Driving Tips for Snow & Offroad?
 

hi...short time member.

ive been searching the forums for a while and a want to get a few tips for my 01' 4.4i sport. running 20' TSW all season tires

Out here in SoCal i get alot of time to hang out in the local mountains, so i get all season weather.

1. When would be the most reccomended time to turn off DSC when in snow *1-3 inches, 4-8 on big days* and should i use manual (triptronic)

2.Would it have to be turned off when doing mild offroading and/or a prefered gear?

3.any other pointers

i think lowering tire pressure helps. but it may not be a good idea due to 20" rims. large rims aren't good at offroading.

i leave on my stock rims all winter and just slide around , i love it..
but i have used the winter set a few times and with those on you dont have to worry about to much...( get a winter set . ) i just hate the way they look so i dont bother and like i said i like sliding around in the snow. mountain driving they would be on though.....

- Style 99 Winter Wheels set , was what the gave me back in the day.
looked like poo but the whole set worked amazingly well..

Do not turn off DSC, you need it more in snow than in the dry. When you turn off DSC, you are in the DTC (Dynamic Traction Control mode). This allows slightly more wheel slip, and you lose the benefits of stability control.

The only time to turn it off is when you are starting off in snow or ice, and the throttle won't respond because there is no available traction. In that case you turn it off, and let the wheels spin while you get the vehicle moving, then turn it back on as soon as you are moving.

Don't lower tire pressures in snow.

What you really need are snow tires, but failing having the correct tires for the conditions, try driving it in an empty parking lot to see how it responds before going on the street.

Get skinnier tires. Fat 20" rims / tires probably not great in snow

Avoid high torque launches (start in 2nd gear, etc)

now say i am trying to get into the driveway....bit high angled. So it would be in a good amount of snow and im trying to push in just enough for a car space..would it be better to have DSC off for the wheel slip to gain more space?

NO sudden movements
Plan ahead, remember your car will follow your eyes.
Defensive driving is a must, don't trust the other guy, react appropriately
Always know your options if an evasive maneuver is needed
Slower than usual but too slow can be bad. (don't become a hazard)
Find an empty parking lot and get feel for the car's reactions to starts, steering, braking etc...
Low freezing point washer fluid.
IMO-Energy bars, shovel, wool caps and blanket(s) in case.

You need to understand how the system works. Always have DSC on to start. When a wheel slips, a brake is applied on one wheel so that wheel doesn't spin, and the power is delivered to the other wheels that have some traction. If all the wheels are spinning, then the DSC system backs off the throttle, even if you are pushing the gas pedal. If you floor it and it doesn't go over idle due to DSC, then it is because no wheel has traction. That is the only time you turn it off, and in that case the system will let a wheel spin. You can sometimes make more progress, but you are not helping your tires or differentials, so don't spin too much. As soon as the vehicle is moving, turn DSC back on.

i guess i left out a few things here... it has been driven in a snow for quite a while, but one thing i didnt mention was i use snow chains (Z sytles) on ALL 4 wheels.. now.. the manual says have DSC off for max traction but do you guys say otherwise?

still i never got a answer if i should drive in a selected gear or just in sport mode (no gear selected) in said condition ^^

but thanx for all your helpful post :)

Well, BMW recommend not putting chains on the front wheels, and only mounting chains on 17" wheels, but it's your call.

The manual doesn't say have DSC off for maximum traction, because turning it off generally reduces traction. What it says is that it may be advantageous to turn it off for a short time to reduce traction so that you can spin the wheels to get going (not generally a good idea with chains, but again, it's your call).

You should not drive in sport mode, but rather in regular drive mode. Sport involves higher revs, and that is the opposite of what you want in the snow. If you want to use manual mode, it is an effective way of providing engine braking when descending a hill. You can also use manual mode to start off, but remember that even if you put it in a higher gear for starting off, the transmission may automatically select a lower gear.