TommyC 33 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 Yesterday afternoon/evening I was driving back to Telford from Oxfordshire for the weekend. M5 traffic as usual so I ditched it and went through Kidderminster up the A449 & A442. It took 3 hours to get from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth as we had to get round a few stuck BMWs and a stricken Lorry. There were a few time I thought I'd end up stuck as it was very difficult to get moving again in the stoooop-start-stooooop traffic! I actually found it better and easier to get going with traction control fully off. It seemed to interfere too much and hinder things, not help?! Also decidedly to have some low speed fun on the twisty bits of our estate... and ended up perpendicular to the road and stalled 😳 15 point turn saw me to my driveway with some emabarrassment 😂😂😂 Anyone else having any Snowy moments/adventures? 1 Mya X Ferron reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucas 244 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 Yeah, same for me. I got stuck going uphill yesterday morning. Electronics was interfering too much, couldn't do anything other than turning traction control off completely. I needed RPMs to get the wheels spinning and make some grip on a fairly icy hill. 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mya X Ferron 41 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 Sadly not as we have snow tyres on 😂 although there's some more snow forecast for tomorrow so we might have to intentionally try and get it sideways 😂 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lowe 191 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 This is exactly what single press of TC is for 👍🏻 1 surrey86 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 I'm trying to avoid the snow unless I have to drive in it. But in previous years turning everything off is basically essential in the snow if you want to get anywhere. 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TommyC 33 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 23 minutes ago, Lowe said: This is exactly what single press of TC is for 👍🏻 I tried all combinations of buttons. Only one that worked for the situation was everything off... 😬😵 1 Lauren reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul 442 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 Big roundabout near my house has the main carriageway running through the middle so traffic lights control entry off the slip roads onto the main stretch. At the lights yesterday morning, TC on, merc next to me, gunned the throttle and the back end just sort of moved to the right without going forwards too much, after a second or 2 forwards progression appeared but the merc was long gone.... 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Church 209 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 Snow can be wonderful source of sideways/rally fun :). But I advise (from my own negative experience in past ) to never go above vsc sport when driving on public streets in winter or when wet though. On streets it's not just self that can be endangered with hooning, but also other drivers and pedestrians, and mistakes cost much more, due environment with many uncontrolled variables and one that is not designed to decrease them (eg. kerb design, one way direction, lessening of blind corners, short-distance, well-known from repeated/lapped many times track), one not made for mistakes to cost less, not allowing to push more to limits with more piece of mind. Instead it's spinning out & hitting kerb with damaging suspension and paying more for repairs & insurance, versus if on track, spinning out, sliding off track and sliding a bit till stop, then continuing speed lapping. Complete TC off or pedal dance should be left for specialized winter tracks or icy lakes, again, where mistakes are less costly and where there are less uncontrollable variables like opposite direction traffic, blind corners, idiotic unpredictable maneuvers of some one notices too late. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lucas 244 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 I think that everyone who turns the TC off is fully aware of what it does. 3 TommyC, Mya X Ferron and surrey86 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
surrey86 352 Report post Posted December 9, 2017 8 hours ago, Lowe said: This is exactly what single press of TC is for 👍🏻 Exactly, the button is there for a reason. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TommyC 33 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 11 hours ago, maurice said: Exactly, the button is there for a reason. More snow due today, and I'm due back in Oxfordshire tonight! It shall be getting some use! 🙂 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TommyC 33 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 I wonder what buttons they have in X-Drive BMWs? Whatever they have, it doesn't seem to work...?! The maker of this video is clearly an Audi fan, but it made me laugh! Mostly because it was stuck BMWs causing most of the issues on friday night, and at one point when I was leaving a bit of 'run-up room' I was passed by an impatient Audi! 1 Lauren reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 LOL. I remember the one time in the three winters I had winter tyres on my GT when it actually snowed. I was able to drive down a snow covered lane at 60mph on a dual carriageway and just drove past everyone else. Brilliant! Though I could have just used the cleared lane of course. When it wasn't snowing though? No good at all! I did enjoy those five minutes though. 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kodename47 446 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 I would say that video is heavily biased and none of the BMWs were on tyres that work. Working in an environment that is split between tarmac and off road, I know even a Hilux struggles in a muddy field if running road tyres and not ATs. 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeB 79 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 1 hour ago, TommyC said: I wonder what buttons they have in X-Drive BMWs? Whatever they have, it doesn't seem to work...?! The maker of this video is clearly an Audi fan, but it made me laugh! Mostly because it was stuck BMWs causing most of the issues on friday night, and at one point when I was leaving a bit of 'run-up room' I was passed by an impatient Audi! I have a BMW 1 series xDrive and for snow and off road you turn off traction control which BMW recommend. I have not been stuck in mud (I work in building industry and on site a lot) and had no issues in the snow. I had Continental winter tyres on my previous Beemer and they worked really well with no problems. Might pop out and try snow Mode in GT but tyres on wheelchair don’t grip to get to it lol! 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Church 209 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 Lauren: snow is that rare on islands? You guys are missing a lot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted December 10, 2017 On the island that is the UK it is, which is due to the Gulf Stream of course which gives the UK a very unusual temperate climate. So it's warmer than it should be given how far it is north and on the western side of the UK it has a very mild climate, so snow hardly ever happens. Yes, I know we are missing out on a lot! We live in a weird place when it comes to weather! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24305230 1 TommyC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites