BMW Z4 vs 335d in snow
Discussion
Quick question.
I have two cars - a BMW Z4 & 335d.
The obvious choice for the snow is the big comfy estate.
But then I got thinking maybe it's not that simple.
The Z4 weighs less (1,290 vs 1,645 KG),
The Z4 has better tyres (Vredestein) than than the 335d (budgets),
The Z4 is a manual,
The tyre widths are the same, but the 335d has more sidewall and smaller wheels,
At a push, the 335d probably has a better stability control being a lot newer.
Thoughts on a postcard...
and not at all because I need to pick up a takeaway in 20 minutes and it just started snowing.
I have two cars - a BMW Z4 & 335d.
The obvious choice for the snow is the big comfy estate.
But then I got thinking maybe it's not that simple.
The Z4 weighs less (1,290 vs 1,645 KG),
The Z4 has better tyres (Vredestein) than than the 335d (budgets),
The Z4 is a manual,
The tyre widths are the same, but the 335d has more sidewall and smaller wheels,
At a push, the 335d probably has a better stability control being a lot newer.
Thoughts on a postcard...
and not at all because I need to pick up a takeaway in 20 minutes and it just started snowing.
I got caught out a couple years ago in my e36 328, on summer tyres. Momentum is king, I overtook a focus wiggling his tyres doing 5mph, I was doing about 25mph. I only got stuck when there was a que of cars in front. The z4 probably has a limited slip diff which will definitely help with traction, I would however recommend getting an appropriate set of tyres.
Also question putting budgets on a 335d. Sod putting your life in the hands of some linglong ditch finders.
Also question putting budgets on a 335d. Sod putting your life in the hands of some linglong ditch finders.
Edited by Rob_125 on Sunday 24th January 08:39
A few years ago we were heading up to Sheffield to see family on Boxing Day, we were in my 330 and my sister and her now husband in his Z4 3.0.
It snowed a fair bit and the M1 wasn’t gritted nor was the A61. The fun really started once we got to Sheffield because we were heading to Lodge Moor meaning we had go through the city and up. Lots of snow. My 330 despite being an auto did much better than the Z4.
It snowed a fair bit and the M1 wasn’t gritted nor was the A61. The fun really started once we got to Sheffield because we were heading to Lodge Moor meaning we had go through the city and up. Lots of snow. My 330 despite being an auto did much better than the Z4.
g3org3y said:
998420 said:
This may be a daft question, but BMW are German, and in Germany there is a lot more snow generally
How did BMW ever get away with being so bad in the snow, and what do ze Germans do about it ? Studded snow tyres ?
Winter tyres.How did BMW ever get away with being so bad in the snow, and what do ze Germans do about it ? Studded snow tyres ?
pablo said:
Why are you running budget tyres on the 335d?
Rob_125 said:
Also question putting budgets on a 335d. Sod putting your life in the hands of some linglong ditch finders.
I didn't put them on, it came like that. The Z4 actually came with 3x decent run flats, and one budget non-runflat. That was... interesting.Rob_125 said:
The z4 probably has a limited slip diff which will definitely help with traction
it doesn't 
Easy fix for more traction on the 335d:
works a treat!
(the reason a rwd bmw is poor in the snow is because it has a GOOD mass distribution (around 50:50) but static traction is entirely governed by the vertical load on the driven wheels. Take a 1 tonne car, the 50:50 distributed one has 500kg on the drive axle, where as a typical fwd car that has around 65% of it's mass over it's driven wheels has 650kg on the drive axle. It might not sound like much difference, but that's a 30% increase in tractive effort!
Load the boot of the BMW, and whilst total weight increases, the proportion carried by the drive axle climbs as a proportion relative to the overall mass.)
works a treat!
(the reason a rwd bmw is poor in the snow is because it has a GOOD mass distribution (around 50:50) but static traction is entirely governed by the vertical load on the driven wheels. Take a 1 tonne car, the 50:50 distributed one has 500kg on the drive axle, where as a typical fwd car that has around 65% of it's mass over it's driven wheels has 650kg on the drive axle. It might not sound like much difference, but that's a 30% increase in tractive effort!
Load the boot of the BMW, and whilst total weight increases, the proportion carried by the drive axle climbs as a proportion relative to the overall mass.)
Max_Torque said:
(the reason a rwd bmw is poor in the snow is because it has a GOOD mass distribution (around 50:50) but static traction is entirely governed by the vertical load on the driven wheels. Take a 1 tonne car, the 50:50 distributed one has 500kg on the drive axle, where as a typical fwd car that has around 65% of it's mass over it's driven wheels has 650kg on the drive axle. It might not sound like much difference, but that's a 30% increase in tractive effort!
Load the boot of the BMW, and whilst total weight increases, the proportion carried by the drive axle climbs as a proportion relative to the overall mass.)
Would a 1,600kgs BMW with 800kg on the rear axle have better traction on snow than a 1,000kg Yaris with 650kgs on the front axle?Load the boot of the BMW, and whilst total weight increases, the proportion carried by the drive axle climbs as a proportion relative to the overall mass.)
The 335D as it's probably got softer suspension too - and will have more ground clearance if the snow gets a little deeper.
Although I've not been stuck in a Z4MC (on Michelin SuperSports) or a 330D (on Michelin Cross-Climates) either.
Either way, I'd put all-seasons on - or buy a set of winters that can be used on both.
Although I've not been stuck in a Z4MC (on Michelin SuperSports) or a 330D (on Michelin Cross-Climates) either.
Either way, I'd put all-seasons on - or buy a set of winters that can be used on both.
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