E30 in the snow

[Blitz]

Snowy hospital car park. Doctor's parking permit. It would be rude not to.

Couple of hairy moments, but great great fun. One thing that sticks in the mind, just don't touch the brakes - ABS is a **** in the snow!

The scariest bit was walking back after parking the car, almost slipped over landing on my face - v dangerous!

Basildon hospital?

[craz_azn]

Wow, you guys got a good helping of snow too! I did not think it was that bad over on that side of the pond too. Maybe I should watch the weather channel more often haha

E30s are pretty good in the snow, rather rubbish though without LSD. I wish our e30s had an ABS switch like the older Audi Quattros... I find that stopping at slow speeds is better when locked up (under 10-15mph... of course it wont steer when locked!)

[charlE30]

A tip for anyone with an open diff if you can't pull away by only using the clutch and no throttle and you have one wheel spinning up try putting the hand brake on a few clicks makes a temporary and very low tech slip diff.

Just don't forget to take it off as soon as you get going you can do this with a bit of left foot breaking if you are in a wrong wheel drive car.

cheers chap, frustartingly I've got a slip diff sat in the shed Looks like I'll be getting cold tomorrow swapping it over

[George]

Snowy hospital car park. Doctor's parking permit. It would be rude not to.

Couple of hairy moments, but great great fun. One thing that sticks in the mind, just don't touch the brakes - ABS is a **** in the snow!

The scariest bit was walking back after parking the car, almost slipped over landing on my face - v dangerous!

Basildon hospital?

I cannot confirm or deny... ;)

[CpnSpankyPantz]

[harry_p]

snowplough,


neutered before itgets smashed off by a lump of slush / ice

[HairyScreech]

been rubish here in swansea, day i come back up here it snows heavy in wiltshire but nothing here.

best we had was a 2" drop yesterday night, only just enough to trap my car up our 30degree ungritted terrace with a nice 40/50m drop when you lose it.

only good bit was snowboarding on the virgin 2" down the terrace at 2am.

[StefanAnghel]

[Motorhole]

Never had the pleasure (or otherwise) of driving an E30 in the snow! My previous one was owned for under a year, never in winter - and my current one is garaged up in bits.

My Fabia vRS appears to be ace in the snow though...in Scotland I rescued my sister when her Jazz got stuck. And the 8 inches or so we got in Manchester havn't proved a problem either, just ploughs through anything and refuses to get stuck.

[Legface]

I've found the combination of ice, snow, hills, and an E30 316 Touring has made me use fighter pilot levels of concentration. The key to making progress is to add 'ballast' to the rear of the car. In my case I've added 145kg of coal, and this has made life easier. You must also think ahead, try not to stop, and probably be 1 gear higher than you normally would.
The only way to learn is to just get out there.
Of course, you must allow for the added 'ballast' and remember that if the rear does start sliding about, then you will have to deal will a lot more weight trying to swap ends.

For every action, there is a reaction.

I must add that I have to go out twice a day, 7 days a week to fulfill contract work that I've agreed to do, so the E30 has to be pressed into service regardless. I've owned, and driven, many nice cars over the years in the snow, and you just have to think ahead, as well as watching what other folks are up to, to avoid getting in a mess.

I've also got a spade in the car.
Say no more.

[billgatese30]

Spade, two pieces of carpet that are just long enough to fit between the front and rear wheels for when you can't get moving in car parks etc & a spare coat.

Other than that all you need to do is plan well ahead and if you see someone approaching a junction expect them not to stop and make sure your able to stop or avoid them as if they were already stopped in your path. So long as you keep your right foot in check (unless of course you need to overcome understeer ) you should be able to avoid most problems.

[mick_318is]

My looking Sad and Sorry for itself.



Finally dug it out and tried to get up the road ( slow slope upwards all the way ). No Luck
Tries getting it back in the drive No Luck
Parked it on the road and caught the train.

Job for tonight clear the snow away a bit more, load up the rear with lots of weight.

Try again

[charlE30]

I've just spent the last three hours clearing the snow from my drive to swap diffs I know have a 3.91slipper on and (3.07 open removed) hopefully it'll be more useful in the snow now.

Was getting sick and tired of constantly getting stuck in the works carpark and we're meant to be getting more snow on sunday

Just waiting for my fingers and toes to warm up now, not much fun on your back changing diffs in 0 degrees.

[Brianmoooore]

Launched a serious attack on the ice in the yard with the tractor and loader bucket this morning, and finally dug my way out! Another quarter mile of levelling off snow with the front spoiler lip, and I made it to a treated/cleared road.
Went off to the nearest town, to get a few provisions, where, on a good day you might see one other E30. Saw no less than three there today, amongst about half the traffic there normally is.

[mr_dink]

I love the snow! Its the only time you can drift a 4 pot!

