Checks and upgrades before 3000 mile road trip

ejs4

Member
Hello,

Just purchased a 2004 Z4 (2.2) with 94,000 miles.

Car is pretty solid, can't see any issues with it at the moment. I would be interested to know what everyones checks / replacements everyone wold do before a 3000 mile long road trip around Europe and through the alps.

I am thinking of doing the back box delete on the exhaust, and also an air filter change to possibly increase intake sound.
 
I'd be thinking more about how easy/not easy it will be to travel around Europe with regards to C19 than anything to do with your car.
:?
 
I’d think carefully I’d I were you before taking a backbox delete on a 3,000 mile road trip. I spent a good chunk of change undoing the previous owners backbox delete when I bought the car (had only covered 100miles before deciding it wasn’t for me) and can’t think of anything worse than doing a road trip with the delete.

With that said it is my opinion, plenty of others love it. I will admit the pops and crackles were really good (plenty of clips on the forum) but the constant drone drove me nuts a s gave me headaches.
 
Chris_D said:
I'd be thinking more about how easy/not easy it will be to travel around Europe with regards to C19 than anything to do with your car.
:?

And emissions regulations around Europe. Absolute pain. Over in northern Italy a few years back a lot of roads across the alps were closed to us (in an ‘old and very polluting’ Boxster ha) except the Mont Blanc tunnel (distinctly boring and unscenic but it is useful!)
 
It’s all done on the EURO category of the car and you need to apply for a windscreen sticker (sometimes different depending on the country!) - our Boxster is EU3 , not the ‘greener’ EU4. They like to close certain roads to cars in the ‘less green’ categories every now and then... break the rules and get a fine...
 
Plug in a code reader and check for anything it's throwing up.

If the car is well serviced and maintained check the fluids, brakes and tyre pressure.

Then fill it up and go.

Is it a Great British smiling fish smuggling exercise you're running by any chance? Got to get those fish into the EU somehow!

Would be more concerned about Covid 19 especially if you're going from England. That and the possible border issues Brexit may have thrown up that absolutely nobody could have seen coming as the EU needs us more than we need them as is clearly the case!

Perhaps show them a blue passport and tell them about your sovereignty at any of the borders while they get on the rubber gloves and give you a rectal examination!
 
ejs4 said:
groovy_hippy said:
And emissions regulations around Europe.

Are they checking car emissions in Europe?

All detailed here, it’s really not much of an issue. Probably best to use the country by country function.

https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/european-low-emission-zones
 
skelters said:
Plug in a code reader and check for anything it's throwing up.

If the car is well serviced and maintained check the fluids, brakes and tyre pressure.

Then fill it up and go.

This :thumbsup:
 
I'd take extra coolant, motor oil, a decent tool box. If you have ditched the run flat tires, I would take some cans of "Fix-A-Flat"...(I'm sure you have similar products where you live). I have a portable compressed air tank that fits in the trunk, a small air compressor that runs on 12 volts would suffice it you don't want to carry around an air tank, though I've read that they can be pretty unreliable.
 
You can also check here where I asked about planing a roadtrip - https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=126722 very good answers there.

Basically, I am planning to change all the fluids, put new spark plugs, change the thermostat and water pump and that's it. I will take spare coils with me.

Regarding flat tire, I have a portable compressed air tank and air compressor that runs on 12v with me.
 
And if you cross Germany, don't worry, you can swap the whole engine for nothing hahahahaha :D
 
zriha said:
You can also check here where I asked about planing a roadtrip - https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=126722 very good answers there.

Basically, I am planning to change all the fluids, put new spark plugs, change the thermostat and water pump and that's it. I will take spare coils with me.

Regarding flat tire, I have a portable compressed air tank and air compressor that runs on 12v with me.


Thanks for the link to your thread.
 
Any advice on air filter replacements? Not looking at expensive K&N

Read a few things on Panel filters to give a slightly better noise.
 
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