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      07-05-2017, 09:58 AM   #1
cvstar9M3
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Winter "beater'?

What do you driving in the winter? I'm thinking of getting a second car for winters in new England... drove my M3 last winter but rather not this time; it drove fine, but too many variables to consider, specially how others drive in the city. I wanna spend 10k maximum; must be SUV; and I want something either fun or luxury or cool: Thinking wrangler or Lexus gx470, or even old an old Range Rover sport (2004-2006) or something....I have always wanted to get wrangler; the resale value are ridiculous on them though. Any thoughts on a beater?
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      07-05-2017, 10:05 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvstar9M3 View Post
What do you driving in the winter? I'm thinking of getting a second car for winters in new England... drove my M3 last winter but rather not this time; it drove fine, but too many variables to consider, specially how others drive in the city. I wanna spend 10k maximum; must be SUV; and I want something either fun or luxury or cool: Thinking wrangler or Lexus gx470, or even old an old Range Rover sport (2004-2006) or something....I have always wanted to get wrangler; the resale value are ridiculous on them though. Any thoughts on a beater?

Just find an old CR-V, RAV4, or some other small crossover or wagon with 4WD. Maintenance and upkeep should be cheap and easy. If you need some real utility, such as towing/hauling, consider a bigger SUV like an Explorer or Land Cruiser -- or even a truck. I would avoid stuff like a Range Rover (hilariously unreliable) or Wrangler (uncomfortable and small).

I suppose if it needs to be "cool", you could try and find an old Land Cruiser, though in my experience they have held their value quite well.
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      07-05-2017, 12:33 PM   #3
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My M3 is my 4 season car. Winter tire set and I am good.

Anything more than 3 inches I stay my butt home.
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      07-05-2017, 12:37 PM   #4
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Any reason for only SUV? i have an Acura TL for winter, with some really good winters. good enough for Canadian winters, extremely cheap to maintain and reliable. i think its a great beater...and as luxury as a beater will get imo
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      07-05-2017, 12:39 PM   #5
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I would consider an X5M as a winter beater but for now my 08M3 on snows will continue as the winter beater.

Last edited by pbonsalb; 07-05-2017 at 01:45 PM..
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      07-05-2017, 12:42 PM   #6
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I have a 2003 Toyota 4runner for a winter/bad weather vehicle. Very low maintenance cost, Toyota reliability, and can haul a ton of stuff easily.

If you look into the 4runner though try for at least a 2005, the 5spd transmission is way better than the 4spd in the 03-04
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      07-05-2017, 01:16 PM   #7
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I've driven the M3 through 1 winter and it was totally fine as long as you have a good set of Winter tires on but I'd rather not risk the potential from an accident occurring.

My daily/winter vehicle is a 2010 Acura MDX
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      07-05-2017, 01:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkracing View Post
My M3 is my 4 season car. Winter tire set and I am good.

Anything more than 3 inches I stay my butt home.
This is how I plan to do it here in Ottawa/Gatineau. Only drive if the streets are plowed. Winter tires (legally olbligated in Quebec) of course. Only thing I'm worried is oil weight. Don't know if I should change it.
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      07-05-2017, 01:20 PM   #9
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Quote:
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This is how I plan to do it here in Ottawa/Gatineau. Only drive if the streets are plowed. Winter tires (legally olbligated in Quebec) of course. Only thing I'm worried is oil weight. Don't know if I should change it.
Just keep engine load low until it starts warming up. M1 0w40 would be an option too.

Otherwise, you could use something like an oil pan heater.
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      07-05-2017, 01:25 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by dparm View Post
Just keep engine load low until it starts warming up. M1 0w40 would be an option too.

Otherwise, you could use something like an oil pan heater.
Yeah. I was reading a lot on the oil problem and bearings but couldn't come to a full conclusion. In Ottawa sometimes it can somewhat rarely hit -25c.

