I was curious if any one had pictures of their mini's in the snow(especially upstate n.y) I was also wondering if anyone had good tips for driving. Any mini-specific tips. Thanks and send the pictures. Im preparing for the snow in central jersey

 

Turn DSC off.

When you try to pull into a busy street from a stop, the DSC will not let you accelerate if it is really slushy and slippery out. You will crawl into the intersection really slowly, even if you have the pedal to the floor.

So turn of DSC, and live with the wheelspin, but at least you'll be able to accelerate properly.

 

here's a couple quick ones.

MINI's do great in the snow.
Consider 15" wheels if you don't have them already.
Keep your DSC on (you'll thank yourself later)
Lots of others can weigh in-popular topic.
Motor on.

 

Both of the above are right about DSC. MINI says to turn it off when starting on an incline in slippery conditions (so that when the wheels spin, which they will, the power isn't cut) but as soon as you get moving turn back on the DSC. The DSC is much smarter and faster than you are, it can do things that you can't, like brake only one wheel. I gotta get out and take a picture of my MINI with the icecicles all over the front end

 

Here is the link that sold me on a MINI for the arctic Minnesota winters.

http://www.mini.ca/en/More_MINI/Wint...g/default.aspx

No other sports car can pull off what a MINI can do in the snow, period.

I regularly pass SUV's in the ditch...too big, too heavy, no control!

One note: You're in for problems once your snow depth exceeds 8 inches...Wait for the plows-we must bow to the laws of nature.

Otherwise, get ready for the most fun you've ever had!

If you have access to a frozen lake (pic below), imagine the fun you can have with hand-brake spins, etc!

 

How are the OEM Dunlop 9000 in the snow? I know they're summer performace tires so they're pretty much useless.

But anybody got suddenly stuck in a snow storm with those tires?

 

Here's mine in my driveway today in Chicago -



I drove it quite a bit today - my Volvo R with AWD was in the shop for the past two days, and I promised the kids I'd take them to the zoo. I have Pirelli snow sport 240 tires on the MINI, and I was beating a few SUV's at stoplights today on snow covered roads.

I found most of the time that during acelleration, I would leave the DSC off. The DSC on the MINI is quite intrusive - much more so than the DSTC on my Volvo. It cuts power so severely during wheelspin, that it's almost dangerous when trying to make a right turn on red for example. With DSC on, the engine computer shuts everything down at the slightest hint of wheelspin, and when more throttle is applied the condition becomes exponentially worse. With DSC off combined with a good winter tire, throttle can be judiciously applied with much better (and safer) results.

At speed though, I turned the DSC back on. It keeps the car in line during braking and cornering, as well as when running over those raised curbs of snow that develop between lanes of traffic. I wish the DSC on the MINI was a little smarter, in that it would be less intrusive at lower speeds.

I was on snow covered Lake Shore Drive today (around Jackson for the locals) and got stuck behind a salt truck. The salt started spewing out the back, some of it in chunks resembling nice sized rocks. I was able to change lanes, accelerate quickly around the truck, and pull back in front of the truck leaving plenty of space, all with a confident feeling that I wasn't going to spin. The Pirelli snow sports help quite a bit here - I'm extremely happy with them. They work very well in extreme cold too - I drove last week in -10f, and they were quiet, and grippy

Overall, I found the MINI to be very good in the snow - it became a plow in snow deeper than 3" - but even then it seemed very capable of getting around. I still prefer my Volvo R with AWD - that car has much better acceleration in deep snow - but the MINI surprised me quite a bit today.

I have the dunlop 9000 runflats mounted on my R99's - I got a chance to drive them in some light snow in early November before I got the Pirelli snow sports put on, and they were horrible. Lots of wheelspin. I drove in the dry with them at temps around 20f, and I could definitely tell their level of grip was severely reduced, due to their summer rubber compound. A winter tire will have a much more pliable compound, which stays soft as the temps fall. Summer tires get very hard in lower temps, making grip difficult.

 

I'm using 15 inch all seasons on my MINI for winter driving. They are up to the task in any depth of snow which allows the MINI out of my neighborhood. I've not noticed slow acceleration with DSC as I accelerate slowly in the snow and feather the accelerator based on the orange DSC light . . . I seem to quickly get moving and then use the DSC to keep control, not to drive fast.

