Ok , so it snowed in chicago. Kind of a lot too, like 2 inches of solid wet snow. It was a disaster! We had too close a call with a tree branch that fell onto our driveway. Weighted down with snow, it was hanging so far down that it fell, clipping my moms mercedes. The branch fell almost cradling the merceded with some thin branches hitting her car. The large part landed behind it. By the grace of god, I had not been home, I had to make a quick, and i mean quick, run to Jewel for Jello. I was gone for 10 minutes. Had i left 5 minutes earlier, i would have been home 5 minutes earlier, and my MINI would have been totaled. The branch landed right in my spot. I was shocked, but sooo happy. The Mercedes escaped with 1 tiny minor scratch, nothing that cant be fixed. But my car would have had the roof collapsed and the engine compartment would have also been nonexistent anymore. Anyways, the rest of the night was ok, the MINI handles amazingly in the snow, even on Pirelli Euphori@s. I was surprised. But the snow has mostly melted, as my fellow chicago brethrin may know, and we await the next one.

 

Glad you escaped serious damage. I've learned the hard way that weak tree branches are evil. I had a Mercedes E-320 that got hit by a tree branch while parked in my (now) wife's driveway in a high wind. It almost missed and just got the back of my deck lid. That "almost" did over $1000 in damage and it obviously could have been far worse. Sometimes I feel like the whole world is designed to destroy my cars.

The snow's melted here, too, but no doubt it'll be back soon.

Mark

 

visiting family in Nebraska, and I just shoveled off about 3in of snow off the driveway

 

And I sit at home irritated about some dirty water drips on my MCS and
G35C from snow accumlated on the garage door melting and dripping
onto the trunks of my cars while I opened the garage door to shovel
the driveway..

Glad to hear your car's okay. btw, where did you take that pict in your
sig?

 

I took the pic at my house in Cali..... just visiting the midwest
did some pheasant hunting and saw family... great time and even got in a football game. Now off to the warm hinterlands tomorrow so I can drive my baby again...

 

hehe, I was driving through Chicago on Wednesday night. What a disaster, and it wasn't even that much snow! It took us over 4 hours to get through the city. Traffic was horrible.

 

Honestly, if there's even a remote chance of more snow (even 1 cm) I wouldn't risk it with the Pirelli high-performance SUMMER runflats .....believe me, been there, done that (and this was with an AWD-equipped Audi).

Either get youself some all-seasons or, better still, a set of dedicated winter/snow tyres. Tire Rack have some cheap winter packages at the moment......

 

My pic was taken at the Tire Rack at the south bend region SCCA solo event. I wasnt the one who took it but someone who was at the event posted them up. I love it.

As for the tires, i know that its not so good to try it, but right now all my money goes to the car payments and i cand afford new tires. Im gonna try to push through the winter and run these tires until theyre dine then get all seasons. Thanks

 

I've got the heated seats ready on the Mini, and if thats not enough, I have the all wheel drive Passat W8...........

OH NO.......WE LIVE IN ORLANDO

 

We drove through 6-7" of snow on Thanksgiving without issue in the MINI. It was interesting acting as a snow plow.

 

Fun when the snow flies up over the bonnet,and MINIs will plow through most stuff.People are always amazed when I get off the highway after motoring through a snowstorm,grill is packed with snow and ice,and then I pull away from them in their SUV.

 

it happened again last night, but this time it was wetter, so this morning when i woke up it was all ice. It took me 10 minutes just to open the door this morning and another 10 to get my wipers to function properly.

 

Reason # 212 for buying a condo in the city with underground parking... :smile:
Glad your Mini escaped!

 

A little hint on how to deal with wet snow or freezing rain,pour warm water on the door handles,then once you get the door open put lock-deicer on it.WD-40 also works,as it displaces the water.
Get winter wiper blades,they are made with teflon and have a boot over the springs