Should I bring my car to Michigan?

lawl2ez · 10-16-2011, 10:02 AM

Hi guys, looking for some advice here.

I am a 22 year old college graduate from UC Berkeley, that might be going to dental school in UMich Ann Arbor. Being the clueless Californian, I want to know how the winters are in AA. I just interviewed there 2 days ago, and the campus is very nice. However, it wasn't snowing and I wasn't driving, so I couldnt get an accurate gauge on the weather. How are you guys faring? is xDrive necessary? Do you guys recommend me bringing my car (2011 E92 328i RWD) to Michigan? Or should I sell it here and buy a beater AWD for the 4 yrs in dental school?

Thanks

///M3NACE · 10-16-2011, 01:37 PM

Bring your e92 you will be fine. Get a set of winters when you are there and you will be fine. I do fine in winters in chicago

mashimarho · 10-16-2011, 02:07 PM

Bring your car and invest into a nice set of blizzaks. Umich's campus does well with plowing snow. You'll be okay.

nick 55 · 10-16-2011, 11:05 PM

What these guys said is correct. Get some adequate snow tires(a complete winter wheel set-up is ideal) and you will be in good shape. I've driven an S65 during the winter with a proper winter wheel and tire set.

Nick

lawl2ez · 10-18-2011, 11:28 AM

thanks guys

evill1 · 10-22-2011, 08:21 AM

Yup, winter set ups are a must usually thanksgiving till Easter.

AndyzDad · 10-22-2011, 08:42 AM

Having recently moved to Windsor, Canada from SoCal, I'd say make sure to check the washer fluid and coolant (to see that they can withstand the much colder temperatures here).

Also, invest in a decent set of winter tires and drive cautiously the first time it snows, you'll be fine after that.

PS if you're transporting your car and looking for a carrier, PM me and I can give you their info.

Er3k · 10-22-2011, 04:10 PM

I wouldn't even go for snow performance tires. With RWD, it's best to go with tires designed for snow and ice. Like everyone else said, " Dedicated snow tires".

nick 55 · 10-22-2011, 04:45 PM

I have run Pirelli Winter 240, Pilot Alpin PA3, Dunlop Winter D3, and Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 and LM25. Personally, I drove too much highway for the lower speed rated tires and I had chunks of tread coming out. I moved to V rated tires on all my winter cars and have had no problems so far(day after Snowmagedon 2010 excluded of course).

Nick

asus389 · 10-29-2011, 12:29 AM

I drive a RWD e90 in Ann Arbor. I have a set of LM 25 Blizzaks and I have been fine. Ann Arbor doesn't get a ton of deep snow and ice. It gets enough to need snow tires though.

The biggest challenge you are likely to have is learning how the car handles in the snow/ice if you haven't lived in a place where it snows before. But thats true of any car, FWD, AWD, or RWD. Just take it out to an empty lot when it has just snowed and play around.

vishmutzy · 03-21-2012, 08:16 PM

Get a second set of used OEM wheels and winter tires. Look for "winter performance" tires instead of "studless snow" tires. We only had about 3" of snow this winter and you will appreciate the better dry performance of performance winter tires... snow traction is more than enough.
You will not only be fine getting around but more capable than 99% of other vehicles on the road.

