GLC in snow

34312 Views 25 Replies 12 Participants Last post by stargazer, Feb 20, 2019

Philamg

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2018

We have had our first snow in Dorset this morning, only about an inch but more forecast later.
How have you been getting on in the snow with your glc's in areas that have had more snow, would be particularly interested to hear from owners of the 43 as they have a different front to back ratio than other glc's.

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Draven

· #2 · Mar 1, 2018

We had about 5" of snow overnight and with living in a fairly remote rural area the back roads hadn't been gritted.

I had 1 instance of complete loss of traction which occurred at a junction where the snow was very compacted. I also lost the front end a couple of times but no real drama. I can only compare this to my previous X5 and it definitely does not feel as sure footed as that did but considering what I drove through I guess it did OK.

I would definitely recommend sticking it in eco mode for snow driving!

Toobad

· #3 · Mar 1, 2018

@Philamg I think you may see a tad more than an inch later today as they have issued a red weather alert for your area! Bet you wished Sam was wearing his winter boots. We are being told to expect up to half a metre of the white stuff over the next 48 hours as we are in an exposed area. This would be a great thread to post any photos of our GLCs dealing with the snow.

If anybody is venturing out, it is worthwhile noting failure to clear snow from the roof and bonnet attracts a £60 fine, as does travelling with only a partially cleared windscreen. Also be aware an unreadable registration plate due to dirt or snow could land you with a £1000 fine. And don't leave your vehicle running but unattended on a public road whilst it defrosts as you won't be insured if it is stolen.

Philamg

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 1, 2018

You're right Toobad, like the arctic out there, about 4 inches now and still coming down. Trying not to venture out but expecting a call from my wife to pick her up at 19-30 as I'm sure she won't fancy driving the countryman home.

Thanks Draven, good to hear, good tip regarding driving in eco.

JitP

· #5 · Mar 2, 2018

We have about 3-4 inches and the 43 performed ok-ish! Complete loss of traction at least 3-4 times....that moment were your balls invert as you have no control and you think you are going to hit something - thankfully it didn't. Going in straight line is no problem at all, but going around a corner at any speed over 2mph was an issue and any light touch on the pedal meant the car lost it. Not what you expect from a "4x4" but still better than most cars I saw driving.

Toobad

· #6 · Mar 2, 2018

Well Storm Emma seems to have dumped about 8 inches here overnight with drifts in excess of a couple of feet in places. It's very fine dry snow so it is getting pushed into heaps everywhere by the wind. The wife keeps staring through the window, if it gets any deeper I'm going to have to let her in >

Thought I'd take Red Ken out for a spin and he totally killed it. The combination of Slippery Mode which comes with the Off-road Engineering Package and the Air Body Control just made him invincible. He dragged himself up some ridiculous gradients. I thought descending would be a lot more hairy but the Downhill Speed Regulation facility kept everything under control. I've no doubt the all-season tyres helped a little, I'm just over the moon how Ken handled everything like a total Boss.

I've just watched my neighbour trying to get off his level drive in his top-of-the range Kia "Sportard" KX4. It wasn't having any of it and got well and truly stuck in the slight gully. He had told me I was insane spending over 50% more for what was essentially the same type of vehicle. Mercedes 1 - Kia 0

I may go out again a little later and push the envelope a bit further so I can try the Rocking Assist Mode.

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Teckno

· #7 · Mar 2, 2018

Nice fails to express my admiration and pure jealousy !
Unless I head to snow fields in middle of winter here in Oz, I will never see or drive in anything remotely like this. Well done.
If fitting snow chains, do you fit to rear, front or all four tyres ?
Again, well done , you.

Visa

· #8 · Mar 2, 2018

Teckno said:
Nice fails to express my admiration and pure jealousy !
Unless I head to snow fields in middle of winter here in Oz, I will never see or drive in anything remotely like this. Well done.
If fitting snow chains, do you fit to rear, front or all four tyres ?
Again, well done , you.

If the front wheels are driven (and you have clearance, my X5 didn't) you should always fit them to the front.

