W mode in Snow

[rirhill]

I love my E320 but god its cr_p in the snow too much power. I was driving up a smallish hill and talk about sideways motion. I had it in W mode I totally lost speed and stopped. Any tips for powerful cars in the snow?

Regards
Ian

 

[djcheung]

Driving powerful cars or not, try keeping your right foot light and make sure your tyres are in good condition.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Talking of this, i had my 190 back for a couple of hours last night, its the first time i have had the chance to drive it in Icy conditions (we had 6 inches of snow where i live yesterday!) and my god that it is a scary car to drive. The slightest tap on the throttle and the rear wheels are spinning, and hovering your foot over the brake pedal causes the front wheels to lock up in seconds. One thing i noticed, the creep effect of the autobox must be a lot stronger than on other cars, as on the ice, with your foot on the brakes in drive, the car gets pushed forward still!!! (front wheels locked of course) and its impossible to bring the car to a halt while its in drive.

Frightening stuff!

 

[rirhill]

Mate
I total agree after spending loads of money on a clean motor I don t think I will be driving any more than I have to in these conditions.
I came out of the garage at work and well if I hadn t taken my foot of the brake I would have scuffed my lovely alloys.Talk about Bobsleigh run.

Regards
Ian

 

[Swazi280]

Don't blame the power too much.

Last year I visited a friend who lives on a cul-de-sac, far from the reach of gritters, so I was going at roughly walking speed when I gently applied my brakes.

I sailed past his driveway and stopped neatly in front of his neighbour's house. Somewhat luckily, said neighbour was out, and his E230 wasn't parked in the road!

I had a flashback of this last night, while out visiting a friend in the bush; it's been raining on the dirt roads for the last three days and nights and I was party to the unenviable experience of being in first gear while travelling backwards down a slope.. sideways.. towards a very steep drop..

Suffice to say, I might have to rent a 4x4 until the wet season is over!

 

[waggers]

It's scarry stuff! With 'W' mode selected on mine and even having that 'ESP' thingy....big flashing orange triangle in the middle of your speedo when your wheels are spinning! I thought it was supposed to stop all that stuff with the electronic gizmos...but alas it spins come winter or summer at the slightest touch of the right foot! I've just put a new set of boots on to see if that helps!

 

[sunil sood]

i had the same experience in W mode-the abs system was active on pressing the brake-but at least it kept the car in a straight line when braking-
i was just letting the car travel forward in the D position at idling speed.
you have to be light on the throttle in snow/icy conditions and avoid strong braking and anticipate well ahead while driving to avoid crashes.

it is scary though.

 

[grober]

SNOW DRIVING IN A MERC

A tip from the frozen wastes of Scotland. In snow when you want to stop, knock the transmission into neutral to prevent the rear wheels pushing you forwards. I have "skated" thro several halt signs before I learned this lesson. Taking your foot of the accelerator simply does not do it I,m afraid. I have also found that Verdestein Wintracs which are an H rated snow tyre with silica compound rubber greatly improve traction and handling in these conditions when fitted to the rear wheels. They are good enough for all year use and are only slightly more noisy than a conventional tread.

 

[Twixman]

I too have found the only way to stop my C-class, with auto gear box, in the snow and ice is to put it into park or neutral when you want to stop and this seems to stop the drive wheels from pushing you past where you want to stop. It was the same in forward gears and in reverse, as I found out whilst reversing into a car parking space!! Not very safe on main roads, but seems to be the best solution up to now.

 

[mbzslk230k]

All, when driving in snow, skinny and knobbly tyres or snow chains are the only real answers ... ordinary tyres are not designed to cut thru snow ... as it will only compress the stuff on its "smooth" surface ... and compressed snow becomes ICE !

W mode only means that it starts in 2 gear and changes up at relatively low revs - it is NOT a safety device !

 

[rirhill]

I don t know if whilst driving put the transmission in Park is a very good idea surely this can harm the gearbox.
I really didn t think about that the fact that when you brake the rear wheels still want to go until you engage neutral. Oh well the snow has gone so I can t try it out. I was more worried about chipping my alloys so I can sleep easy now.

Regards
Ian

 

[waggers]

Putting in P whilst driving will screw your gearbox up! a bit like trying to put your car in reverse whilst going forward. It's only a small lug that kicks in...so break it and no more Park.......and nice big gearbox re-build charge..