bit in the snow, I didn't get round to fitting them to the E36 and as it turned out I didn't need to. As a reference point, it was a lot more capable than our 07 Audi TT, now that I should have fitted the winter tyres to 
I actually have a set of winter tyres in the shed, as my old 200sx did struggle a bit in the snow, I didn't get round to fitting them to the E36 and as it turned out I didn't need to. As a reference point, it was a lot more capable than our 07 Audi TT, now that I should have fitted the winter tyres to SteA said:
I have an E36 M3 Evo, I drove most days over the winter including daily journeys from Shropshire to Manchester with no problems except other crap drivers I actually have a set of winter tyres in the shed, as my old 200sx did struggle a bit in the snow, I didn't get round to fitting them to the E36 and as it turned out I didn't need to. As a reference point, it was a lot more capable than our 07 Audi TT, now that I should have fitted the winter tyres to
same here + with a bit of common sense/discretion the e39 was fine, as well... I actually have a set of winter tyres in the shed, as my old 200sx did struggle a bit in the snow, I didn't get round to fitting them to the E36 and as it turned out I didn't need to. As a reference point, it was a lot more capable than our 07 Audi TT, now that I should have fitted the winter tyres to Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff