Yesterday I got caught in a blizzard on the M6 between Tebay and Shap (cumbria) it layed 2-3cm down in a matter of minutes and started about 3-4 mins before I arrived it was a complete white out and the road (although traffic on it) the snow layed down straight away, road was completely white. But just pounced it was like hitting a white wall.
The weather is completely unpredictable and up here we describe Tebay as 'another world' as the weather changes so quickly. Just 1/2 a mile before the road was completely clear with no sign of snow. Tebay is quite high up and surrounded by the fells so the temp dramatically changes therefore the unpredictable weather.
Slowed it down by just taking off my foot off the gas. All the traffic was slowing very quickly everyone was stupidly braking. Managed to slow down to about 40 (snow was building up quickly fresh and un-compacted) and then....
The car in front of me locked up, spun 180 I was about 3 car lengths behind him but there was nothing else I could do but brake or I would have front ended him (as he was facing me), I didnt put the brakes on hard, but with the low profile tyres and the build up of snow the car wasnt too happy. Of corse the lardy arse Z4M tried to put me in a spin, put me 45 deg left, 45 deg right but fortunately I managed to keep hold of her but the car in front of me ended up in the barrier.
No one was hurt fortunately, and the guys car had a fair amount of damage but it was still drivable, but its a good job there was no one directly behind me or to the side of me or I would have ended up in the barrier and probably taken some one with me as the near spin put me in two lanes.
I then limped the car past Shap where the snow completely disappeared on the decent into Penrith, but i stuck at 35 in 6th doing about 1400rpm and the traction control was flashing at me the whole way.
But it does amaze me at the stupidity of the drivers, braking is the last thing you want to do when you are traveling at speed and encounter that type of weather because even if you have ABS the wheels will still lock up on powder snow at about 50mph which is what happened to the bloke in front of me. Otherwise the near accident wouldn't have occurred.
Fortunately I am used to the weather, last year we had heavy snow for 3-4 months so its almost normal, and I am used to driving in the snow which is probably how I managed to keep it out the barrier. But last year I had a 320 so there is a huge amount of difference, but sufficed to say the Z4M will be tucked up in the garage for the winter now. Even with winter tyres BMWs are useless up here especially one with 343hp and I live on a hill with no snow clearing or gritting so theres no point buying winter tyres the only way to get around is 4x4 or getting snow chains, I will be using the trusty Mini cooper as it was brilliant last year.
To answer your question they are useless, but all BMWs are had them for 20 years and we always garage them unless the winter isnt too bad. But like I said where I am the roads are really bad, its all country roads and non of them are main roads, so further down country with some winter tyres it may be ok. But in my opinion your better off leaving it in the garage and wait for a break in the weather and grab yourself a front wheel drive for the winter.
But like I said I was on the M6 so anything can happen.
