5 series in the snow?

[ColdAccord]

OK I plan on getting a winter car, and keeping my current car setup for a while. I was gonna get a maxima, but now I'm thinking maybe I should get an early 90s 5 series instead

how do these handle in the snow? I'd imagine with all the weight, they'd fare well with just a good set of snows

anything to look out for? any good sources to find one?

[iXer]

I'm not sure the E34 525iX was ever available in the US, but they were in Europe.
That would be the winter car to get.

/Mattias

[ColdAccord]

an awd 5 series would be nuts

i dont think I could import a car though. I'm trying to keep costs down. my only specifications are stick shift, and a decent exterior color.

[Bokes]

our e28 535is was wrecked in the snow, just to give you an idea of how well they do.

[e9nine]

Snow incidents are always narrowed down to the driver.

In my case, worn summer tires & a choice btwn going offroad and oncoming traffic after being cut off and forced to swerve. I chose the offroad option and hit a tree after ALMOST missing it
If I had bigger cojones, I wouldda tried to stay in my lane but.....

[ColdAccord]

nah I'd def have some nice snow tires. can't drive a buffalo winter without them

i was thinking i'd get hacks or whatever you guys are always talking about

also, would m parallels fit on a 5 series?

[MattE30]

our e28 535is was wrecked in the snow, just to give you an idea of how well they do.

My friend had the same car...it was terrible in snow. But, the weight distribution probably had something to do with it.

[UNHCLL]

e34 and e28's are fine in snow.
My dad drove one 240 miles a day on some of NH's worst highways for 2 winters.

Snow tires and driver ability are the determining factors in ANY snow bound vehicle.

[Ryan Stewart]

With true snow tires it will do just fine. If possible get a limited slip differential.

With Hakka's and LSD there is no reason your 5 shouldnt do better than your average FWD car. If its real bad get 3 sandbags over the rear axles to simulate an engine.

And as for safety even AWD cars stop with 4 and steer with two. All they do better is accelerate and even then when you

[iXer]

I question the merit of driving a car with an automatic transmission in the winter time, you lose a great deal of control over the traction!

/Mattias

[Ryan Stewart]

especailly if it has that ASC. That thing will get your killed.

Autos arent really that bad. Starting just let the car start rolling before you hit the gas and use the shifter to control when it shifts. You can let off the gas for it to upshift and it wont jerk bad. I took an automatic Pontiac through the deadliest Ice Storm in Kansas with no problems.

[nando]

my automatic did fine in the snow even with summer tires.. actually all of the other cars I've driven in the snow have been autos too (RWD though), with the exception of my '67 dart, I had no troubles. the dart just had waaay too much torque to be driven in the snow!

put some snow tires on and you'll be fine, just watch out for the other idiots in their SUVs who think they are invincible.

[ColdAccord]

i was gonna get a maxima for a winter car and just save up for a 97+ 5 series, but I think I'll just grab a nice early to mid 90s 5 series, and save up for a house

any and every car I own must be stick shift, that's why I don't drive benzes

although my boy has an e55 amg for his winter car, and that is baaalllleeeerrrr

[Kruzen]

what are these 'hakka's' everyone speaks of

[iXer]

The brand name is Hakkapelitta, known for good winter tires. Studded tires are the only way to go in the winter.