[DDL24]

Hi folks,

First post here. Have been an Audi man for the past 7 years and currently have a B6 S4. I am thinking about switching to a car that represents the best of BMW, light real-wheel drive, NA inline 6. I test drove a 328 last December and throughly enjoyed the car, light, atheletic and responsive. Just Fun. and I also got a taste of rear wheel drive feel and it stuck in my mind.

Just want to hear from someone who has an NON-XI 328 in Mid-Atlantic region how does it handle in the snow.

My question is if I put a set a winter tire on the 328, for the limited amount of snow we got in DC area, do you feel comfortable/safe driving in the snow?

you may wonder why not getting an XI or 335 especially I am driving a V8 S4? If I want an all wheel drive, I would have stayed with Audi. as for 335, I don't want that much power. Temptation is too great to put those power to use. I suffer too much from the tremdous restraints needed.

Thanks.

Rich

[NSM]

With a good set of winter tires you should be fine in the DC area. Also if truely worried about traction look into your local tire regulations as you could easily purchase a set of tires with studs in them for superior traction in the snowy weather. I drove a 325i in the snow for 3 winters straight with just snow tires for two of them and then with studs for the final season and never got stuck. However don't go driving in 6+" of snow!

[Raja Ventureshield]

i would not be worried. in the DC area it snows like 2 or 3 times.
i would just work from home a few days not get a 4wd, which is what i do now anyways. so it's nothing to worry about. plus like others will say, snow tires will do the job just right.

[Orient330iNYC]

I'm a bit more north, but NYC winters are like DC winters, maybe a little harsher. no problems with RWD and snow tires the few times it snows.

[jetblk328i]

i have a 328i non XI and it works well here in PA, all you need is a good set of tires. Plus DC gets like 6 inches all winter so you will be fine!

[SunnyvaleCA]

I used to have a 1995 M3 (the year with the same wheels on front and back). It's living with my sister first in Boston and now in Ohio. She uses 16-inch wheels with dedicated snow tires for 4 months of the year. Works extermely well in city/urban driving--anywhere where the roads are plowed regularly. Works great on snow packed by the tires of cars. Fresh snowfall more than six inches isn't recommended, though, as the front air dam acts more like a snowplow. Her car doesn't have traction control, but does have the standard LSD.

If you weren't planning on getting the sport package, then just visit TireRack.com and order up a quad of tires/rims for snow. With the sport package option, the staggered wheels and different suspension tuning might require some more thought.

[adc]

Originally Posted by DDL24

you may wonder why not getting an XI or 335 especially I am driving a V8 S4? If I want an all wheel drive, I would have stayed with Audi. as for 335, I don't want that much power. Temptation is too great to put those power to use. I suffer too much from the tremdous restraints needed.

Then buy my 2003 330i ZHP, it's in the classifieds section . IMO it's a far better drive than an E90 328, and it comes with winter tires, full size spare and lots more goodies...