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      01-11-2007, 02:51 PM   #1
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Winter driving

Wondering if there are any 335i coupe owners out there who have driven their vehicles in the snow. I live in Edmonton, and just yesterday we had one massive blizzard blow through. This had me thinking, how will the torquey rear wheel drive 335i perform in all this snow.

The reason I'm asking is because i have a 2007 335i coupe on order from Bavaria here in Edmonton. If the vehicle is not very good in the snow , then I would consider canceling my order all together. The car I'm ordering, isn't being produced till Feb anyhow, so i have some time to decide.

I currently own a 2003 325i sedan, and the thing performs very well in the snow. I currently have winter tires (Michelins), and i wouldn't even consider driving in Edmonton without them in the winter. My current car is only 180 hp (might be off on the hp, but its close to that), and it cuts through the snow like magic.

300 hp with 300 ft/lbs torque + snow = ?
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      01-11-2007, 03:10 PM   #2
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I have the 335i sedan in calgary, and can say its what i expected of a rear wheel drive car, the back end will want to go out, but its nothing that you cant manage nor the DSC cant manage. I am careful with the throttle, and tend to take corners slow, and havent had a problem yet. I haven't driven through deep snow, nor got stuck in snow yet, just the usual unplowed roads sometimes. I have the BMW winter tire package as well.

I picked my 335 sedan up in october, so i have driven through almost 4 calgary seasons lol, warm, -35, snow, etc., and i can honestly say, that even if it performed like crap in winter (which it doesnt), nothing would make me give up this car, because when the roads are dry and you give it, its unbelievable.
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      01-11-2007, 03:22 PM   #3
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300 hp with 300 ft/lbs torque + snow + winter tires = ok
300 hp with 300 ft/lbs torque + snow + summer tires = dead

I drove my car yesterday with 5 cm snow in Vancouver + summer tires and all I could do it kept it at 1st gear to hope it sticks to the ground. However, the car ran OK when I had the winter tires on, and I still think the car should stay in the garage in winter or stay out from the snow
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      01-11-2007, 03:39 PM   #4
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Quote:
VanSky 300 hp with 300 ft/lbs torque + snow + winter tires = ok
300 hp with 300 ft/lbs torque + snow + summer tires = dead
BINGO! Hey VanSky, sorry to hear about all the crap weather you guys got down there in Vancouver (Windstorms annihilating Stanly park and snow). Thanks for your input, much appreciated. Are you driving auto or stick?


bg_27, Calgary can get nasty with snow. I value this opinion cause the snow can get pretty bad down there. What kind of snow tires you running , as i assume that you are running snow tires. Auto or stick?
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      01-11-2007, 04:00 PM   #5
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Quote:
What kind of snow tires you running , as i assume that you are running snow tires. Auto or stick?
Stick

Hankook Icebear W300
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      01-11-2007, 04:24 PM   #6
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Ok VanSky. Thanks for that info. Since you drive a stick, did you find that DSC engaged a lot during the first or second gear start with those tires?

I contemplated your suggestion of keeping this car in a garage during the winter months. If i lived in the greater Vancouver area, i would keep it off snow also. Snow however appears very seldom in Vancouver (once if not twice in a year), and when it does appear, the whole damn city shuts down. Theres a good reason for that too, there are some steep a$$ hills in the Vancouver area, and theres not enough sanders to keep those hills drivable.
Edmonton is very different, we have very few steep hills, and during a storm (which is frequent), sanders go over these areas every 30 minutes.

Maybe I'll clarify my question a bit......

Has anyone driven their 335i coupe through a residential street with 6 inches of packed snow and ice, 1.5 feet of snow covering it and tried going up a slight grade!
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      01-11-2007, 04:35 PM   #7
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I test drove a 335i at Bavaria a few weeks ago and after ripping through the anthony henday, the sales guy told me to drive to the back parking lot which is basically an ice field and try to do some donuts and hard stops. I was also concerned about the winter driving with this vehicle but i was so impressed with the stability control after that demonstration I have no concerns about it in the winter. That, by the way, was to coolest part about the test drive
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      01-11-2007, 04:39 PM   #8
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Off topic but... I'm still waiting to see how my 330xi with snow tires will do in the snow, we still haven't gotten any here in Toronto
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      01-11-2007, 04:47 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iguy
Ok VanSky. Thanks for that info. Since you drive a stick, did you find that DSC engaged a lot during the first or second gear start with those tires?
The DSC seldom kick in during first and second gear on dry road, but on wet road or snow then is completely different story
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      01-11-2007, 05:11 PM   #10
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Hey Iguy, When did you order your car from Bavaria? I ordered mine from Edmonton BMW Last week, they say it will be here beginning of April.
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      01-11-2007, 05:13 PM   #11
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Quote:
I test drove a 335i at Bavaria a few weeks ago and after ripping through the anthony henday, the sales guy told me to drive to the back parking lot which is basically an ice field and try to do some donuts and hard stops. I was also concerned about the winter driving with this vehicle but i was so impressed with the stability control after that demonstration I have no concerns about it in the winter. That, by the way, was to coolest part about the test drive
That Anthony Henday! 100 km through the city by the NS river anyhow.
Thanks for that badash, you gave me a fantastic idea. Im heading into Bavaria , and testing driving a 335i sedan. Then i can "feel" the car for myself. coupe and sedan have the same power, so it should be very close.

