First test of X3 in snow this weekend

Last Friday it snowed about 20 cms here. The wind was consistently at about 50 kmph and sometimes gusting to 90 kmph. Result: huge drifting snow, side roads piled with upto 18 inches of snow, there was news that one street had 5 feet. Driveways on my street either had 3 feet snow or were completely bare, depending upon which side of street you live on. My side was dry (thank heavens). I have been driving on a sheet of snow/ice for past 4 days now. The first day I saw at least 50 cars abandoned on road when I had to go somewhere early in morning through unplowed streets. X3 never got stuck even in 1-2' snow and has been very predictable on ice. I am running winters though. The key is to drive carefully, particularly when there are people with you in car and in other cars in road. Never challenge laws of physics, no matter what car you drive.

Originally Posted by X3emist

They are japanese

Originally Posted by X3emist

That guy just doesn't know how to drive in snow.

Originally Posted by enamoured

The key is to drive carefully, particularly when there are people with you in car and in other cars in road. Never challenge laws of physics, no matter what car you drive.

This really is the key, and the very best advice that could, and should, be given to anyone getting behind the wheel of this vehicle. Well done!

Should be made a "sticky" and put first in line for those coming to the BB.

Originally Posted by xsogo

They are japanese

I see these sort of videos as really harmful to both the BMW X3 driver taking the road and those around him/her driving other vehicles. Give me an open track of ice or packed sun-slicked snow and I can easily test the limits of my X3. But the dangerous reality is that actual driving conditions, with traffic, are radically different. For one, we have curbs that will fu@k up our car if we slide into them, at any sort of speed. Oh, and then there are those other vehicles on the road . . . .

These videos are fine for promoting some fun at the track, but that's not at all what this thread is about. Please, remember, these vehicles have the potential to become misguided missiles in less than a seconds notice. Please do not over estimate their capabilities.

The X3 handles great in the snow (I know, I owned one and have routinely driven it in snow exceeding 10 inches on a regular basis).

But its not like its that much greater than any other well equipped SUV. For example, as good as the X3 is, my 2007 Toyota 4Runner was much more capable in the deep stuff.

Many, many cars have AWD/4WD systems, and while BMW makes one of the best, many of these other systems are extremely capable (i.e. Audi Quattro) etc...

Midsize and larger trucks like Tahoes, Pathfinders, 4Runners, Land Rovers etc are virtually unstoppable in the snow...

Everyone on here loves to say, I saw a [insert your SUV of choice] in the ditch, and I happily drove right by in my superior little BMW X3.

Well, the X3 does have a great AWD system, handling and balance, but don't kid yourself, its not THAT much better (and is sometimes worse) than a very capable 4WD Tahoe with much higher ground clearance, locking differentials, etc. etc. Most of those very capable 4WD vehicles in the ditch are there because of driver error, not because of a lack of capability. And in some cases, you can DRIVE a Tahoe/4Runner etc. OUT OF the ditch, whereas you can't necessarily do that in an X3

All of these vehicles become the same on ice...its just annoying how X3 drivers think they are special and immune, or that their cute utes are that much better in the snow then say, a Tahoe, 4Runner etc etc

Some people have touched upon this and some not.

The human factor.

As Terry pointed out..we don't drive in lab type settings.

No matter what you are driving...shoot even a snow mobile there are others around you that driving even the most capable vehicle have different reaction time, vision, etc.....

Keep that in mind and you will really minimize damage.

Kind of like the guy that says I can break several bricks in one chop. Well that is great. When a brick attacks me, I'll call you.

I'm excited to see how my wife's X3 performs in the snow this winter. I've had numerous 4 and all wheel drive vehicles in the past...and drove them through Buffalo winters up until last year when we moved to PA. I have to say the most capable 4wd I have ever had was an 80' Datsun pick-up.....it was almost unstopable in deep snow. I can remember a winter when we got 39" overnight and I had to go to my mothers to dig her driveway out. The streets had not been plowed and the curbs were close to 50". I pulled the Datsun up to the curb and dropped the tailgate to get the snowblower out.......just pulled it off the bed and right into the snow......Her neighbors were shocked to see me just pull out of the spot and drive down the road when I was done clearing all thier driveways.

thanks all.

I grew up in Michigan and driving in snow, so I have that experience and know the fundamentals.

We used to have a 2 door Tahoe (k-Blazer back then...) with off road tires. It was literally unstoppable in snow. Our Denali was good, but the all-season tires were not as good.

Getting pulled by a Porsche Cayenne after a lot of fooling around on the snow. My X3
with summer 18" Dunlop Sport 01's and Cayenne with Pirelli Winter sport (had to put on the $1500 "snow boots" to get me out)

Originally Posted by Tolland Mark

I look forward to your report. And be extra careful and take the time to do some off the road testing first.

I am a firm believer in true winter tires for ultimate mobility. My driveway is a 30 to 40 deg slope and with my Saab and snow tires I had difficulty getting up the driveway if it snowed more than 6". When I got my 325xiT I put on Hakka 1s and was able to get through 14" with no fuss. My current X3 now has General Altimax Artics and I am waiting for a good storm to see how they do.

Well we had a good storm yesterday morning and the roads were unplowed when I ventured out into about 4-6" of snow.
I pulled off into a parking lot to test w/ and w/o the traction control and had a blast getting the feel of the X3's handling limits on snow. Several vehicles including a garbage truck were fishtailing on relatively gentle inclines.

I tested the traction by gunning it with the DCS on and honestly, it was difficult to get the car to slip. The X3 with my General Altimax Artics definitely passed the test and in my opinion exceed what I could do on my 325xiT with Hakka 1's. Nice!!!

Originally Posted by lyxnafis

Getting pulled by a Porsche Cayenne after a lot of fooling around on the snow. My X3
with summer 18" Dunlop Sport 01's and Cayenne with Pirelli Winter sport (had to put on the $1500 "snow boots" to get me out)

No wonder. Summer tires are useless in snow/ice.

The X3 is a LOT of fun to drift as well with the proper tyres. I haven't driven a car that's quite as controllable, yet easy to kick the tail out as the X3. It makes anyone feel like a pro-rally driver.

..

My 2005 X3 is fantastic, before purchasing I had my eye on the z4 but my Husband claimed not practical for all season driving in Edmonton Canada. Every winter I tell him how right he was. We live at the bottom of a VERY steep, long hill and the X3 powers up it. Snow is no problem we had 20 cms fall last sat and even ruts that big were no match.

Feel secure in your truck!

Originally Posted by mzp

My 2005 X3 is fantastic, before purchasing I had my eye on the z4 but my Husband claimed not practical for all season driving in Edmonton Canada. Every winter I tell him how right he was. We live at the bottom of a VERY steep, long hill and the X3 powers up it. Snow is no problem we had 20 cms fall last sat and even ruts that big were no match.

Feel secure in your truck!

mzp, a wise decision to go with X3. I bought it for all the same reasons, AWD, reasonably high ground clearance when getting out of unplowed side street, enough room in passenger compartment and for luggage in the hatch and safety rating. Good luck with snow this weekend.

Originally Posted by pilotman

its just annoying how X3 drivers think they are special and immune, or that their cute utes are that much better in the snow

That was totally uncalled for. Who said that?
What we all know is that the X3 is superior in many ways compared to most cars/trucks out there.