Lengthy Road Trip - Help Me Avoid a Breakdown!

grumps said:
Ruofdez said:
Any suggestions would be brilliant :driving:
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Don't forget to check that your insurance covers you fully comp in Europe. Most UK policies only provide 3rd party cover on the continent unless you pay for the fully comp extension. They also limit the fully comp cover to a maximum of 90 days per year.

It might be worth checking that cover also includes recovery of your damaged car back to the UK.
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Will check my insurance to make sure I'm fully covered :thumbsup:

Davz said:
Ancillary drive belts ok? All coolant system hoses in good cond?
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Something I've not checked out yet actually, will have a good inspection cheers.
 
Lance said:
Coils, I was talking ignition coils, as they can fail at any time and with no warning. But, don't fret over them, I've had just one failure in almost 10 years of Z4 ownership. I just carry a spare in the boot now, along with the very basic tools (a 10mm socket) required to change one if another was to fail.

As for hotels, I did 25 days across 11 countries last summer and most hotels were around €50-60 a night, most were pretty decent too. I think the most I paid was €90 for a Best Western in Zagreb, city centres are more expensive, rural are more reasonable and for me are preferable.

I generally just ride (motorbike) or drive until I see somewhere I like, or if I feel that time is getting on I'll look at apps like Trip Advisor or Google Maps and see what's about. You'll probably be surprised by the amount there are about, and some stunning places and locations too.

Going in June works for you as well, as you'll be out of main season so lower rates and more availability.
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Oops :headbang: I did think changing a spring in 3 mins was going some :rofl:

I'll grab a spare one just in case. Recently changed the spark plugs so familiar with how to do it should one go.
 
I went with the wife last August down to Lipica in Slovenia on a Alpine pass tour. We did 3000m in 10 days in an 04 2.5 auto. Didn't need any parts, didn't even need to top up the washer bottle. I did take a small socket set and bulbs.
More important is the list of stuff you need to carry legally in case you get stopped.
Hi viz, alko tester, bulbs etc.
Stelvio was amazing did it both ways stopping in Bormio 2000. We did every alpine pass we could fit in
Hotels were about e100 a night on average. Italy was best.
Don't forget to buy your vignettes either online before you go or at the first petrol station in each country.
I pre programmed my Garmin satnav with the route to avoid motorways as much as possible.
Message me if you want some suggestions otherwise follow your nose
(and having downloaded Google maps onto a tablet for each section was a bonus)

We are definitely going to do it again. The Z4 was perfect for the job!
 
 
Spare bulbs are not mandatory anywhere in Europe, here's a list of what is actually required, it's not as much as you might think -

https://www.theaa.com/~/media/the-aa/pdf/touring-tips/compulsory-equipment.pdf?la=en
 
Depends who you check with RAC say says its mandatory in France but its common sense anyway even for the UK
 
Rucky said:
Depends who you check with RAC say says its mandatory in France but its common sense anyway even for the UK
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Nope, there's the RAC list, clearly says recommended https://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/driving-abroad/driving-abroad-checklist
 
No point having an argument about it I was just trying to be helpful -
Just depends where you look as to what you believe :https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/france/
clearly says mandatory here - carry spares to avoid a fine!
I have mine already so its up to Ruofdez - but like I said its also common sense.
 
Rucky said:
No point having an argument about it I was just trying to be helpful -
Just depends where you look as to what you believe :https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/france/
clearly says mandatory here - carry spares to avoid a fine!
I have mine already so its up to Ruofdez - but like I said its also common sense.
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The French gov site, the European Commission site, Green Flag, Brittainy Ferries, AA and RAC all recommend spare bulbs, none quote them as being mandatory. Your link is to a particularly carefully worded document, pushing you towards buying something you don't need or have to, it's just pushing sales, hence the link mid paragraph.

I have no argument with you whatsoever, just the companies that maintain this false marketing to boost profits. Then pressuring less experienced travellers at the ports with their craftily worded flyers.
 
It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
 
Just back from mine! Over 2500 miles done, a mixture of motorways, country lanes and mountain roads. Impressed with the Zed, averaged 31mpg over the whole trip, the lowest being the mountain roads of course :driving:
 
earthdweller said:
It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
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Don't forget the full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes and the sunglasses.
 
I would recommend changing the expansion bottle before you go, as they fail catastrophically without warning.
I've forgotten which model we are talking about. If 3.0si have a spare Pierburg electric water pump in the boot just in case.
On an E86 fit M3 seats before any journey of more than 30 minutes.
Carly for BMW so that you can pretend to do something about random warning lights.
Set the navi to avoid motorways.
Fill the tank and point it down interesting looking roads.
 
mjennings23 said:
Just back from mine! Over 2500 miles done, a mixture of motorways, country lanes and mountain roads. Impressed with the Zed, averaged 31mpg over the whole trip, the lowest being the mountain roads of course :driving:
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Nice one, did you get any photos?

I've ordered an expansion tank so will be changing that before the trip. Also ordered a shiny new GoPro Hero 7 Black camera and a BMW towing eye mount so should get some great video. I'll be attempting to power the camera by feeding a cable through the sound tube and routing it through the engine bay avoiding the hot bits!

s-l1600.jpg
 
That looks impressive - you should get some great film. :thumbsup:
 
Just a word of warning. It seems that BMW changed the design of the towing eye on later models because the bracket for the GoPro is 20mm and the Z4 towing eye appears to need 5/8. Going to try and find an adapter however it will mean it sitting further forward of the car and I'm in two minds whether to just return it.

You'd think BMW might have put something on the packaging about compatibility as it's an official part...
 
Sending it back, struggling to find a suitable thread converter. Would have to be custom made. Looks as though Cravenspeed do one that should be suitable. Just need to find one in the UK to avoid paying massive postage from the US.

Been planning the route and looks like we'll be doing something a bit like this:

Screenshot 2019-05-21 at 15.06.57.png
 
Plus the mountain roads but can't include all those passes as they're closed and Google Maps won't let you override it.
 
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