[wjones14]

I've had my 2er since Apr 2015, and until yesterday never drove it in the rain. It's crazy I know, but I have a "beater" Mini that's a decent commuter, so I obsessively check the forecast and only take the BMW out when it's dry and going to stay dry.

A month or so ago, I registered for an HPDE track day at Watkins Glen, so I couldn't know the weather in advance. When I got to the track at 7:30 am it was cloudy but dry, and I was hoping the rain would hold off. And it almost did, but then started raining while I was in the pit staging lane 5 minutes before going out on the track!

Not only was it my first time driving the car in rain - wasn't even sure how the wipers worked - but per rules, I had to drive with the windows open! I stayed out for the entire half hour session, flipping the wiper on every 30 seconds or so. I managed to hit 116 mph on the wet track at one point, so it wasn't like all was lost. It was pretty nerve wracking and hairy though.

I learned that the car does not melt when it gets wet. It got plenty dirty, but it's back in the garage now, clean and dry. Now that it's been christened, I'm actually considering taking it out in the rain on purpose to experiment with the stability control. Or maybe not.

PS - the track day consists of four 30-minute track sessions, and it rained during 3 of them. I declined to go out for the second session as it was raining pretty steady, but after that it stopped raining for almost a 4 hour window where the sun came out and the track dried, so I got one nice dry session in. It poured during the last session, so I declined that one as well.

[AlpsRider]

If it's raining or I know that it's going to rain, mine stays in the garage. I have a beater for rainy days and grocery store parking lots. It doesn't rain here that often so it isn't really a hardship.

[Sportstick]

Same policy here. Dry days only while my Subaru Crosstrek takes all foul weather and shopping mall parking duty.

[Kolyan2k]

My BMWs are the beaters and rain is my favorite time to drive

[Deutsche-Broke]

If I never drove it when it rained, I never would have ordered it.

At 40 to 60" of rain per year around here, it's expected and, "welcomed" in a sick, delusional, Stockholm Syndrome kind of way.. Regardless, some of my favorite experiences with it have been on wet roads. It feels light and very "flickable" in and around select corners. While you can feel DSC keeping things in check on occasion, the real fun is turning it off (In an controlled environment) and really feeling what the vehicle is all about and finding it's limits, which just makes driving with DSC on that much more fun as you can push it and know what's coming with reasonable judgement.

After all, it's just a car.. And you are all probably insured to the tits anyways..

Why not Rain-X the crap out of the glass, throw in some rubber mats, take it out and play? That's what it was engineered and designed for.. It's not a local golf tournament trophy, sitting in an forgotten room in a large house.. It should be giving you maximum enjoyment for the amount spent, not waiting for a sunny day, as that would be a real terrible ROI and a piss poor investment.

Looking forward to the rainy season with a great car...

[Outrun]

Originally Posted by Deutsche-Broke

It's not a local golf tournament trophy, sitting in an forgotten room in a large house.. It should be giving you maximum enjoyment for the amount spent, not waiting for a sunny day, as that would be a real terrible ROI and a piss poor investment.

Looking forward to the rainy season with a great car...

Yup, rain/snow/sleet/dirt/dry this car goes everywhere with me and takes it like a champ!

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Deutsche-Broke

After all, it's just a car...

I understand your point. I really do. I'm sure a lot of 2 series owners feel the same way. Most of my friends feel the same way about their cars.

I don't. This car cost more than twice as much as any car I owned in my life. You could say that I saved my entire life to buy a car like this.

I take pride in all my cars. My previous car was the 2005 Mustang GT in my avatar, it was a daily driver that I owned for 10 years, and it was rarely dirty. I washed it at least weekly, often more, polished and waxed it once a month, and in 10 years, never allowed it to get a single parking lot ding.

I'm even crazier with the M235i. I don't even let it get dusty in the garage without feeling like I need to do a rinseless wash on it.

That said, if I lived in the Pacific northwest like you, I might just have to be more practical. In CT, we've barely seen any rain in a month.

[junx]

I actually quite like driving in the rain

[usafmike]

I live in Germany and my M235i is my daily driver. I've driven in every type of weather and can tell you the car handles it all beautifully. It's not going to melt. It is meant to be driven! The car handles great in the rain.

[The Ching]

I only drive it when it's nice and sunny, between 77-82 degrees out.

[amw896]

Originally Posted by wjones14

I understand your point. I really do. I'm sure a lot of 2 series owners feel the same way. Most of my friends feel the same way about their cars.

I don't. This car cost more than twice as much as any car I owned in my life. You could say that I saved my entire life to buy a car like this.

I take pride in all my cars. My previous car was the 2005 Mustang GT in my avatar, it was a daily driver that I owned for 10 years, and it was rarely dirty. I washed it at least weekly, often more, polished and waxed it once a month, and in 10 years, never allowed it to get a single parking lot ding.

I'm even crazier with the M235i. I don't even let it get dusty in the garage without feeling like I need to do a rinseless wash on it.

That said, if I lived in the Pacific northwest like you, I might just have to be more practical. In CT, we've barely seen any rain in a month.

I feel u man lol

[Icy J]

I have to park outdoors as long as the car is at home...if only I had shelter for it...

I've given up on trying to keep the paint as clean as possible and just come to accept it's already screwed

[vintage42]

Originally Posted by wjones14

I've had my 2er since Apr 2015, and until yesterday never drove it in the rain...

I have done that with several cars over the years. A used 1974 BMW 2002, a new 2008 Subaru Forester, and now a used 1997 BMW Z3. No rain, no washing, certainly no snow or salt. They are protected by 2nd cars for years, but eventually are rotated into service as other cars take their place in the garage.

[1LegitM235i]

I understand bro. Here in NM right now is Monsoon season. So when it rains, we get the additional high winds. All cars parked outside my garage, are instantly dirty. I have to always dust the 2 almost every day and do some detail cleaning just to keep up with the high winds. As you can imagine between the heat and the rain, dirt is baked on the cars around here. Luckily, I have to two back up cars to use when it really rains.

[five3three]

My car has seen it all and I wouldn't have it any other way. It handles beautifully in all weather. I enjoy driving in the rain and snow b/c it handles wonderfully with the right tires.

[DillionDay]

I used to never drive my car in the rain till I got tired of riding my bike in the rain.

[Rayscott]

If I have a choice I drive the X3 but the 228i will not melt in rain or snow. I own a detailing business and the products I use provide great protection from the elements. Driving between 77-82 degrees ???

[Tony88]

I bought my car to drive it, not have it look pretty sitting in a garage. Mine has already seen plenty of rain and here in a few months, a bunch of snow!

[Tpeterson]

I usually don't drive mine in the rain,but that isn't a hard and fast rule.If I can avoid rain I will. I'm OCD about detailing the car and a wet car makes for more work.

[NVHoo]

Since Vegas gets an average total of 4" of rain a year, it's not an issue for me

[XutvJet]

Let me put it this way. If I had a Veyron it would have snow tires and get driven in all conditions except maybe off road. Cars are meant to be driven and not wiped down with diapers and tucked away in a climate controlled garage .......unless of course you're a DIYer and work on your own cars, then yeah, I'm jealous

[B_Rice]

It never almost never rains here in SoCal so I savor every minute of it. Admittedly I don't look forward to driving on the freeway since most of the drivers know what proper following distance is even on a dry day.