Snow Driving Tips

[NewMB]

Thought they already did they are just not available in the UK

MB's is called "4Matic" and are available on many models. Have been for many many years. BMW do a 4WD system too, also NOT available in the UK. They call their "iX" as in 330iX for example.

 

[spock500]

Found myself stuck a couple of times today along with a gentle but dangerous slide into the road from Budgens, boy these are heavy cars (w210)

If you get stuck losing traction on the rear driving wheels try applying the handbrake (foot operated brake) in small clicks, this acts as a lock similar to LSD and will distribute drive to both wheels instead of one.

Gentle though and for short periods only

edit: whoops just read above posts, seem someone beat me to it, doh, didnt use the refresh button!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

buy an ML... have been using ours today and the difference is huge.. I was in a C32 AMG this afternoon and that was just funny in the snow.. wouldnt move for anything but made a nice v6 noise...

Copycat!!


Two colleagues - one of which has a Golf - asked on Wednesday where the local VW dealer was. I told them thinking nothing more of it.

Overheard them again yesterday. The lady with the Golf said she was going to have to bring forward her appointment at the dealer, as the brakes were concerning her now.

I asked: I don't suppose you've noticed a vibration through the brake pedal since it's been snowing have you? She thought I was a mind reader!!

Dealer booking now cancelled.

 

[mapleleaf]

Perhaps its time that MB offer an option similar to Audis Quattro 4x4 system for some of its cars ??

They do make a 4matic version of most MB models here in canada - its needed though with 4 months of snow each winter.
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=4366 , not sure about availability in the UK on anything other than ML, GL & R class




My old e55 W210 was rubbish in the snow - wouldnt make it up a small slope where we used to live in Rochdale. but the ML was perfect for the job.

Was -22 last week and a good foot of snow on the ground - but most roads are cleared pretty quickly, they are so geared up for it here. Toronto news ran the story of London grinding to a halt because of the record snow storms.

4 x 4's rule over here . One neighbour has got his & hers Hummers !

 

[Birdman]

First experienced the wide wheel in snow syndrome when there was a whole inch of pristine snow in the company car park. I had to get the people who weren't incapacitated with laughter to push me - in my new Porsche - onto the cleared road. Total humiliation as I watched them all shoot out in their sensible FWD hatches for the rest of the week knowing what lay in store for me. Stopped me working late, too.

Lesson hammered home in the E55.

So it's winter tyres, 4Motion and manual over-ride on the autobox for this time of year. It hasn't failed me yet.

No doubt any Audi owner following this thread is feeling smug. For them it's a real tickbox option on the order form.

 

[laf]

So not what it actually weighed on the day then..

I don't think he every said it was

 

[Dieselman]

I don't think he every said it was

I was stuck in my 2.46 ton W220 in my open car park at 6am yesterday morning.

Errm..

 

[laf]

Errm..

Erm, that says HIS not yours or one from the dealer

 

[Dieselman]

Erm, that says HIS not yours or one from the dealer

Sorry, you've lost me, can you explain what you mean.

His car was rolling around in standard form and he quoted the figure for the maximum vehicle weight.

 

[spock500]

For the last couple of days I have used the 'w' setting on the gearbox to help with the snowy conditions but it gave me a couple of shocks along the way and several near misses at low speed

The first problem I encountered was the rolling idle speed which was a lot higher (if at all) than the normal setting, on a slight incline it would gather speed very quickly causing skidding.

Second problem is the wheels spin on their own but only minimal. This causes a sideways drift and nearly put me into three of my neighbours cars, again very low speed but it would have been a big bill.

Someone posted the 'w' setting puts the box in 2nd to pull away, this would make sense.

 

[jeremytaylor]

If Mercedes sold a 4-matic E class estate over here I would definitely buy one. I would like a 4x4 but not a big hulking off-roader - in the meantime the winter tyres wil have to do.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Took my C-Class out for the first time since the first of the snow fell more than a week ago. First time I could safely get it off - and back on - the drive.

 

[spock500]

Got stuck block the entrance to the development

Went and got spade to dig car out which worked.

While it was stuck I left it in drive on 's' mode and got out, one of the back wheels was gently spinning on tickover.

How on earth do the germans compete with front wheel drive cars in cold climates such as Norway with the likes of SAAB/Volvo offering quality brands.

 

[Apial]

How on earth do the germans compete with front wheel drive cars in cold climates such as Norway with the likes of SAAB/Volvo offering quality brands.

When we get arctic weather we wouldn't go out in slippers. Likewise with tyres. The Austrians fit winter tyres to their rwd cars and drive up and down the mountain roads with little hassle. I would imagine the Germans do much the same.

Over the last 20 years or so UK winters have become much milder and tyre manufacturers have been able to sell much more summer type tread patterns. Summer grippers quickly turn into winter slippers!

Even some 4Wd vehicles come from the factory with summer biased tyres, and they are outperformed by 2wd winter tyred equivalents on snow.

 

[spock500]

yes, good point - although there is plenty of tread the pattern and profile is more like something you would put on a high performance car.

What would be a nice feature is the ability to have a diff locker for emergencies (and power sliding

 

[matt17081]

i had the pleasure if driving around in my fathers Mulliner Park Ward Bentley Continental GT with around 600+ bhp an 20 inch wheels during the snow and was utterly shocked at how good it was i did'nt get stuck once despite driving in around 5 to 6 inch of snow and driving up some very steep hills (we have many of those in Wales) i have to say the look on the faces of other drivers in 4x4's was a picture

 

[tiger]

ive got 150kg of gravel in the boot, snow tyres and never been stuck yet. When coming up to icy junctions, i just knock the gear into neutral which takes the power off the rear as ive had the fronts locks and rears still driving a few times. Sometimes i take the traction off just so the car tyres can dig to a solid surface and then its usually off again. So far 100% sucess abd thats living at the bottom of a steep hill with heaps of snow. Other half wanted a 4x4 but now has changed her mind, thank god i dont have to drive round in a big box all year!!!

 

[Birdman]

I find the E55 pretty useless on up inclines to the point that it barely made it up the front drive. It needs winter tyres I guess, so I use the Phaeton in snow and it has had no probs even on summer tyres.

 

[JamesCLK320]

get a landy or g-wagen....

 

[Birdman]

...or a Unimog