E53 Facelift 3.0d...Any good in snow / mud

[steve1986]

Hi guys,

My Le Mans has the wide 20 inch wheels on it, does anybody know what these are like in wintery conditions,

Ive heard the X drive is better than the old system, interested how capable this is in snow and bad conditions

I am coming from a front wheel drive Audi A6 v6 tdi that seemed ok in the snow, would i expect the X to be much better than this.

Thanks

[TimX5]

My last car was a Peugeot 407 X's sport 2.2hdi  on 18inch wheels 235 wide tyres and it was crap in snow , people told me when I bought the x5 they were rubbish in mud and snow and a  Lr discovery would be far better,  well I didn't want a off road vehicle I wanted a decent tow car to pull our 26ft caravan which it does with ease as for using the x5 in snow it's far better than any front wheel drive car I've ever owned but probably not a patch on a discovery, fit some narrower wheels with m+s tyres and it'll be a lot better.

[storminmike]

[quote="steve1986"]
Hi guys,

My Le Mans has the wide 20 inch wheels on it, does anybody know what these are like in wintery conditions,

Ive heard the X drive is better than the old system, interested how capable this is in snow and bad conditions

I am coming from a front wheel drive Audi A6 v6 tdi that seemed ok in the snow, would i expect the X to be much better than this.

Thanks
[/quote]

Never tried it but I read somewhere that you should disable DSC in thickish snow

some comments here

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/02/16/winte ... editorial/

[AW8]

OP - these are fine in mud and snow if you have correct tyres. You don't mention what yours are so we can't comment re your cars ability presently.

[AVI-8]

It's a 4WD it's much better than a 2WD given the laws of physics in snow you've double the traction when things get slippery, mine has 20" wheels, Le Mans edition and coped with a Sottish winter better than any car I've owned before. If you live in a very remote location stick some off road tyres on it and it will take you anywhere ... Within reason! A car with diff locks may be better, but that's in off road conditions , maybe a Dosco would be better if you drive through muddy fields for whatever reason.

[steve1986]

Hi guys

I just have normal weather low profile tyres on at the moment hankook 315/35/20 on the rear I think. Not sure the front something like nexen (looking to change all four soon)

Now thinking back a few years ago when I was working at a BMW main dealer I brought an e70 xdrive 40d across the carpark in the snow.......gave it some throttle and to my surprise (hadn't driven many x5s over the snowy period) nearly put it into a ditch over the back of the carpark sideways as no grip at all lol

I might see how it goes or possibly invest in a set of 17's like the alloy spare in the boot and get some proper m/s tyres 

I also purchased this to tow my caravan replacing my my a6 avant and my BMW E32 740i....... Not put the 740i up for sale yet though much to the wife's annoyance  )

Thanks for the replys

[AW8]

I have a set of Avon Ice rangers for winter though tbh I didn't need them last winter.

Consider where you live before investing in wiener set unless you get a good deal.

Hankook get good reviews - I nearly bought a set for my summer 19's but have some michelin diamaris which are fine in anything on Tarmac other than ice and snow.

[steve1986]

Thanks AW8

I'll wait and see how it goes then

Does anybody know if can you feel when the 4x4 is transferring power to front or is it constantly varying between front and rear ?

[AW8]

Yours is Xdrive on the facelift. Not driven one on snow by yours varies power to each wheel I think.

Some winters fine all year but many more dedicated to Ice &/or snow may need some gentler driving in warmer temps to avoid wear or roadholding issues when pressing on. 

If I were you I would look up some proper reviews on your hankooks, (including on snow - maybe look at USA reviews if any out there.) Oh and if able look out for a new or part worn pair for fronts so that you have matching 4 . If buying 4 20's Toyo proxes s/t are popular all year round for many and should cope with a light dusting ok if you are sensible.


ideally thereafter get alignment checked properly using camera alignment. BMW dealers use kds alignment but it's essentially hunter system. There is a website called alignmycar.co.uk or similar and it's a link to hunter approved tyre and vehicle workshops.

[chelsea]

I have a 05 facelift with x drive and although it is not 4x4 it certainly has no problem with snow at all,wouldnt want to take it into true 4x4 places but its been great

[Greydog]

Like most I brought the X5 to be a budget tow car (Horse trailer) I also shoot and work my dogs so some off road ability is a bonus. In reality I wouldn't call snotty gateways and muddy rutted farm tracks "true off road". What I can say is over the last 5 years the X5 has handled slippery wet fields with the horses behind without issue, in the winter out shooting around the country I run a set of 18" wintrac extreme and it has coped with snow, mild floods, mud and all other conditions. I have even pulled a friends Disco out of a deep set of ruts (well he went first and showed the rest of us where the problem was)
just remember the old joke "the weakest part of the car is the big nut holding the steering wheel"! If that is not functioning right you can get into all sorts of trouble and get any car stuck.

[chelsea]

[quote="AVI-8"]
It's a 4WD it's much better than a 2WD given the laws of physics in snow you've double the traction when things get slippery, mine has 20" wheels, Le Mans edition and coped with a Sottish winter better than any car I've owned before. If you live in a very remote location stick some off road tyres on it and it will take you anywhere ... Within reason! A car with diff locks may be better, but that's in off road conditions , maybe a Dosco would be better if you drive through muddy fields for whatever reason.
[/quote]
lol..........Its actually an All wheel drive 

[Dan1502]

I experienced a four wheel drift on sheet ice in mine thankfully at a pretty low speed.  I had that feeling in my stomach.  Luckily I had the Wintracs on and was able to ease it around the corner without any fishtailing.  I can't really comment on how it would have been on standard tyres but I was glad I had them.  The good thing is they're great in the wet too and they generally mean that slush on a motorway etc isn't a worry.  I was sold on them having visited Germany in the winter several times.

[Nat]

In Short................YES  but its ALL about the right Tyres.

E53 on winter tyres is awesome in snow............

Would you play football well in the wet with your loafers on ? No .................but change the loafers for some adidas predator and its a different performance. Same applies to your E53.

Have fun.

[X5Sport]

As above, you MUST have the right rubber fitted.  I use Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow in the silly season.  Haven't let me down yet.