How much snow is too much for the car?

[wscottdo]

I am considering a 2020 BMW 740 or 750.

I live in Iowa. Sometimes in the winter I encounter snow drifts of 6-8 inches. Would the car be able to handle those drifts with a good set of snow tires without risking damage?

How much snow would you be comfortable going through?

Thanks

[Qsilver7]

Is this RWD or AWD?

2003 was the first year that i used modern snow tires. They were Michelin Arctic Alpins and were mounted on a 01 735iL (RWD). I had sold my Ford F150 4WD truck and wondered how I’d make it through a GREAT LAKES REGION winter. Well i survived without incident and got the revelation of how affective dedicated snow tires could be.

Since that time winter tires have gotten better and i will never be without them as long as i live in the snow belt. The biggest issue will be he depth of the snow. The higher the amount of snowfall…you’ll have to consider how much snow can you plow through and if it is a west heavy snow or light powder.

Since 2003, I’ve driven an e34 525iT (RWD), an e39 540iT (RWD), and an e38 740iL (RWD) in deep snow w/dedicated winter tires up to 4-6 inches. There may have been an 8” snowfall that i got through before i could reach the plowed main streets.

I later ended up with an e53 X5, f15 X5, and f06 650ix GC..all AWD…and all mounted with dedicated winter tires. The SUVs have no problem in deeper snow…so anytime a snowfall is up to the bumper of the sedan…i leave her at home. But as long as the snow is below the bumper…I have no problem driving a sedan mounted with dedicated winter tires rated for handling deep snow and ice. (Michelin X-ice xi2).

The saying goes…a RWD with 4 dedicated winter tires performs better than an AWD with all seasons.

Here’s some pics from a previous thread on this same topic that was first posted back in JAN 2021: https://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1795976

[wscottdo]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Is this RWD or AWD?

2003 was the first year that i used modern snow tires. They were Michelin Arctic Alpins and were mounted on a 01 735iL (RWD). I had sold my Ford F150 4WD truck and wondered how I’d make it through a GREAT LAKES REGION winter. Well i survived without incident and got the revelation of how affective dedicated snow tires could be.

Since that time winter tires have gotten better and i will never be without them as long as i live in the snow belt. The biggest issue will be he depth of the snow. The higher the amount of snowfall…you’ll have to consider how much snow can you plow through and if it is a west heavy snow or light powder.

Since 2003, I’ve driven an e34 525iT (RWD), an e39 540iT (RWD), and an e38 740iL (RWD) in deep snow w/dedicated winter tires up to 4-6 inches. There may have been an 8” snowfall that i got through before i could reach the plowed main streets.

I later ended up with an e53 X5, f15 X5, and f06 650ix GC..all AWD…and all mounted with dedicated winter tires. The SUVs have no problem in deeper snow…so anytime a snowfall is up to the bumper of the sedan…i leave her at home. But as long as the snow is below the bumper…I have no problem driving a sedan mounted with dedicated winter tires rated for handling deep snow and ice. (Michelin X-ice xi2).

The saying goes…a RWD with 4 dedicated winter tires performs better than an AWD with all seasons.

Here’s some pics from a previous thread on this same topic that was first posted back in JAN 2021: https://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1795976

Wow!

What a great write up. 10” of snow without difficulty is impressive. I am sold now on the 750i with X-drive!

Thank you for sharing

[wscottdo]

Wow!

What a great write up. 10” of snow without difficulty is impressive.

Can anyone echo that experience?

If so, I am sold on the 750i with X-drive!

Thank you for sharing

[Qsilver7]

AWD and dedicated snow tires can change your entire winter driving experience from constant white-knuckle...to more relaxed confident experience. You can go from "uh oh...can I, can I...whoa" to "oh yeah, I got this".

[Derived]

I'll put it to you this way - drove mine through that horrible snowstorm that tore through the midwest last December between Chicago and Detroit - on performance all-seasons no less. Probably did about 100 miles on roads that were mostly iced over. At one point was in the middle of the storm and was directed off the freeway onto rural roads in the middle of nowhere Michigan trying to find our way back on...car never faltered once, was never even close to stuck...just drove sensibly, carefully and raised the suspension. I have truly never felt more secure in any car, period. xDrive works quite well.

[Opie55]

I drive an XDrive 650 convertible rear-round in Denver with just all season tires. Probably average one or two events a year when I don't drive it because of depth. But it's considerably lower than a 7.