The best E30 theft deterrent: SNOW!!!

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
BEERBOY123
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1537
Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:00 pm

Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:44 pm

I just left mine idling on the drive, while having a cuppa indoors.

Not police advice I know. But quite frankly, the best thief deterrent for E30s is heavy snow. Good luck stealing an E30 in this weather and getting away!

Even some modern BM drivers I was following yesterday gave up and walked home after fishtailing all over the place and getting stuck on hills.

Plus mine is Alpineweiss II; it's like Bond's invisible Aston at the moment.
Two headblenders, couple of bags of MC Hammer, 5 litres of FFF, a 48ft bastard, a box of jumped-up custard and some soggy chimps
Nobby_N
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 3957
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Boston Lincs Mainly being a Coont

Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:52 pm

You a touch retarded Ratch???
Rosc0PColtrane
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 9757
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: With Ceiling cat, watching you masturbate.

Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:24 pm

Lol, that's Ratch????? How is Pimlico this time of year??/
Grrrmachine
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
Posts: 8043
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warsaw, Poland

Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:28 pm

More likely a thief walked past and was tempted before realising it was only an iS.
User avatar
harry_p
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5313
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: norfolk

Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:41 pm

E30s are a lot better than most modern bmws, although work a lot better with an LSD.

Sensible width tyres and pretty light compared to modern versions helps.
cheers,

harry
pac1982
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5330
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: isle of wight

Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:40 pm

its not RWD cars that are the problem its people who don't know how to drive them i've done the last 3 winters in a RWD BMW didn't get stuck once
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
User avatar
harry_p
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5313
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: norfolk

Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:53 pm

Last year my e36 wouldn't get up the slight slope in the drive, even at idle and easing the clutch out it would just spin the wheels and slide sideways towards the fence.

No amount of driver skill would have moved it, yet the golf would happily scoot up and down the same slope without a worry.
cheers,

harry
HairyScreech
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6265
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:00 pm

Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:58 pm

^^ as above, had that my self with the e30, the answer was to get the spade out and clear a pair of tracks where needed.
2.8 development thread http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=170822

m3.3.1 m20 thread - now running, chip needed - any volunteers?
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... =viewtopic&
Alex
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 22666
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:12 pm

Fuuucking hell :mad:
pac1982
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5330
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: isle of wight

Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:23 pm

well i must just be lucky then i have been through many a winter in RWD cars and not been stuck once, currently driving an MR2 which has been fine, last year it was a E36 325 Auto Touring, before that my E36 compact, my E30 318is before that also an E36 323 coupe and a 316 E30 never been stuck or had to abandon the car once.

I actually found it easier in the older cars with out traction control
Last edited by pac1982 on Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
Rosc0PColtrane
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 9757
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: With Ceiling cat, watching you masturbate.

Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:57 pm

I've been turning the traction control off in the snow too. It can't cope otherwise. Plus it's harder to drift and donut with it on....
bss325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 24536
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: London/Surrey

Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:00 pm

Switch it off to pull away then back on once moving.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
Morat
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 8943
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire

Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:11 pm

Since we're all driving the same cars it's all to do with the tyres. Some summer tyres will cut it in snow, some won't. Winter tyres definitely will (within reason).
E30 Touring 0.35 cD - more slippery than prison soap :)

Image
Praise the Lard... and pass the dripping!
bss325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 24536
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: London/Surrey

Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 pm

I never bothered with winter tyres and ive never had trouble getting about in the snow.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
snakebrain
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3685
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:00 pm

Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:34 pm

Have driven an E34 with winter tyres (on the rear axle only) in really grim conditions and it wasn't bad at all...
Morat
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 8943
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire

Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:57 am

bss325i wrote:I never bothered with winter tyres and ive never had trouble getting about in the snow.
True, but you do live in the civilised south where its relatively flat and the rich citizens pay lots of council tax for gritters :-)
E30 Touring 0.35 cD - more slippery than prison soap :)

Image
Praise the Lard... and pass the dripping!
User avatar
DasChin
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 455
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:00 pm

Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:31 am

winter tyres rule. I drove my old e46 CSL on winters in Germany and it would go anyway.

we are such idiots in the UK when we all get stuck with 1cm of Schnee around!
suedenim
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: London

Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:39 am

I've just taken my e21 out around Muswell hill, which is full of hills. I have to drive her in the lowest possible gear until she's warmed, until I get a chance to sort out the carb. No problems, even on snow covered hills, even reversed out of the hilly drive with thick snow. I do worry about the old turd getting hit by a tool in a 4x4 mind (who tend to show off and lack any respect for the conditions, yet their braking is no more effective than 2wd).
1982 E21 316 Baltic Blau
1989 318i 2 Door Sterling Silber

Feedback: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=
bss325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 24536
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: London/Surrey

Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:52 am

Morat wrote:
bss325i wrote:I never bothered with winter tyres and ive never had trouble getting about in the snow.
True, but you do live in the civilised south where its relatively flat and the rich citizens pay lots of council tax for gritters :-)
I live right by the north downs which is very hilly, I go up and down Reigate bill most days which is the main road to the M25.

We do have grifters granted but not on the side roads! :(
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
User avatar
verde
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5438
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: The Sticks

Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:54 am

Some of my friends drive their drift motors all year. One girl I know drives 80 miles a day in her S15 no matter what the weather.
Marrakesh brown tech 2 LSx loading.....
Raise hell praise Dale.
North East Drift Club - Hollerboys Drift
User avatar
gman1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 11:00 pm

Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:08 pm

My wifes old 540 touring was awesome in the snow.....would go anywhere without a problem......we used to live up a fairly steep winding hill...my e36 compact only managed about 1/4 the way up,where as "the beast"(that what we used to call it!!!)breezed up the hill!!!! :D
User avatar
blackE30indy
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: leicester/uk

Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:22 pm

Used mine for the last 3 years without any issues :D
User avatar
mwggriffiths
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Solihull

Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:41 pm

I think this sums my thoughts on the matter quite nicely:

Image
Image
1990 318iS, 1998 E36 328i Touring, 2001 740i Sport, 1971 Range Rover
User avatar
Nick45
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Leeds
Contact:

Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:36 pm

You lot who are saying "it's no problem" must be McCrae wannabes. Mines got winter goodyears all round and its Bambi on ice. I was passed slithering and sliding up a hill this morning by:

A Honda Jazz
An Audi A6
A fecking Proton Something or Other
The local breadvan.

E30s are crap in the snow, end of.
Carbs 'n Chrome
User avatar
mwggriffiths
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Solihull

Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:45 pm

Nick45 wrote:You lot who are saying "it's no problem" must be McCrae wannabes. Mines got winter goodyears all round and its Bambi on ice. I was passed slithering and sliding up a hill this morning by:

A Honda Jazz
An Audi A6
A ********* Proton Something or Other
The local breadvan.

E30s are crap in the snow, end of.
Where did you get your winters from? Have you checked their manufacturer date? Half the ones on eBay are 4-5 years old and as a result they're probably worse than summers! My Hancooks were made in October 2011, they've still got plenty of tread and plenty of life left in the rubber itself. Best £280 I've spent on my E30 I reckon, especially as it's my DD
Image
1990 318iS, 1998 E36 328i Touring, 2001 740i Sport, 1971 Range Rover
Post Reply