Stevens Pass

[42000]

Stevens has been CRAZY. 48" inches in 24 hours:D
e30 related talk below



I have been catching rides up to Stevens every weekend and it is really a blast. I love riding up there and the snow has been awesome. However, I would really love to have my own car to whip up to the mountain in. The pass gets a little sketchy sometimes when its slippery. I see all types of cars sliding but a lot of people just don't know how to drive. Previously, I had considered an old diesel truck for a dd but feared running into lots of problems with old diesels and didn't want to get in over my head. I posted a thread about it:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=261007

I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I want to buy another e30 for a dd until I finish my zinno. Will an e30 put up with me taking it up the pass? I want to buy an early model for cheap and take it up there every weekend. Obviously I would need snow tires and a good LSD. But, beyond that... would an eta be that much better than a 318? I also had the idea of swapping in an m50nv... Any thoughts on motor options? I would love to buy an ix, but they are so much more money. Maybe I will end up saving for that. In the mean time, please share with me your experiences of driving you e30s on steep hills in snow. Has anyone gone up to Stevens or Baker in their bimmer? how was it?

[spiDmang]

I have experience with taking my old 89' 325i sedan up to Stevens pass.
The car did great with general altimax artics (non studded) and a s3.73 LSD. The combo allowed me to safely get up to the pass with no problem. I don't see why an eta couldn't do the same :)

[Earendil]

If it's just ice and slick snow, the right shoes and an LSD will do you fine. Worse case you toss on some chains.

You'll be in deep shit if the snow on the road ends up more than a couple inches deep though, as the E30 2 wheel is not a snow plow. The iX most certainly is a snow plow though, as my Dad's will push through more snow than visibility will allow.

[ClausE30]

I have taken many cars up to Stevens over the years. Although never taken any of my e30s up there, honestly I would not buy a e30 for that pass (ix than sure). A jeep will suffice and they can be had for a more reasonable price and are great in the snow. 4 wheel drive man.

[DrJosh]

I have experience with taking my old 89' 325i sedan up to Stevens pass.
The car did great with general altimax artics (non studded) and a s3.73 LSD. The combo allowed me to safely get up to the pass with no problem. I don't see why an eta couldn't do the same :)

This. I have the same setup and took my car to the mountain all of the time. I plan to this year as well.

[Earendil]

Oh note, the E30 is nothing special in the snow compared to other cars. The only benefit it might have is an LSD, which helps a lot but you need to make sure you have an E30 with one in it. Being a moderately well balanced car it handles predictably, but in some cases that only means that you know you're @#$%ed before you would in a different car. That extra second of bliss might be worth driving a different car ;-)

That said, I'm with the other guys. I haven't done Stevens pass, but I've done Snoqualie in a shitstorm of snow before. Half way up I had to pull over and chain up just like almost every other vehicle, but once I had chains I was as good as anyone else. Getting yourself an all wheel drive car with nobby tires might prevent you from having to get out and chain up in a snow storm, but if the roads are plowed (even if still covered) you'll be just dandy, and having a lot more fun ;-)

Of note, my E30 is not as safe in the snow as my E46, but because of the LSD it climbs hills better and is able to make progress in conditions that stop the E46. Not that the E46 is a snow travelers dream or anything, but perhaps worth noting :)

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

I thought this was gonna be BNSF Related. I saw stevens pass and figured there would be some trains there. :)

[Mlarsen]

We're you up there on Wednesday? It was kind of packed but, I got freshy's all morning, good times were had. Any who, fuck driving an e30 up to the pass. Get an old subie wagon, sleep in it, become snow bum, have countless epic days.

[42000]

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't want a jeep because of mileage and a subaru just wouldn't be as cool as an e30. If i get another car its going to be my full time dd. so i want something decently fun for the rest of the year. If i go awd I want an ix;)

We're you up there on Wednesday? It was kind of packed but, I got freshy's all morning, good times were had. Any who, fuck driving an e30 up to the pass. Get an old subie wagon, sleep in it, become snow bum, have countless epic days.

I was there fri, sat, sunday. Saturday was incredibly epic. Feet of Fresh fluffy pow!

[bmnut2002]

Ignore the comments about an e30 not being a good choice.

I did 160+ days in the mountains in a 318is with H&Rs, Billy Sports and Suspension Techniques sways. I had snow tires, disconnected the rear bar, had a roof rack and that's it.

In 4 years of 40+ days per season, I used chains once. At Bachelor, it dumped 18 heavy inches while on the mountain. I needed the chains to get throught the deep stuff and I dug out a five foot runway to get going and that's it. Once I got out of my parking spot, I took them off.

Not many cars out there will handle better and be safer than an e30. AWD or 4WD will only get you going. The higher center of gravity, heavier weight, etc only makes the car more unsafe.

Snow tires and LSD are a must if you are going up a lot. It's a great idea to carry a Avy shovel, chains and a 75 lbs sand bag can't hurt.

[spiDmang]

Ignore the comments about an e30 not being a good choice.

I did 160+ days in the mountains in a 318is with H&Rs, Billy Sports and Suspension Techniques sways. I had snow tires, disconnected the rear bar, had a roof rack and that's it.

In 4 years of 40+ days per season, I used chains once. At Bachelor, it dumped 18 heavy inches while on the mountain. I needed the chains to get throught the deep stuff and I dug out a five foot runway to get going and that's it. Once I got out of my parking spot, I took them off.

Not many cars out there will handle better and be safer than an e30. AWD or 4WD will only get you going. The higher center of gravity, heavier weight, etc only makes the car more unsafe.

Snow tires and LSD are a must if you are going up a lot. It's a great idea to carry a Avy shovel, chains and a 75 lbs sand bag can't hurt.

Great story. And I'll agree, the e30 can handle snow if you are prepared for it.

[42000]

Ignore the comments about an e30 not being a good choice.

I did 160+ days in the mountains in a 318is with H&Rs, Billy Sports and Suspension Techniques sways. I had snow tires, disconnected the rear bar, had a roof rack and that's it.

In 4 years of 40+ days per season, I used chains once. At Bachelor, it dumped 18 heavy inches while on the mountain. I needed the chains to get throught the deep stuff and I dug out a five foot runway to get going and that's it. Once I got out of my parking spot, I took them off.

Not many cars out there will handle better and be safer than an e30. AWD or 4WD will only get you going. The higher center of gravity, heavier weight, etc only makes the car more unsafe.

Snow tires and LSD are a must if you are going up a lot. It's a great idea to carry a Avy shovel, chains and a 75 lbs sand bag can't hurt.

This is just what I wanted to hear. I would def roll around with a shovel and stuff just to be safe. I don't care about digging the car out as long as I can get up and down. When I drove my car 2 hours home after I bought it in the east it was dumping snow and I was fine. Only thing that gave me trouble was my steep-ass driveway. and I just drifted up it for like 2 minutes:-D

[eurotrash]

People drove rwd cars in the snow for 50+ years before fwd and all time awd vehicals came out. That said if you havent driven in the snow w/ a rwd car maybe stevens isnt the best for the first place you try it.

[M-technik-3]

Man that looks like a fun day of skiing. Snowtires on studs and chains if needed. Blah just that easy.

[Earendil]

People drove rwd cars in the snow for 50+ years before fwd and all time awd vehicals came out. That said if you havent driven in the snow w/ a rwd car maybe stevens isnt the best for the first place you try it.

Yeah. Basically this is what Stevens looks like in a RWD car.