Winter Roads

[CSanto]

How damaging are the winter roads?

I know they are filled with salt, and sand and ice and are generally more dirty, but how damaging is this really to your paint? More specifically how will the lower parts of the car take this abuse? (e.g. side skirts, front bumper, rear valance)

[///V\3Dude]

It's a little damaging to your front bumper, but other wise keep it washed and the salt shouldn't be a problem.

[getalot681]

Here in Oregon they don't like to use salt so instead they put down sand and rocks - I have a ton of chips on my front bumper/hood and a couple small nicks in my windshield on my nissan. Sucks.

[kwhm3]

Originally Posted by getalot681

Here in Oregon they don't like to use salt so instead they put down sand and rocks - I have a ton of chips on my front bumper/hood and a couple small nicks in my windshield on my nissan. Sucks.

sand and rocks?????? wtf?

[warzilla]

Yeh, thats messed up man. Why don't they just put nails and spikes with the rocks as well.

[RichB]

Originally Posted by kwhm3

sand and rocks?????? wtf?

Environmentalist play a part in that decision??? I am sure they are concerned about making the ocean salty.

[fpblue]

Salt is too expensive. They use sand as an alternative. The rocks are obviously not included on purpose.

[NYSPEM3]

Won't sand and rock clog the storm drains?

[ersin]

Originally Posted by warzilla

Yeh, thats messed up man. Why don't they just put nails and spikes with the rocks as well.

Hmmm. Good idea. More traction.

[getalot681]

Originally Posted by RichB

Environmentalist

You nailed it...

Originally Posted by fpblue

The rocks are obviously not included on purpose.

In the metro areas it's mostly sand although you'd be surprised at how many sizable 'rocks' are included. In the more elevated areas though they dump tons of rocks I'd say between 3-10mm in diameter - it's OK if there's a decent amount of snow on the road - they pretty much get embedded in the snow, but when the snow melts you're left with all the rocks and they kick up and ruin cars...

[gemini330zhp]

All I can say is CLEAR BRA!!!!!

[getalot681]

Originally Posted by gemini330zhp

All I can say is CLEAR BRA!!!!!

Yeah, definitely a must for winter driving in my area!

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by getalot681

Here in Oregon they don't like to use salt so instead they put down sand and rocks - I have a ton of chips on my front bumper/hood and a couple small nicks in my windshield on my nissan. Sucks.

Yup, that's pretty much why I leave it in the garage most of the winter. I've driven in snow my whole life so it's not the snow and ice that bother me, it's the gravel they put down everywhere as soon as it snows. If it weren't for the gravel they put down, I'd get some winter wheels and tires and drive it all year. Right now, the snow is melted and the roads are bare, but there's still gravel everywhere, so I won't drive it for a few more weeks until the rocks clear up. But by then it'll probably snow again and they'll go crazy with the gravel again. Why?... because of all the idiots out there that don't know how to drive in the snow and demand gravel gets put down every time it snows an inch.
ps Yes, I do have clear bra, but short of wrapping up the whole car, you just can't protect everything.

[M3 vert]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Yup, that's pretty much why I leave it in the garage most of the winter. I've driven in snow my whole life so it's not the snow and ice that bother me, it's the gravel they put down everywhere as soon as it snows. If it weren't for the gravel they put down, I'd get some winter wheels and tires and drive it all year. Right now, the snow is melted and the roads are bare, but there's still gravel everywhere, so I won't drive it for a few more weeks until the rocks clear up. But by then it'll probably snow again and they'll go crazy with the gravel again. Why?... because of all the idiots out there that don't know how to drive in the snow and demand gravel gets put down every time it snows an inch.
ps Yes, I do have clear bra, but short of wrapping up the whole car, you just can't protect everything.

This is not new, I think in Western Canada, the same thing happens.

I am surprised here in Ontario they use sooooo much salt its sick

However, you do have a point how much can you clear bra?

Ideally, you wanna have bumper, front fenders, rockerpanels, rear bumper lip and rear fenders bottom sides around the wheel well areas, side mirrors, door edges and your good to go in gravel!

[Dntlvet]

Originally Posted by getalot681

Yeah, definitely a must for winter driving in my area!

Hard not to drive the car. Does the clear bra really help and what's ~cost?

[Heat00]

what are winter roads lol

[Singletrack]

Bumper will get a bit beat up and you may end up with some chips in the windshield and hood. Wear them as a badge of honor, touch up the paint to conceal them, and/or just get the bumper re-sprayed every couple of years. New paint is only about $400-500.

PS - Watch out for ice blocks on the road; they can crack the parts under the bumper. The actual clearance on this car, even stock, is pretty low.

[gthirtyfizle]

My lm's r my stock winter wheels ahahahah...

[dizman7]

Originally Posted by getalot681

Here in Oregon they don't like to use salt so instead they put down sand and rocks - I have a ton of chips on my front bumper/hood and a couple small nicks in my windshield on my nissan. Sucks.

Yeah they do the same thing in Iowa, at least in the city of Des Moines. They barely plowed and always used this sand/grit stuff instead of salt. Which then piled up in the roads come spring, which they would have to spend more money to sweep up, not to mention that it killed all the grass along the streets so they'd have to replant everything too.

UGH! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I just moved to Arizona!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Singletrack

PS - Watch out for ice blocks on the road; they can crack the parts under the bumper. The actual clearance on this car, even stock, is pretty low.

+1

I took out a fog light of my e46 M3 on ice chunks. I also cracked the bumper on wife's old e46 3 series. This is typically only an issue when you have unplowed (or poorly cleared) roads and very cold temps.

[GTM]

Originally Posted by gemini330zhp

All I can say is CLEAR BRA!!!!!

Only good for 1-2 years IMO.

Clear bra always gets "yellowing" which I HATE if it was applied on lighter color car.(silver or white)

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by GTM

Only good for 1-2 years IMO.

Clear bra always gets "yellowing" which I HATE if it was applied on lighter color car.(silver or white)

Depends on the film that is used. The 3M film that was on my white GTI looked as good when I sold it after 3 years as it did the day it was put on. Most films nowadays have UV protection built in so they don't yellow.