BMW in the snow?

[R4][N_M4l{3R]

I really want an E36 M3, but I can't afford another car I can't drive in the summer, because I have to get to work in the snow somehow. I think i'll be going with an 2001 Audi TT Coupe 1.8T 225 Quattro for that reason. I have to ask this before I give up all hope, while the answer may be obvious. Would it be far to impractical to buy the M3 and throw some blizzaks or something on it and drive in the winter? I'm not even so worried about how it would handle as much as I am about how the road salt would rust it up. I've seen some guys on other forums just throw on snow tires and go, I was wondering if anyone here did it (or knows about it) and could give me some feedback. The winters up here can be pretty harsh, and I live right on lake Ontario, so we get quite a bit of snow. Thanks!

[kelly_s]

it will rust. mine is rusting a little and it really sucks. the handling wasnt to bad in the snow but i had snow tires. i guess if you have the car oiled every year and wash it to keep the salt off it should be ok but if i were you i would just buy a pos car for like $500 and use that

[///M3Driver]

Man....I just sold my Audi A4 Quattro a little more then 3 months ago, and JUST picked up my 98 M3. The way I look at it is this....I trust myself driving her in the snow...I just do not trust everyone else on the road.

Do what I'm gonna do...I'm either gonna just go out and buy the biggest bone for 500-1000 and sport it all winter, or actually go spend like 3-4k on a nice 'everyday driver', maybe another Audi or Subaru...something AWD.

Also..remember this: Having a RWD car in the snow with that much power could be a bad time if you are not use to it.

I say get a bone and rock it all winter. If anything happens like going off the road or having someone hit you...It was only a bone, not the M.

[R4][N_M4l{3R]

I'd like to, but insurance might be a lot for 3 cars, can I insure the beater for 6 months only? Also with my nova and all my cherry picker/hoists/stands and welding stuff there isn't room for another car in my garage. I guess I could pay for storage for the m3...

[Baby Bimmer]

The BMW will make it through the snow, but having been a TT owner, I really never felt more comfortable and confident in a car that ate boxters for lunch and gave M's a run for thier money down low. All that and more confident in the snow than most SUV's.(Note I had a chipped 225 TT). Also by no means of the imagination is this Bimmer Bashing as I have one and love it, but given the choice of having only one car, I would not put my Bimmer though NE winters.

Just my 2 Cents
Jess

[Evil 330ci]

my car handles like shit in snow.

[newyorkm3]

Snow tires do wonders for BMW's. Keep in mind you have a very sexy 50/50 weight distribution in the M. My friend negotiates New England winters like he's Mika Hakkinen when his snow tires are on. I think a lot depends on your skill as a driver as well. Practically, the Audi is probably a better NE car....but in a world of terrorism where tomorrow could really be our last...who has time for practicality???

[big_sur]

i think it all depends if you can rationalize it in NY. personally i'd prolly get an s4 or a wrx if i could only have one car but on the other hand i wouldnt hesitate to throw on a set of snow tires and get to driftin. now in reality i was faced with the same situation and decided to just get a bike thats entirely too fast but utterly useless from october to march plus a beater but thats me down in VA.

[black95M3]

drove my m3 thru last winter with snow tires (u def need them!!). does the job but not too cool; didnt like the fact of scraping snow/ice off the car. i havent noticed ne rust or nething like that but im not planning on doing it again this winter.

[mmi117]

in defense of rwd cars, i have to agree that yes, they typically do suck.
however,i have taken my parents e46 (330I) out in somepretty shitty snowstorms/blizzards/hellfests (valiant car switching efforts so that my mom didnt have to drive an e30 in the snow - perhaps worst idea in the world) and the stability control is pretty amazing. So maybe aim for an e46. Hate to say it though, but the audi or subaru may be your best bet. Or best yet, a real beater - nothing hurts more than listening to thousands of stones/cinders/saltstones ping off your nice m3 doors every day of the winter.

[R4][N_M4l{3R]

Yeah I never even thought of getting a beater, thats probably what i'll do. Some guy down the road from me is selling and 86 jeep comanche 4x4 for $300. My only question is, when I store the M3 every winter do I have to turn the plates in? How does insurance handle that?

[big_sur]

here in VA if you cancel the insurance you do have to turn the plates in or you get raped hardcore but im not sure if other states do that.

[SizzFlair]

Wow I'm exactly with you in that position. My dad decided that I can get a car around 25 grand and I'm looking for an M3. The Problem is, I live in Michigan where it snows a lot around detroit. I'm not really sure if my dad would be happy about me getting 2 cars..... that would make 4 cars for our garage. Hmm..... I really want an M3 tho

[R4][N_M4l{3R]

Originally Posted by SizzFlair

Wow I'm exactly with you in that position. My dad decided that I can get a car around 25 grand and I'm looking for an M3. The Problem is, I live in Michigan where it snows a lot around detroit. I'm not really sure if my dad would be happy about me getting 2 cars..... that would make 4 cars for our garage. Hmm..... I really want an M3 tho

Well, your winter car wouldn't need to be garaged, and you could always put the M3 into winter storage. I decided 2 cars was the best route for me.

[domoarigato]

There are people who drive their BMWs in the snow. If you switch to winter-only tires and drive safely, it's doable. I got Pirelli winter tires, they were okay because I didn't drive like an idiot.