BMW 330Xi Snow Performance

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Rob - 31 Jan 2008 21:40 GMT

I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
snowboarders heading up to Whistler? What tire and wheel package are
recommended for a winter BMW?

Thanks

Reply to this Message

Floyd Rogers - 31 Jan 2008 23:28 GMT

> I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
> at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
> snowboarders heading up to Whistler? What tire and wheel package are
> recommended for a winter BMW?

The drive to Whistler is not very severe, as far as winter conditions are
concerned, as it's not steep. OEM all season tires are sufficient for that.
If you do need snows, Blizzaks, Pilot Alpine, Conti Contact and Dunlop.
The E46 has regular tires; except for a few exceptions you're limited to
17" tires in either 205/50R17 or 225/45R17. The E90 comes only with
run-flats, and you're limited to the 225/45R17 size IIRC.

FloydR '01 330xi with Michelin Pilot Alpine. Overkill for most conditions.

Reply to this Message

Choam Nomsky - 01 Feb 2008 01:24 GMT

You won't get stuck, drives in snow like a champ, the only thing is the
braking... so be prepared with great winter tires and OEM or better brake
pads (if used). The weight of the car + the added Xi keeps it stable, a
little boring even ;)
Do NOT use the shitty tires that come with it in real snow.

The highest rated snow tire for this type of car is the Goodyear eagle Ultra
Grip or Michelin Pilot Alpin.

'03 330xi with Pirelli Winter 210 (Great on takeoff, good luck stopping!)

>> I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
>> at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> FloydR '01 330xi with Michelin Pilot Alpine. Overkill for most
> conditions.

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message

Floyd Rogers - 01 Feb 2008 06:23 GMT

> You won't get stuck, drives in snow like a champ, the only thing is the
> braking... so be prepared with great winter tires and OEM or better brake
> pads (if used). The weight of the car + the added Xi keeps it stable, a
> little boring even ;)
> Do NOT use the shitty tires that come with it in real snow.

This is simply not true. The OEM all-season tires are *adequate*
in the snow. My xi went the first two years with them with nary
a problem, in some pretty severe winter conditions. (I started
using snow tires only when I got some good summer rubber and
needed something else for winter.)

And I have no idea why you need better brake pads for snow
driving, even a completely worn-to-the-metal pad is capable of
stopping a wheel on snow.

FloydR

Reply to this Message

Choam Nomsky - 02 Feb 2008 02:07 GMT

I said OEM or better... as in, not the aftermarket crap they try to sell
everywhere. Assuming the car is not brand new - and as far as "all season"
tires, they just plain suck.

Quebec had just changed the law so that EVERYONE is obligated to use them,
they know the need and that there is NO substitute.
You can do what you want.

>> You won't get stuck, drives in snow like a champ, the only thing is the
>> braking... so be prepared with great winter tires and OEM or better brake
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> FloydR

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message

Rob - 05 Feb 2008 00:21 GMT

> I said OEM or better... as in, not the aftermarket crap they try to sell
> everywhere. Assuming the car is not brand new - and as far as "all season"
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

Is the reliability of the 3-series better than the X5? Also, any
improvements with the new X-drive system?

Thanks

Reply to this Message

Scott Dorsey - 01 Feb 2008 14:39 GMT

>I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
>at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
>snowboarders heading up to Whistler? What tire and wheel package are
>recommended for a winter BMW?

One word: Hakkapellita. I don't normally drive in snow... I don't think
humans should live more than 15 degrees from the equator. But I had the
Hakkapellita experience driving in Gander, Newfoundland, while stuck there
for a week or so, and it was so well-controlled it was amazing.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Reply to this Message

R. Mark Clayton - 01 Feb 2008 15:56 GMT

>>I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
>>at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> One word: Hakkapellita. I don't normally drive in snow... I don't think
> humans should live more than 15 degrees from the equator.

That doesn't even include all the tropics (that part of the globe where the
sun will be directly overhead at some time).

If you live outside the tropics on the side of a continent opposite the way
the world goes round or in the middle of a large one then it gets very cold
in the winter.

OTOH if you live inside the tropics or on the side of contitnent the same
way as the world goes round winters are pretty mild affairs.

> But I had the
> Hakkapellita experience driving in Gander, Newfoundland, while stuck there
> for a week or so, and it was so well-controlled it was amazing.
> --scott

Reply to this Message

Rob - 01 Feb 2008 17:32 GMT

On Feb 1, 7:56 am, "R. Mark Clayton" <nospamclay...@btinternet.com>
wrote:

> >>I am looking for an E46 330Xi or E90 325Xi to handle snow conditions
> >>at the local mountains in British Columbia. Any experience from
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> > --
> > "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Thanks for the input.

Any improvements with the new X-Drive system with the E90 models?
From the experiences listed above, I believe a 300Xi with good snow
tires can handle the winter conditions. I have heard the X5 has
reliability issues with costly repair and maintenance.

Reply to this Message

Scott Dorsey - 01 Feb 2008 20:31 GMT

>Any improvements with the new X-Drive system with the E90 models?
>From the experiences listed above, I believe a 300Xi with good snow
>tires can handle the winter conditions. I have heard the X5 has
>reliability issues with costly repair and maintenance.

An old 1600 or a Bavaria with good snow tires can handle the winter conditions.
All the fancy modern stuff like the traction control and the anti lock system
are nice enough, but at the end it comes down to having good tires and knowing
how to drive in snow. It has a lot more to do with the driver than the
vehicle.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Reply to this Message