C43's and snow???
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 314
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From: NYC
98 c43
C43's and snow???
Going into my first year of snow with the C43. Debating on garaging it and buying a beater or putting some snow tires on it and driving it. How do these cars perform in the snow? I am in NYC so the snow is bad at times but usually okay. Let me hear some stories. And if you guys are driving in snow what size rims and kind of tires are you using.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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'09 C350
I'm in DC where we don't get a lot of snow, but do get a decent helping of freezing rain. I put on 4 Dunlop Winter Sport M3's on (all 4 were 225/45/17) and the car handled the weather pretty well. It's no 4WD, but it got me through our last winter without problem.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 314
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From: NYC
98 c43
Jared I here you. I am in no position really to take on another car and pay insurance on both for the winter time. I may just garage it and then only drive it when I need to in the winter. Public transportation = 
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From: Monument, CO
95 Bronco w/351 V8 & 2003 Mustang MACH 1
We get a healthy dose of snow here in CO. I drove my C36 2 or 3 times in the snow last year. I bought my dads Bronco the day he offered it to me. The AMG does alright in the snow, but I reccomend a beater for the winter if you have the funds available.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Fallon, NV
BMW and Mercedes
Where I am it doesn't snow often, but when it does there is typically snow on the ground for a while (since the city has a limited snow removal capability). My C43 was almost useless on anything other than level ground, and with the most unbelievably light foot you could imagine. At one point I actually had to slide into my parking spot (which is on a hill going down sideways) because I couldn't get enough steering authority to drive it there. That was a white knuckle experience / day. I highly recommend not using your C43 if there is standing snow / ice accumulation on the ground. Slush wasn't a problem, but anything more was a nightmare
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: New York City
95 Audi urS6 Quattro
I wouldn't want to drive anything RWD in snow. Thats just a combination for damage to the car. Id suggest you garage it, though I heard stories of people driving BMW's with proper tires and taking it very easy, but regardless bad idea.
Quattro FTW =).
Quattro FTW =).
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From: Portsmouth, NH
none
I almost wrecked myself and car a couple times simply moving it from garages in the winter. Just a couple miles on some fresh snow and that was enough to almost kill me. Granted I had the summer conti's on......either way I don't see snow tires helping that much.
I have a beater that I just keep liability on to keep insurance costs down. If the car has little value why bother keeping full insurance on something worth nothing. I also switch my MB to a form of "off the road" insurance that keeps cost down as well.
I have a beater that I just keep liability on to keep insurance costs down. If the car has little value why bother keeping full insurance on something worth nothing. I also switch my MB to a form of "off the road" insurance that keeps cost down as well.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 117
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From: Iowa
98 C43, 86 Porsche 951, 98 Volvo S70 T5M
You guys really need to be careful driving around on summer tires in the snow. That is why they are summer tires and say don't drive in the snow. They do not have the right kind of rubber to stick in the cold. With a proper set of winter tires, traction control and a light foot you will be just fine.
I put on some Hankook W300 Icebears on low cost rims and was just fine in up to about 3-5 inches of snow. They are made of rubber that doesn't get hard in the cold and you can see about 5 or so sipes per tread block on the tires. Didn't even use winter mode much unless it was really bad. The traction control on these cars is that good. Turned traction control off and it was definitely scary.
An AWD car would definitely be an advantage in winter. However NOTHING handles well on ice except studded snow tires. I've driven many AWD cars and they are great for snow, but not ice. My old roomate used to drive an RX7 with studded snow tires and it went like crazy in bad weather. Downside it they suck on dry pavement.
I put on some Hankook W300 Icebears on low cost rims and was just fine in up to about 3-5 inches of snow. They are made of rubber that doesn't get hard in the cold and you can see about 5 or so sipes per tread block on the tires. Didn't even use winter mode much unless it was really bad. The traction control on these cars is that good. Turned traction control off and it was definitely scary.
An AWD car would definitely be an advantage in winter. However NOTHING handles well on ice except studded snow tires. I've driven many AWD cars and they are great for snow, but not ice. My old roomate used to drive an RX7 with studded snow tires and it went like crazy in bad weather. Downside it they suck on dry pavement.
Last edited by DarthCY; Sep 21, 2007 at 09:30 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
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From: NJ
99 c43 AMG
I had 99c43 w/ continental extreme contacts and i got around fine in the snow in nj. the traction control works great.
and a vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBDXwR5Jtg
and a vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBDXwR5Jtg
Last edited by NjC43; Sep 22, 2007 at 02:52 PM.
