Scary winter driving in 328i x-drive normal?

vetal · 03-06-2011, 09:58 PM

I took my 2011 328i x-drive sedan up-north in Ontario cottage country this last weekend and driving the car was downright scary. On snow and ice covered roads - switching lanes felt like a gamble. Even my old Chevy with all-seasons had better traction on these roads (I have Blizzak WS70 winter tires on all wheels). I am very surprised - I had expected better of an all-wheel drive with winter tires. Does DSC have anything to do with this? What setting should the DSC control be in? I have never touched any of these controls ever since I got the car.

TwinTurboXI · 03-06-2011, 10:32 PM

If ice is truly on the road, nothing short of chains or spiked tires will help...

cb4 · 03-06-2011, 10:32 PM

That is surprising. The ws70 is one of the best snow and ice tires money can buy. I run a performance winter tire (pilot alpin) and it's fantastic. I always run with DTC on. Try that next time. The DSC gets in the way in slippery conditions.

cb4 · 03-06-2011, 10:35 PM

To clarify what I use for traction control settings: dry and wet use full DSC. Ice and snow use DTC only.

bluefly · 03-06-2011, 11:27 PM

More context could help here... What car did you drive before the bimmer? Have you driven in similar conditions often prior to this recent drive?

IN54NITY · 03-07-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb4

To clarify what I use for traction control settings: dry and wet use full DSC. Ice and snow use DTC only.

+1

Turn off the DSC nanny. (And read the manual, no offense.) Even with good winter tires I've noticed this. My experience was this: Going down an entirely empty highway late at night with hard packed snow and new snow still coming down, the rear end started to oscillate very faintly back and forth at +55mph... I had forgotten to click the DSC button once. I clicked it once and the oscillating stopped. I'm certain the DSC was alternating braking the rear wheels. Even though its action was so slight, it was enough to cause a slide in one direction, causing DSC to brake the other wheel, which caused it to slide in the other direction, and on and on.

BMW603 · 03-20-2011, 07:41 AM

what happened to mine.. although mine is parked for the winter.. I drove out of the garage and it was slipping on 1" of snow.. then I looked I have summer performance tires.. and it's an x drive.. right from the factory.. maybe you have summer tires?

MassBimmer · 03-20-2011, 10:06 AM

I drive my xDrive in MA winters with high performance all season tires and have never had an issue...could be the driver

pits200 · 03-20-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

I drive my xDrive in MA winters with high performance all season tires and have never had an issue...could be the driver

Lol I agree. My xi with all seasons has been able to tackle any inclement weather it has thrown its way till ground clearance starts coming into play.

CHCCubs · 03-20-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinTurboXI

If ice is truly on the road, nothing short of chains or spiked tires will help...

I think this might be it, on pure ice most cars will have trouble even with winter tires.

I have a set of Continental TS810S winter tires on my 328i xDrive and have had no problems at all this winter driving in all kinds conditions from snow, slush, rain, etc.

mimik · 03-20-2011, 11:26 PM

I have never never ever had a problem with Xi and my winter tires(Dunlop Sport M3). I feel like I can add a snow plow to the front of the car. And I live in Montreal.

vetal · 03-28-2011, 05:03 PM

Could be the driver - I guess I havent learnt much after driving in these conditions for 16 years now. My first BMW though...
Update: Got another round of snow and ice last week. This time I turned on the DTC (pushed that button in the center console)... and it made a BIG difference. I think thats what I was missing before.

goldn · 04-02-2011, 08:39 PM

i drive my car through all winter conditions.
it is always planted.
OP, maybe you were just having a bad day.
snows & xDrive are a confidence inspiring combo.

03-06-2011, 09:58 PM	#1
vetal New Member 4 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Scary winter driving in 328i x-drive normal? I took my 2011 328i x-drive sedan up-north in Ontario cottage country this last weekend and driving the car was downright scary. On snow and ice covered roads - switching lanes felt like a gamble. Even my old Chevy with all-seasons had better traction on these roads (I have Blizzak WS70 winter tires on all wheels). I am very surprised - I had expected better of an all-wheel drive with winter tires. Does DSC have anything to do with this? What setting should the DSC control be in? I have never touched any of these controls ever since I got the car.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-06-2011, 10:32 PM	#2
TwinTurboXI Lieutenant Colonel 160 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: . iTrader: (12)	If ice is truly on the road, nothing short of chains or spiked tires will help...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-06-2011, 10:32 PM	#3
cb4 Captain 60 Rep 910 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	That is surprising. The ws70 is one of the best snow and ice tires money can buy. I run a performance winter tire (pilot alpin) and it's fantastic. I always run with DTC on. Try that next time. The DSC gets in the way in slippery conditions.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-06-2011, 10:35 PM	#4
cb4 Captain 60 Rep 910 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	To clarify what I use for traction control settings: dry and wet use full DSC. Ice and snow use DTC only.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-06-2011, 11:27 PM	#5
bluefly Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 335i + NB miata Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	More context could help here... What car did you drive before the bimmer? Have you driven in similar conditions often prior to this recent drive?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-20-2011, 07:41 AM	#7
BMW603 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 217 Posts Drives: BMW x5 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Sounds Like... what happened to mine.. although mine is parked for the winter.. I drove out of the garage and it was slipping on 1" of snow.. then I looked I have summer performance tires.. and it's an x drive.. right from the factory.. maybe you have summer tires?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-20-2011, 10:06 AM	#8
MassBimmer Major General 306 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.24]	I drive my xDrive in MA winters with high performance all season tires and have never had an issue...could be the driver
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-20-2011, 11:26 PM	#11
mimik Private First Class 8 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325xi Blue Monaco Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	I have never never ever had a problem with Xi and my winter tires(Dunlop Sport M3). I feel like I can add a snow plow to the front of the car. And I live in Montreal.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2011, 05:03 PM	#12
vetal New Member 4 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Could be the driver - I guess I havent learnt much after driving in these conditions for 16 years now. My first BMW though... Update: Got another round of snow and ice last week. This time I turned on the DTC (pushed that button in the center console)... and it made a BIG difference. I think thats what I was missing before.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-02-2011, 08:39 PM	#13
goldn Captain 30 Rep 727 Posts Drives: 2010 E91 328i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Collingwood, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0)	i drive my car through all winter conditions. it is always planted. OP, maybe you were just having a bad day. snows & xDrive are a confidence inspiring combo.
	Appreciate 0 Quote