Winter driving

[m3f_M_Parallel]

M3 is stored in the winter. Well winter...when there is snow. Doesn't happen too much here anymore.



As a daily driver, I have the e36 328i that's been my daily for 9+ years.



As Rubenstein put it: traction is not the problem...

[m3f_Brickmiata]

I bought mine with a set of studded snow tires on it and quickly put some good summer tires on so this is the first time driving it with the snows and it feels pretty terrible on dry pavement. I don't care about the noise and the ride quality is fine but I think I have better traction in the snow than on pavement... I like to have some fun so I'm no stranger to spinning tires and the back end stepping out but the studs make it an all to regular occurrence.



When I undoubtedly quickly wear through these, I will be trying for some sportier snows with no studs so the car can keep some of the handling that defines it all summer long.

[m3f_Adam E36]

If you can drive a Mustang in the snow you can drive an E36 M3 in the snow. You do need good winter tires, though. Last winter I used Continental ExtremeContact DWS and they were not good enough. Snow tires will work well.



After all the salt and muck I drove through last winter I bought a truck for this winter. I also live in Maryland, and since we haven't had any snow or salt, the M3 is still on the road. It will hide in the garage when the salt flies (which is usually before the snow falls).



If you love the car, preserve it, keep it away from salt.

[m3f_mikeh914]

I daily drove my M3 through the winter of 2014/2015. That's including the harsh January and February we had in New York. Stupidity, I drove on the miss matched tires the car came with. Even in the snow, ice, and salt. I should point out my commute to work is only about a mile but never once did I lose control, think I was going to crash, or worries about if I was going to make it.


As for the salt on the roads, I work for my town and we have a pretty large salt barn on the property. Salt gets everywhere. There were days my car was covered. I was able to wash the car indoors a few times a week to keep the salt off of it. The paint still shines with no signs of rust.


All being said, I was able to acquire a free daily driver about a month ago so this winter the M3 will be stored in a garage. I may still take it out a few times this winter, but it is nice to know I don't have to.

[m3f_Nick325xiT 5spd]

I daily drove my M3 through the winter of 2014/2015. That's including the harsh January and February we had in New York. Stupidity, I drove on the miss matched tires the car came with. Even in the snow, ice, and salt. I should point out my commute to work is only about a mile but never once did I lose control, think I was going to crash, or worries about if I was going to make it.



As for the salt on the roads, I work for my town and we have a pretty large salt barn on the property. Salt gets everywhere. There were days my car was covered. I was able to wash the car indoors a few times a week to keep the salt off of it. The paint still shines with no signs of rust.



All being said, I was able to acquire a free daily driver about a month ago so this winter the M3 will be stored in a garage. I may still take it out a few times this winter, but it is nice to know I don't have to.

The problem is not washing the paint. It's washing inside the seams and frame rails that were never protected well in the first place, and rust from the inside out.

[m3f_Bimmerman325i]

I drove mine in winter when I was in CO. Depending on the day I'd take the Subaru or the M3.



With snow tires you'll be fine, I added a couple sand bags in the trunk to help and it made a noticeable difference. ASC is useless in the snow as an FYI.



Sure, the Subaru was a lot better (with snow tires), but M3 + snow tires was better than Subaru + all seasons.



M3 + Dunlop star specs + surprise 2" snow though was utterly hopeless. Buy a good set of winter tires and you'll have a blast.



Luckily magnesium chloride is what Denver area uses so corrosion isn't really an issue to the same degree as actual salt. It's not great, but wash the car often enough and it'll be fine.

[m3f_sarends]

We have 3 e36 M3s and we drive two in the winter.


Car 1) 97 M3 sedan auto with Nokian Hakkapelita with 2 60 lb sandbags in the trunk. This car is in Vail, CO currently with my 20 yr old daughter - she drives thru snow almost daily.


Car 2) 99 M3 coupe 5 Speed with Michelin X-Ice snow tires and no weight in trunk (yet). My 18 year old daughter drives this car and has went through our first three Fort Collins snow storms just fine - she drove the car every day to school and back.


With good snow tires these cars are pretty darn good in snow, as long as the snow isn't so deep that the undercarriage is plowing.

[m3f_K.Dickie]

I bought my car just after I moved to Calgary, AB. Yes the Great White North. It was my daily driver for 6 years, not because I wanted to subject it to Canadian winter, but I couldn't afford/store a winter car at the time. With a good set of winter tires I never had a problem. It doesn't have a block heater and even in -35degC it never had a problem starting. The only winter problem I had with it was during the Chinooks we have, where the deeper packed snow would start to thaw. My car is lowered, so the car would sink and the plastic underbody parts would get damaged, dragging on the packed snow.



Other than that I would get the car Krown or Rust Checked annually and have a blast driving it in the wet/slightly icy conditions because the great handling and balance really shines in marginal conditions. All of my BMWs have been amazing cars in the winter.



That said, My Techno M3 is now a Summer only car. I simply don't want to put the harder mile on it if I don't have to.

[m3f_cscat87]

My M3 will stay tucked away all winter in a heated garage with a tender. The Gallardo however, just had a set of Dunlop Winter-Sports put on, and I can't wait for the first blizzard!

[m3f_cblock]

What!!??? Saving the e36 and driving the lambo in snow? That's the coolest thing I've read on the interwebs in a while!


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