typically on snowy road untill this year (got snow tires) I've always had better luck pedal to the metal and balancing the car in the center of the road while the rear slides right and points the car to the left, it took some practice but I was always able to make it up steep hills provided I wasn't starting from a dead stop at the bottom. I remember back in Jan 2001 with the 240D in 7 inches of snow it balled right up a hill with no sign of slowing down. Granted there were two people in the car plus an amplifier and full drumset, but still...
that reminds me, I did get stuck in a small ditch once with the 300CD with the stock 14" wheels 195/75/14 on. I managed to spin it around and get back home, switched out the rims and put the 17" 245/40/17's back on it and made it the 25 miles to work (and past that ditch) without getting stuck. I had put the stock wheels on the car the day before in anticipation of them doing better in the snow. Oh well I guess I learned something.