[harinder]

So I got a 08' 335i and threw on some new 17's with winter rubber. I also got a bunch of sandbags i can throw in the back, but not sure how much weight to put back there. 100lbs? 200lbs? more?

Any advice please?

Also, is there any kind of long term damage that can be done to the car or to the suspension by having too much weight in the back for too long?

Thanks.

[JSpira]

Changing the weight distribute has the potential to adversely impact handling.

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Changing the weight distribute has the potential to adversely impact handling.

This is something to worry about but it is winter when you would not be taking the car to it's "max" handling wise anyways. I doubt you would harm the suspension. I'm sure the cars were built with the possibility of carrying a few hundred pounds of luggage, dead bodies, or sand bags. Wait, what?

I would put weight in in increments. Start with like 50-75lbs. and see how the car feels and add weight slowly accordingly.

I on the other hand use the stock 16'' all season tires with no added weight and get around just fine. But I'm in Cleveland and your in Edmonton. Drive around before adding weight. You may find it unnecessary with true winter tires.

[noro]

I do not think you can do any damage with a 100Lb back in the back side of your trunk. This could be benefitial in snow, but I wouldn't ride around with the bag in the trunk all winter long. Guess it depends where you live. Here in Boston my tires touch snow on average about 3-4 times a year. By the time my lazy ass wakes up the roads are all clear!

[RyanZERO]

If it were a truck..id say yes. I dont think itll be necessary .02

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by RyanZERO

If it were a truck..id say yes. But last I checked changing the weight distribution isnt something to mess with.

What do you think happens when you go on a trip with a few people and luggage? Driving around with some people and some sand bags is the same thing, is it not?

[swifty]

I live in Toronto & I have a 335 coupe with winter tires on 18s with staggered set up..tires are hankook icebears...after the first snow day 3 weeks ago i realized there is no way i'm goin to make it w/o some weight in the back cuz there is too much torque...i've driven 323is & 530is w/o winter tires for a longtime with any problems...well should say no problems cuz i got stuck on numerous occasions but once i got goin it was easy..and last 3 years i had a 525i but with winter tires w/o any problems...nway i put about 130 lbs in the trunk of my 335 and it has helped a lot...however I'm positive that if my car was running 235 all around on 18s or better yet 17s, i wouldn't need that weight in the back...and if i had nokians on then definitely wouldn't need anything else...so point is, get a good set of winter tires (hankooks icebears suck on rear wheel w/o limited slip) and make sure its not staggered..i don't know the affects of sandbags on the suspension but 130lbs will definitely affect your fuel consumption adversely...hope that helps

[RyanZERO]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

What do you think happens when you go on a trip with a few people and luggage? Driving around with some people and some sand bags is the same thing, is it not?

I edited my post after you apparently quoted it. You make a valid point, although I have seen some cars that are weighed down in the back by a lot, so I agree with the person that said to gradually add weight and see how that works out.

[mroach]

Originally Posted by noro

I do not think you can do any damage with a 100Lb back in the back side of your trunk. This could be benefitial in snow, but I wouldn't ride around with the bag in the trunk all winter long. Guess it depends where you live. Here in Boston my tires touch snow on average about 3-4 times a year. By the time my lazy ass wakes up the roads are all clear!

I'm always surprised how many people around here talk of needing all wheel drive and snow tires. If they spent 30 seconds thinking about it, they'd realize you can count on one hand the number of days per year that you're driving on snow. Sure your yard may have snow on it all winter long, but the roads are usually cleared inside a day, and it doesn't snow *that* often.

I'm not dissing snow tires. I've had them for many winters and when driving on snow, they are great, but the level of panic and urgency surrounding them for driving in MA is laughable.

[CirrusSR22]

The E36 owner's manuals specifically say to put ballast in the trunk if you wish. I believe it says up to 120lbs. It's not in the E90 manual, and not sure about the E46 manual.

Putting a measly 100lbs in your trunk will not damage your suspension. That's just rediculous

[Kev]

Originally Posted by mroach

I'm always surprised how many people around here talk of needing all wheel drive and snow tires. If they spent 30 seconds thinking about it, they'd realize you can count on one hand the number of days per year that you're driving on snow. Sure your yard may have snow on it all winter long, but the roads are usually cleared inside a day, and it doesn't snow *that* often.

I'm not dissing snow tires. I've had them for many winters and when driving on snow, they are great, but the level of panic and urgency surrounding them for driving in MA is laughable.

Err...... I politely disagree. You might not need them, but there are many people who support this society of ours that have to go to work at 4am regardless whether it's snowing 2ft out or not. I'm one of them and I take my winter preparation very, very seriously, even though I have a 335xi. How do you feel when you go to the ER with your child having a 102 fever and the ER people tells you that your docs and RNs couldn't come into work because of the snow? Last year, I have to go work in Beverly in the worst storm of the season in late January. I got there fine, albeit late. While on my way, I saw multiple cars doing 360s and donuts on the road.......

