Driving C350 in the snow
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
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'07 e63 and '01 e430
Driving C350 in the snow
i am moving from the west coast to the east this winter and was wondering if someone could explain to me the dangers of driving rear wheel drive in the winter. i am under the assumption that snow driving in a rear wheel drive is not something that east coast folk do. i am a pretty good driver but my experience with snow is limited. also can someone tell me if it is ok to park a rear wheel drive car on a hill when its snowing. can you get out without hitting the car behind you. oh by the way i am moving to maine, where the snow plowing sucks and when it snows it doesnt stop.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,424
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
where are you from!? and where are you moving to the east.
here in NYC, the AMG rims im using are ultra high summer performance tires,
as for the set of winter rims/tires, im using ultra high all season performance tires. not snow tires. and its fine, just dont GAS/BRAKE too FAST. drive slow you'll be fine.
but if ur going to a place with more snow, i suggest a set of snow tires and a set of cheap winter rims...hmmm by the way...im selling a set of 17" rims
PM me if ur interested...they..CHEAP and...NEW
here in NYC, the AMG rims im using are ultra high summer performance tires,
as for the set of winter rims/tires, im using ultra high all season performance tires. not snow tires. and its fine, just dont GAS/BRAKE too FAST. drive slow you'll be fine.
but if ur going to a place with more snow, i suggest a set of snow tires and a set of cheap winter rims...hmmm by the way...im selling a set of 17" rims
PM me if ur interested...they..CHEAP and...NEW
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
I use my stock C7 17 inch wheels with High Performance All Seasons and have absolutely no problem getting around in the snow. I had taken the Coupe up to Upstate NY, Watertown, and driven in 4-6 inches of snow with no issues what so ever and I had front tires near the wear bars. Then again I grew up in Watertown and drove AWD, RWD, FWD and 4x4's in every driving situation. Watertown averages 110+ inches of snow a year when I lived there. I used to drive trucks with a plow on them in 2WD mode all the time with no issues.
The ESP is great for snow, first winter I had my Coupe I made it through the last three months of winter, bought in January, with my stock Pirrelli P-Zero Rosso's on there. You would be amazed at what carefull driving and ESP will do in adverse weather. As with any other car RWD or FWD you need to take it slow and leave enough room in case of an emergency or ice.
The ESP is great for snow, first winter I had my Coupe I made it through the last three months of winter, bought in January, with my stock Pirrelli P-Zero Rosso's on there. You would be amazed at what carefull driving and ESP will do in adverse weather. As with any other car RWD or FWD you need to take it slow and leave enough room in case of an emergency or ice.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
2006 E55 and 2002 E320
Make sure that you use the "W" mode (the switch on the automatic transmission) to prevent spin outs in first gear. The main thing is to get very good winter tires (don't cheap out here) and to drive very conservatively.
Good luck! You'll be fine. Maine is beautiful. Enjoy the lobsters!
Good luck! You'll be fine. Maine is beautiful. Enjoy the lobsters!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
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'07 e63 and '01 e430
sound good thanks for all the help guys. oh by the way im from california for those who were wondering. could someone give me some tips on parking on hills. is it best to hold the break and gas together to prevent rolling back.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 64
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From: Canada
2018 C300
i live in Ottawa, Canada and winters here are pretty treacherous. i drive a '03 C320, which I assume is the same as yours. if you follow all of the above tips they gave you, you should have no problem. only problems occur when you go uphill on a fresh layer of snow, you begin to fish tail like mad. your ESP will go insane trying to help u get up. just remember to calm down even tho there are 1000000000000000000000000 ppl behind you waiting for u to climb up the hill. lol. other than that... u might want to REALLY take it easy if u come across freezing rain or better yet, stay home unless u got enough experience with it. not sure if Maine has freezing rain, but i'm pretty sure it does. roads get... ULTRA slick. even making the slightest turn at 10km/h (i think for you, 6mph?!) would have the car just gliding along the ice and... BOOM... u hit the curb. LOL. ya that's what happened to me. 
*if u do get into such a situation like me and you know you're goin to hit the curb, just face the fact that u're gonna hit it, forget about trying to turn the other way, just steer straight. it'll save u big bucks for damagin the tire rods thing-a-mijiggy.
but having a set of winter tires is a plus! for me, we just use regular all-seasons. ya we're superstars like that! bahahaha.
*if u do get into such a situation like me and you know you're goin to hit the curb, just face the fact that u're gonna hit it, forget about trying to turn the other way, just steer straight. it'll save u big bucks for damagin the tire rods thing-a-mijiggy.
but having a set of winter tires is a plus! for me, we just use regular all-seasons. ya we're superstars like that! bahahaha.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 302
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From: Gadsden, Alabama
'06 C350 4MATIC
C350 in the Snow
I drive a C350 4MATIC in the snow. I live in the south (Tennessee) but my work takes me into the mountains of eastern TN, NC and VA. Roads get really treacherous in February at 4000', even in the south.
I found that if I drive conservatively (lol, with a bible, j/k) the car does not shimmy from side to side and it stays nailed to the road.
This was true when I lived in Idaho and Chicago too. Almost any car can be handled on ice and snow if you anticipate road conditions, slow down and take all manuvers at low speeds without too much gas or braking.
I found that if I drive conservatively (lol, with a bible, j/k) the car does not shimmy from side to side and it stays nailed to the road.
This was true when I lived in Idaho and Chicago too. Almost any car can be handled on ice and snow if you anticipate road conditions, slow down and take all manuvers at low speeds without too much gas or braking.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 18,677
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Originally Posted by Tishers
I drive a C350 4MATIC in the snow. I live in the south (Tennessee) but my work takes me into the mountains of eastern TN, NC and VA. Roads get really treacherous in February at 4000', even in the south.
I found that if I drive conservatively (lol, with a bible, j/k) the car does not shimmy from side to side and it stays nailed to the road.
This was true when I lived in Idaho and Chicago too. Almost any car can be handled on ice and snow if you anticipate road conditions, slow down and take all manuvers at low speeds without too much gas or braking.
I found that if I drive conservatively (lol, with a bible, j/k) the car does not shimmy from side to side and it stays nailed to the road.
This was true when I lived in Idaho and Chicago too. Almost any car can be handled on ice and snow if you anticipate road conditions, slow down and take all manuvers at low speeds without too much gas or braking.
