Who is it insured with, and have you declared the change of wheels? I want to put AMGs on our Vito, but having major problems finding anyone who will insure it then. Anything other than factory standard and it's considered 'modified' - no cover.
Even simpler would be to just have a different car for use in the winter .
An air-cooled VW would be my ideal : no coolant to freeze , toasty heater , rear wheel drive with the engine over the driven wheels , skinny tyres .
I used to drive Beetles in my younger days and there's nothing to beat them in the snow !
I know it's been said before, but without resorting to hardware changes a little driver education could go a long way.
It was really icy in Norfolk on Saturday morning and I was queued to traffic lights on one of Norfolks very few inclines. As the lights changed, various HGV's and front and rear drive cars just stayed where they were with spinning wheels. I quietly indicated to change lane, drove around them and out of the junction. You might expect this if I was in the ML.
But I was in the CLS. Rear drive, front engine, auto, 275 summer rear tyres and a whole shed load of torques.
Why must people 'mash' the throttle and expect to get grip
Education first, then tyres if required
It was really icy in Norfolk on Saturday morning and I was queued to traffic lights on one of Norfolks very few inclines. As the lights changed, various HGV's and front and rear drive cars just stayed where they were with spinning wheels. I quietly indicated to change lane, drove around them and out of the junction. You might expect this if I was in the ML.
But I was in the CLS. Rear drive, front engine, auto, 275 summer rear tyres and a whole shed load of torques.
Why must people 'mash' the throttle and expect to get grip
Education first, then tyres if required
Sp!ke
Administrator
My recolection of the beetle heat exchangers are clearly not the same as yours. Beetles are always freezing IMO.
Sp!ke
Administrator
Sill vents were open but then so were my quarterlights as there was no other way to demist the windscreen.
... and it took ages for the heat exchangers to actually get hot enough.
... and it took ages for the heat exchangers to actually get hot enough.
Went to school every day in the back of a beetle. Apart from the lack of legroom, I recall my legs either being freezing or singed....no happy in-between!
yes , I remember that too .
I'm sure that's the origin, but many vans have alloys from the factory nowadays (including my Vito). There are quite a few OEM alloys approved by M-B for the Vito (including Brabus and AMG ones), but any change at all (not just wheels) makes it a 'modified vehicle' which CIS (and others) simply will not cover.
A member just sent me a link to a nice Brabus Vito back box on eBay!
macscrooge
Member
snow!
It's snowing here now - I collect a '96 E200 (124) wagon on Friday. Sods law.
Although I've not owned an M-B before I have had RWD Volvos. On my 940s I kept a spare pair of steel rims (£5 each from a breaker) fitted with winter tyres. They went on the back of the car in November and came off at Easter. Minimal grip (but fun!) in the wet but great on snow & ice. I expect I'll do the same with the '124.
It's snowing here now - I collect a '96 E200 (124) wagon on Friday. Sods law.
Although I've not owned an M-B before I have had RWD Volvos. On my 940s I kept a spare pair of steel rims (£5 each from a breaker) fitted with winter tyres. They went on the back of the car in November and came off at Easter. Minimal grip (but fun!) in the wet but great on snow & ice. I expect I'll do the same with the '124.
mbenz76
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,055
- Car
- E350 AMG Night Edition Premium Plus Saloon
Heavy snow here this afternoon/evening. Took me 3 hours to do what usually takes 10 minutes. People just don't know how to drive in the snow.
Stuck behind a C class for a while on flat ground. He just kept flooring it and slipping - no idea how to drive in the snow. I felt like getting out and telling him.
Stuck behind a C class for a while on flat ground. He just kept flooring it and slipping - no idea how to drive in the snow. I felt like getting out and telling him.
redspecial2000
Active Member
My SLK has OEM Contisport 3s all round and boy do I dread when it snows! The rears are getting near replacement and last week was a nightmare for me- even with some balast in the boot.
Have been pushed out of car parks twice, and had to stop a fair bit back from slight inclines so that I dont get stuck and can maintain a steady speed to get up them. I did however decide to put the roof down to cheer myself up a little....
Have decided to use public transport next time it snows!
Have been pushed out of car parks twice, and had to stop a fair bit back from slight inclines so that I dont get stuck and can maintain a steady speed to get up them. I did however decide to put the roof down to cheer myself up a little....
Have decided to use public transport next time it snows!
trainer
MB Enthusiast
My C32 is not so good in the snow to say the least. We live on a hill and even if you can get up that our side road is impassable. I don't try to mash the throttle as I consider myself reasonably snow educated but even creeping I lose traction. Never had the problem in my Audi GT coupe or my toyota corrola but then again they were front wheel drive. I might consider getting a second set of wheels for next winter complete with snow tyres.
mbenz76
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,055
- Car
- E350 AMG Night Edition Premium Plus Saloon
My new E is the first RWD car I have owned for a good few years, so not really wanting the snow back for a while.
Thinking of getting winter tyres for next winter and having the dealer swap the tyres onto the same rims for a few months.
Thinking of getting winter tyres for next winter and having the dealer swap the tyres onto the same rims for a few months.