10-16-2011, 10:02 AM	#1
lawl2ez Private 2 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2011 Mineral White 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	Should I bring my car to Michigan? Hi guys, looking for some advice here. I am a 22 year old college graduate from UC Berkeley, that might be going to dental school in UMich Ann Arbor. Being the clueless Californian, I want to know how the winters are in AA. I just interviewed there 2 days ago, and the campus is very nice. However, it wasn't snowing and I wasn't driving, so I couldnt get an accurate gauge on the weather. How are you guys faring? is xDrive necessary? Do you guys recommend me bringing my car (2011 E92 328i RWD) to Michigan? Or should I sell it here and buy a beater AWD for the 4 yrs in dental school? Thanks
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10-16-2011, 01:37 PM	#2
///M3NACE Banned 172 Rep 3,900 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E36 Vert , E90 N52 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downers Grove, IL iTrader: (5)	Bring your e92 you will be fine. Get a set of winters when you are there and you will be fine. I do fine in winters in chicago
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10-16-2011, 02:07 PM	#3
mashimarho BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2111 Rep 13,877 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & F80 M3 & G82 M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lynnwood, WA iTrader: (45) Garage List 2021 BMW G82 M4 [0.00] 2011 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW F80 M3 [0.00] 2012 BMW 335i xDrive [9.78]	Bring your car and invest into a nice set of blizzaks. Umich's campus does well with plowing snow. You'll be okay. __________________ Mashimarho.com /// Instagram /// Facebook /// Youtube /// sales@mashimarho.com /// (425) 582-7939
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10-16-2011, 11:05 PM	#4
nick 55 Late Braking 7 Rep 267 Posts Drives: 335 coupe, C55, E55, hmm.. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: My compound outside St. Charles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 Mercedes GL550 [0.00] 2012 B7 Alpina [0.00] 2005 Mercedes C55 [0.00] 1966 Mustang [0.00]	What these guys said is correct. Get some adequate snow tires(a complete winter wheel set-up is ideal) and you will be in good shape. I've driven an S65 during the winter with a proper winter wheel and tire set. Nick __________________ Life is too short to not drive your car. It may be a piece of art, but it always looks better rolling down the road.
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10-18-2011, 11:28 AM	#5
lawl2ez Private 2 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2011 Mineral White 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	thanks guys
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10-22-2011, 08:21 AM	#6
evill1 USMC 2 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2011 328xi Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Yup, winter set ups are a must usually thanksgiving till Easter. __________________ “There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.” 01 330ci/ 04 330ci/06 330i/07 328ci - gone 11 328xi - still stock
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10-22-2011, 08:42 AM	#7
AndyzDad Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Having recently moved to Windsor, Canada from SoCal, I'd say make sure to check the washer fluid and coolant (to see that they can withstand the much colder temperatures here). Also, invest in a decent set of winter tires and drive cautiously the first time it snows, you'll be fine after that. PS if you're transporting your car and looking for a carrier, PM me and I can give you their info. Last edited by AndyzDad; 10-22-2011 at 11:18 AM..
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10-22-2011, 04:10 PM	#8
Er3k Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 328Xi Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kalamazoo, Mi iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't even go for snow performance tires. With RWD, it's best to go with tires designed for snow and ice. Like everyone else said, " Dedicated snow tires".
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10-22-2011, 04:45 PM	#9
nick 55 Late Braking 7 Rep 267 Posts Drives: 335 coupe, C55, E55, hmm.. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: My compound outside St. Charles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 Mercedes GL550 [0.00] 2012 B7 Alpina [0.00] 2005 Mercedes C55 [0.00] 1966 Mustang [0.00]	I have run Pirelli Winter 240, Pilot Alpin PA3, Dunlop Winter D3, and Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 and LM25. Personally, I drove too much highway for the lower speed rated tires and I had chunks of tread coming out. I moved to V rated tires on all my winter cars and have had no problems so far(day after Snowmagedon 2010 excluded of course). Nick __________________ Life is too short to not drive your car. It may be a piece of art, but it always looks better rolling down the road.
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10-29-2011, 12:29 AM	#10
asus389 Captain 70 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	I drive a RWD e90 in Ann Arbor. I have a set of LM 25 Blizzaks and I have been fine. Ann Arbor doesn't get a ton of deep snow and ice. It gets enough to need snow tires though. The biggest challenge you are likely to have is learning how the car handles in the snow/ice if you haven't lived in a place where it snows before. But thats true of any car, FWD, AWD, or RWD. Just take it out to an empty lot when it has just snowed and play around.
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03-21-2012, 08:16 PM	#11
vishmutzy New Member 4 Rep 16 Posts Drives: '07 335i Sedan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Detroit, MI iTrader: (0)	Get a second set of used OEM wheels and winter tires. Look for "winter performance" tires instead of "studless snow" tires. We only had about 3" of snow this winter and you will appreciate the better dry performance of performance winter tires... snow traction is more than enough. You will not only be fine getting around but more capable than 99% of other vehicles on the road.
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