When I have the choice I drive our Saab with Dunlop M3 winter tires. I've got a touch more ground clearance and, going the speed of traffic, have much more control than all the cars around me. I did notice, going to the local ski basin on an unplowed road, that the ATC heated up the brakes. I turned it off and spun the tires when the hill wasn't too steep to let them cool . . . when it got steeper I turned it back on. I don't know if the same technique applies to the MINI.

Oh, I have chains for the 15 inch wheels and have tested them. They work well. I haven't needed them yet but driving in states like Colorado and California you sometimes are required to use them. They make me feel secure because I know I can travel in icy conditions if I have to, or get out of the odd parking lot should that come up. It did come up for me when I had my son's Honda and pulled into a trailhead parking lot because, if that RWD Volvo can do it, so can I. Of course, the driver of the Volvo was waiting for AAA. After helping a couple of other cars out the driver of a stuck buick, whose chains fit the Volvo, and I helped the Volvo get out. Then we put the chains on our cars and got out. I'm thinking the MINI would have made it because it wasn't snow depth, but snow packed into ice which was the problem.

Tires are very important. Summer tires are useless in snow, as were my stock 16 inch Dunlop 5000s. Of course, it isn't just the snow. The M3s on my Saab are better than my summer Michelins on dry, cold highways. If you can, avoid the compromise and mount summer and winter tires on appropriate wheels. The tire cost is no greater in the long run and the wheel cost is cheaper, after only a few seasons, than having the tires mounted and dismounted. Smaller and narrower wheels work better in winter and will save you money v. using the same wheels for a few seasons due to both mounting costs and the reduced price of smaller winter tires.

 

One tip - Do not even attempt to drive the car with more than 5-6 inches of slushy heavy snow, your Mini WILL GET STUCK.

If it's fresh, dry, fluffy stuff, I'm sure you can drive up to about 8-10 inches deep, but boy, if it gets wet and clumpy, take another car if possible. The Mini is only 4 inches or so off the ground with stock suspension, and you will get completely jammed and high centered. I did that once in a parking lot, the car just can't move at all with the snow creating so much "stiction" and also being high centered. Even proper snow tires don't help you there. Even a F250 4X4 couldn't pull the Mini out, that's how stuck it was.





Here's a couple pictures of where the MINI got stuck, I managed to drive 10 feet forward, got stuck again, truck towed me backwards about 30 feet, then the MINI was just totally jammed packed with snow and wouldn't move an inch!

BTW, my car has 185/65/15 snow tires on holies with stock SS suspension.

 

We got a little snow and freezing rain over night

 

Observation of 1000's of posts:

those who do things that are dangerous and could be hit by other cars who have the right away always say DSC is dangerous.

Making a right on red.
Speeding into trafic from a store parking lot.
Beating an suv at a light accelerating.

Tip: dsc stops you from driving fast when youll cause others to die. I dont care if you die, just dont cause me to die.

 

I don't have DSC, but ASC+T, and I seldom turn it off. It is the base for the DSC, and like DSC kicks in with wheel spin.

The big problem people have with either system is when they kick in and the car slows, most people get on the gas more. The DSC/ASC is telling the car to slow wheel spin, and the driver should take this info the same way, GET OFF the gas, wheel spin stops, car moves forward. This takes some getting used to, but it works. I'm not saying get right off the gas, but back off a bit. Drive like you have an egg between your feet and the pedals.

Heres some snow pics. Not New Jersey, sorry.







Mark

 

I'm running stock runflats and have had zero problems with traction or staying on the road. The neighborhoods around here have about 3-4" so I was doing a little bit of plowing with the bottom of my car on the way out.

Then there was the rest of the roads. All had snow on them and were slippery. I found the ASC mostly unnecessary though. The only time it comes on is when I purposely accelerate too much and expect wheel spin. Never had a problem with taking off from lights either, even going uphill. I also was able to drive faster than everyone else on the highways and feel very comfortable. As far as I'm concerned, a competent driver should be just find with whatever the stock tires I have.

 

Do a search as well, lots of good advice out there in addition to that already given.

