winter driving

[ihyln]

Originally Posted by Bikerjoy

Will 17" fit over the rotors?

No.

[mightyaa]

I had the opportunity to hit some slush over the weekend in WinterPark Colorado with my E90 M3 as I came over the mountain (berthod pass). It did just fine, though I'll be getting dedicated winter tires soon. A little slipping around, but the traction control worked wonderfully. There wasn't enough slush to really judge it by since the tires sort of just pushed it out of the way.

Oddly enough, I was really impressed with the rain-sensing wipers.. Once on, I never had to touch it again and the driving went from a drizzling rain and traffic slop to blizzard conditions at speeds ranging from 15mph switchbacks to 90mph passing streaks..

btw, ran across a Saab Turbo-X test where they put it head to head against a Subaru WRX STi, M3, 335xi, and a Audi A4 3.2 Quattro on a dry and wet track. M3 won both dry and wet regardless of rwd versus the rest having awd. Driver was Jan Magnussen (25 Formula 1 starts, and triple Le Mans 24 hours wins for Corvette Racing) instead of some reporter or pr person.

http://jalopnik.com/380099/2008-saab...es-and-audi-a4

[IWearScrubs]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

I just spent the last two winters just west of Minneapolis (Monticello).

I'd talk to the dealership about running different oil if you're going to drive year-round in Minneapolis. Unless you have heated garages at home and work, your oil will turn to sludge. With my e46, if I left the car outside for more than an hour or two in single digit weather, the motor would make all kinds of terrible sounds on start-up. I don't think the VANOS likes having that thick goop pumped into it.

But other than the temperature, I don't see any problem driving the M3 year round in Minnesota. Heck, its dry and sunny most of the winter anyway. You can drive her pretty hard without worry. I recommend the Michelin PA2 or PA3. They are great in super cold climate. I don't think they are as good in the snow as some other tires, but the ride and handling are superior for the cold, dry Minnesota winter.

Good info to know, thanks.

Why were you in Monticello? I can think of only one thing there and it is a nuke plant? Given your SN I am guessing that is why?

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by IWearScrubs

Good info to know, thanks.

Why were you in Monticello? I can think of only one thing there and it is a nuke plant? Given your SN I am guessing that is why?

Yup.
Give the man a See-garrrr.

Spent 18 months there preparing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission request to uprate the plant to 120 percent of original power. Something north of 2.5 million horsepower. And that's a little nuke. The one I'm working on now will be pushing 5 million horsepower.

[IWearScrubs]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Yup.
Give the man a See-garrrr.

Spent 18 months there preparing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission request to uprate the plant to 120 percent of original power. Something north of 2.5 million horsepower. And that's a little nuke. The one I'm working on now will be pushing 5 million horsepower.

That's a lot of power. How did you get into this field, if you don't mind me asking. I am very interested and curious.

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by IWearScrubs

That's a lot of power. How did you get into this field, if you don't mind me asking. I am very interested and curious.

Interned with GE Nuclear Energy in San Jose back in 1989 before my last year in college. Was planning to become a mining engineer. They told me to call them when I got out of school.

They gave me 18 months of on-the-job training in power plant maintenance and project management. Then sent me all over the world to solve problems for electric utilities with nukes.

"It don't work cuz it's broke." I had to figure out why it was "broke" and then how to fix it. A million dollars per day in lost revenue while they were down (rule of thumb). It was high pressure, high intensity work that was very satisfying. Now I mainly do some consulting and engineering work. Quite boring.

There are tremendous oportunities in the field (nuclear power) since the workforce has been decreasing for over twenty years and the remaining experienced workforce is readying for retirement. All this at a time when new plants are getting ready to start construction.