Road trip Preventative Maintenance

I

ibasniper

Member
 Derbyshire
Hi fellow Zedders.

i'm planning a euro road trip next year..circa 3000 miles, and i'm looking at potential issues. I'm planning on a full service including new thermostat, filters, plugs, coil packs. And It's not long had a a full vanos & disa rebuild. All brakes are good but wondered on anything else i could potentially have an issue with.

i know various people have done the euro trip and wondered if they or anyone else has any feedback.

My Cars a 3.0 M54

cheers

Gary
 
I did a European road trip this summer of around 2600 miles through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium. I had recently done a VANOS rebuild and took a couple of small bottles of oil with me (which I needed about 500ml halfway through). Here are the things I did/packed before I left:
  • Oil and spark plugs change
  • Rear pads change (had only a couple of mm left - fronts were nearly new)
  • Topped up coolant
  • Topped up washer fluid (very glad I made sure it was full, didn't realise how much I would use this)
  • 2 bottles of tyre weld
  • Air compressor

Here are a few things I wish I had done/packed before setting off:
  • Got wheels checked for buckles (had a very small buckle on each front)
  • A few spare wheel weights and some good duct tape
  • A large bank loan for the insane fuel prices in Switzerland

Generally, from all the long distance road trips I've completed these cars are pretty sound at covering large distances without major issues.
 
I do a fair bit of driving across euroland and beyond, including taking the Z4 out to the alps for skiing and to St tropez, 6 trips so far this year in various vehicles and just a couple of little bits i'll do before / take:

Total agreement with everything TheDan said, good service before and & 100% agree with the washer fluid - halfords do some really good gel type things, that look a bit like the energy gel things and worth stashing in the glove box.
Tyres & Breaks - confident in enough pad / tread to get you home after a couple thousand miles of 'enjoyable' driving?
Fuel filter - not sure where you're going but I've changed it before when driving through Bosnia as a precaution and glad I had one.
Code reader - doesn't need to be fancy but really helps add some confidence about carrying on or seeking help if a light comes on
Tools - enough to change sparks etc and other basic items & tyre weld or similar
Spare beam pattern and UK stickers and bulbs.
A comprehensive breakdown that you'll be confident in.. & hiviz jacket etc I go for the fleece type as it can get damn chilly sitting on the edge of a toll road.
Time of year & location- you've not specified but check any local tyre legislations i.e. winter tyres or chains
Germany - If so get a low emission sticker- https://www.germanemissionssticker.com/
France - I have a tag and would highly recommend it - no faff of right-hand drive and a lifesaver if travelling on your own or with a sleeping passenger
 
Your car is 2004 so I'd replace any of the following IF original items and now some 18 years old. Old/worn components always seem to fail at the most inconvenient time or place...like half way up the Stelvio Pass :cry:
Shock absorbers. If original they WILL be well past their best/inoperative. This will vastly improve the ride and handling. Check the rear springs are not cracked/broken whilst you're at it.
Cam cover gasket and oil filter housing gasket. If original they WILL have turned to bakelite/plastic with the potential to leak oil.
Coolant expansion tank. It WILL fail sooner or later.
If, as you say; you're replacing the thermostat then you might as well replace the water pump also.
Check the condition of coolant hoses/connections and the radiator. Also check the plastic CCV pipes etc for cracks/brittleness.
Idler pulleys, tensioners and both belts.
Brake fluid unless recently changed.
What state are the alternator and battery in ?
Is the hood in good working and reliable condition ? You'd kick yourself on such a trip if it fails to go down and up properly :(
Consider buying an E46 space-saver wheel and jack. I never go on any long run/journey without mine :thumbsup:
 
My starter motor went in Ireland one Christmas, not something you can predict but it was the original.
Did manage to get it sorted eventually but it delayed me returning to the UK
 
If you’re going in the summer then make sure your AC is working well.

I’d also have a bit of cash on you so you have the option to pay any fines at the roadside and I’d take all your car related documents. I don’t know if you ‘need’ to carry the docs or not as a foreign car, but showing you’re properly insured and legal might make the difference between getting a fine or not.
 
TheDan said:
I did a European road trip this summer of around 2600 miles through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium. I had recently done a VANOS rebuild and took a couple of small bottles of oil with me (which I needed about 500ml halfway through). Here are the things I did/packed before I left:
  • Oil and spark plugs change
  • Rear pads change (had only a couple of mm left - fronts were nearly new)
  • Topped up coolant
  • Topped up washer fluid (very glad I made sure it was full, didn't realise how much I would use this)
  • 2 bottles of tyre weld
  • Air compressor

Here are a few things I wish I had done/packed before setting off:
  • Got wheels checked for buckles (had a very small buckle on each front)
  • A few spare wheel weights and some good duct tape
  • A large bank loan for the insane fuel prices in Switzerland

Generally, from all the long distance road trips I've completed these cars are pretty sound at covering large distances without major issues.
Click to expand...
Thanks for feedback, didn't know about fuel prices though!
 
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