X5 snow chains

[Singh911]

I am going to the Alps in a couple of weeks in my X5. I understand that i need to carry snow chains. BMW state that they must only be fitted to the rear - the mannual also states this.

I've driven to the Alps many times but never been asked by the police to show them/put on the chains. Would one set of chains satisfy them (if i have the car mannual with me to prove that only one set are needed?)

Also, given the clearance issues with my 20" wheels, has anyone used either of these? - or perhaps have any reccomendations?

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...

http://www.snowchains.co.uk/snowchains/Weissenfels...

Thanks as always

[Steff]

Snow-socks work better than chains in my experience, if you just want to get a cheap set of chains then you can pick them up in the supermarket for about £30 when you get into/near the Alps.

[Cheib]

Singh911 said:

I've driven to the Alps many times but never been asked by the police to show them/put on the chains. Would one set of chains satisfy them (if i have the car mannual with me to prove that only one set are needed?)

The reality is that you're very unlikely to need them as they clear the roads so quickly and you'll never get spot checked to make sure you have snow chains as a random event. However if you get stuck and block the road etc and you don't have winter tyres/snow chains I believe you can get fined in Switzerland...not sure in other countries (that might be urban myth).

I'd also ignore the advice above about buying from a supermarket...if you've got an X5 chances are they won't carry the right size for your car. Because the locals will all have snow tyres and these are much narrower than the tyres on your car they are very unlikely to have them. I once hired a Mondeo form Hertz at Geneva airport at New Year....for some bizarre reason cars on the French side of the airport come without snow tyres and chains so when it snowed in the ski resort I was in I had to buy chains to get to the airport. Getting chains for a Mondeo was hard enough, never mind an X5!

I have some RUD chains I bought froM Roofbox.co.uk they will trade them for other chains if you sell the cae and haven't used them. You can always flog them on eBay.

[thegreatdogwood]

Cheib said:

I'd also ignore the advice above about buying from a supermarket...if you've got an X5 chances are they won't carry the right size for your car. Because the locals will all have snow tyres and these are much narrower than the tyres on your car they are very unlikely to have them.

They may have more choice in the Alps but I scoured the market a few years back for snow socks to fit 20" alloys on my 650i and drew a complete blank so not convinced they make them either

[bennyboydurham]

thegreatdogwood said:

They may have more choice in the Alps but I scoured the market a few years back for snow socks to fit 20" alloys on my 650i and drew a complete blank so not convinced they make them either

I got some for my 730d's 19" wheels and they were impossible to get round the wheel. If you've got smaller wheels and a bit of clearance to get your fingers in the arch then snow socks are great but for big wheels, forget it.

[anonymous-user]

If there is snow, just watch it on those 20 inchers. Even with 4 wheel drive they are poor on slopes, and a nightmare downhill! i had to tow a mate of mine in an old model 4.8 X5 out of a ditch in the alps and I was in a 530d! Albeit on winter tyres....

[Cheib]

drmark said:

If there is snow, just watch it on those 20 inchers. Even with 4 wheel drive they are poor on slopes, and a nightmare downhill! i had to tow a mate of mine in an old model 4.8 X5 out of a ditch in the alps and I was in a 530d! Albeit on winter tyres....

I've noticed certainly with the E53 X5 you virtually never saw the Sport model in Europe but in the UK that is pretty much all they sold. Probably has a lot to do with the wheel size.

[srooks]

Good luck finding snow chains which can fit 20" 315 sections rear tyres.

I've just put on my X5's winter boots and will also be travelling to the Alps in a few weeks. The last 2 years we've had to have either winter tyres or chains went going up the mountain. The police are usually checking and will not allow you up the mountain without (Les Arcs).

You've got time to find a set of 18"/19" off ebay and fit some tyres.

S

Also, snow chains are an utter pain to fit, when it's dark and freezing.

[Carmo99]

I live in Switzerland and drive up to the ski resorts regularly in the X5. I have no chains but I do have winter tyres. You dont need chains and if the roads are bad there is a sign stating "chains only beyond this point". then we park up and get the ski bus up. I have seen this once in the last ten years and in the ski resort car parks you will not see a single car with chains on, but all will have winter tyres, without them its almost impossible to drive.

Edit to add, the reason you dont see cars in the car park with chains as you can only use snow chains when the signs state, in fact is illegal to have chains on unless the signs are shown as it damages the road.

Edited by Carmo99 on Sunday 11th December 08:53

[dtmpower]

My father in law has an X5 with the 20" wheels. He went to the Alps with snow chains and had to use them one early morning to drive before the road were cleared. He had to use the car jack to fit the chains as the clearance on the inside of the rim at stock height makes it almost impossible to feed the chains over the tyre.

So if you do buy chains - do a trial fit at home in the warm and dry and take provisions - piece of wood/jack/gloves etc to fit the chains when out in the snow.

[Singh911]

Thanks for all the replies.

BMW do not do any chains for 20" and don't reccomend fitting them if you can find them.

I also wanted winter tyres and whilst rare, they can be sourced in 20" but they're not far shy of £400 a tyre!

So I've gone for a set of 19" alloys, got a set of Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme winter tyres (£676 all in from www.tyremen.co.uk (cheapest i could find £169 a tyre and free delivery), great service arrived next day.

So now just need a set of rear chains for the 19s (toss up between Maggi trak www.roofbox.co.uk or Weissenfels klack and go quattro www.snowchains.co.uk - any views on these?).

Cheers

[srooks]

If you've got winter tyres, why do you need chains?

BTW .. I've got the same tyres on 19".

[custardkid]

srooks said:

If you've got winter tyres, why do you need chains?

BTW .. I've got the same tyres on 19".

ice

[Singh911]

Need snow chains more to satisfy the Gendarmes if they put the chains sign out rather than an issue of driveability. Could be refused access up the mountain in the absence of chains.

[anonymous-user]

Buy any old set of chains to show the gendarmes - trust me, with 4wd and good winter tyres like yours you will never need to put them on. Never needed to on a winter shod 530d and the X5 will be much better.

[Singh911]

A bit of feedback after the trip.

Drivinbg conditions on the way out and even more so on the way back were very snowy. Way back there was over 30cm of settled fresh overnight snow on the mountain roads. While in resort, -8 overnight temperatures made the roads freeze up anything that remained from the previous day's flurries.

The X5 with winter tyres was brilliant. Even with a foot of settled snow and more coming down fast as i've ever seen thick snow fall, i didnt ever feel the need to put the snowchains on. This was whilst the roadside was littered with people putting chains on.

Im sure the Vredesteins had a lot to do with the performance, astonished as to how much difference they made. In the driving snow and rain, the car was very sure footed - i drive to the alps regularly, will not do the winter journeys without winter tyres again.

Cheers