I am very, very close on pulling the trigger on a new M3. The only issue I have is this car will be my daily driver and living in Chicago, we get a lot of snow and bad roads.

I'm tired of my Rover and want to go to something sportier. I love Audis (all wheel drive) but they either look a little bland for me or they are too small; I'm 6'3" tall. I actually fit in the M3 perfectly.

Anyone have any experience on driving the M3 in the winter and snow? ANy feedback? I assume I would change the tires for the winter, but what about ground clearance, etc.

Your honest help will be appreciated because I really want to make the decision asap. Please dont blog silly stuff with winter driving.

Thanks!

 

I had no problem in the past season with my M3. I don't even have winter tires and lots of uphill downhills in Northern Virginia. The snow mode and traction system is so brilliant, it pulls perfectly. If you throw a set of snow tires, you won't even think about it. M3 as a DD = SICK.

 

I can speak from driving,not owning the M3(you mean the E92 M3,right?) and I`d say that it does ok in snow.
Nothing special to mention about its handling in snow.
I mean,it`s just like it is with any other higher hp rwd car in snow or rain...traction will be lost if you push it too hard and the rear begins to slide away.

But any experienced driver knows how to handle that.

As BMW is located in Munich and is a bavarian company it would be crazy if there where real issues with driving it in snow..
just get some snow tires and the winter wheels and you`re good to go.

 

maybe buy a beater?
many of my friends picked up a beater along with the car that they actually wanted instead of sacrificing one or the other for weather issues.

i am also from virginia and i am sure i've seen less snow here than chicago but no matter what i drive, i've not had much problem (rather it's rwd or fwd, SUV or sedan, etc.)

good luck!

 

I have always heard put some nokian tires or some blizaks or any other good snow tire and they handle great!

 

I just got my E90 M3 in February and survived a couple of snow storms here in Minnesota. I had an Audi RS6 and an Audi S4 prior to this car (and two rear-drive BMW's prior to the Audi's). The Audi's are fabulous in the snow; never had any issues. With the Audi you never have anything to worry about.

In reasonable amounts of snow I had no issues with the M3. It was put to the test with an 8+ inch snowstorm. I made it home with the M3 but I couldn't make it up my driveway. It struggles when the snow is deep enough that the car has to push the snow uphill. With rear-drive you have to worry about maintaining momentum. Not a big deal but you do have the potential to get stuck. I plan to continue to drive the M3 year-round (with snow tires). Big snow days are rare enough that I don't think it is worth buying a beater or sacraficing what you want in a car the other 99% of the time.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

As a fellow Minnesotan and multiple Audi owner I'd have to agree. The peace of mind when it comes to Quattro is just unreal.

That said, as long as you're not in a major rush, you should be fine for the majority of the time. Spend the cash and pick up a set of Dunlop M3s or Michelin Pilot Alpins or the like...