BMW X3 Snow Issues

02420X3 · 02-08-2015, 12:45 PM

It's a snow day here. Roads have been cleared, mostly, but road surfaces are slick. I did some playing around with low-speed stopping distances earlier, comparing an AWD Outback with all-season tires and my X3 35i with Hakkas. At 20mph the X3 stops in 1/2 to 2/3 the distance of the Outback.

In an earlier storm I tried driving into an unplowed area with 12-14" of snow. I was able to move forward for awhile, until using the X3 as a "plow" was no longer working. While I couldn't continue to move forward, I was able to back out in my own tracks.

lbjgh · 02-08-2015, 12:59 PM

It is all fun and games in the snow until ya get stuck.

Then it kinda sucks.

Have you noticed the x3 doesn't turn (corner) worth a damn in the snow even with snow tires?

02420X3 · 02-08-2015, 01:07 PM

Few vehicles do.

Rodion · 02-08-2015, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02420X3

It's a snow day here. Roads have been cleared, mostly, but road surfaces are slick. I did some playing around with low-speed stopping distances earlier, comparing an AWD Outback with all-season tires and my X3 35i with Hakkas. At 20mph the X3 stops in 1/2 to 2/3 the distance of the Outback.

In an earlier storm I tried driving into an unplowed area with 12-14" of snow. I was able to move forward for awhile, until using the X3 as a "plow" was no longer working. While I couldn't continue to move forward, I was able to back out in my own tracks.

That's the magic of proper winter tyres.

And it seems NA had all the snow this year. We have had quite little here on the shores of Baltic sea. But up north they have had a meter or so.

So not much snow fun for me here this winter.

More icey roads than snowy.

beats · 02-08-2015, 08:51 PM

I was surprised by how much the X3 behaves like a rear-wheel drive with DSC off. I was playing in a snowy parking lot and was able to drift it around almost as well as my M3. Very fun.

Although the snow wasn't very deep, mine had absolutely no problem getting around (Blizzak WS80's)

exon · 02-09-2015, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skru_fase

I was surprised by how much the X3 behaves like a rear-wheel drive with DSC off. I was playing in a snowy parking lot and was able to drift it around almost as well as my M3. Very fun.

Although the snow wasn't very deep, mine had absolutely no problem getting around (Blizzak WS80's)

i think the front end engages when slippage in the rear is detected. (the marketing material says 40/60 all the time. But you know, x3 does not have a real center differential. The AWD is clutch based, and who wants to slip clutch all the time?)

Compare to my previous RWD 535i, x3 feels about the same to initialize the slide. Once it starts sliding, x3 is easier to control (both for even more slide or to pull straight), most likely due to some power is now shifted to the front. So overall, X3 is definitely more fun drifting on the snow.

Akview · 02-09-2015, 09:29 PM

went with the all seasons for the first two winters with my 2013 X3 28i and did ok but went with Nokian Hakkapeliitta for this winter. No studs and find I have no problems although even though in Anchorage, Alaska we have had less snow this winter but plenty of ice. The all seasons are great when new with fresh tread but once worn down a bit you can notice less control. These Nokian's are fantastic but you pay the price. Just don't drive them in the warm months or you will ware them out fast.

ehomedi · 02-28-2015, 02:53 AM

Sorry for my extended absense. I have the stock wheels with the stock All-season tires-- No M-sport or X-line, just stock

FSociety · 03-03-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehomedi

Sorry for my extended absense. I have the stock wheels with the stock All-season tires-- No M-sport or X-line, just stock

Get yourself Continental DWS (Non-RFT) or Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP (RFT)

Waiting for reviews on new Continental ProContact GX SSR

lbjgh · 03-03-2015, 08:12 PM

hehe, pic from recent snow action.

Jordster · 03-04-2015, 08:08 AM

I just got my car 2 days ago and yesterday we had about 3-4" of snow w/ some ice last night.

I was amazed at how well the car drives in the snow! I'm coming from a FWD car with snow tires into the X3 xDrive w/ the crappy LS2s. I drove in Eco-Pro (because less throttle is usually a good thing in the snow) and the car drove as if there was no snow at all!

The only time I had any drama was coming down a hill and stopping a bit harder than I should have. There were no other cars around and I did it just to see what would happen... Well the car turned about 15 degrees sideways before I wrestled back control! Not cool at all!

I LOVED how the car behaved when I tried turning hard in a parking lot - tail came out, but still very much under my control. Not enough good things are said about this car's near perfect 50/50 weight balance! The RWD bias is very apparent and makes the car an absolute blast in the snow!

Next year, I will treat myself to some proper snows.

mge92 · 03-04-2015, 11:15 AM

Get some snow tires, just got the Dunlop Wintersport 3D RFT and just had a bad snow storm on the east coast two weekends ago and there was snow from NJ all the way down to DC, 4 lane highways became 2 lane slow lanes. The tires performed so well as every other car with all seasons and summer tires getting stuck in the middle of the road. It worked so well that I could drive in the unplowed lanes. They said around 5 inches fell on the I-95 as I was driving and managed to make it back in only 4 hours ... just under 50 % more time than normal

jtwu · 03-09-2015, 01:32 PM

Experts, any suggestions on 17" snow tires for a '12 X3? Seems like most of the discussions here are for 19" + tires/wheels.

jtwu · 03-09-2015, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwu

Experts, any suggestions on 17" snow tires for a '12 X3? Seems like most of the discussions here are for 19" + tires/wheels.

Sorry hit send to soon...