[Christos]

Originally Posted by mroach

I'm always surprised how many people around here talk of needing all wheel drive and snow tires. If they spent 30 seconds thinking about it, they'd realize you can count on one hand the number of days per year that you're driving on snow. Sure your yard may have snow on it all winter long, but the roads are usually cleared inside a day, and it doesn't snow *that* often.

I'm not dissing snow tires. I've had them for many winters and when driving on snow, they are great, but the level of panic and urgency surrounding them for driving in MA is laughable.

Ditto, same here in NJ

[kyleb350]

Originally Posted by swifty

nway i put about 130 lbs in the trunk of my 335 and it has helped a lot...

Any reason why you chose 130 lbs? That wouldn't happen to be the weight of your missing ex-girlfriend, would it? jk

[noro]

Sure you need to plan according to your life. If I skip a work day the worst that will happen is a 1 day delay in the delivery of our software application. If I was a doc on call, I'd get Nissan X-Terra offroad with lockable rear diff.

[Hoothout]

Originally Posted by kyleb350

Any reason why you chose 130 lbs? That wouldn't happen to be the weight of your missing ex-girlfriend, would it? jk

hahaha

[swifty]

Originally Posted by kyleb350

Any reason why you chose 130 lbs? That wouldn't happen to be the weight of your missing ex-girlfriend, would it? jk

LOL...naww 3 sandbags just came out to 130 Lbs

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by mroach

I'm always surprised how many people around here talk of needing all wheel drive and snow tires. If they spent 30 seconds thinking about it, they'd realize you can count on one hand the number of days per year that you're driving on snow. Sure your yard may have snow on it all winter long, but the roads are usually cleared inside a day, and it doesn't snow *that* often.

I'm not dissing snow tires. I've had them for many winters and when driving on snow, they are great, but the level of panic and urgency surrounding them for driving in MA is laughable.

Doesn't that really depend on your own driving situation and where exactly you live in Mass?

[mrvuml]

You guys in MA and NJ that think snow/winter tires are overkill for the limited number of times you actually drive on snow and ice (same here in Boulder, CO)....what tires do you have then? All-Seasons?

[SkipSauls]

I live in Longmont and work in Boulder, and this is my 3rd winter with the 335i. Sure, we don't get tons of snow and it doesn't typically stick around long, but there is no way I'd go back to running the normal tires in the winter. I was caught out last year when it started to snow during the day before I'd made the switch, and it was terrible!

As for sandbags, I haven't tried them over the past two winters, but might do so just to see if it's any better. What would worry me is that the front would be relatively lighter, potentially reducing the grip. I'd rather have the tires be able to do their job on icy corners and braking.

[Staszek]

Personally I dont think you need sandbags at all as long as you have good winter tires.

These cars are not like old Camaro's and Mustangs with 70/30 or 60/40 weight distribution, there is enough weight on your back tires already.

I have never had one problem in my E46 with snows on. In both very deep snow and on hills.

[mrvuml]

Originally Posted by SkipSauls

I live in Longmont and work in Boulder, and this is my 3rd winter with the 335i. Sure, we don't get tons of snow and it doesn't typically stick around long, but there is no way I'd go back to running the normal tires in the winter. I was caught out last year when it started to snow during the day before I'd made the switch, and it was terrible!

As for sandbags, I haven't tried them over the past two winters, but might do so just to see if it's any better. What would worry me is that the front would be relatively lighter, potentially reducing the grip. I'd rather have the tires be able to do their job on icy corners and braking.

Do you have Winters or All-Seasons on your 335i now? This is my first winter with my 335i Sedan (w/ZSP). As I still have the summer tires on (I'm shopping A/S and Winter tires right now) I leave the car at home when it snows (like yesterday), or if it looks like snow, though I did get caught out in Boulder last week when it snowed a little that afternoon. Previously I had an E46 330i (w/ZSP) and found that All-Seasons were adequate for my needs in winter.

[ElRedOne]

Originally Posted by mroach

I'm always surprised how many people around here talk of needing all wheel drive and snow tires. If they spent 30 seconds thinking about it, they'd realize you can count on one hand the number of days per year that you're driving on snow. Sure your yard may have snow on it all winter long, but the roads are usually cleared inside a day, and it doesn't snow *that* often.

I'm not dissing snow tires. I've had them for many winters and when driving on snow, they are great, but the level of panic and urgency surrounding them for driving in MA is laughable.

Snow is not the only reason for winter tires. At least in PA, there's always that unexpected/unpredicted rain-to-ice/freezing rain that's worse than snow, melt & refreezes, freezing fog, black ice, etc. I cannot imagine MA being any better!