> Winter tires are great for winter. Summer tires are useless in winter. All-Season tires vary between "somewhat acceptable" through "useless", depending on tires and conditions.
> To those who post "all seasons are fine..." please do so only after experiencing the difference first hand, considering weather conditions. All-seasons may get through and in many situations can be an acceptable compromise. Not arguing, just asking for knowledgable comparative comments.
> That said, winter tires really are that much better in winter conditions.
> DCS is great when properly used. There are situations when it's not so good, including when max acceleration is needed (edit) I agree with the post below - pehaps it's not as cut and dried as El_Jefe indicates, but I agree with El-Jefe too - technology cannot completely make up for unintelligent decision making. Topic for another day, very often discussed around here. Summary: UUse technology wisely, and drive with an appropriate (high) degree of care. I do care if you die or get injured. I care more if you also cause others (or me) to die or get injured.
> Drive GENTLY in winter.
> Do NOT drive when you should not drive. Carefully consider safety in your decisions.

Be safe! (and stay warm! Brrr!)

 

I'd say this may be a bit of an overreaction. If a right turn on red or at a stop sign can be made safely without DSC as opposed to with it, in my experience I'd rather make the turn safely than not. With winter tires and DSC off from a stop in the snow, my MINI with LSD has much more traction than with DSC on. It's that simple. I live in the city right next to downtown, and around here being able to execute a right turn quickly (be it on red or otherwise) is more of an issue of convenience as opposed to safety. If I'm stuck turning right with my DSC on, and others who've let me in are waiting, they get upset. The speeds around here in the snow don't go much over 20 mph on snow packed roads, so death is a bit of a non issue.

If I'm sitting in traffic in the snow, and I'm the last car stopped in a line of cars, I'm going to leave a bit of room in front of me and have the DSC off. The possibility of avoiding danger in a case like this will be increased with DSC off in my experience.

There are also many situations where it is possible and desireable to get ahead of another vehicle at a light or otherwise. There are also many ways you can convince yourself to not ever go out of the house -

 

I spoke too soon, and didn't think my initial comments through completely.

DSC should be on, I agree. BUT, you will find that there are situations like starting from a stop light while turning the wheels, that DSC cuts the power so much that you creep much too slowly into the lane. Then you find that your once generous window of opportunity to merge into traffic is now closing on you. Now you've gotten yourself into a pickle.

DSC won't allow you to accelerate into traffic, but your halfway into the lane. Cars are now getting close, closer, CLOSER!

What do you do?

TURN DSC OFF, (temporarily), and experience some wheelspin, but at least you're actually accelerating properly.

Once you've gotten going safely, it's now time to turn DSC back on.

Every day I leave work, I have to turn onto a busy road that is 55 mph. The base of my work's driveway always has 4-6 inches of snow in it, making pulling out into traffic potentially life-threatening when DSC is on.

So, I turn it off, pull out, get going down the road, then turn it back on.

 

My Mini after doing many donuts in the local parking lots

 

Mine was so cold its teeth were chattering...

 

This was from a snow storm earlier this winter. I must comment on the greatness of DSC in snowy conditions: my car has summer tires and it does fine with DSC on, but off during starts/pulling into traffic. Never mind the fact that it got stuck 4 feet out of the garage that day...

 

I had to turn off ASC+T last night to get up the hill to my house. We had 30+ inches of snow but the MINI handled well on the (mostly) plowed roads, even though I only have 16" all-season runflats. It was actually worse this morning because the snow is getting packed down and icing over....

 

I've had problems on my commute with just slippery roads lately. I was in stop and go traffic yesterday and hit a patch of slippery stuff. I couldn't stop and actually hit the guy in front of me. I was only going about 2-3 mph though, so no damage. I definately give myself plenty of room now.

 

Nice to see pictures of real snow... send some our way!

My experience is on hills. All season tires and my hill don't work. The DSC makes the car stop.

If I lived where it really snows (not the 1" at a time this winter), I would have a set of snow tires.

 

 

Well ... the MINI is not a sports car, its a FWD hatchback.

The SUVs your passing just mean the driver didnt know what they were doing. Any competent driver can always do better in 4WD and the extra clearance. Just common sense ... especially with all the new electronic widgets that come today like uphill and downhill assist or electronically locked hubs.

 

I learned something today! Clever with the wipers. Nothing like splitting the wiper rubber when yanking the wipers up...