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Snow chains for E61 M Sport Who's fitted them and were there any clearance issues?

#1 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 27 February 2010 - 11:09 AM

Need to order some snow chains for when we go away in a month, and wondered if anyone here can recommend a make and model that will fit.

Much of the stuff I've looked at recommends being able to get both forearms between the wheel and wheelarch. Impossible at the moment as our suspension has gone, but difficult under normal circumstances too.

So. Anyone got any recommendations?


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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

#2 User is offline   bertolli 

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Posted 01 March 2010 - 04:20 PM

Winter Tyres and Chains together?


View PostKell, on 27 February 2010 - 11:09 AM, said:

Need to order some snow chains for when we go away in a month, and wondered if anyone here can recommend a make and model that will fit.

Much of the stuff I've looked at recommends being able to get both forearms between the wheel and wheelarch. Impossible at the moment as our suspension has gone, but difficult under normal circumstances too.

So. Anyone got any recommendations?

BMW E61, Nov-2005. M-steering wheel +sport seats. Panoramic roof, Lighting package, Xenon, Adaptive headlights, Prof. navigation, CD changer, Voice control, Bluetooth, Heated seats, 128 alloys -18 inch Tyre size: 245/40/18, Abrieb Tuning, Tinted windows

#3 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 02 March 2010 - 04:02 AM

At this rate, it won't matter anyway unless our car gets sorted. :thumbsdown:
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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

#4 User is offline   narvselius 

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Posted 02 March 2010 - 07:16 AM

View Postbertolli, on 01 March 2010 - 04:20 PM, said:

Winter Tyres and Chains together?

... and X-drive! Just to be on the safe side...


Seriously, Kell, do you plan to go on summer tyres? A set of winter tyres should be enough, unless you plan to take the car off pist too.
E61 530iAM Carbonschwarz, Prod 06.04.2010 Delivery 30.04.2010
E46 320iAM Titansilber, Prod month May 2004

Previous BMW's
E61 530iaM 2007/06, Platingrau | E91 325i 2005/07, Titansilber | E46 330i Touring 2003/02, Titansilber | E46 320i (2.2) Touring 2001/03, Siena rot II

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#5 User is offline   xBMWx 

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Posted 02 March 2010 - 08:43 AM

I've been to winter ski resorts in Austria a few times with my E60s; on 18s and 19s! If you are heading to an area which is used to dealing with snow fall, then the routes should all be well enough prepared for your journey.

Here is a pic of my car after it was snowed in. It is on 18" winter tyres. I then had to drive it uphill out of the car park to the main road. The wheels span a little at times, but there was no issue getting out of there. It would really surprise me if you would need snow chains in addition to your winter wheels, especially so late into the winter season where everybody is up to speed with the weather.

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2005 E60 550i M-Sport | Carbon Black | Black Nasca Leather | specs in my profile | pics on Alpinas | pics on 128s
Mods: M5 Mirrors | M5 Trunk Finisher | M5 Trunk Spoiler | 35% rear tints | SB-v1 | R-Dash AEs | Summer: 20" Alpina | Winter: 19" OEM 128

Previous E60/61: #3: 2005 E61 530d M-Sport | #2: 2008 E60 525d M-Sport | #1: 2006 E60 520d M-Sport | pictures in My Galleries

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#6 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 02 March 2010 - 01:14 PM

I know it seems like overkill, but I've read bits and pieces to say that they're a legal requirement in many places - even not allowing you to pass certain places until you fit them.

Now, I've been to Alpe D'huez several times (at different points during the Ski season) and I've only ever seen the snowploughs with chains on. however, it's better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.
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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

#7 User is offline   alg7 

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Posted 03 March 2010 - 11:34 AM

After 10 years of Audi quattro S2 & RS2 with snow chains never needed. I bought a 535d this summer. Terrible in the Scottish winter this year with the non grip I mean run flat tyres. This is a great option to consider. Main issue apart from ease of fitting is you can drive on normal roads @ 50kph with them on !! http://www.autosock.co.uk/

#8 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 04 March 2010 - 04:37 AM

I did think about autosocks. But the problem remains that while they may be good, they're not yet approved in those places where it's a legal requirement. Probably won't take long before they are, but I figured it's worth going the legal route at the mo.

I have ordered some, but I can't test them yet as the car is still sitting on the bump stops in the BMW dealers as the suspension is fecked.
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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

#9 User is offline   copello 

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Posted 04 March 2010 - 08:27 AM

View PostKell, on 02 March 2010 - 01:14 PM, said:

I know it seems like overkill, but I've read bits and pieces to say that they're a legal requirement in many places - even not allowing you to pass certain places until you fit them.


+1
Images of last year trip to the mountains close to Chamonix, where I had to put on the chains - which proved very efficient Attached File  DSC00808.JPG (1.18MB)
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#10 User is offline   alg7 

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Posted 08 March 2010 - 06:11 AM

Fully agree re legal issue. However I took snowchains every year to Switzerland in the Audis & never needed them. My point re the socks is they look much less hassle to use. If I went tomorrow I would take both !!

#11 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 08 March 2010 - 06:42 AM

View Postcopello, on 04 March 2010 - 08:27 AM, said:

+1
Images of last year trip to the mountains close to Chamonix, where I had to put on the chains - which proved very efficient Attachment DSC00808.JPG


They look identical to my winter wheels.
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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

#12 User is offline   KAF 

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Posted 12 March 2010 - 10:57 AM

I use RUD chains, they are fine in terms of fitting, but never needed to use them with my winter tyres, even in Austria.
http://www.quikpass.co.uk

1st reg. 2005 (born 27/4/2004) 530D Tourer, auto, Titanuim Silver, Black Dakota Leather, DMS to 260bhp & 413 lb/ft, Bluetooth Phone, Advanced aircon, auto dim mirrors, folding ext mirrors. 6CD Changer, Progman 25, Winter set up Conti-wintercontact 810 225/50/17 on 138 rims, Summer Pirelli P Zero Rosso's 245/45/17 on 122 rims. Osram Silverstar halogen upgrades. E60.net Clings.

#13 User is offline   Rock Chunk 

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Posted 12 March 2010 - 04:36 PM

Check out www.roofbox.co.uk, Irented the spike spiders when I went to chamonoix. They are top blokes and offer a great service.

#14 User is offline   Kell 

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Posted 16 March 2010 - 10:50 AM

I think I tried Roofbox.co.uk originally, but they had nothing in the size I wanted.
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2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sat Nav : TV : Active Cruise : F/R Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD
2004 Mini Cooper : Chilli Red : full leather : air con : panoramic sun-roof : Chrono pack : Union Jack : Climate contolled glove box : Big Grin

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