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BMW 1-Series

1826 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 3:50 PM

You are in the BMW 1-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 1 Series, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

Messages Page 181 of 183

#1801 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [bodble2] by roadburner

Nov 22, 2009 (9:18 am)

Replying to: bodble2 (Nov 20, 2009 5:53 pm)
At some point laws of physics with RWD will kick in. I've seen plenty of 3 series with snow tires going down a snow-covered street at 45 degree angle!
 
I suspect that's just incompetence on the part of the driver. I've run winter rubber on an E36 3er and E39 5er and had absolutely NO problems in snow. They both handled the nasty stuff 100% better than my miserable Mazdaspeed 3.

#1802 of 1826 in the snow by nyccarguy

Nov 22, 2009 (12:32 pm)

you've got to take your time & cannot go tearing through the white stuff. With RWD & 4 snows, the stability control & electronic nannies do all the work.
 
My wife has an '07 X3. Now I've driven her truck in the snow with the all season tires it comes with. In an empty parking lot once, I shut off the dtc (dynamic traction control) and mashed the gas pedal - the truck spun all 4 tires & couldn't get out of its own way. With the DTC switched back on, I mashed the gas and the x3 gingerly took off.

#1803 of 1826 Re: in the snow [nyccarguy] by kyfdx HOST

Nov 22, 2009 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Nov 22, 2009 12:32 pm)
My wife drove RWD 3-series for five years.... shod with winter tires..
 
She got the X3 about a year ago... First snow, she comes in and says she was sliding coming down to a stop on a downhill slope. "How come I have AWD, and it doesn't stop as well as my 330i convertible?"
 
While I could drive her X3 through heavier snow and worse conditions than her 3-series could handle (ground clearance counts for a lot), the RWD convertible with winter tires was/is safer and better handling in slick conditions..

#1804 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [roadburner] by bodble2

Nov 23, 2009 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Nov 22, 2009 9:18 am)
"I suspect that's just incompetence on the part of the driver"
 
I'm not so sure that's the whole story....maybe you're just blessed with superior skills that mere mortals only dream about.
 
Let's put it this way, all else being equal (tires, road condition, etc), in adverse conditions, I'll put my money on a FWD or AWD over a RWD any day.

#1805 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [bodble2] by andys120

Nov 23, 2009 (4:56 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Nov 23, 2009 4:14 pm)
all else being equal (tires, road condition, etc), in adverse conditions, I'll put my money on a FWD or AWD over a RWD any day.
 
The trick is not to have "all else" be equal but to equip yourself with the best tires and traction control. I've been in conditions with AWD and the wrong tires where I'd have been better off with RWD and snows.

#1806 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [andys120] by bodble2

Nov 23, 2009 (4:59 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Nov 23, 2009 4:56 pm)
Yeah, but I'd be even better off with AWD and snows.

#1807 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [bodble2] by andys120

Nov 23, 2009 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Nov 23, 2009 4:59 pm)
I'd be even better off with AWD and snows.
 
No argument there, but it only snows 10 or 15% of the time. I much prefer RWD when it's not snowing and I have owned AWD, RWD and FWD while living in the
snow belt.

#1808 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [bodble2] by roadburner

Nov 23, 2009 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Nov 23, 2009 4:14 pm)
I'm not so sure that's the whole story....maybe you're just blessed with superior skills that mere mortals only dream about.
 
Well, now that you mention it...

#1809 of 1826 Re: bmw 128i in snow [andys120] by bodble2

Nov 23, 2009 (5:49 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Nov 23, 2009 5:33 pm)
Yup, you're right. That's why I've concluded that I shouldn't deprive myself of the possiblity of owning a 1-series just because there is no AWD option. Even if I'm too lazy to switch to snows, I can always rent for the 10% of the time when there is snow on the ground, or if I go skiing. And being in the city, it also wouldn't kill me to take transit once in awhile!

#1810 of 1826 Re: A Question of the 128i [fdfrtht09] by billherrmann

Mar 09, 2010 (9:38 am)

Replying to: fdfrtht09 (Oct 27, 2009 10:19 pm)
I had been cautioned a month or so ago about the 'harshness' of run flat tires. The warning came from a NJ doctor. Yet, I see no concern or criticisms on the BMW forums. Your opinion will be appreciated. Bill H

Messages Page 181 of 183

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