Hey btw, welcome to the forum.
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      01-11-2007, 05:19 PM   #12
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Posted by Finchman:

Quote:
Hey Iguy, When did you order your car from Bavaria? I ordered mine from Edmonton BMW Last week, they say it will be here beginning of April.
Ordered a week ago. Sunny (sales manager) said beginning of April to late April. Hey btw , what did you pay for your coupe? What options?
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      01-11-2007, 05:46 PM   #13
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I added Premium + Sports + Nav package, Plus Comfort access , he said he gave $1500 off, but i didn't catch the Addmin fee till i read this forum, anyway with all that it came to around $67,000 including GST.

What about you?
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      01-11-2007, 06:02 PM   #14
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Woah......

I phoned Edmonton BMW and I talked to the sales manager, he said he could sell me the car for less, but only by $100. So I stuck with Bavaria cause they sold me my current BMW. I considered Calgary, but the two dealerships there are owned by the same owner. They get worse deals there in Calgary than we do here in Edmonton. Anyways........

335i coupe Space Grey/premium/sports/ 19" rims/bluetooth
64000 all in
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      01-11-2007, 06:27 PM   #15
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pretty close to the same price..19" rims eh, i haven't decided yet on those, i am starting to warm up to them though..
Since we both ordered around the same time it will be interesting to see when they arrive.
I also went with Edmonton BMW cause they told me they a production spot open and in line already which should speed things up. Do you have a production # yet?
I recieved mine Monday.
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      01-11-2007, 08:38 PM   #16
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production #.......ummmm no, the sales manager said he would call me with that number once he receives it. All i have is the bill of sale.
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      01-13-2007, 10:57 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iguy

bg_27, Calgary can get nasty with snow. I value this opinion cause the snow can get pretty bad down there. What kind of snow tires you running , as i assume that you are running snow tires. Auto or stick?
I have auto tranny, and i am running the BMW winter tire package, which are:
Blizzak LM-22 RFT (225/45R17 91H), the package was $3000.
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      01-13-2007, 01:37 PM   #18
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I just phoned the dealer (Bavaria), and asked if this came with a block heater. To my surprise , the sales manager said that a block heater isn't even an option on the 335i!

Now this obviously shocked me that I couldn't even get a block heater. Is he pulling my leg, or is he for real? Does any Canadian 335i coupe driver have a block heater in their car? Does this apply for the 335i sedan also?
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      01-13-2007, 03:16 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bg_27
I have auto tranny, and i am running the BMW winter tire package, which are:
Blizzak LM-22 RFT (225/45R17 91H), the package was $3000.
What sort of wheels come in that package?
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      01-13-2007, 10:23 PM   #20
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Ok, so I went down to the dealership today and test drove a 335i sedan. It was white automatic with all season 17's and the only 335i they had at Bavaria.

This thing was tremendous on the roads. The impressive thing was after the test drive , we went in back of the dealership, and there is a wide open area to test the vehicles DTC. "Badash" you had mentioned this area behind the dealership earlier in this thread, I know what you mean now! This area was full of snow and ice, and a perfect area to test the handling capabilities of this car in these conditions. I flogged this car hard back there, reving the engine up to 6000 rpm, making a hard left 90 degree turn going about 30 clicks. I thought for sure the car would yaw/spin out and it made this turn like i was driving it like a granny. I tried 3 attempts to spin the car with no luck. DTC is simply put AMAZING in this car.

DTC in this vehicle has 10 times quicker response time than the DSC im my '03 bimmer. With winter tires , theres no doubt now in my mind that this car will be awesome in the winter.

I also noticed a brand spanking new space grey 335i coupe leaving the dealership today at Bavaria. The owners are from Calgary I was told. Congrats on this purchase.
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      01-14-2007, 08:30 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iguy
I just phoned the dealer (Bavaria), and asked if this came with a block heater. To my surprise , the sales manager said that a block heater isn't even an option on the 335i!

Now this obviously shocked me that I couldn't even get a block heater. Is he pulling my leg, or is he for real? Does any Canadian 335i coupe driver have a block heater in their car? Does this apply for the 335i sedan also?
No blocker heater. Synthetic Oil instead. Does not need block heater.
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      01-14-2007, 08:34 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptChaos
What sort of wheels come in that package?
I looked at this package. They come with style 158.

I bought style 188 and Michelin Artic Alpine II (Non-RFT)
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