Realities in the Winter (545i)?

[sgnden]

Hello:

My first post here. Looks like a nice active forum.

I am about to launch a full-on search for the right 545i (this will be my 4th BMW but it's been 10 years!).

What are the realities of driving this thing on the occasional snow-covered roads (Denver)? Yes, I'll try to avoid it but I won't always have my Rangie with me. I intend to drive this car.

Some RWD vehicles are soooo much worse than others on snow, of course...just wondering about these?

I really don't want to get a 535xi or 530xi and certainly not a 3 series xi - only because they seem to be stinkin everywhere in this town!

Thanks!

[BloodRedHog]

I don't know how much I can help, but there are some similarities...

I live in Highlands Ranch and two years ago I was driving a 330i with OEM summer tires....it was a disaster. Like an idiot, I drove it through the winter.
I got stuck on more than one occasion and always had difficulty getting up the driveway, which was an incline but not too steep.
As you know, the roads here are cleared quickly after a snowfall...but for me, the issue was not always snow...it was temperature. Those summer Dunlops were hard as rocks once the temps dropped.

I vowed after that winter to get snow tires.

[zen68]

What are the realities of driving this thing on the occasional snow-covered roads (Denver)? Yes, I'll try to avoid it but I won't always have my Rangie with me. I intend to drive this car.

Some RWD vehicles are soooo much worse than others on snow, of course...just wondering about these?

I really don't want to get a 535xi or 530xi and certainly not a 3 series xi - only because they seem to be stinkin everywhere in this town!

It's all about the tires! Get a good set of snow tires and you're all set.

Keep in mind that snow tires are not just for snow, they are also designed to perform at frigid temperature. I would never drive with Summer tires in the Winter, it's like skating on ice.

Believe it or not, my 550i with snow tires handles better in the snow than my wife's X5 with all season tires. I love the look of Subaru drivers when I blow pass them in the snow :D

[midwest bmw]

It's all about the tires! Get a good set of snow tires and you're all set.

Keep in mind that snow tires are not just for snow, they are also designed to perform at frigid temperature. I would never drive with Summer tires in the Winter, it's like skating on ice.


+1 on that Zen...Being in Mpls we get plenty of snow and cold..Winter rubber rocks..I had Blizzaks on my E39 540 and E36 328 - both drove like tanks in the winter.

Would NEVER go w/out em again.

[sgnden]

Excellent...

Yes, I am more than familiar with the need to have dedicated snow tires...glad to hear from you guys in the areas with truly nasty winter driving conditions report good things as far as general driveability with GOOD snows!

Thanks,

S