[SpmnE9zero]

I currently have a 330xi and am looking at a 550i. I live in western pa where we get a good bit of snow.

How does the 550i handle with snow tires in the snow?

Thanks

[SpmnE9zero]

45 views and no help..... you guys dont drive them in the snow? lol

[Superspeed]

I'll pick up the ball although I have no personal experiences with the 5 series.
Anyway - my brother has a 530d.
As you know snow and ice is common in Norway. With a set of quality wintertyres he has never experienced any major problem with grip and behavior on snow and ice. As long as you are familiar with driving under such conditions you will be fine.
My own experiences are from 3, 6 and 7 series and Z3. All of them with 2WD. The car was never a problem!

[SpmnE9zero]

Thanks, I appreciate it

[m630]

If you get a proper pair of snow shoes, you'll have no issues, I've had my M6 for the past 3 years as my daily driver, and all I do is change the rims and tires to my snows. The same thing for my former 645ci that I had for nearly 4 years, a good set of snows will serve you well

[datbimmerdoe]

post this @ f10.5post

[Maconer98]

I don't drive a 550i but as someone else mentioned (m630), as long as you have proper shoes on you'll be fine.

[SpmnE9zero]

Thanks a lot guys! I really appreciate it. My previous car was a 350Z and I ran summer only tires all year round and only got stuck one time over a 3 year span.
I am sure this is better, but I just hate worrying about snow when I have rwd. In awd I dont even think twice about leaving in a snow storm and that is nice.

However I really want a 550i. I love that car in sport package.

[Tim2189]

Why not a 550XI M-tech?

[SpmnE9zero]

Originally Posted by nyc328ci

Why not a 550XI M-tech?

I was unaware they made them........
nope nothing coming up on auto trader.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by SpmnE9zero

I was unaware they made them........
nope nothing coming up on auto trader.

Perhaps checking on www.bmwusa.com would be a better move?

[Tim2189]

Originally Posted by SpmnE9zero

I was unaware they made them........
nope nothing coming up on auto trader.

Yeah look into the 550XI, its a nice car

[davesf]

Originally Posted by SpmnE9zero

I was unaware they made them........
nope nothing coming up on auto trader.

AFAIK, the F10 550xi only started manufacturing October 2010, so there are probably not many in the used market. My new 550xi is on order and set to be built next week. I can't wait. Head to bmwusa.com and you can configure a new one up.

[ECSTuning]

Originally Posted by SpmnE9zero

Thanks a lot guys! I really appreciate it. My previous car was a 350Z and I ran summer only tires all year round and only got stuck one time over a 3 year span.
I am sure this is better, but I just hate worrying about snow when I have rwd. In awd I dont even think twice about leaving in a snow storm and that is nice.

However I really want a 550i. I love that car in sport package.

If your area allowed you to drive the 350 on summer tires year round I would have no fear of driving the 550 year round on all season or even on summer tires. If you are really worried about getting stuck a set of Textile Snow "Chains" in the trunk would grant you a little piece of mind.

Here is a link to a video we did a while back to show how well these work, with a set in the trunk of my car I'm driving it year round with no worries.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F10-550...39/Video80-SD/

ECS Tuning

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by SpmnE9zero

I currently have a 330xi and am looking at a 550i. I live in western pa where we get a good bit of snow.

How does the 550i handle with snow tires in the snow?

Thanks

Since 1999, I've had a succession of high-powered RWD Bimmers. (See signature for details.) For all of them, I had four winter tires, and the cars were uniformly excellent in snow, ice, and extreme cold. No worries.

AWD may make some difference in going, but all the rest (cornering, braking) are the same regardless of the number of driven wheels. For me, AWD is a non-starter on an F10 because I want a manual transmission, and BMW doesn't offer that combo.

[bmwarchitect]

Originally Posted by davesf

AFAIK, the F10 550xi only started manufacturing October 2010, so there are probably not many in the used market. My new 550xi is on order and set to be built next week. I can't wait. Head to bmwusa.com and you can configure a new one up.

Cars.com has a number of 2011 550i and ix's listed at various dealerships (used and new).

[5fix]

I drove an e60 550i for five years, and was on my second set of Dunlop winter tires when I traded her for my 550ix. With a bag or two of water softener salt in the trunk (50 lbs each) the rwd e60 would go anywhere in snow. When I started off in more than a few inches of snow, or at an intersection that was slippery from black ice from exhaust, I would have to turn of the traction control to get some wheel spin, or I would bog down and go nowhere. If I was turning and starting off with wheel spin, the rear end would come out and I would have to let off the gas. Not terrible, but not ideal. My 550ix with Dunlop winter tires is completely different in the snow, like a tank. The only thing to worry about is high siding it in two feet of snow, otherwise, no worries. It is better than my wife's X5 with all season's. True, it stops the same as a rwd car, but starting and turning and manuevering are much, much better in the snow and ice. Don't let any rwd fans tell you they are the same, they are not.