F10 M5 as a winter daily driver?

[Trips]

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Any of the members planning on using the m5 as a daily driver in the winter? I'm currently using my x5 M w/ winter tires and am a little reluctant to have a non-AWD vehicle as my winter car...thoughts?

Thanks!
_Tom

[cidair]

Me too.

But I have gone from a 550ix to M5, and plan to drive it the whole year.
We´ll see this winter how it works? maybe I " have " to buy a winter car for next year.....

[singularity]

I shared my experience here, hope it helps Too much power for the M5?

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by singularity

I shared my experience here, hope it helps Too much power for the M5?

Read that thread - you were driving in near freezing temps on summer tires, no wonder you didn't have traction! You need proper rubber for the cold.

To the OP: you should be fine if you run snow tires. I wouldn't try it with any type of all season rubber. Too much power, too wide of a tire.

[nordic@telia.com]

Originally Posted by Trips

Any of the members planning on using the m5 as a daily driver in the winter? I'm currently using my x5 M w/ winter tires and am a little reluctant to have a non-AWD vehicle as my winter car...thoughts?

Thanks!
_Tom

I plan to use the M5 the whole year, with good winter tires and DSC on i think it will work fine.

20 years ago when i drove E28 and E30 models without DSC it worked and the winters are the same but of course the M5 have some more power

[SleepTight]

I run my current Cadillac CTS-V on winter tires (Pirelli Sottozeros) all Winter. Judicious use of the accelerator and common sense makes the car just fine for winter driving--snow included. In fact, it drives better than most cars on the road with all-seasons mounted.

I'm confident the M5 will be just as capable on proper winter tires.

[sparkyg]

I drive M3 year round in Cdn winters no prob. Get a set of Winter tires thats all.

[GTR-Dad]

With winter tires and some common sense, you'll be fine.
The main things that makes me hesitate to drive my M5 all winter are:
- AWD + snow tires = FUN! (I plan to keep the 335 xDrive for this reason.)
- collisions are more common on slippery roads. (It's just a car, but getting hit would be more of drag in the M5 than something else.)
- Just as summer tires last longer if you have a set of winter's, so will the M5 if it doesn't do winter duty.
In the end, it's just a choice.

[gcmr]

The E60 was fine in the snow (less than 15 cm that is!) I expect no difference with the F10

[cmhsam]

One of my neighbor has an E60 M5 with winter tires. He has no issues.

[mdh]

Originally Posted by gcmr

The E60 was fine in the snow (less than 15 cm that is!) I expect no difference with the F10

The E60 was terrible in the snow even with top notch winter tires on 19" wheels. I had to put 500 lbs in the trunk so it was reasonably drivable. I couldn't even get up the hill we live on without the weight in the trunk.

I would guess if you run top quality snows on 18" wheels and put some weight in the trunk, the car will be fine. Not great, and you need to be careful in ice/heavy snow, but it should be ok.

[Bmill]

So I live in Minnesota and have driven a M5 daily year round for 12 years. No issues unless the snow is too deep, say 8 inches or so. Yes the DSC kicks in a bit but that's what it is therefore.

In fact the power slides are a blast..... Kind of like a Rally car!

[///M1]

Winter duties - absofukinlutely! My E39 M5 was a blast in the winter with proper winter shoes, in fact took it with equal success to all the mountains I've been with the RS 4, in all kinds of weather and adverse conditions. In fact I dare say it was more fun as Quattro in snow is too idiot-proof IMO.

[AlpWhite11]

Originally Posted by Bmill

So I live in Minnesota and have driven a M5 daily year round for 12 years. No issues unless the snow is too deep, say 8 inches or so. Yes the DSC kicks in a bit but that's what it is therefore.

In fact the power slides are a blast..... Kind of like a Rally car!

I've always wondered about that. What's the proper traction setting for driving on some snow? Is it full controls on?

[Mako]

I have used my C63 for 3 winters now, and as others have said, RWD power cars can be "fun" in the snow, sliding into the turns (when no one else is around) is something AWD cars don't commonly do, and when you are expecting it to slide its easy to control. the more I drive my car in the winter the more comfortable I get with it, of course I have 18" wheels for the winter not sure if the M5 will support that size.

But on the other hand when I drove our X3 (which I also bought winter wheels/tires for) my confidence level shot up 100%, sure it still can slip and slide a little but you feel like you have total control when it does and know it will auto correct. In either case I am never worried about my driving skills as I have never hit anyone (I actually pay attention while driving) but have been hit several times, its other drivers I worry about! so if someone is on your ass when its snowing (not uncommon in chicago, people in SUVs think they have tanks) and you slide out a bit or it takes you a few seconds to get traction, you might get a nudge in your rear.

[Mako]

Originally Posted by 09BlkSapphire

I've always wondered about that. What's the proper traction setting for driving on some snow? Is it full controls on?

I think it depends on the situation, if its just cold, full controls on is fine. If there is some snow/ice you might need to disable some of them, in my C63 I normally put it into sport traction mode which allows some wheel spin. Even with rain I put it in that mode as in full traction mode I won't move for a couple seconds in rain or snow. Full controls OFF would only be recommended if you get stuck (don't want any traction aid if you are stuck).

[BMW Fanatic]

LSD? Winter tires? Good to go.

/thread

[LAKEOM5]

That's why I own a Tahoe. If weather is crap, i drive that.

[DrewBert]

I'm a little nervous about this too, going from a x6 with winters is gonna be a change. Will likely be buying a truck to fill in on those really bad days!

[xc JET M]

my e60 with winter tires, i feel safer than in my 328xi with all season tires. so i don't know what you're talking about.

[xc JET M]

anybody who drives a high performance car and scared to drive it in wintertime even with winter tires should question their driving skill and stop buying these cars. just my opinion, no insult intended.

[LAKEOM5]

I can drive anything in any weather. I don't to avoid getting the car filthy, sand on the roads and rock chips.