Ready to order my new X5... need advise for snow driving

[Nick1150]

Hello,

This is my first post.

I live in Greece and I am a BMW fanatic. I have owned some BMWs in the past and I loved them. Currently my wife drives to work with a 2007 BMW 116, and I occasionally ride my BMW R 1150 RT which is a great bike. I dive to work with a 2006 Jeep Liberty, even though I would like to have an X5 (E70).

The reason I ordered the Liberty on 2006, is because where I live (North Athens suburbs), during January we have a lot of snow. I have also installed a set of spike spiders, and I never had any problem driving even in heavy snow conditions. For me being able to safely go to work every morning during these days is a prerequisite when ordering a vehicle.

Now it is time to change my car (company leasing) and I can ask for a X5 (3.0 max) instead, but I am thinking a lot of heavy snow driving. Will the X5 (with the spike spiders) drive me to work during those difficult days or not ?

Other than that, the E70 is a beauty, and fits my needs 100%

Has anyone here, any experience with heavy snow (50cms=1 1/2 foot snow) driving conditions with or without chains installed?

Thanks

Nick

[AUU 555]

i dont have any snow exprince but, cant you wait fot the new iDrive ? I think it is worth to wait for this new feature

[trueX5er]

You will have no problem in the snow with the X5, at all. I don't know what the snow is like there, but even in the heaviest Chicago snows I am fine with all season tires.
With dedicated snow tires, I doubt you will need chains. The BMW X-Drive is much more advanced and intelligent than the Jeep 4WD.
How does your wife make it through in a little 1-Series?

[stockguru]

Snow or all season tires are all you need. As long as you are not using 20 inch performance tires, the X5 should have no problem.

[Nick1150]

Thanks for the info

I googled the X5 with winter tires, even in youtube, but I did n.t find any results

I was hoping you guys can give me a few info about how it handles in the snow. Just an example... below you see a pic from last January. I left for work without chains. I use Pirelli Scorpion ATR.

The X5 has 255/55/18 if I a not mistaken ?



BTW... My wife loves her 116. We ordered it full with extra last year and she works down town so she needs a small car because of the traffic

[gresch]

With 18" rims and dedicated snow tires you'll be no worse than the Jeep and I expect better off.

Don't get the sport package. The bigger wheels and low profile tires will be horrible in the snow.

[trueX5er]

Yes, there are many snow tires for the X5. You can find a lot of them here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...=S&search=true
It will handle very well in the snow, and probably much better than your Jeep, since it is equipped with DTC and DSC and an intelligent AWD.
What I meant was how does your wife make it through all the snow in her car?

[Nick1150]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

What I meant was how does your wife make it through all the snow in her car?

sorry I didn't understand the question.....

Well the answer is that she doesn't She stays home with our daughters for that period. She works in a bank, so she is ok . As far as I am concerned, I have a personal business, so you can understand why it is extremely important to go to work

[Nick1150]

So if I understand correctly, you guys say that a good winter tire is better than a set of chains ?

Like for example spikes spiders http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ ?

[nikos]

Originally Posted by Nick1150

So if I understand correctly, you guys say that a good winter tire is better than a set of chains ?

Like for example spikes spiders http://www.spikes-spiders.com/ ?

Niko

Here in the US many cities prohibit the use of chains/spikes because they ruin the road surface. Also in my experience at least with Washington DC, all roads are cleared from any snow within 1 to 2 hours so winter tires are more appropriate.

Einai telio min to skeftese. To diko mou mono me all weather to exo dokimasi opote den boro na sou doso perisoteres plirofories.

Nikos