5-series snow performance

[Cherokee244]

I'm looking at a '91 535i with the 5 spd, and I REALLY love this car. However, I am going to college in Kentucky, and so snow will definitely be an issue. Does anyone know how well the 5-series can handle snow (I've seen 18 inches up there)? Also, what is the exact ride height of this car? Please help I'm trying to convince my parents to let me get the car, and they're concerned about the ride height

[Torque]

ride height ? well i dont know exactly, but there is plenty of ground clearance.

you have to be very careful in snow though. too much gas coming out of a curve and you spin out...

i would get the car... i got a 525i, and i live in ky too

[Cherokee244]

Originally posted by mr_indigo@Mar 11 2004, 10:54 PM
ride height ? well i dont know exactly, but there is plenty of ground clearance.

you have to be very careful in snow though. too much gas coming out of a curve and you spin out...

i would get the car... i got a 525i, and i live in ky too

Ok, here it is: do you find the 5-series ANY MORE LIKELY than other cars to spin out, or do you speak simply in general terms? If I am correct, yours is an auto; does the manual do any better? I'm really trying hard to compile evidence here

[Silver4evr]

Driving in the snow safely has more to do with the tires than the which type of car (unless you get a 4 wheel drive SUV).

Here's a link to what appear to be some good snow tires with a bunch of reviews (some by people who own BMW's).

click here.

[TheHire]

Originally posted by Cherokee244+Mar 12 2004, 01:29 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Cherokee244 @ Mar 12 2004, 01:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-mr_indigo@Mar 11 2004, 10:54 PM
ride height ? well i dont know exactly, but there is plenty of ground clearance.

you have to be very careful in snow though. too much gas coming out of a curve and you spin out...

i would get the car... i got a 525i, and i live in ky too

Ok, here it is: do you find the 5-series ANY MORE LIKELY than other cars to spin out, or do you speak simply in general terms? If I am correct, yours is an auto; does the manual do any better? I'm really trying hard to compile evidence here [/b][/quote]
Well BMW don't do very good in snow for sure compared to any other front wheel drive car.
It's the hallmark of BMW to have rear wheel cars. And the only series with 4 wheel drive option is 3 series. Of course X5 and X3 does have that option too. But we are talking abt a different class here.

You would have to have snow tires to drive during winter days. Every single day w/o snow tires, w/o any accident would be your lucky day.

I know somebody with a 2004 745Li w/o snow tires who couldn't make it out of his garage on the driveway. It slipped and ended up on his lawn.

About the height, I don't think that's any different that any other car. (I mean exceptionally lower or something).

I love BMWs and that'z why I bought mine. So if I were you, I would still buy that car.
What happened to the 95 model you were looking at earlier??

[bimmer528e]

Originally posted by Cherokee244@Mar 11 2004, 01:11 AM
I'm looking at a '91 535i with the 5 spd, and I REALLY love this car. However, I am going to college in Kentucky, and so snow will definitely be an issue. Does anyone know how well the 5-series can handle snow (I've seen 18 inches up there)? Also, what is the exact ride height of this car? Please help I'm trying to convince my parents to let me get the car, and they're concerned about the ride height

I line in demonton Alberta Canada were we get more than 18 inches of snow and I have been driving my 84 528e all year round for 5 years with just all-seasons. I only got stuck when the snow gets really bad like higher than the bumper.

[Furious]

Originally posted by bimmer528e+Mar 12 2004, 11:27 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (bimmer528e @ Mar 12 2004, 11:27 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cherokee244@Mar 11 2004, 01:11 AM
I'm looking at a '91 535i with the 5 spd, and I REALLY love this car. However, I am going to college in Kentucky, and so snow will definitely be an issue. Does anyone know how well the 5-series can handle snow (I've seen 18 inches up there)? Also, what is the exact ride height of this car? Please help I'm trying to convince my parents to let me get the car, and they're concerned about the ride height*

I line in demonton Alberta Canada were we get more than 18 inches of snow and I have been driving my 84 528e all year round for 5 years with just all-seasons. I only got stuck when the snow gets really bad like higher than the bumper. [/b][/quote]
damn you 5 series drivers and your heavy stable snow driving cars. my 3 series with snow tires has trouble in any snow more than 10 inches of snow. :lol: :lol:

[Torque]

i mean in general terms... rwd will tend to spin the wheels more because there is no weight on the back at all. i survived the winter (was hard though) with all seasons... which almost have no thread.

ps. next winter i am going to put a few bags of top-soil in my trunk. i had to drive home 10 bags of it, and i was shocked at how different the feeling was.

[///M Power]

i have an e34. with ur 1991 you have to watch out for the suspension. On older e34's i generally notice that the shocks are noticing definite wear and make the car seem lower. Definetely check those out. My wheel gap on my front wheel is like 2 inches but my rear is like 1 inch at most.....considerign i changed my front shocks about 2 years ago!!! Watch for that.

Also, whoever said the car doesn't really matter, you must be forgetting that Bimmers are RWD. (GOD BLESS RWD )

[TheHire]

Originally posted by mr_indigo@Mar 12 2004, 05:38 PM
i mean in general terms... rwd will tend to spin the wheels more because there is no weight on the back at all. i survived the winter (was hard though) with all seasons... which almost have no thread.

ps. next winter i am going to put a few bags of top-soil in my trunk. i had to drive home 10 bags of it, and i was shocked at how different the feeling was.

wow....so is it just me having problems with all season tires in winter??