JSpira

With gusts of up to 64 km/h here and low temperatures around -4? to -5?C, my timing to fit winter tires this past Thursday was perfect.

The car handles nicely on the Blizzak LM-25s, mounted on 17" Style 138 BMW wheels. Doesn?t look as good as the 19" 172 M wheels but it gives me something to look forward to in a few months.

jcatral14

Sweet
I just picked up my snows last night and will be putting them on this week. I'll skip the TPMS though but will put them on when I replace the tires.
I'm looking forward to spring myself when I put on my forged BBS RGRs

tuco

Looking good and doing the job.

I have the same 138 17" wheels with Dunlop WinterSport M3s on my 535xi MSport and they are also looking fine and cutting thru the snow and ice.

JSpira

Love your car-ography. How does the new 535xi compare with the old 535i in your estimation?

tuco

Well, 22 model years is a long time in the evolution of a marque. The 2008 535xi is so superior in many ways to the 1986. The level of comfort (heated seats, heated s. wheel, comfort seats, etc) and the level of sophistication of equipment (stability control, park distance, Logic 7, headlighting, etc) make it hard to compare to the older cars.

The new one "feels" faster but as I still don't have 1000kms on it, I haven't pushed it very hard yet. The twin-turbo six is silky smooth, but then so were the older BMW engines. I think the 1986 car had 210 hp IIRC (without looking it up) so you definitely feel the power of the new one, even without pushing it. The old car was about 3400#, whereas my new xi is about 3960, so some of the extra power goes to move the extra weight.

I know some folks would like to return to the more simplistic older cars, but, assuming no problems and "glitches", I can't see how I won't like the new one a lot better than the 1986 model.

Ask me the same question in 6 months or so, and I should be able to give you a more comprehensive and more intelligent answer. I do know this however, this new 535xi is my first BMW since that 1986 one, and it's a car that makes me smile every time I drive it, regardless of the distance travelled. It's also a car you always turn back to look at after you park it.

So far, it's all good.....

C's Bimmer

Congrats on the Blizzaks Jonathan. You'll love them. Other than actual studded tires, they're the next best thing. I love my LM-25's!

JSpira

Ja, that?s why I asked - because of the 22 year gap. I have been pretty consistent in my increments so I see a lot of the change as evolutionary, not revolutionary.

I still miss my E21 320 and E21 320iS though.

Heelsonwheels

Here's a shot dropping off my son after driving through the storm on rt 23/94/515 in NJ. The Dunlop snows and the fold down seat worked great. Think Im gonna check into a roof rack....?

JSpira

if the roof rack for the 5er is the same as a 3er, I have an extra - ask me if interested.

CVTBenhogan

My Blizzaks work great in the snow too. I've got the RFTs and these are quite brutal on very cold and dry days.

That said, it should come as no suprise that the E60 handles well in the snow. Its made in Bavaria.