richiep350 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Iv had my Z for around 5 months (and loved every second of it ) but now its getting towards winter and i was wondering if anyone has tips for driving the Z in the snow/ice etc. I guess the best advice is just to not go out in it but what if you had to or it started to snow while driving? Again this is my first car with traction control, is it best to leave it on in the snow or does that make it even harder to drive? Any help would be great 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Tip? Don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris AME Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Buy a cheap shed to drive round in for winter, be cheaper than a new front end on a zed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Tip? Don't. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Try and drive smoothly, use the clutch with very little revs to pull away. Dont drive fast, dont brake too hard, be careful if using gears to slow you down as the back end will sway if you come down too quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 If you really have to......... lots of weight in the boot, winter tyres (or snow socks if you don't mind the hassle of putting them on/off as they will disintegrate quickly when not on snow). Pull away in 2nd gear stay off the foot brake and always use the gears to slow you. Use the handbrake (quickly on and off) going downhill on ice which should be as slow as possible, so you can still steer the car. Aim for fresh snow if you do start to slide (if you can) to increase grip/traction which is usually better than staying on compacted snow/ice which is more likely to increase the car's momentum downhill. But best of all don't use it 'cos if you are fortunate enough to get away without an incident, chances are some other idiot out there will end up using your motor as a buffer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Winter tyres and you will be fine. Snow socks dont hold up that well and is more a temporary get me home sort of thing. You can drive in really bad conditions with snow tires you just have the grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Turn traction control off, fit winter tyres, laugh and point at those who are stuck with their BMWs as you drive by 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Drove my Zed daily every winter for the last 7 years without a problem. The old adage "drive to the conditions", whatever they be, has always been my way. Smooth & gentle and you shouldn't go wrong, but always allow room for the idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Think about your route before you set off, are there any hills that can be avoided? give those short cuts down narrow lanes a miss. Listening to the weather forecast can avoid a lot of grief, despite all of the warnings yesterday there were still loads of people who went out and got stuck . If you must go out, always take a shovel, a heavy blanket and something to eat and drink. Leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front than normal, remember, its highly likely that the roads will have been gritted and grit can spell disaster for the front end of your car. Make sure you have plenty of water in the washer bottle and add some washer anti-freeze while you're at it. If snow is falling, use dipped headlights and your rear fog lights. Finally, if you manage to get home in one piece, give the car a clean as soon as the weather allows and never park a grit and snow covered car in a closed garage. One other tip for extremely cold weather, leave it parked up in gear with the handbrake just lightly pulled up. I found this out the hard way and a friend of mine actually snapped his cable trying to get the handbrake off. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richiep350 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 Loads of great replies here I'm not planning on driving the z just more of a 'what if' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I drove my zed all weekend like others on here have driven my zed through all weather including last two winters of heavy snow...last year had horrendous time almost wrote the zed off going downhill!!! However i have also learnt loads on how it handles in the snow so this year snow flurry is not to bad have had back end let go but new it was coming i had throttle controller in eco 5 and no tcs got on fine. But its stopping that you have to be skilled at not very easy and thats prob main reason you will stack it. Its down to you as a driver if your not confident ...dont go out..if you dont trust your tyres/brakes...dont go out...now its ice even worse now high gears all day got a few snaps anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzee Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I know new folks can always search, but given the slightly white conditions in your part of the world at the moment, would it be helpful to have a sticky? Just an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sasha@lazytrips Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I personally disagree with most comments. I think that if you are a capable enough driver and drive according to the conditions, there's no reason not to take the car out. Turn ESP off and drive carefully. I do every day and have done through all the weather over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdg32 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 sorry if silly question but why would turning ESP off help in the snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubapics Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 The only silly question is the one that isn't asked! The answer is.... Dunno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taras Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Like the captain said. Don't. ESP is useless in the snow if you're rear end gets stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 sorry if silly question but why would turning ESP off help in the snow Yes. Its horrible when used in the snow as it thinks your slipping alot and cuts power. Winter tyres and you would be ok although I'd still turn it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RE Leather Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Are you expecting Snow then where you live? Were expecting a fireball to cosume us later @ 11:21 today. Shall I leave my TCU on for that folks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 No switch it off..... apocolypse + TCS = slip light coming on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HASH Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 :scare: I SURVIVED THE 1200 SHALL I WAIT TILL 2100 TO REALLY THINK I MADE IT .... the excitement is more killing than the apoc.Itself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdg32 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Like the captain said. Don't. ESP is useless in the snow if you're rear end gets stuck. Don't go out? Or don't turn off ESP? Not sure which one you mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThriftyFifty Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 6800 RPM constantly in the way to beat the snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Like the captain said. Don't. ESP is useless in the snow if you're rear end gets stuck. Don't go out? Or don't turn off ESP? Not sure which one you mean turn TCS off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdg32 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 some seem to say turn it off, others not so. if it cuts the power, isn't that a good thing in the snow? presumably that's why most people say don't turn it off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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