E60 wannabe from Great White North
#11
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i
Black sapphire metallic
Black dakota leather
Sport Package
Premium package
Cold weather package
Navigation - Logic 7
I live in West Michigan and we get severe lake affect snow storms and there's now way I'd want to be in a rwd car during those times.
#12
Members
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Niskayuna, New York, USA
My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
Originally Posted by suthurnbimmur' post='1016697' date='Sep 25 2009, 09:47 AM
Drove my 545i in our Winter last year and I live in the Snowbelt north of Toronto. Never had any issues and I commuted an hour and a half each way, drove it all winter long. It was the first year my car saw snow and I was very impressed. I just got to put really good snows on it................. GL
#13
Originally Posted by melimel' post='1015064' date='Sep 23 2009, 03:58 PM
i agree.. good tires will help tremendously.. post your location in your profile and we can help you more..
+1 I found my 550 to be totally undrivable in minor snow with the stock bridgestone potenza runflats, and especially my ps2's. When I put on the dunlop wintersport 3D's it was like driving a 4 wheel drive car. Totally different car.
#14
Originally Posted by goodman' post='1016927' date='Sep 25 2009, 01:28 PM
Did you use the staggered wheel sizes that come with sport package, or did you use 4 same size 18" wheels? Or, did you go down to 17" wheels as I am contemplating? Which tires and what tire size did you buy?
FYI,
I used 4 identical tires on my staggered wheel setup. Discount tire said it was ok to do it this way. My snow tire wheels are 18's and i would recommend 17's if possible. I hit one pothole last year on the highway and bent both wheels on one side and ruined one tire. I dont think that would have happened with 17's.
#15
Contributors
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
I've had my '06 only one year and so far, aside from the usual tranny lurk problem (replaced under warranty and unrelated to the X-drive system) I have not had any issues with the X-drive. Last year we had one of the snowiest winters and the car just cut through the snow like a hot knife on butter. It was great going up the steepest hills passing all manners of FWDs and RWDs cars stuck on the hill. I was going to replace the all-seasons with snow tires, but after a couple of big snow storms I did not find it necessary. If you live anywhere on the snow belt, I would highly recommend the X-drive, but I'd like to note that I have never had trouble with my RWD E46, either. The Xi feels more sure footed in all weather conditions.
#17
Originally Posted by goodman' post='1016927' date='Sep 25 2009, 02:28 PM
Did you use the staggered wheel sizes that come with sport package, or did you use 4 same size 18" wheels? Or, did you go down to 17" wheels as I am contemplating? Which tires and what tire size did you buy?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...Winter+Sport+3D
#18
Had my AWD for over a year now, never had any problems. With my lead foot and always on sport mode, I still get ab out 15 mpg on city driving, although my dad manage to squeeze out 26 with a combo. of both. Not sure how different that is from "i" owners, but it's supposed to only be off by one or two mpg. On a 530, it should be about 27 or 28 on an xi, but I'm just guessing there.
#20
Originally Posted by PRIMETIME' post='1016904' date='Sep 25 2009, 01:01 PM
I live in West Michigan and we get severe lake affect snow storms and there's now way I'd want to be in a rwd car during those times.
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