Chicagoland C32/55 Drivers???
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 8
LET C32 2002
Chicagoland C32/55 Drivers???
How many of you drive your C32/55 in the Chicagoland snow and what setup are you using for the winter/snow months. I just really like to know what percentage of Chicagoland owners are driving their cars out here in the snow.
Last edited by c32used; Dec 28, 2007 at 02:57 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
Stock AMG 18's wrapped in Sumitomo HTR +'s with maybe 1/2 the tread life left and a stock suspension... Not exactly preferable, but not bad for the random tires that happened to come on my baby 
Braking/turning/changing lanes are all fine as long as I apply steering judiciously, but acceleration from a stop on top of actual snow is either A: leave the ESP on, give it 1/2 throttle, get up to ~40 pretty damn slowly or B: turn ESP off, give her 3/4 throttle and hold on for dear life
I hardly slide around much, but it's very controllable when I do, and usually only at lower speed when starting a turn soon after braking. The front end will almost seems like it's plowing under, like in a FWD car, 'cept I can just intentionally oversteer a bit in either direction and power out of the slide, ESP or otherwise.
Bear in mind, this is the first RWD that I've driven regularly for about six years, so YMMV
Braking/turning/changing lanes are all fine as long as I apply steering judiciously, but acceleration from a stop on top of actual snow is either A: leave the ESP on, give it 1/2 throttle, get up to ~40 pretty damn slowly or B: turn ESP off, give her 3/4 throttle and hold on for dear life
I hardly slide around much, but it's very controllable when I do, and usually only at lower speed when starting a turn soon after braking. The front end will almost seems like it's plowing under, like in a FWD car, 'cept I can just intentionally oversteer a bit in either direction and power out of the slide, ESP or otherwise.
Bear in mind, this is the first RWD that I've driven regularly for about six years, so YMMV
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Cee Fiddy Five
Hmm...I didn't drive AMG today...we got a decent amount of snow!
I rarely drive the C55 in winter, only on days like the 26th (40+ degrees, sunny out). Otherwise, there are better(safer) choices to get around in.
I rarely drive the C55 in winter, only on days like the 26th (40+ degrees, sunny out). Otherwise, there are better(safer) choices to get around in.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 8
LET C32 2002
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 267
From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
No snow or rain. Car has only been driven about 2,000 miles over the last 1.5 years. I agree with the earlier post that there are better/safer choices to drive. Unfortunately, I missed the warm spell, and didn't get a chance to drive the C55.
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
Maybe I'm missing something, but past a slight pain in the a** off the line, these cars are idiot-proof with the ESP on and decent tires; what's the issue with driving in the snow? Sure, I'm not pulling off the line like a WRX or something, but the car is still perfectly driveable
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, PA
2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
Maybe I'm missing something, but past a slight pain in the a** off the line, these cars are idiot-proof with the ESP on and decent tires; what's the issue with driving in the snow? Sure, I'm not pulling off the line like a WRX or something, but the car is still perfectly driveable
Bottom-line is that summer tires just aren't safe in the wintertime if you get cold and/or snowy conditions where you live, for any type of car, period. I remember watching (with a bit of amusement, I might add) a 996 C4S making a left turn after a stop sign on snow, and even though he was going 5 mph, all 4 wheels were just spinning.
So, while I guess YMMV, why take the chance driving a high-hp, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan on summer tires in those conditions? Sure, it might be manageable most days, but it only takes one problem-day to be a huge headache that anyone would rather just avoid.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 8
LET C32 2002
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 8
LET C32 2002
Maybe I'm missing something, but past a slight pain in the a** off the line, these cars are idiot-proof with the ESP on and decent tires; what's the issue with driving in the snow? Sure, I'm not pulling off the line like a WRX or something, but the car is still perfectly driveable
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 8
LET C32 2002
Issue is that the stock summer tires turn into bricks in cold weather, and don't have a good tread pattern for dealing with snow/ice. If the car's a "pain in the a** off the line," it'll be the same PITA if you find yourself in a "gotta slow down in a hurry" situation, like a line of cars rapidly getting on the brakes on the highway.
Bottom-line is that summer tires just aren't safe in the wintertime if you get cold and/or snowy conditions where you live, for any type of car, period. I remember watching (with a bit of amusement, I might add) a 996 C4S making a left turn after a stop sign on snow, and even though he was going 5 mph, all 4 wheels were just spinning.
So, while I guess YMMV, why take the chance driving a high-hp, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan on summer tires in those conditions? Sure, it might be manageable most days, but it only takes one problem-day to be a huge headache that anyone would rather just avoid.
Bottom-line is that summer tires just aren't safe in the wintertime if you get cold and/or snowy conditions where you live, for any type of car, period. I remember watching (with a bit of amusement, I might add) a 996 C4S making a left turn after a stop sign on snow, and even though he was going 5 mph, all 4 wheels were just spinning.
So, while I guess YMMV, why take the chance driving a high-hp, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan on summer tires in those conditions? Sure, it might be manageable most days, but it only takes one problem-day to be a huge headache that anyone would rather just avoid.