I have 245/55R17 all-seaons now and according to tirerack the only option for that is Pirelli’s Winter Sottozero Serie II. I wonder if I can go with 235/55R17 blizzak ws80 or goodyear ultra grip ice (of course with a new set of wheels)?

bagekko · 03-09-2015, 03:27 PM

Too bad your not in the Northeast, I have an incredible set of 18" BMW rims with the best snow tire money can buy (Nokian Hakka R2), that I no longer need after trading in X3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwu

Sorry hit send to soon...

I have 245/55R17 all-seaons now and according to tirerack the only option for that is Pirelli’s Winter Sottozero Serie II. I wonder if I can go with 235/55R17 blizzak ws80 or goodyear ultra grip ice (of course with a new set of wheels)?

Scandic24 · 03-10-2015, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwu

Experts, any suggestions on 17" snow tires for a '12 X3? Seems like most of the discussions here are for 19" + tires/wheels.

I have 18" on my car but any M+S tires (not all season) from Nokian, Conti or GY and you can't go wrong.
I've had studded GY Ultragrip and Nokian Hakkas over the last 10 yrs. This time, with my X4, I opted for non-studded Continental Winter Contact 6, and I love them.

Sarsippius3rd · 03-10-2015, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagekko

Too bad your not in the Northeast, I have an incredible set of 18" BMW rims with the best snow tire money can buy (Nokian Hakka R2), that I no longer need after trading in X3.

Details please...

bagekko · 03-10-2015, 10:33 AM

Sent you PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarsippius3rd

Details please...

02-08-2015, 12:45 PM	#45
02420X3 Captain 63 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	It's a snow day here. Roads have been cleared, mostly, but road surfaces are slick. I did some playing around with low-speed stopping distances earlier, comparing an AWD Outback with all-season tires and my X3 35i with Hakkas. At 20mph the X3 stops in 1/2 to 2/3 the distance of the Outback. In an earlier storm I tried driving into an unplowed area with 12-14" of snow. I was able to move forward for awhile, until using the X3 as a "plow" was no longer working. While I couldn't continue to move forward, I was able to back out in my own tracks.
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02-08-2015, 12:59 PM	#46
lbjgh Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto iTrader: (0)	It is all fun and games in the snow until ya get stuck. Then it kinda sucks. Have you noticed the x3 doesn't turn (corner) worth a damn in the snow even with snow tires? __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
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02-08-2015, 01:07 PM	#47
02420X3 Captain 63 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Few vehicles do.
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02-08-2015, 08:51 PM	#49
beats Lieutenant 225 Rep 599 Posts Drives: 2015 911 GTS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I was surprised by how much the X3 behaves like a rear-wheel drive with DSC off. I was playing in a snowy parking lot and was able to drift it around almost as well as my M3. Very fun. Although the snow wasn't very deep, mine had absolutely no problem getting around (Blizzak WS80's)
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02-09-2015, 09:29 PM	#51
Akview Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 28i 2018 530i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Anchorage iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 X3 28i [0.00]	Nokian Hakkapeliitta went with the all seasons for the first two winters with my 2013 X3 28i and did ok but went with Nokian Hakkapeliitta for this winter. No studs and find I have no problems although even though in Anchorage, Alaska we have had less snow this winter but plenty of ice. The all seasons are great when new with fresh tread but once worn down a bit you can notice less control. These Nokian's are fantastic but you pay the price. Just don't drive them in the warm months or you will ware them out fast.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-28-2015, 02:53 AM	#52
ehomedi New Member 2 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X3 28i X-Drive Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Northbrook, IL iTrader: (0)	Sorry for my extended absense. I have the stock wheels with the stock All-season tires-- No M-sport or X-line, just stock
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03-03-2015, 08:12 PM	#54
lbjgh Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto iTrader: (0)	hehe, pic from recent snow action. Attached Images __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
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03-04-2015, 08:08 AM	#55
Jordster Private First Class 28 Rep 129 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive 28i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I just got my car 2 days ago and yesterday we had about 3-4" of snow w/ some ice last night. I was amazed at how well the car drives in the snow! I'm coming from a FWD car with snow tires into the X3 xDrive w/ the crappy LS2s. I drove in Eco-Pro (because less throttle is usually a good thing in the snow) and the car drove as if there was no snow at all! The only time I had any drama was coming down a hill and stopping a bit harder than I should have. There were no other cars around and I did it just to see what would happen... Well the car turned about 15 degrees sideways before I wrestled back control! Not cool at all! I LOVED how the car behaved when I tried turning hard in a parking lot - tail came out, but still very much under my control. Not enough good things are said about this car's near perfect 50/50 weight balance! The RWD bias is very apparent and makes the car an absolute blast in the snow! Next year, I will treat myself to some proper snows.
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03-04-2015, 11:15 AM	#56
mge92 SPEED RACER 375 Rep 740 Posts Drives: BMW X5 M50d BMW M2 CS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: London iTrader: (2)	Get some snow tires, just got the Dunlop Wintersport 3D RFT and just had a bad snow storm on the east coast two weekends ago and there was snow from NJ all the way down to DC, 4 lane highways became 2 lane slow lanes. The tires performed so well as every other car with all seasons and summer tires getting stuck in the middle of the road. It worked so well that I could drive in the unplowed lanes. They said around 5 inches fell on the I-95 as I was driving and managed to make it back in only 4 hours ... just under 50 % more time than normal __________________ 2019 BMW X5 M50d Artic Grey \| 2020 BMW M2 CS Misano Blue Incoming - Ginetta G56 GT Academy \| Incoming - BMW X5M Comp Oxford Green RIP - 2020 Mini JCW GP Racing Grey \| RIP - 2013 X3 xDrive28i Carbon Black
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03-09-2015, 01:32 PM	#57
jtwu Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 12 X3 28i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Experts, any suggestions on 17" snow tires for a '12 X3? Seems like most of the discussions here are for 19" + tires/wheels.
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