Colorado Springs M3

jmw43 · 12-01-2014, 12:02 PM

Hi,

I am considering purchasing an E90/92 m3. I would use year round and need to be able to drive in the snow/ice on HILLS. I have read a bunch of posts on winter driving and snow tires but am wondering specifically about safety of driving on snow/ice on hills. Colorado Springs being much hillier than Denver.

Thanks

Wilsel · 12-02-2014, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmw43

Hi,

I am considering purchasing an E90/92 m3. I would use year round and need to be able to drive in the snow/ice on HILLS. I have read a bunch of posts on winter driving and snow tires but am wondering specifically about safety of driving on snow/ice on hills. Colorado Springs being much hillier than Denver.

Thanks

It can be done. However for the price of another set of wheels + snow tires you could buy a XJ Cherokee (or Subaru) winter beater. Besides Mag Chloride is some nasty stuff. It'll corrode everything on your M3.

Candide13 · 12-02-2014, 12:39 PM

This topic has been discussed ad nauseam, of course. The upshot: with winter tires the bottleneck is primarily the vertical clearance at the front: the M3 is not a good snow plough and this can strand you in uncontrolled winter conditions.

MilehighM3 · 12-02-2014, 11:00 PM

Since we don't get a ton of snow here in the springs, it us definitely possible to drive an M3 in the snow. I ran my E36 M3 and 135 in the snow for 6 years combined and I was never stranded once. That being said, there is still some planning ahead that needs to be done on steeper hills when it is really icy out so that getting started uphill isn't a problem. Definitely get a good set of snow tires though, all seasons won't cut it on the bad days.

Titanium Silver · 12-08-2014, 11:40 PM

You just need a set of Blizzaks and you will be fine. You will easily fly past the majority of SUVs that have bad winter tires.

Ezio · 12-09-2014, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titanium Silver

You just need a set of Blizzaks and you will be fine. You will easily fly past the majority of SUVs that have bad winter tires.

i remember the first time i used Bizzak, couldnt believe how well they worked.

swartzentruber · 12-09-2014, 04:17 PM

The topic of winter driving in the M3 with snows has been discussed quite a bit, but not specifically hilly snowy winter driving. Hills are definitely an area where AWD can benefit since you have two wheels pulling up and two wheels pushing up, rather than just two wheels pushing which is less stable. I'm not sure anyone commenting here has that experience (I don't, just winter driving in flatter territory). You might have better luck asking in either the wheel/tire forum or one of the regional forums.

Also per the poster that said "just put on some blizzaks and you'll be fine" -- keep in mind Michelin (and a few other manufacturers) produces two different winter tires, a performance winter and an extreme winter. Under the circumstances of needing to drive in hilly snowy weather, definitely consider the exteme (sometimes called studless) winter.

jmw43 · 12-15-2014, 04:00 PM

Thanks so much for the info guys, the hilly driving was indeed what I was wondering about. Thanks!

chadwick · 01-04-2015, 06:32 PM

jmw43,

Did you wind up getting the car and snow tires yet? I've got some snow data for you if not

jmw43 · 01-13-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadwick

jmw43,

Did you wind up getting the car and snow tires yet? I've got some snow data for you if not

I haven't made the move yet

anxious to do so though!

Gr330zhp · 01-13-2015, 08:34 PM

I live in Maine, plenty of hills here and brutal winters. Car goes great, I have Blizzaks mounted.

STooK · 01-14-2015, 12:00 AM

Just had my first ever snow driving experience last week with winter tires. Car did great and I can't wait for more snow. RWD + LSD + winter tires is a hell of a combo for the snow! Definitely felt safer and more fun than my last AWD with all seasons. Also, I can't believe it took me almost 8 seasons of driving in the winter to finally get some winter tires…should've done it sooner it would've made life so much easier.

jmw43 · 01-14-2015, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STooK

Just had my first ever snow driving experience last week with winter tires. Car did great and I can't wait for more snow. RWD + LSD + winter tires is a hell of a combo for the snow! Definitely felt safer and more fun than my last AWD with all seasons. Also, I can't believe it took me almost 8 seasons of driving in the winter to finally get some winter tires…should've done it sooner it would've made life so much easier.

STooK - where do you live? Thanks for the info guys!

MightyEKA · 01-14-2015, 01:35 PM

I have Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on mine and it works flawless in Swedish winter conditions. Best winter tires I've ever tried (studded and studless).

12-01-2014, 12:02 PM	#1
jmw43 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 04 S4 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (0)	Colorado Springs M3 - e90/2 winter driving? Hi, I am considering purchasing an E90/92 m3. I would use year round and need to be able to drive in the snow/ice on HILLS. I have read a bunch of posts on winter driving and snow tires but am wondering specifically about safety of driving on snow/ice on hills. Colorado Springs being much hillier than Denver. Thanks
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12-02-2014, 12:39 PM	#3
Candide13 Captain 203 Rep 699 Posts Drives: '11 E90 M3 ZCP 6MT AW/FR Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	This topic has been discussed ad nauseam, of course. The upshot: with winter tires the bottleneck is primarily the vertical clearance at the front: the M3 is not a good snow plough and this can strand you in uncontrolled winter conditions.
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12-02-2014, 11:00 PM	#4
MilehighM3 Brigadier General 915 Rep 3,456 Posts Drives: Harrop E90 M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Colorado Springs iTrader: (14) Garage List 2009 E90 M3 [6.50]	Since we don't get a ton of snow here in the springs, it us definitely possible to drive an M3 in the snow. I ran my E36 M3 and 135 in the snow for 6 years combined and I was never stranded once. That being said, there is still some planning ahead that needs to be done on steeper hills when it is really icy out so that getting started uphill isn't a problem. Definitely get a good set of snow tires though, all seasons won't cut it on the bad days.
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12-08-2014, 11:40 PM	#5
Titanium Silver Four Star General 13 Rep 597 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	You just need a set of Blizzaks and you will be fine. You will easily fly past the majority of SUVs that have bad winter tires. __________________ E92 M3 \| Jet Black \| All OEM Everything E30 M3 \| Alpine White \| Mostly OEM
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12-09-2014, 04:17 PM	#7
swartzentruber Captain 30 Rep 742 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago NW suburbs, IL iTrader: (0)	The topic of winter driving in the M3 with snows has been discussed quite a bit, but not specifically hilly snowy winter driving. Hills are definitely an area where AWD can benefit since you have two wheels pulling up and two wheels pushing up, rather than just two wheels pushing which is less stable. I'm not sure anyone commenting here has that experience (I don't, just winter driving in flatter territory). You might have better luck asking in either the wheel/tire forum or one of the regional forums. Also per the poster that said "just put on some blizzaks and you'll be fine" -- keep in mind Michelin (and a few other manufacturers) produces two different winter tires, a performance winter and an extreme winter. Under the circumstances of needing to drive in hilly snowy weather, definitely consider the exteme (sometimes called studless) winter. __________________ 2011 Jerez Black/Fox Red E90 M3 DCT, ZCP, ZCV, ZCW, ZP2, BMW Apps 2015 Golf R
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12-15-2014, 04:00 PM	#8
jmw43 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 04 S4 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (0)	Thanks so much for the info guys, the hilly driving was indeed what I was wondering about. Thanks!
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01-04-2015, 06:32 PM	#9
chadwick Private 16 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 2023 BMW 540i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Katy, Texas iTrader: (1)	jmw43, Did you wind up getting the car and snow tires yet? I've got some snow data for you if not
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01-13-2015, 08:34 PM	#11
Gr330zhp Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 ZCP 6MT AW/BLK Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: 04281 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M3 [0.00]	I live in Maine, plenty of hills here and brutal winters. Car goes great, I have Blizzaks mounted. __________________ 2012 BMW M3 ZCP 6MT
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01-14-2015, 12:00 AM	#12
STooK Lieutenant Colonel 726 Rep 1,974 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (6)	Just had my first ever snow driving experience last week with winter tires. Car did great and I can't wait for more snow. RWD + LSD + winter tires is a hell of a combo for the snow! Definitely felt safer and more fun than my last AWD with all seasons. Also, I can't believe it took me almost 8 seasons of driving in the winter to finally get some winter tires…should've done it sooner it would've made life so much easier. __________________ 2013 BMW E92 ///M3 AW/BLK ZCP CF Roof 6 Speed - Perfection 2011 BMW E90 328i xDrive Space Grey/Black - Daily 2011 BMW E93 ///M3 MW/FR/BLK 6 Speed - Gone but not forgotten
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01-14-2015, 01:35 PM	#14
MightyEKA New Member 26 Rep 25 Posts Drives: BMW M3 ZCP 2011 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	I have Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on mine and it works flawless in Swedish winter conditions. Best winter tires I've ever tried (studded and studless).
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