[voxy]

I want to buy a 550i which has the M sports suspension with 19 inch wheels of different sizes (front and back). Am i making a mistake if i live in PA which has occasional snow in winter.

Should i look for a 550i xdrive?

I am assuming here in that in either case i will have to have a set of 18 in winter tires.

Thanks

[lsturbointeg]

occasional snow in PA? did you just move there cause occasional is not the word i would use lol! i'd get the Xdrive if you plan on getting a 550. i have a 535i and in winter her a$$ is all over the place when it snows tho i haven't tried snow tires. she pretty much hibernates in the winter because of it.

[Mtnguy321]

Originally Posted by voxy

I want to buy a 550i which has the M sports suspension with 19 inch wheels of different sizes (front and back). Am i making a mistake if i live in PA which has occasional snow in winter.

Should i look for a 550i xdrive?

I am assuming here in that in either case i will have to have a set of 18 in winter tires.

Thanks

I live in Colorado and didn't hesitate in opting for the 550i Xdrive! I bought in February and we've had half a dozen snows from 4 to 20 inches. Better in snow than my previous Mercedes E500 4Matic.

[remmib]

Just get proper winters.

[.BMW.]

Originally Posted by remmib

Just get proper winters.

+1

[voxy]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

occasional snow in PA? did you just move there cause occasional is not the word i would use lol! i'd get the Xdrive if you plan on getting a 550. i have a 535i and in winter her a$$ is all over the place when it snows tho i haven't tried snow tires. she pretty much hibernates in the winter because of it.

Ok thanks. I did have a 2013 328i (no xdrive) that manged the winters in harrisburg quite decently with stock all seasons tires. Sure the back would slip but it was always a very controlled one. Nothing that would get out of hand.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by remmib

Just get proper winters.

+1

And common sense of course, you'll be fine.

[///Msport]

The only reason i have a 550i is because I have a 330xi for the snow. I wouldn't otherwise.

You literally will not make it up a hill.
Driving straight is hard.
Accelerating from a red light is hard.
Turning is hard.
You can't even feather the gas

550i = above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, actually lets make that 50 to be safe!

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by ///Msport

1. You literally will not make it up a hill.
2. Driving straight is hard.
3. Accelerating from a red light is hard.
4. Turning is hard.
5. You can't even feather the gas
6. ....above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, actually lets make that 50 to be safe!

XDrive is better and safer in the winter, absolutely zero doubt on that. RWD is however perfectly manageable in the winter with common sense and good winter tires.

#1 (partially on some hills and certain conditions - sometimes could apply to xDrive too) and #3 points above are valid, the rest, I'm sorry to say, is completely false.

Two shots taken after coming back home from night skiing well below 50 Fahrenheit and RWD car




Whatever you end up deciding, don't drive either one (don't even attempt with RWD) during the winter without winter tires.

[Mtnguy321]

In Colorado, driving I70 to the ski areas and back to town, there are literally times if you don't have all wheel drive you don't go. And, that is on a major highway. Two wheel drive cars that don't have chains just don't go.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Mtnguy321

In Colorado, driving I70 to the ski areas and back to town, there are literally times if you don't have all wheel drive you don't go. And, that is on a major highway. Two wheel drive cars that don't have chains just don't go.

Of course, when weather is nasty, in some conditions you just don't go without chains. But think back 20 or so years ago, few families, if any at all had all wheel drive vehicles and still made it to ski hills and their destinations just fine.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in agreement with you guys, AWD is much better for these conditions, but the whole "you can't go anywhere in the winter with FWD or RWD car" is just nonsense. Speaking from experience as I currently own both AWD and RWD and had few of FWD cars in the past as well.

[TheDonn]

My RWD e39 530i goes anywhere with proper winter tires. I've gone 7-8 inches of snow literally no problem.

[///Msport]

I've always had rear wheel cars, and this one is certainly a mission to drive in snow without the correct tires. Maybe not be impossible and of course i exaggerated. If someone is questioning buying a rear wheel 550, I would advise against it. Bbb34, looks like you have a 535, there may be a slight difference in drive-ability.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by ///Msport

I've always had rear wheel cars, and this one is certainly a mission to drive in snow without the correct tires.

Should not be even attempted, without correct tires, no doubt in my mind.

Originally Posted by ///Msport

Maybe not be impossible and of course i exaggerated. If someone is questioning buying a rear wheel 550, I would advise against it. Bbb34, looks like you have a 535, there may be a slight difference in drive-ability.

Maybe a bit in weight distribution, not sure. I haven't driven 550 RWD in the snow to be be perfectly honest. It has more power, more torque, but it doesn't come quite as early in RPM range as it does in 535, can't really tell how much difference that would make.

Either way, point I've been making in several threads is that these cars are more than capable in the winter conditions with common sense and good winter tires. I just hate reading how they are impossible to drive and downright dangerous. Another thing I've been saying in all those threads too is, yes, AWD is "better" and smarter choice for most people out there.

[///Msport]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Should not be even attempted, without correct tires, no doubt in my mind.




Maybe a bit in weight distribution, not sure. I haven't driven 550 RWD in the snow to be be perfectly honest. It has more power, more torque, but it doesn't come quite as early in RPM range as it does in 535, can't really tell how much difference that would make.

Either way, point I've been making in several threads is that these cars are more than capable in the winter conditions with common sense and good winter tires. I just hate reading how they are impossible to drive and downright dangerous. Another thing I've been saying in all those threads too is, yes, AWD is "better" and smarter choice for most people out there.

ok...

[malahhaor]

I'm in Chicago. I've had 6 RWD Mercedes since i was 21 and i had no issues in winter. That's 1 I4 supercharged, 1 v6, and 4 v8s. As long as WINTER tires are on, its perfectly fine.
As stated already, common sense and proper tires go a long way. Sure AWD helps allot, but not nessesary in generaly flat area. The BMWs i have now are xDrive just by chanse. I was not looking specificaly for that.
Stay safe

P.S.
Before the Bimmers i had a Carrera 4 for 2 winters. and even tho it is AWD its 10 or so inches off the ground. With winter tires it got me out of anything the snow storms of last two years threw at us. I even got plowed in once, and it took me a while but it got our w/o using a shovel.

[Martin Nielsen]

I vote for Xdrive

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by malahhaor

I'm in Chicago. I've had 6 RWD Mercedes since i was 21 and i had no issues in winter. That's 1 I4 supercharged, 1 v6, and 4 v8s. As long as WINTER tires are on, its perfectly fine.
As stated already, common sense and proper tires go a long way. Sure AWD helps allot, but not nessesary in generaly flat area. The BMWs i have now are xDrive just by chanse. I was not looking specificaly for that.
Stay safe

P.S.
Before the Bimmers i had a Carrera 4 for 2 winters. and even tho it is AWD its 10 or so inches off the ground. With winter tires it got me out of anything the snow storms of last two years threw at us. I even got plowed in once, and it took me a while but it got our w/o using a shovel.

Nice man!

[malahhaor]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Nice man!

Thank you.