Best Practices for Open Diff Driving in the Snow

[M0nk3y]

To who drives in deep snow, I need some suggestions.

I currently run Blizzak LM-25 tires on the 128, not the best...but I got them used with a season on it to get me through this summer until I get Ice-X tires next year.

Anyways, I'm experience so far, the car doesn't like deep snow at all. Instantly, the car will lose grip in a wheel and go open diff. The DSC tries it best to try and correct, but ends up cutting engine power.

Usually, I'll press the DSC button once to get rid of the e-diff and go full open diff and just hope my best I can spin the tire to get grip.

For example, today I came home to around 7" or so in my driveway, and with a small incline I got the car stuck. I've had no problem with an E92 xDrive with Ice-X tires.

However, this obviously isn't the best solution to try and always turn off traction and hope for the best.


Have anyone tried pulling the e-brake slightly to lock the differential and try and get both wheels to spin with the DSC pressed once?

Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out a way to cope with an open diff. I'm no stranger to driving in snow. I've done with with a FWD car, AWD car, but this is my first RWD car in the snow

And tips/suggestions appreciated.

[Vas]

I would be interested in hearing some advice as well.

The zhp is also my first car with an open diff which i despise. Every other car I owner had an lsd.

[Newjack]

Also interested. The BMW is the first rear wheel drive car and first with an open diff. Winters here have been mild so I haven't really experienced many "snowy" driving conditions.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[alexandre]

We get a lot of snow up here (3 ft to date) and honestly my strategy is just to predict and disable DSC in advance. My tires (WS-60) get good reviews for deep snow and I still spin a ton, but haven't ever been stuck. The engine has too much torque lol.

Where feasible go up hills in reverse as the car will be "fwd" and have more grip in fresh snow... But otherwise it's just a matter of predicting the terrain where you're gonna need more spin than stability and being very gentle on the throttle.


iP4S + TT2

[ZHPRegistry.net]

The best practice for the E46s is to disable the 1st stage DSC, leaving the "poor mans LSD" feature on. This assumes that you understand what you're doing with the right foot and know to back off well in advance before you find yourself facing the road in the wrong direction. The DSC kicks in way to early taking away all the possible momentum that you often need to overcome slippery surface uphill.

[3ZHPGUY]

I grew up in Buffalo, NY and learned how to drive in the mid 70's. That was before front wheel drive and (Positraction) or LSD was a special order option so, most cars didn't have it.

The trick we learned in deep snow was to feather the gas and hope the rear end didn't break loose. If it did, you needed to (rock it) meaning roll up the rut in drive, then do the same in reverse and just keep increasing the rock in till you can get it unstuck. A lot of gear slamming went on in those days.

The other option for deep snow, was Tire Chains. They work great on snow covered roads but, your limited on speed and the have to be removed once the pavement is visible. If you don't you will prematurely wear out the chain that can break and destroy your fender from the broken chain hitting it. FYI: plastic chains are also available and may not work as well but, are less destructive if they break.

[mimalmo]

I always had the best luck when doing the single DSC button press. It allowed a bit of oversteer but didn't cut the throttle. DSC would only step in if you got way out of shape.

[BRGcoopahS]

I'm finding that having the first stage of DSC off is the best. I just went out for a drive in the snow ( apparently north jersey is in a state of emergency lolol) and did ok with it off.

I'm driving on conti DWS. So these aren't even winter tires. The car was sliding a bit down slight hills and I definitely had to be careful, but overall for all seasons I'm impressed. I enjoy the challenge, call me crazy. I'd rather learn to control the car with DSC off than "play it safe" with some fwd car and traction control on.

Turning off stage two in a parking lot was mega fun :D

[BavarianZHP]

Anyone use snow socks? As for driving: slow and maintain tons of distance from cars in front of you - especially on downhills.

[stephenkirsh]

The best practice for the E46s is to disable the 1st stage DSC, leaving the "poor mans LSD" feature on.

Ok newbie question: What's "1st stage DSC" on an E46? I thought it was simply just ON or OFF.