[mightbaal]

Well this summer has been pretty fun playing around with my 2008 335xi and its starting to get cold here in wisconsin and probably in a month or so I will be putting on my winter tires and rims and was wondering how many people downtune their cars for winter? I was thinking I dont need all that power that I have right now running around 20 psi of boost especially on winter tires. I am probably going to flash back to stock and run the JB4 on map 1 (plenty of power I think in the winter) skip the E85 just run 93/E10. Anyone else do this too? My first winter with this car so I was also wondering how it handles in snow if anyone owns a Xdrive and can chime in (my 07 G35X AWD was a dream in the snow). Also anyone know how much more horsepower my car would get with -2 to -20 degree weather if I kept it at 20 psi?

[jwalker87]

That's some dense air! It would probably make a lot of power ... right up until it explodes. It would be interesting to see the thermal shock effects of that type of air entering an engine. Anyway...

Being about to move to PA this winter, I plan on similar things, though no need to flash anything. I'll just run map 1 or map 4 on the winter wheels with 93 and call it a day.

[dbworld4k]

I'll probably detune mine back to the 340whp/410wtq 91 octane map, simply because I don't want to push the 470wtq of my 93 octane map on skinny winter tires in the snow, lol.

Right now, my 93 octane map feels like a MONSTER in this cool boost-friendly weather.

[Mr HG]

That was like reading a different language :-D (I know nothing about engines nevermind modifications)

I've only had my BMW for a few months, and my first RWD car ever, it's an E93 320i Msport and has 19" rims so i've not been looking forward to the snow falling and reports say it could be a bad one this year in Scotland, I was wondering what sizes of rims and tyres people prefer in the winter.

Failing that I have another quality German built ride to get about ,my Cube hardtail lol

[Antetokounmpo]

E85 is very hard to start in the cold. No point in running it in the winter. I'd say just run the pump flash with map 1. Don't flash back to stock, the pump flash is so much smoother. And xdrive is perfect for snow.. that's pretty much the only thing it's meant for.

[blown07]

No need to reduce power for the winter in the XI. They can put down more power on a cold rainy day than an I in the summer on dry pavement !

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by blown07

No need to reduce power for the winter in the XI. They can put down more power on a cold rainy day than an I in the summer on dry pavement !

The point more is to switch to pump gas since E85 switches to a crappy winter blend and is really hard to start when it's cold. It'll get down to -10*F air temp up here in Wisco multiple times per winter. It's hard enough starting 93.

And this, obviously, will reduce power.

[ilicboris]

I'll definitely switch to my winter tires/stock wheel setup. Haven't really thought about tune since this is my first winter with JB4. I'll probably stick Map 1 for now.

[djjsarai]

Originally Posted by mightbaal

Well this summer has been pretty fun playing around with my 2008 335xi and its starting to get cold here in wisconsin and probably in a month or so I will be putting on my winter tires and rims and was wondering how many people downtune their cars for winter? I was thinking I dont need all that power that I have right now running around 20 psi of boost especially on winter tires. I am probably going to flash back to stock and run the JB4 on map 1 (plenty of power I think in the winter) skip the E85 just run 93/E10. Anyone else do this too? My first winter with this car so I was also wondering how it handles in snow if anyone owns a Xdrive and can chime in (my 07 G35X AWD was a dream in the snow). Also anyone know how much more horsepower my car would get with -2 to -20 degree weather if I kept it at 20 psi?

Well I have driven my 11 E90 in the winter and the x-drive is great if you have the proper tires. I had summer tires and with traction control left on, my car would slide all about. Too much power stock with summer tires. If you get a good winter set or as you said you already you already have winter wheels and tires, you will be fine. Just do not do anything stupid. I put blizzaks on mine and it did great. We had about a foot of snow in my neighborhood in January and I drove through it with no problems. Was kind of like the snow plow for the neighbors. I won't detune mine, but I am not running as much power as you guys. I am around 350tq and 380hp. Just a good set of winter tires (all seasons might suffice, but since your first winter with the car stick with winter tires) and proper learning and driving techniques.

[wilbur_the_goose]

Just curious - where do you store your winter tires and wheels in the summer?

I only have a 1-car garage without a lot of extra space.

[csu87]

ive got winter tires and do a slight downtune, but only because the e85 drops to e70 in the winter here and it is usually a bitch to start if I forget to turn on the garage heater.

the xi handles great, but only if you got a nice set of tires. I put my summers on too early last year and it was terrible in the snow.

[Volrath]

Originally Posted by csu87

ive got winter tires and do a slight downtune, but only because the e85 drops to e70 in the winter here and it is usually a bitch to start if I forget to turn on the garage heater.

the xi handles great, but only if you got a nice set of tires. I put my summers on too early last year and it was terrible in the snow.

Just get those all season tires

[csu87]

Originally Posted by Volrath

Just get those all season tires

And have subpar performance all year round?

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by Volrath

Just get those all season tires

Why the hell would you run all season tires on any sort of sporty car? They're not good at anything.

[Volrath]

Originally Posted by Heel Toe

Why the hell would you run all season tires on any sort of sporty car? They're not good at anything.

Actually, all seasons work great in Colorado.

Originally Posted by csu87

And have subpar performance all year round?

Sounds like your drag racing from home to work to the grocery store. Sounds like a real performance machine.... lolz... Why not just buy a truck for the winter vs worrying about tires if your so worried about swapping summer tires for winter tires in Colorado.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by Volrath

Actually, all seasons work great in Colorado.



Sounds like your drag racing from home to work to the grocery store. Sounds like a real performance machine.... lolz... Why not just buy a truck for the winter vs worrying about tires if your so worried about swapping summer tires for winter tires in Colorado.

What happens when I want to do spirited driving? Might as well take a minivan if you have all seasons. What happens when I autox? Just have no grip and come in last?

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/f...vs-summer.html

Edmunds even found winter tires to out perform all seasons in wet, summer conditions.

All seasons suck.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by Volrath

Actually, all seasons work great in Colorado.



Sounds like your drag racing from home to work to the grocery store. Sounds like a real performance machine.... lolz... Why not just buy a truck for the winter vs worrying about tires if your so worried about swapping summer tires for winter tires in Colorado.

i have a truck that i drive everyday. My car is a weekend warrior/fun car.

It takes about 15 minutes to swap my wheels for summer/winter and winter tires >>> all seasons in the snow/ice. If you are looking for the best performance, all seasons dont offer that ever.

All seasons are good if you dont swap wheels/tires since it gives you an average of both worlds. My other cars have all seasons, but its because I dont care as much with them, and they dont have the power levels my 335 does.

[ilicboris]

The tire makes the biggest difference. All seasons are a compromise tire. Not particularly good at summer temps or winter temps. You'll "get by" but spending some cash to get the appropriate tire is the best thing for your car, your safety, and driving.

[mike@x-ph.com]

In Las Vegas, its more like winter week so no i keep my car the same

[dj_aj]

This was my first summer being tuned, and I already chewed up my summer tires in the past 3-4 months.

I will definitely run a less aggressive map during the winter months as I plan on using my winter tires for at least another 5 years [Hopefully ]

[YouAreMyWorld]

From Los Angeles here, can someone provide information to me on what is this 'winter' you speak of? :P

[ilicboris]

Originally Posted by YouAreMyWorld

From Los Angeles here, can someone provide information to me on what is this 'winter' you speak of? :P

When you guys put coats on for 50-60 degrees we put them on for -20 to 40 degrees.