driving e36 in snow?

[e36 omar]

hello,
i'm thinking about daily driving an e36(no ASC) in the winter and i was wondering what would be needed to do so in a safe manner..
would 2 winter tires in the rear be enough? are brand new all seasons alright? i'm a poor student and i'm trying to get the best for my money.. what else would need to be done to have a safe drive in the snow since i live in chicago, winters are harsh. i don't think i have LSD.
(95 325is 5 speed)

[323i E30]

If I had just 2 winter tires, I'd put them in the front for braking and steering..
I used to own an E36 specifically to keep my E30s from the snow, and it did the job well (no ASC or LSD either).

Imo, get some 2nd hand winter tires and use them in the winter, if on a budget.
It's not twice as expensive to own 2 sets of tires, because the other set is not wearing down while stored. Seems obvious, but often overlooked :p

[e36 omar]

If I had just 2 winter tires, I'd put them in the front for braking and steering..
I used to own an E36 specifically to keep my E30s from the snow, and it did the job well (no ASC or LSD either).

Imo, get some 2nd hand winter tires and use them in the winter, if on a budget.
It's not twice as expensive to own 2 sets of tires, because the other set is not wearing down while stored. Seems obvious, but often overlooked :p

yeah i was looking fir some used decent ones everyone's asking price is crazy though

[e36 omar]

^ You can drive anything with the proper tires and good car control

true, i'm new to rwd and chicago winters

[pbonsalb]

Buy 4 cheap 15 inch wheels and put real snow tires on them.

[e36 omar]

Buy 4 cheap 15 inch wheels and put real snow tires on them.

i was looking all last night

[srb6537]

Buy 4 cheap 15 inch wheels and put real snow tires on them.

+1. snows on all 4 corners and it'll go thru anything. All season NOT good enough,,,

[pizzaman09]

Yes, the only way to reasonable go though winter where it snows more than once per year is to get some real snow tires, preferably on all 4 wheels.
The past 3 winters I drove an e39 M5 with good winter tires on it, it has LSD but I always turned traction control off. I could go any where I wanted until the snow got up to about 10 inches deep.

[e36 omar]

Yes, the only way to reasonable go though winter where it snows more than once per year is to get some real snow tires, preferably on all 4 wheels.
The past 3 winters I drove an e39 M5 with good winter tires on it, it has LSD but I always turned traction control off. I could go any where I wanted until the snow got up to about 10 inches deep.

e39s are heavier so that may be somthing to think about

[slocar]

Snow tires + 2 extra wheels in the trunk and I drove my e36 right around stuck SUVs. It would do 6 or 7 inches of the powdery stuff easily ... wet or deeper snow was a no go as the ground clearance starts to be a problem for the car to shove with the front bumper ...

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[e36 omar]

Snow tires + 2 extra wheels in the trunk and I drove my e36 right around stuck SUVs. It would do 6 or 7 inches of the powdery stuff easily ... wet or deeper snow was a no go as the ground clearance starts to be a problem for the car to shove with the front bumper ...

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did you do anything about the rust proofing ?

[slocar]

did you do anything about the rust proofing ?

Not really, just tried to get the undercarriage and wheelwells washed as soon as it got above freezing. Keep in mind we don't get the amounts you guys up north do, but the snowfalls typically weren't a problem. I can think of one instance in the 5 years I owned where I couldn't go somewhere in it and that's when it snowed 15 inches in about 5 hrs, so obviously even bigger cars had problems. I stayed inside with a nice cup of coffee lol.

[montaillou]

i'm a poor student and i'm trying to get the best for my money...

I'd recommend either public transportation or a set of cables.

[e36 omar]

I'd recommend either public transportation or a set of cables.

cables?


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[Pelican Parts]

I think he's referring to snow chains; which are now cables and not actual chains anymore...everyone is giving you great advice; it all depends on the overall budget. It may be worth investing in snow tires in general if you're going to be in IL for quite some time and biting the built on cost; as you'll use them seasonally. If that's not an option and you only have 2 tires to work with; use them on the front for braking as a member suggested. Just my 2 cents....good luck and stay safe man!


-Dmitry

[montaillou]

cables?

If clearance is really tight, there are also snow socks.



My point being that OP says he's on a budget. Sure, it's inconvenient to have to put stuff on and take it off, but it's a cheaper solution than buying a set of anything and paying to have them put on your wheels. As a student, I'm sure public transportation must go to where ever OP's school is, so this is also a cheap option. Now, if OP is talking about trips on the weekends, then this is where the cables/chains/socks come in.

[e36 omar]

I think he's referring to snow chains; which are now cables and not actual chains anymore...everyone is giving you great advice; it all depends on the overall budget. It may be worth investing in snow tires in general if you're going to be in IL for quite some time and biting the built on cost; as you'll use them seasonally. If that's not an option and you only have 2 tires to work with; use them on the front for braking as a member suggested. Just my 2 cents....good luck and stay safe man!


-Dmitry

thanks bro will do im lookign at a set of tires

[e36 omar]

Your life (and prob car too) is well worth a couple hundred bucks man.

if i didn't have tires i wouldn't even drive the car in the first place lol


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[pbonsalb]

25 years of New England driving. Used studded snows. Never used chains or cables. I have heard they work well but are not a put on and leave for 4 months solution. You install and remove as needed. You dont go 70 mph in dry weather with them. Dont go fast in snow with them either. They are more of an emergency or limited use item to get through a storm. If its that bad, I dont have ground clearance to go anywhere anyways, and I dont have to drive over any mountain passes. We run 4 snows in winter on my wife's 535xit so if there is 12 inches of unplowed snow, that is what I drive. The 99M3 and 08M3 also have 4 snows but are lowered and 6 inches is their limit.

[Saii]

Chains or cables are only good when the snow on the road is over an inch deep and you don't go past 30 mph....running them on dry roads will eat them up in a few miles and when they brake then you have a flail beating on everything inside and outside your wheel well including your brake line.

Don't use chains or cables if you care for the car because it's not a matter of if they will brake ....it's when

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[montaillou]

Don't use chains or cables if you care for the car because it's not a matter of if they will brake ....it's when

Ok, so, this is totally not what OP is asking about as the question was about budget ways to get around in the snow.

There are mountain passes where cables or chains are required during the winter. I would hope that anyone using cables/chains would know that they are not a "put on in the fall, take off in the spring" option. I have left chains on my car when I've been in conditions that warranted them for several days on end. If you live in an area that has dry roads, you shouldn't put them on at all. Chains are for packed or deep snow.

[Saii]

Ok, so, this is totally not what OP is asking about as the question was about budget ways to get around in the snow.

There are mountain passes where cables or chains are required during the winter. I would hope that anyone using cables/chains would know that they are not a "put on in the fall, take off in the spring" option. I have left chains on my car when I've been in conditions that warranted them for several days on end. If you live in an area that has dry roads, you shouldn't put them on at all. Chains are for packed or deep snow.

Yea I misunderstood the question..Useing the sock type is awesome and better in my opinion when chains are required they have more contact....I seen them work better on ice than chains...every day winter driving buy some cheap snow tires....I seen a set on eBay for less than 100 for 2 new ones

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[presterone]

Cheap snow tires and you'll be fine. I haven't had any issues yet with me 328 sedan and the winters are pretty harsh here in Maine

[e36 omar]

i just got some bridgestone blizzaks for cheap from some guy i know (240) but they are 205/50/r16 and my wheels take 225/50/r16. will i have any problems mounting the tire in the rim?


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[pbonsalb]

You will be fine. Narrower is better in snow though really stretched tires are not. What is the rim width?