Currently have a BMW 1 series and have driven that twice in the Alps this year as well as in the UK's current dusting (8 inches where I live) and as it's rear wheel drive I always fit chains front and back even though it has winter tyres.

Visa

· #9 · Mar 2, 2018

@Toobad can you lock the diffs with the off road package?

Philamg

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 2, 2018

As you probably know MB have supplied me with a set of 20 inch wheels with winter tyres because of the crabbing issue. I took the decision not to fit them until next winter, not the brightest decision with the weather down here at the moment.
I had to take the car out today and put in Eco on advice from Draven, couldn't believe how well the car drove in the conditions, no problems at all.

Reactions: 2

Toobad

· #11 · Mar 2, 2018

Visa said:
@Toobad can you lock the diffs with the off road package?

There is no facility to lock the diffs in the traditional sense. Wheel slip is detected by the Electronic Traction System (4-ETS) which monitors the wheel speed sensors used for the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Wheel slip can be detected in milliseconds and 4-ETS will pulse the brakes to control rotation and cause torque to be diverted to the remaining gripping wheels. It will proportion torque accordingly right down to only having one wheel gripping. What Slippery Mode does is adjust the usual 45/55 front-to-rear torque split of my 220d to a 50/50 split. I guess you could call this an inter-axle differential lock.

LONS

· #12 · Mar 2, 2018

Took mine out today through some thick snow, no pics of that but this road wasn't good going but clear coming home,
GLC was faultless in eco mode as advice on here.

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Toobad

· #13 · Mar 3, 2018

Official Government Health Advice:

Down Saaarf - If you leave the house you will almost certainly die.
Ooop North - You may need to wear your "big coat".

:grin2: :grin2: :grin2:

Reactions: 3

Philamg

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 3, 2018

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

LONS

· #15 · Mar 3, 2018

Not many Geordies own a big coat.
A hoodie, joggers and trainers are plenty warm enough until the temp gets above freezing when tee shirts are in order again.:wink2:

Not me though, I'm a wimp.

Toobad

· #16 · Mar 3, 2018

So another 4 inches came down overnight and I was looking for any excuse to get out in Red Ken again. Eventually I convinced the wife I should head for the village store to replenish the litre of milk and loaf of bread we had consumed from our stockpile of 30 litres and 45 loaves the tabloids has advised us to obtain in readiness for "snowmageddon". To my utter disappointment I discovered our inconsiderate parish council had arranged to plough all the roads around the village.

But every cloud has a silver lining because on the way home on a virgin back road I came across a Bentley Bentayga (there's something you don't see every day!) which was being defeated by the incline as its front wheels were spinning profusely. I can only assume the owner was not in the appropriate drive mode or simply did not know how to access it. Eventually he waved me past and Ken simply hauled himself up and over the crest like the Boss he is. My facial muscles then went into severe cramp after maintaining an expression of acute smugness for such a long time. Of course my phone was still in my other jacket or else the whole episode would have been recorded for posterity :crying: Mercedes - 1 Bentley - 0

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Philamg

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 3, 2018

Assume the Bentley owner phoned the helicopter to rescue him.

Toobad

· #18 · Mar 3, 2018

Well I did a bit of asking around and it turns out the Bentley comes from Kentchurch Court which is the country pile of the Scudamore family. When I saw it I was only a couple of miles from their gaff. They are quite famous in the horse racing and training scene, one was a successful jockey who I think went on to become a pundit for the BBC. Apparently the Scudamores have lived there of over 1000 years! I will look on Google Earth to see if they have a helipad in the grounds. I do know some of their friends flew in to visit in their canvas covered aeroplane. They landed in a field by the house and the Scudamore cows ate it!!!!

Philamg

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 3, 2018

It was Peter Scudamore who was the jockey and he won the national hunt championship 8 times, no wonder they can afford a Bentley.

LONS

· #20 · Mar 3, 2018

Toobad said:
I do know some of their friends flew in to visit in their canvas covered aeroplane. They landed in a field by the house and the Scudamore cows ate it!!!!

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

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