The snowflake is the low temp warning. I believe it is standard on all MINIs.

 

It appears to come on at 37°F and below.

 

My experience with all season tires on my 2003 MCS (now sold) was horrible in the snow. I am sure with dedicated snow tires it would be okay. I don't drive my 2012 JCW in the snow. I recently bought a low milage 2004 BMW 330i and put snow tires on that for my winter car. It still does not make much sense for a winter car being RWD but so far with Dunlop winter sports its adequate and safe. I refuse to drive an SUV on a regular basis. Been there and done that and its boring. We don't live in an area that gets a ton of snow but I am done with all season tires that suck at everything. I'll run the BMW with snows in the winter and then the MINI and the BMW with Michelin pilot super sports in the warm months.

 

As others have mentioned, this is a standard "road freeze alert" warning that has been on every BMW that has an ambient temperature sensor (at least since the 80s). That includes modern MINI.

The reason it comes on at 37F (actually 3C) is the potential for bridges and overpasses to start icing before the road does: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~cliff/Roadway2.htm
a

 

There was a time when EVERYTHING was RWD, and there were no soft compound snow tires, SUVs, or even 4WD. Well, unless you had a ****** Jeep, which was more like a tractor than a car. I wonder how they even survived.

If they could do it, so can I.

 

I wish it would stop snowing.

 

There is NOTHING wrong with RWD in the snow, as long as your car has snow tires (goes without saying regardless of what axles drive the car).

I've been driving RWD and 4WD snow tired cars in NE forever. MINI is my first FWD car (also on Blizzaks). Going uphill from my house to the road over ice or snow is always more effective with RWD vs. FWD. Going downhill or horizontal is the same.

When things get so bad that you really need 4WD, you also need a plow to go with it. Or just stay back in front of the fireplace to sip scotch.

a

 

I just bought a 2013 JCW as a winter beater!

 

After last weeks snow mess, my MCS is going to be a garage queen any time there is any snow or ice on the ground. That's what I've got pickup

 

Only if the Suburban and P/U truck break down.

 

I have been driving my Mini with run flat continentals going on 2 winters now , made it through the whole last winter no problem and this one so far as well. you just have to know how to feather it and keep momentum when it gets thick.

 

That would never make it where I live. No-seasons don't stand a chance on a car here with all the hills, crests, and turns.

 

Sorry, mine turns into an F350. Too much salt in my area, will rust anything moving, if Penndot feels like working on the roads.

 

I have dedicated snow tires and wheels but am hesitant to drive mine because it has the JCW aero package . The front spoiler is ridiculously low!

 

;-)

Enjoy the beater!

 

My 08 Cooper S is my daily driver, it does suprisingly well in the snow for being such a little guy.

 

As my DD, I have to. It's not exactly the '08 Subaru Forester Sports XT that someone destroyed for me but once it's rolling away from a traffic light, I find the Mini very compliant and when the rear gets kicked out from uneven snow or ice, it wants to trail right back into place.

I highly recommend the Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 RFTs for the Mini.

 

Can you say "a snow plow"?

If you are new Norther NJ, I'll pay you $50 to come and visit me....


a

 

HECK YA! Blizzaks and my mini is nearly unstoppable!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/4206573488
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/5439383521

 

We had a pretty bad storm here last night, snow came down really fast and the roads weren't even touched by a plow for most of my ride home. We had about 6-8 inches on top of the 10-12 from the weekend.

Blurry phone picture to show a little of what it was like, notice it's just the Mini on the roads. I've had a lot of different cars and I've never felt more confident than in the Mini when it has 4 snow tires on it.

 

Not an S but damn right I do! Love it too....gotta have some fun :D

 

i live in the second hilliest city next to san fran, and we get 12 to 18 inches at a time every winter, no issues here, just never lose momentum and never charge up or down an untreated hill. I have never been stuck but years of towing back in the day I know what to watch out for. That and I never touch the seven hills when its snowing out here lol.

 

The tires are almost more important than the car. Make sure you have good M+S tires at least, or full on snow tires is even better, and the car is unstoppable.

 

My first Mini, a base Hardtop, now lives in rural central New York in the wine producing part of the state. Lots of hills and country roads. New Blizzaks last week and so far we made the steep hill to the main road when a couple of other cars did not. My "snowflake" icon comes on at around 35° and I do not have the winter package. I will be a cautious driver as I learn the snow capabilities but so far I think it is better than my Toyota Matrix was.

 

It's snowing finally! Went and drove around after work, with the ws70's on it wouldn't push through a corner. I just wish it was awd.