[Rob_G77]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

For anyone that wonders, I have driven my M850i this winter in the heart of the Canadian prairies. Of course I have winter tires on it as well. Otherwise stock.

Traction is not an issue. Nor is heat because the M850I (convertible) stays very warm inside. The biggest issue is ground clearance. If you are not driving in anything deeper than 2-3 inches you are fine. After that you may start becoming a snow plow with the way the air deflector sits under the front bumper. You also need to be extremely careful driving in areas where ruts are formed in the road - just avoid that period! One other thing are random chunks of ice/snow that might have fallen off other cars and lie in the road. If looks bigger than a baseball, don't drive over it! These can possibly be nasty if you hit them at higher speeds. I hit one once and it deformed the air deflector, but it luckily popped back in place. It's certainly not peace of mind driving like I had with my X6. I started hating driving my car in snow.

I'm going to say that PPF on the front bumper is highly recommended.

Rob

[TupperBMW]

^ Good advice. Luckily where I live they are pretty quick to clear the roads after snowstorms. If there is more than 2-3 inches of snow on a road, I'm basically stranded anyway.

[snowbimmer]

This. Car. Needs. Taller. Tires.

The Alpina has ‘em.

Come on, man.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

This. Car. Needs. Taller. Tires.

The Alpina has ‘em.

Come on, man.

Or just a plow attachment for the front.

That's actually one of my complaints on the X3 though. Its an inch lower ground clearance than my Jeep Cherokee was. It doesn't sound like much, but it actually looks like its sits a lot lower making it looks a little closer to a big car than an SUV. Not exactly, but at least a little bit.

[brlawyer]

Originally Posted by Rob_G77

For anyone that wonders, I have driven my M850i this winter in the heart of the Canadian prairies. Of course I have winter tires on it as well. Otherwise stock.

Traction is not an issue. Nor is heat because the M850I (convertible) stays very warm inside. The biggest issue is ground clearance. If you are not driving in anything deeper than 2-3 inches you are fine. After that you may start becoming a snow plow with the way the air deflector sits under the front bumper. You also need to be extremely careful driving in areas where ruts are formed in the road - just avoid that period! One other thing are random chunks of ice/snow that might have fallen off other cars and lie in the road. If looks bigger than a baseball, don't drive over it! These can possibly be nasty if you hit them at higher speeds. I hit one once and it deformed the air deflector, but it luckily popped back in place. It's certainly not peace of mind driving like I had with my X6. I started hating driving my car in snow.

I'm going to say that PPF on the front bumper is highly recommended.

Rob

Would that advice apply to the 840d as well? Or is it just about the height of the runflat tires as opposed to any deflector?

A lot of snow around where I live, which is not going anywhere anytime soon (temps still too cold overall)...

[M8Bimmer]

Taller tires would be a better winter plan for sure.

[ArcticWhite]

I'm also in Regina and think that the 850 is an excellent winter car. Ours is one year old, we put on 17,000kms in the first year. 13,000kms were in the winter and 4,000kms were in the summer, so its essentially our winter car It warms up fast, has excellent traction, and the stability control/ediff are excellent.

Yes, the car is low, but the streets are bad enough here that you have to be careful with a low car even in the summer, so winter or summer, just always have to be cautious. A price I'm willing to pay for driving a beautiful looking car. With so much winter driving, we PPF'd the whole car. And no issues at -35 this morning

Makes a great driveway snow plow too!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by ArcticWhite

And no issues at -35 this morning

Damn

But, those are Canadian degrees, right?

[brlawyer]

Probably gonna have the same situation to some extent - a lot of snow where I live.

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by ArcticWhite

I'm also in Regina and think that the 850 is an excellent winter car. Ours is one year old, we put on 17,000kms in the first year. 13,000kms were in the winter and 4,000kms were in the summer, so its essentially our winter car It warms up fast, has excellent traction, and the stability control/ediff are excellent.

Yes, the car is low, but the streets are bad enough here that you have to be careful with a low car even in the summer, so winter or summer, just always have to be cautious. A price I'm willing to pay for driving a beautiful looking car. With so much winter driving, we PPF'd the whole car. And no issues at -35 this morning

Makes a great driveway snow plow too!

