X5 xDrive35d in the Snow....

[Lawfarm]

So the introductory pics of my X5 aren't quite a scenic and perfectly composed as I had planned on, but the opportunity struck and couldn't be missed...

I live in Northern Illinois, and we received about 18" of snow yesterday/last night/this morning. Last evening, I was coming home from a meeting in the X5. I've mounted a set of Blizzak LM-60 RFTs on a set of Moda EB1 18" wheels, and I can honestly say that the BMW is the best handling car in the snow that I've ever had. Previous vehicles have included 4wd F-150, Toyota Tundra, Ford Expedition, Jeep Liberty, Toyota Highlander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee, and a few others. While I had a 77 CJ-5 that would go through deeper snow than the BMW (it should have, with 6" of lift, 35" tires, and a healthy 304 v-8), the BMW is the best 'on-road' vehicle I've ever driven. Pressing the DSC button one time (to switch to DTC mode) results in a car that is amazingly stable, predictable in power slides, and has a ton of traction. Sure, shutting the DSC off can be a bit more fun when playing, but being in the DTC mode, in my opinion, produces more forward tractive force.

I took a couple pics when I stopped for fuel, and a couple at home. If you look closely, you'll see snow packed in the lower valance, and even some snow inside the grille. That snow is not snow that blew in there, but rather is snow that pushed in there when I went through a couple drifts that were up to the hood. Fortunately, it was pretty dry snow. FWIW, the mudflaps held up perfectly; no problem. It was truly an impressive performance. For my part, when it got blustery, I just clicked the seat heat up a notch and turned on my steering wheel warmer.

On my lengthy drive last night, I encountered ice, slush, deep, rutted, frozen snow, deep powdery snow, big drifts, heavy winds, and everything in between. My only complaints are: 1) the rear of the car packed with snow and covered the tail lights. Not terribly safe. 2) Even with the defrost cranking, I had to stop a few times and bang the ice off the wipers up front.

Anyhow, she did a great job. My driveway had a 5' deep drift across it this morning...and no, I didn't try to plow through that. The X5 is in the garage, nice and warm (and dry, now).