Winter Traction

[95BMW325i]

Hi everyone, I am looking to buy my first BMW. I am planning to buy a '95 325i but there's one thing holding me back. I live in upstate NY, in an especially hilly area, and I've always owned 4-wheel drive SUV's and an all wheel drive Audi. Can anyone tell me about their personal experience driving a 3 series in the winter? I know that the excellent weight distribution is a plus for winter driving but what are the limitations? Has anyone gotten their's stuck or not been able to get up hill in certain conditions?

Thanks in advance,

-Matt

 

[bmw046series]

A real good set of snow tires, and they do a good job. Starting out can be hard for just a rear wheel drive car, but they do alright. Deep snow can be a problem (6 inches +).

Suggested Snow tires: Bridgestone Blizzaks

 

[trisaab]

I had a '93 325 for a couple of years in Minnesota. I bought a set of Blizzaks. They worked great. I sold it because I needed a different type of car at the time. However I'm considering a slightly used 330ci convertible here. If I do that....I've been told the thing to do is instead of taking the snows off the rims, and replacing with the all weather tires....that lots of folks buy a cheaper set of wheels, and permanently mount the snows on those. Then they just run in, and have the service guy put on the "winter wheels". It's a lot easier.

 

[selavia]

I have all seasons on and I can manage it just fine under 6 inches. Yokohomas Avids H4. I find it easier to start in 2nd though, unless your climbing a steep grade. I can only imagine what snow tires would be like.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

So long as the roads are plowed and reasonably salted, I find that if you drive carefully the RWD BMW has no problem in the snow with all seasons on. Just remember the car is rear wheel drive and that you need to be careful. Also, if there is a few inches of snow on the ground and you have to drive up a hill from the start, that might be a problem without snow tires... But if you're already doing say 30-40mph and the grounds got about an inch of accumulation or two, and it starts going uphill, it shouldnt matter, at least not in my experience when driving upstate backroads...