Either just drive it real slow until it's warmed uip or change oil in winters and never redline it since the winter oils are not 60 when hot. But even the last option, I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

Last edited by TheMidnightNarwhal; 07-05-2017 at 01:56 PM..
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      07-05-2017, 01:35 PM   #11
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Bought a loaded '08 Infiniti EX35 AWD for my daughter for $10K in January. Runs great in winter, comes loaded with plenty of features and gadgets. This one had 80K miles on it, but it checked out mechanically during PPI, and those VQ engines will run forever if you maintain them. Not the biggest SUV, but seats 5 and can carry a decent amount of stuff when needed.
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      07-05-2017, 01:45 PM   #12
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I don't think you want to pay the maintenance to drive an old Land Rover. There are are many options that would be much cheaper.
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      07-05-2017, 01:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal View Post
This is how I plan to do it here in Ottawa/Gatineau. Only drive if the streets are plowed. Winter tires (legally olbligated in Quebec) of course. Only thing I'm worried is oil weight. Don't know if I should change it.
I have run 0W40 for 3 years, year round, in NH. Gets down to 0 degrees F here in winter, and 95 degrees F summer. I don't worry about redlining the car in any weather. I changed the rod bearings 3 years ago. If I tracked the car, I would run thicker oil. I would also consider a 5W40 or a 5W50, but would not run 10W60 unless I changed to extra clearance bearings.
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      07-05-2017, 02:00 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
I have run 0W40 for 3 years, year round, in NH. Gets down to 0 degrees F here in winter, and 95 degrees F summer. I don't worry about redlining the car in any weather. I changed the rod bearings 3 years ago. If I tracked the car, I would run thicker oil. I would also consider a 5W40 or a 5W50, but would not run 10W60 unless I changed to extra clearance bearings.
Oh yeah uh? You don't even use the 10W60 in normal weather/summer?

I'm no expert in oil and all that, but I wouldn't feel comfortable redlining if you don't have the recommended oil. But then again, BMW had in mind the car would track right... damn this oil thing is more complicated then I figured.

I think I'll just stick to 10w60 for now and get oil analyzed to see if bearings traces in it and in the winter probably just take it real slow until the car warms up.

Or oil pan heater if I can find one. Doesn't seem to be any out there.
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      07-05-2017, 02:16 PM   #15
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Honda S2000 on Blizzak's.

Doesn't even have traction control, and is supremely capable in the snow. Now, if we get a foot, I have to wait until someone lays down a set of tracks for me to ride 'on', but so long as I'm not in excessive virgin snow (never am), it's a little snow warrior.

I also have winter-only tires for the M3, but it only ever gets driven after a rain to clear off the salt from the roads.
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      07-05-2017, 02:26 PM   #16
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I actually just bought (pick up tomorrow) an E90 M3 for DD and winter duty. Up here it seems our winters were getting longer and longer, with more rain in the spring/summer when I don't want to drive my Z4Ms. Was sick/bored of driving my 2007 Kia Rio daily driver and decided to get something for year-round enjoyment.
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      07-05-2017, 02:38 PM   #17
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Quote:
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Or oil pan heater if I can find one. Doesn't seem to be any out there.

I Googled "magnetic oil pan heater" and saw a bunch of stuff like this:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...ic-heater-200w
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      07-05-2017, 02:49 PM   #18
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I'm a big fan of the Honda Element--we have one with 137,000 miles on it and it has been flawless. You can get either 2WD or 4WD (ours is a 2WD), it's a Honda, and it will hold an amazing amount of stuff.
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      07-05-2017, 03:12 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dparm View Post
I Googled "magnetic oil pan heater" and saw a bunch of stuff like this:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...ic-heater-200w
But I meant there isn't one specific for the M3. I was reading another post where it said the way the pan is designed something on the outside wouldn't work very well because it's to thick or something. And I found one that replaced the drain plug and goes right into the engine but it was for another model.

Quick question though, these are only effective overnight right? Like plugging them only for an hour or 2 will it yield effective results.
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      07-05-2017, 03:14 PM   #20
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I was looking in to winter beaters for some time. I was down between Nissan Pathfinders, XTerras or a Chevy Suburban.

I was leaning towards the Chevy, on Suburbans they measure engine hours and you search how to find that out. Divide mileage by engine hours and you can figure out how it was driven. 20mph average means mostly city driving and 30-40+mph is what you're looking for, mostly highway miles.
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      07-05-2017, 03:20 PM   #21
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My Acura RDX fits the bill well.
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      07-05-2017, 03:41 PM   #22
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I bought one of the last of the Mini Paceman Cooper S cars. With Blizzaks on dedicated rims, I drive it in the worst winter conditions. It has all wheel drive, decent ground clearance; with a tune, is reasonably responsive to sporty driving and it keeps miles off the 650 xDrive.
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