X5 can only go up step hill in reverse..is this normal?

Hi folks,

I just got a x5 35d 2010. It's on winter tires. I have been visiting friends that have a place in the mountains and every time I try to go up their driveway which is about 60 feet of a steep climb, I can never get up more then 20 feet before the car stops in dead in the tracks. I have turned off dsc, but then the car but starts spinning and moving from side to side..

But if I go up the same hill in reverse, I can go up the entire hill no issue.

They have a Subaru outback which goes up no problem.

Therefore, has anyone experienced this before, is it my tires, or is it that the xdrive can't handle it. It's disappointing..;-(

Thanks
Sami