ekaz

I've had my car parked since early December to avoid the winter. I come here and read about everybody getting to enjoy their cars and I'm stuck in crappy Chicago weather with salt and snow (you all suck by the way for rubbing it in j/k :p )...........Hopefully the weather will start to cooperate with me and I drive her again soon. At least I got to take her to the track once before she was parked. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.

amgplayer

Snow? I understand salt issues from the warm breezes off the ocean but no snow here.

BklynBenz

thats a low blow, lol

AMGe55

I can sympathize. I live in Wisconsin and my e55 has been locked safely in the garage for a long time. A couple weeks ago it was sunny clear and dry but very cold here for several days in a row so I couldn't resist and I took it out for a short ride. The beast makes even more power when its very cold.

ekaz

It's supposed to be pretty decent here this week, not sure if I'll be able to resist.......All I ask for is 50's and no snow, is that too much to ask?

vrus

Locked away?? Why?

Throw 4 Dunlop WinterSport M3 tires on it and enjoy it. The E55 handles very well in the snow.

MBAMGPWR

I'm only 4.5 hours south, so I can understand. I must say, St. Louis has avoided some major storms so far this year, while Chicago hasn't. I think our weather is pretty similar to yours, we're just getting lucky (knock on wood!).

chicagoE55

I agree!! Its just a waste to let it sit. I drive all my cars all year long. Only thing that keeps me home is the snow. Good thing we reallly had a easy winter so far(crossing fingers). Drive that bad boy this week!! its going to be in the 30's. the cold air will do wonders for the beast!

04E55 AMG

Agree 100% with Vrus. Live in MD and have been enjoying my beast all winter with the snow tires. The car handles like it has AWD with proper winter tires.

ekaz

I was contemplating putting some snows on and calling it a day, but I still have my G35x, so I figured I'd let it do the dirty work and the beast rest for a bit, she's going to have a long summer.......



Can't take it any more! Going to get her after work.....need my fix...it's like a drug.

chicagoE55

Not a bad winter driver. But my beast will be my dd only if it doesn't snow.

(off topic)How do you like that g35x? I heard alot of good things about it.

Any ways its going to be nice this week, take her out... she really needs it

ekaz

I think the G35x is one of the best cars I've owned. It doesn't do any one thing extremely well, but does a lot of things well. I think it's hard to find another car under $40k that is this well rounded. I have no issues driving in the snow, haven't gotten stuck once. The AWD system in the car is great. Infiniti's NAV system has a birds eye view, very cool looking 3-d map. However, it is not as accurate as the Benz. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking.

Pbglas

I live in Chicago too. I have driven the E55 on clear days and once even during snow. Traction was good during snow except parktronic kept beeping constantly.

I have not driven on ice and frankly am afraid of icy streets.

Marcus Frost

Live in Chicago, drive the E55 every day, rain or shine. I don't think you can truly appreciate the versatility of this fine machine until you've really taken it through a winter-laden daily driving routine. I also have M3s on her and would not trade her for the world. I just picked up a QX56 with the woman and still prefer to drive the E55 even in the snow. With the M3s on I can out launch a lot of even the sport-ute's out there (FX45, X5, etc). She much prefers the QX over her G35 coupe on Pilot Sports in the winter (yikes!) I drive downtown, suburbs, boonies, everywhere. Never have had any issue with the M3s at all. On top of it all, this car REALLY loves this cold weather...

I keep the wax thick and wash regularly. After the thaw I'll spend a day cleaning everything up nicely and you would have never known it was driven in the snow. Every 3 weeks during the winter it gets a hand wash (not every week as that removes the wax and weakens it's protection), and every 60 days during the winter it gets a 5 hour wash and detail session (pictured below)

Before and after...

Before


After


Just my $.02

-m

ekaz

Well, you guys made me do it, I went and got my baby. The only bad thing is that my alley still has some ice ruts and the 20's with the nice summer Toyo T1S tires weren't too fond of each other. I'm glad I got her though, she sure does love the cold....Maybe next year I'll just get the winter tires. I have a forced air kerosene heater so hand washing wouldn't be that bad.......Thanks guys, you all have been horribly good motivators.

ekaz

So nice to driving the E again; oh so nice. Made a 30min. drive to work in 20.

vrus

There ya go!! See.. The car didnt melt in the snow. Wait until you drive it with the Dunlop Wintersports... You will be amazed at how well it handles.

These cars truly are the best all purpose vehicles.

Enjoy the beast.