Help a California brother winterize his car.
11-04-09, 02:24 AM
#1
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Help a California brother winterize his car.
I have a 2009 335i that my son is driving in Illinois. Other than washer fluids what else? Antifreeze? etc?
11-04-09, 05:01 AM
#2
Is the car going in storage or ready for cold driving conditions?
If he is driving the car:
1. Decent All season tires if not winters. BMW, IMO, is much better in the snow then Lexus. He could get away with all season but snow tires cant hurt of course.
2. Antifreeze mixture
3. Good snow brush
4. Remote start
Really not to much needs to be done. Its a newer car so battery should be good along with everything else. I assume he has road side assitance with BMW so really all bases should be covered unless someone else can think of something I missed.
If he is driving the car:
1. Decent All season tires if not winters. BMW, IMO, is much better in the snow then Lexus. He could get away with all season but snow tires cant hurt of course.
2. Antifreeze mixture
3. Good snow brush
4. Remote start
Really not to much needs to be done. Its a newer car so battery should be good along with everything else. I assume he has road side assitance with BMW so really all bases should be covered unless someone else can think of something I missed.
11-04-09, 05:39 AM
#3
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With the torque in that car, winter tires will most likely be needed. Unless he can drive and control his foot. Remote start would be great too, cmon dad hook him up!!!!
11-04-09, 06:10 AM
#4
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I would personally stick with BMW antifreeze. They use a blue silicate and phosphate free formula with integrated water pump lubricant. Sure. the new Prestone is compatible, but will dilute lubricant. I would not bother changing this coolant if you have under 25k and not less than 3 years old. 2009 is too early to worry about this.
11-04-09, 07:02 PM
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Illinois weather can be pretty rough so I'd recommend some good winter tires. Blizzak LM-25s or Michelin Pilot Alpin PS3... nothing less. You might want to buy some rubber floor mats, and some wipers for the winter. I always use a different set of windshield wipers in the winter.
11-04-09, 10:40 PM
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Okay, its xdrive. And i have him running on a used winter tires. Does he need to add antifreeze to his coolant? or will there be enough already?
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11-05-09, 06:04 AM
#8
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I would simply pick up BMW antifreeze at the dealer's parts department and add yourself on a cold engine. You will see a level indicator in the reservoir (overflow tank).
11-07-09, 04:42 PM
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11-08-09, 02:43 PM
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Your son will probably be forced to buy Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25s or Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3, which are V-rated winter tires, that are excellent in snowy and icy conditions.
11-16-09, 02:55 PM
#15
There is no difference between winter tires and snow tires. You do, however, have two types of winter tires: snow and ice. A snow tire is more for someone who does a lot of city driving whilst an ice tire is suited for someone who does mostly highway driving. Ice tires are, however, generally higher quality and offer the best of both worlds whilst snow tires typically are the generic brands that you find at Wal-Mart.
Your son will probably be forced to buy Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25s or Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3, which are V-rated winter tires, that are excellent in snowy and icy conditions.
Your son will probably be forced to buy Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25s or Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3, which are V-rated winter tires, that are excellent in snowy and icy conditions.