European test drive.

B

Blacklines

Member
 Warwickshire
I am relatively new to this forum and to the Z. After the last few days I can safely say I am no longer new to the Z even if I am a "newbie" here. I would just like to share my new found love of the Z4 ...

On Tuesday last week AP fitted some brakes to my car. On Wednesday I left the UK and drove through Belgium, clipping Luxembourg en route to the Ring.

Thursday I did 15 laps or so and then set off for Como crossing half of the Alps and zipping by Switzerland on the way. Friday was spent scooting around Lake Como in a Colombo speedboat. After a slow start to the day and another couple of hours sightseeing from the boat, the Z4 took me and a mate up and down the Stelvio pass. Then a blast into Austria and out on to the unrestricted Autobahn network that is just genius. 170MPH and regular runs at 150MPH plus - just awesome.

A night in Koln and another early start had us back at the Ring for another 10-12 laps on Sunday :)

Quick blast back to Calais in time to catch the 1850 Euro Tunnel to Folkestone (UK) and home in time for a late supper. Top dollar.

The car was perfect. The weather was fantastic. The things we did were brilliant. Even the idiot in Italy who knifed a 2000 mile old tyre and scratched my bootlid could not spoil 5 days of petrol head joy.

:driving:

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Sorry to learn about the vandalism... :(
Good to hear how much your are enjoying your Zed... :driving: :thumbsup:
 
Sounds like a great trip Blacklines, and that Stelvio pass looks like dead funto drive!

You did not get to take an overview picture with the road snaking up the mountainside, did you?
 
Sorry bit late in the day and the sun has gone down and I am crap with a camera but is this close to what you were thinking?

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was that by any chance the road they said on Top Gear the other week was the best in Europe?

I know their credentials were a bit rubbish, but that looked simply incredible.. btw... those rims look fantastic, especially dirty =)

any chance of your rough route? I'm relegating my M to a 2nd car so I'm desperately in need of incentives because it's going away soon.. this looks perfect but Autoroute is telling me 1600m (3 days tho...lol.. )

=D
 
Ben,

Awesome roadtrip! I am dying to go through Europe and take in the alps/passes and a few other must-drive routes... just finding the time to do it (and people to do it with!).

Out of interest, what size tyres did you go for on your CSLs in the end? It might just be the tread pattern, but they look noticeably higher in profile than the ones on mine in that last picture..?
 
Blacklines said:
Sorry bit late in the day and the sun has gone down and I am crap with a camera but is this close to what you were thinking?

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That looks good, blacklines, the best would have been one from above looking down on the road, but this one gives a pretty good impression of the layout
 
Blacklines - great pics.

How many miles did you clock in total? And can I ask how much the whole thing cost if you don't mind me asking? Very tempted to do the samesimilar myself next year

Paul
 
Thanks for the comments Guys.

Andy - I missed Top Gear so I am not sure if it is the same road. Some of the roads into Austria were less drmatic but more fun to drive. We made the route up as we went along. I was only supposed to be gone for 2 days - which turned in to 5(!), covering just short of 3000 miles total. (Including the laps of the Ring.)

Sixspeed - I am up for another trip anytime. If the weather is fine I reckon late October would be brill. Even in November it was 18 degrees and bright sun in Como. Well spotted on the tyres. I went for 245/35 and 255/35 which gives a rolling radius within 1% of the OEM Z4 sizes. Tyre wear has a bigger effect than that. When the Nitron goes on I think the car will look better.

Enfield - there were lots of Americans at the Ring on Thursday and Sunday ...

Rick - thanks.

Color - yes good point but the vid below shows I was having too much fun to spend all day taking pictures! :)

Senwar - Just less than 3000 miles. Cost - I don't even like to think about it. 3000 miles of fuel, 2 nights hotel, food and booze and because some idiot decided to attack my car - key scrape repair and a new rear tyre which was stabbed.

Here is my little Stelvio vid. Sorry if it is a bit long.

[youtube]MTNpY7vHxgo[/youtube]
 
Blacklines said:
Sixspeed - I am up for another trip anytime. If the weather is fine I reckon late October would be brill. Even in November it was 18 degrees and bright sun in Como. Well spotted on the tyres. I went for 245/35 and 255/35 which gives a rolling radius within 1% of the OEM Z4 sizes. Tyre wear has a bigger effect than that. When the Nitron goes on I think the car will look better.
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I will have to keep you in mind for that then!

Yes, I am a geek and spotted the tyres. lol. I take it you went for the smaller difference in width to balance out some of the understeer in the car?

I forgot you hadn't lowered it yet either - will definately look the part with the new suspension!


Nice vid btw! :D
 
sixspeed said:
Yes, I am a geek and spotted the tyres. lol. I take it you went for the smaller difference in width to balance out some of the understeer in the car?
Click to expand...

Yes that was my thinking and 275 is just to wide for me. I like the idea of being able to light up the rears at will!
 
Blacklines said:
Thanks for the comments Guys.

Color - yes good point but the vid below shows I was having too much fun to spend all day taking pictures! :)
Click to expand...

Taking photos, filming, in the end it's all the same! :)
Thanks for posting the vid, now I wanna drive the Stelvio too!! :D :D
It's on my TO-DO list for the next European cruise.
 
Yes,thanks for the stubby Carl - it looks much better.

Caddyshk, I fitted just the Remus back boxes. Total cost about £700. I am happy with the result, but it will probably be a little quiet for some.
 
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