Running an M Car Through Winter Without Regret

There is nothing structurally wrong with driving an M car in winter, provided you accept that salt is the enemy and behave accordingly.

Tires

Summer performance tires below seven degrees Celsius are genuinely dangerous, not merely suboptimal. A dedicated winter set on smaller wheels transforms the car and protects the expensive wheels from pothole damage.

Cold starts

The first sixty seconds of a cold start account for a disproportionate share of engine wear, particularly on high-strung naturally aspirated engines. Drive gently until oil temperature is up, not just coolant temperature.

Salt

Wash the underside regularly, not just the paint. Pay attention to the rear arches, sills and subframe mounting points. A single winter will not destroy a car; ten unwashed winters will.

The honest alternative

If the car is a low-mileage collectible, store it properly on a tender with the tires overinflated and a sunshade in place. Value preservation and winter driving are opposing goals.