Emission
01-04-2004, 12:19 PM
We don't get snow in the LA Basin, so my son and I drove up to the mountains on Friday to play in some white stuff and do some off-road driving in our X5 3.0 (non-sport package).
I didn't go alone - my brother-in-law came with his wife and daughter in their Jeep. It is a 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It comes stock with serious off-road tires and dual locking differentials. I brought a tow-rope, so getting stuck wouldn't be an issue has he could pull me out. :D
The snow/ice was falling from the sky, and I brought my chains in case the Highway Patrol decided they would be mandatory. I was expecting my "weak link" to be my stock 235-wide all-season Michelin tires (with only 50% tread remaining) - so the chains would be my savior.
In the snow, the X5 did very well. On the roads, covered in about 4" of slush, the truck just plowed along, never even seeming to slow. When I pulled to the side of the road, in the 8" deep snow, it would take-off slowly but deliberately. I found "DSC OFF" was the better approach in the deep stuff. The Jeep followed me everywhere, with a bit more wheelspin (no ABS, DSC, or TRAC on the Jeep).
We then both decided to go off-road down a fire trail. The snow was about 10" with a layer of mud/rocks underneith. First off, down a steep (25 degree) snow-covered hill that was about 50' long. At the base, we found a stuck Infiniti I30 (yes, city slickers can be stupid) that we pulled up to the top (with the Jeep). We also pulled a stuck mid-80's Toyota 4x4 up the hill (open differentials kept two wheels spinning, and the Toyota disabled). All the while, the X5 just drove around as if it was just a bit disturbed by the snow - some ABS and driveline "clicking" as it found traction. I drove up and down the hill (following the Jeep) several times - no big deal!
We then drove deeper into the forest, and into deeper snow. I decided to lead, as the Jeep could pull me back up the single-lane fire road much easier from the rear if I got stuck. At one point, I got stuck... really stuck... in a deep snow drift (about 15" of snow and slush). The snow was building in front of the tires creating a wall, and this started to slow the X5. Slower and slower, even though I was hard on the gas, as the X5 struggled through the deep stuff. Mud (under the slushy snow) was now clogging the tread of the tires and traction to all wheels was lost. The X5 stopped. I floored it. The X5 sat there - doing nothing. :eek: Apparently, the AWD system looks for traction on each wheel. Since there was none, it decided not to go. Hmmm.... I put it in reverse... and it backed-up... slowly.... I backed up to a turnout, flipped around, then headed back up the road.
At the hill again, we pulled a Suburban to safety. :D Three cars stuck, on the same hill!
The X5 climbed the hill with authority, then we headed down (below the snow line) then home.
Lessons learned:
The X5 works very well in 99.9% of the stuff 99.9% of owners will subject it to. I had to make myself get stuck, and even then I was able to get out by myself. I never needed to get towed by the Jeep, and I never needed the chains. I would never have gone down there without another vehicle (Jeep) following me.
The stock all-season Michelins suck in the mud. Their sipes collect pebbles, and they spin uselessly when clogged with dirt. Snow tires would have been a dream!
The X5 AWD system is not good in the really, really, deep stuff. The Jeep (when subjected to monster drifts) would spin all four tires and plow along in style (kicking up rooster tails of snow). The X5 would slow as the computers/differentials looked for traction. Eventually, the speed is lost and the X5 gets bogged down. I am betting the new X-Drive addresses this.
I didn't go alone - my brother-in-law came with his wife and daughter in their Jeep. It is a 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It comes stock with serious off-road tires and dual locking differentials. I brought a tow-rope, so getting stuck wouldn't be an issue has he could pull me out. :D
The snow/ice was falling from the sky, and I brought my chains in case the Highway Patrol decided they would be mandatory. I was expecting my "weak link" to be my stock 235-wide all-season Michelin tires (with only 50% tread remaining) - so the chains would be my savior.
In the snow, the X5 did very well. On the roads, covered in about 4" of slush, the truck just plowed along, never even seeming to slow. When I pulled to the side of the road, in the 8" deep snow, it would take-off slowly but deliberately. I found "DSC OFF" was the better approach in the deep stuff. The Jeep followed me everywhere, with a bit more wheelspin (no ABS, DSC, or TRAC on the Jeep).
We then both decided to go off-road down a fire trail. The snow was about 10" with a layer of mud/rocks underneith. First off, down a steep (25 degree) snow-covered hill that was about 50' long. At the base, we found a stuck Infiniti I30 (yes, city slickers can be stupid) that we pulled up to the top (with the Jeep). We also pulled a stuck mid-80's Toyota 4x4 up the hill (open differentials kept two wheels spinning, and the Toyota disabled). All the while, the X5 just drove around as if it was just a bit disturbed by the snow - some ABS and driveline "clicking" as it found traction. I drove up and down the hill (following the Jeep) several times - no big deal!
We then drove deeper into the forest, and into deeper snow. I decided to lead, as the Jeep could pull me back up the single-lane fire road much easier from the rear if I got stuck. At one point, I got stuck... really stuck... in a deep snow drift (about 15" of snow and slush). The snow was building in front of the tires creating a wall, and this started to slow the X5. Slower and slower, even though I was hard on the gas, as the X5 struggled through the deep stuff. Mud (under the slushy snow) was now clogging the tread of the tires and traction to all wheels was lost. The X5 stopped. I floored it. The X5 sat there - doing nothing. :eek: Apparently, the AWD system looks for traction on each wheel. Since there was none, it decided not to go. Hmmm.... I put it in reverse... and it backed-up... slowly.... I backed up to a turnout, flipped around, then headed back up the road.
At the hill again, we pulled a Suburban to safety. :D Three cars stuck, on the same hill!
The X5 climbed the hill with authority, then we headed down (below the snow line) then home.
Lessons learned:
The X5 works very well in 99.9% of the stuff 99.9% of owners will subject it to. I had to make myself get stuck, and even then I was able to get out by myself. I never needed to get towed by the Jeep, and I never needed the chains. I would never have gone down there without another vehicle (Jeep) following me.
The stock all-season Michelins suck in the mud. Their sipes collect pebbles, and they spin uselessly when clogged with dirt. Snow tires would have been a dream!
The X5 AWD system is not good in the really, really, deep stuff. The Jeep (when subjected to monster drifts) would spin all four tires and plow along in style (kicking up rooster tails of snow). The X5 would slow as the computers/differentials looked for traction. Eventually, the speed is lost and the X5 gets bogged down. I am betting the new X-Drive addresses this.