Re: [bmw] Winter Driving

[M Kittock <black328@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pretty much what I was going to say, I'll just add .02 more...
Adding sandbags to trunk - more necessary for American rear drive cars and 2wd pickups, all with verrrry front biased weight distribution.  With near 50-50, not as important to add weight to rear with BMW's.  I don't add any weight to the rear here in Minnesota - but I do run winter tires and leave the ASC+T on.

- Mark 

Subject: Re: [bmw] Winter Driving


>Is this pretty common for rear-wheel drive cars?

[Sandbags in the trunk]  Sure, it's a time honored practice.  It is rare to 
see nowadays, since rear wheel drive cars aren't the majority.

>How effective is it?

It helps the back tires bite slightly more effectively, thus giving you 
slightly more acceleration and preventing the back end from coming around 
in turns.  In my opinion, modern traction controls are significantly more 
useful.

There is little disadvantage.  You have slightly worse gas mileage since 
you're dragging around a couple of hundred of pounds of extra weight and 
the loss of trunk space.

>And finally, if I were to drive from Nebraska back to Texas during the
>winter, would I need to relocate the weight in the trunk for the more
>temperate roads?

No.  Doesn't exactly make the car as sporty lugging around a couple of 
extra pounds like that, but it doesn't hurt anything.

- - Matt
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