Attachment 3092325

What are you running for winter tires? I have a 245/40/R19 square setup with Nokian Hakkapeliitta rubber.

Mine is a convertible, but it still stays really warm inside during winter. Probably the warmest car I ever owned. My garage isn't heated, but is insulated so it rarely goes below freezing in there even if it's -35 out.

Rob



Rob

Rob

[ArcticWhite]

I'm running what BMW supplied which are pilot alpine's in factory sizes on factory rims. I have M8 wheels with PS4S in factory M8 sizes for the summer.

Is it your car up for sale with only 3800kms?

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by ArcticWhite

Is it your car up for sale with only 3800kms?

That one is not mine. Mine has just over 5000 now.

Mine was going to be for sale, then some lady backed into it (Oct 28) and punched a hole in the rear bumper. Final repairs are just happening this week. Dilawri wasn't even really interested in taking it on trade either, even before the (minor) accident.

Rob

[Usually_a_Ford_guy]

Originally Posted by ArcticWhite

I'm running what BMW supplied which are pilot alpine's in factory sizes on factory rims. I have M8 wheels with PS4S in factory M8 sizes for the summer.

Is it your car up for sale with only 3800kms?

Likewise - really pleased so far. Drives great on ice and snow.

Are these the ones you have as well?

[ArcticWhite]

Yes. It is crazy the combination of tires and how smooth the stability/traction control is. I try to spin the tires or slide the car and can't. It hooks way beyond what I would expect it to and the stability intervention barely makes itself known. impressive.

[Dr Thrillride]

Originally Posted by Rob_G77

Dilawri wasn't even really interested in taking it on trade either, even before the (minor) accident.

Rob

Bring it to Calgary?

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by Dr Thrillride

Bring it to Calgary?

There are so many 8's for sale on autotrader. Resale value is atrocious on these cars so I'm not sure I'd fare any better in Calgary.

Rob

[M8Bimmer]

All the 8's in southern Ontario are pretty pricey still. A new 2023 M8 GC is at $192,500.00 asking at a dealer of course. Much more than I paid 2 years ago.
so not sure where the depreciation aspect is yet. Even the 2020's are at lot imo still. I like it.

[brlawyer]

Originally Posted by M8Bimmer

All the 8's in southern Ontario are pretty pricey still. A new 2023 M8 GC is at $192,500.00 asking at a dealer of course. Much more than I paid 2 years ago.
so not sure where the depreciation aspect is yet. Even the 2020's are at lot imo still. I like it.

Depreciation only applies to used cars, not new ones.

[specracer]

I remember back a long time ago, I had a B4 Audi S4 (tells you how long ago), as my winter car. Car was great in a little snow (had angry snow tires). It just did not have the ground clearance to make it work. I only used it for one winter, and then moved to SUV's / trucks. Our M8 is at our Florida home, so, will never see any snow for sure.

[Rob_G77]

Originally Posted by specracer

Car was great in a little snow (had angry snow tires). It just did not have the ground clearance to make it work.

That sums up my 8 series experience this winter. The car is just too big and heavy for roads that aren't perfectly flat. When there's uneven ice buildup or snow buildup, it's just not fun driving in that. My WRX was fun to drive in snow and so was my Golf R. Those cars felt sporty, yet balanced in the snow. I LOVE driving in snow too. I don't want to do another year of winter with my 8, but I'm trapped in my loan.

Rob

[M8Bimmer]

Originally Posted by brlawyer

Depreciation only applies to used cars, not new ones.

I am talking about used ones as well. Did ya think I didn't look as those too???
I actually looked at the whole page...duh.
Plus the new ones as well. Which seemed of have gone up a fair bit here in Canada. One was listed at $208k

[M8Bimmer]

I've driven lots of vehicles in the winter here in Canada. My last choice for winter would be the M8. It may be able to do it but not easily imo. WAY better choice for that kind of weather. Just too low and heavy as stated above. Just cuz it AWD doesn't mean it's purpose built for winter. It's not the worst but it's also not the best.