[George]

Half an hour spent here

[gareth]

Went off to the nearest town, to get a few provisions, where, on a good day you might see one other E30. Saw no less than three there today, amongst about half the traffic there normally is.

i see one or two a day sometimes, but yesterday i was in a convoy with two others for some odd reason. they both seemed a little more scared than me so i did my best to blow the snow of the road for them when i turned off, the second one tried to follow me and slid straight past the turning, only to reappear behind me shortly after (having 'u' turned on the main road) grinning like an idiot

[LagunaE30]

wouldnt reccomend it if youve got an open diff, took mine out today, one wheel was motionless while the other spun like a maniac.
got stuck and had to be rescued by a fat friend of mine who sat on the boot to get it moving again.

[gareth]

wouldnt reccomend it if youve got an open diff, took mine out today, one wheel was motionless while the other spun like a maniac.
got stuck and had to be rescued by a fat friend of mine who sat on the boot to get it moving again.

brim the tank with petrol (one mate's worth of weight) and buy a few cheap bags of gravel from B&W and keep them in the boot, along with a spade. useful for extra weight and if you get stuck, shovel the snow away, chuck some gravel down and away you go

[aj-E30]

its sideways from here mate... awsome stuff..

[mc_hawkings24]

I've been enjoying the snow and ice, i just let my tires down and away i went although could do with my toolbox in the boot. I been spinning on couple of slight hills and outside bp 3rd gear burnt out pulled me out everytime! I was outside lastnight in a focus its just no fun in fwd although you do need a crap car to have fun.

Its funny when you see peoples faces when you go sideways round a corner then drift all the way up the road on purpose lol

[500]

I'm driving an open diffed 325i with no problems. Mostly sideways

[mark_hat]

I'm lovin it!! Sideways o'clock!! just be sensible out there, give yourself loads of room and try not to drive above your capabilities.. snow can be very unpredictable at times but loads of fun,, also be careful where you park and keep the salt off your car...
Enjoy!!

[Barx325i]

snow

[Morat]

Well mine isn't going anywhere soon!



This is Jeep weather!

[dazleeds]

Well mine isn't going anywhere soon!



This is Jeep weather!

about the same outside mine now

my vans at least a foot taller on the roof now

and penned in with snow like yours
and i need to change the alternator lol not likely anytime soon

[Wocka]

E30s arn't great as there's little weight over the driven wheels. I've stuck two 25L bottles of water (50KGs) in the back which helps alot. If you do get traction E30s are sidewaystastic

Snow chains cost £50ish and mean you can go just about anywhere

[georgen]

I took mine through to work a few times earlier on in the year - I was getting too used to the TC and ABS on my E39, needed more of a challenge

It's not coming out to play at the mo though - too much digging required ;)



And we've had a further 6 inches since I took this shot

Zimbob,

I'm positive that I've passed you going the other way on the duel carriageway at Inverness. I'm pretty sure that we gave each other the thumbs up iirc ? It was ages ago though..

[Barx325i]

had to engage brain yesterday.. bit stuck so left it in gear, got out and pushed from the dash ....jumped back in when it started moving

[harry_p]

took a trip to go and see my grandard who hadnt had any visitors for a week as he lives in the middle of nowhere up a little country lane.

up hill all the way, snow starting to get slushy and very slippery, drifting over the road in places.

it was more a case of keep your foot in, doing as best you can to keep it straight, to try and build up some momentum to carry you over the deeper parts which saw first the front bumper leveling the snow, then the exhaust gouging a groove through it looking at the tracks i was the first non 4x4 or agricultural machinery that had been through.

i was quite pleased

[beemerbird]

took a trip to go and see my grandard who hadnt had any visitors for a week as he lives in the middle of nowhere up a little country lane.

up hill all the way, snow starting to get slushy and very slippery, drifting over the road in places.

it was more a case of keep your foot in, doing as best you can to keep it straight, to try and build up some momentum to carry you over the deeper parts which saw first the front bumper leveling the snow, then the exhaust gouging a groove through it looking at the tracks i was the first non 4x4 or agricultural machinery that had been through.

i was quite pleased

What a heart - warming story.

Fair play on you and your E30. I've found mine behaves brilliantly in the snow / slush so long as you don't spring any sudden moves on it.

My car- hating fella spent about ten minutes yesterday trying to move his transit so he could get to work. He eventually gave up and borrowed the keys to my car

[zaust]

All slushy round here too now the quater mile long drift's down the dual carrage way have come to an end... It has been fun but it mean's I can now get back to speed when the slush goes. Bring on some rain, Please...

[TPS]

If its a RWD Transit you've got no hope, My Shitron LWB is FWD, been stuck a few times, but generally not too bad, I'm getting bored of snow now though.

[beemerbird]

If its a RWD Transit you've got no hope, My Shitron LWB is FWD, been stuck a few times, but generally not too bad, I'm getting bored of snow now though.

That's the one, the LWB RWD Fridge on wheels

[Brianmoooore]

Well, I found out today that an E30 is infinitely better in snow than a Skoda Octavia Estate! Neighbour got stuck outside my place today in snow that I've been driving over with no problems at all. Thing was slithering and sliding around all over the place like a horse on marbles.