Tool kit advice please
- Thread starter hsyben
- Start date
Make sure you give it a good service before you leave and you should be fine,maybe a code reader a space saver spare wheel and tools to change if not using run flats.Depends where your going and for how long.1l of oil and some antifreeze.There’s not much you can do at the side of the road but take adjustable spanner,couple of screwdrivers a hammer the list is endless,how long have you had the car and how well do you know it?
A C310+ code reader, some spare bulbs, some oil and some kind of European recovery.
If you do go down the route of a space saver spare, make sure you can get the punctured wheel in the boot along with all your luggage (very limited luggage at that with a spare wheel in there!!). I did ask if anyone had tried to fit a normal wheel in the boot and no one has yet replied
If you do go down the route of a space saver spare, make sure you can get the punctured wheel in the boot along with all your luggage (very limited luggage at that with a spare wheel in there!!). I did ask if anyone had tried to fit a normal wheel in the boot and no one has yet replied
hsyben said:
Hey mate, I had a road trip to France last year, I wrote about https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=134927.
What I did (Zed was around 215.000 km then) was:
- engine oil
- cooling system - new hoses, expansion tank
- new tyres
- belts
I took Carly for diagnostics, 2 litre of oil, 5 litre of cooling water, I had a repair kit for the tyres + compressor and that was it. I always have ducktape and plastic ties. Those two can really help. Also check if you can emergency close the top, and you are ready to go!
Thanks for the advice.
I hadn't thought of tape and ties and I have no spare wheel, but couldn't get it in the boot with the luggage, so I have a repair kit.
I'm intrigued by zriha's suggestion of belts, hoses and expansion tank. I don't know whether the tank has been replaced on this car but is it a job that can be done at the side of a road, or would it be a difficult part for a garage to get? I'll have breakdown cover. I'll take a look at the review. Thanks.
I hadn't thought of tape and ties and I have no spare wheel, but couldn't get it in the boot with the luggage, so I have a repair kit.
I'm intrigued by zriha's suggestion of belts, hoses and expansion tank. I don't know whether the tank has been replaced on this car but is it a job that can be done at the side of a road, or would it be a difficult part for a garage to get? I'll have breakdown cover. I'll take a look at the review. Thanks.
Curious as to what sort of age and mileage people still take their cars to the continent. My GF's family have a house down in the south of France and I do despise the flight there, often thought about driving :roll:
hsyben said:
M54 engines are bulletproof, but the important part is the cooling of the engine. So, I took it as preventive maintenance and cooling hoses, expansion tank, and thermostats can turn your road trip into a nightmare, but it is easy to change. The cover is great, I also have it, but you know life, the breakdown can happen in the worst possible situation.
Cooling for the engine is important, if the car is old, and you didn't change it, it's a good investment. My new 2019. Mini Cooper S with 90.000 km had a breakdown of a stupid cooling hose behind the oil filter. Imagine how good are hoses in a 20-year-old Z4.
Mine is from 2003. with 218.000 km on the clock, I just did a spring road trip to Florence (1800 km), I am doing preventive maintenance, and with this car, I can go to the end of the world.
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Amazing stuff
Definitely a source of encouragement for me! How much was that in petrol to Florence and back (and tolls) if you don't mind me asking?GengisKaan said:
2006 and 122k miles here. I do several big road trips every year and this summer am doing 5,000+ miles in a month around Europe.
I carry the following which I can stuff into a backpack.
- Small socket set
- Assorted screwdrivers and pliers
- Wheel brace
- Spanners 8-19mm
- 1/2 inch drive and 10-19mm sockets
- Cable ties
- Duct tape
- Puncture repair kit
- A small scissor jack
I don't bother with fluids as these are easy enough to find on the road.
GengisKaan said:
No problem, so I live in Zagreb, and roughly we spend around 330 EUR for gasoline and 225 EUR for tolls. It is around 640 km in one way + driving in Tuscany
. As for the trip to Avignon, these were the stats:
Total trip: 2.800 km.
Average fuel consumption: 7.5 litres per 100 km.
Average oil consumption: 1 liter per 2.800 km
Route as planned:
→ Zagreb - Genova - San Tropez - Avignon
→ Avignon - Milano - Zagreb
GengisKaan said:
We drove from Scotland to Spain last year with a 1998 Z3 as part of the group. It travelled from the Manchester area and it never missed a beat
As for the trip to Avignon, these were the stats:
Total trip: 2.800 km.
Average fuel consumption: 7.5 litres per 100 km.
Average oil consumption: 1 liter per 2.800 km
Route as planned:
→ Zagreb - Genova - San Tropez - Avignon
→ Avignon - Milano - Zagreb
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Not too bad really, thanks for sharing.
Off the back of this conversation I've booked to go to my GFs sisters wedding in the south of France from London in August. Driving with her brother in his 2007 Mini Cooper convertible. Like an episode of top gear haha.
Robster68 said:Luckily I live here
Where is this? Looks unreal. Might have to add as a route to the journey!
Last year we drove the “Mille Miglia” in Italy, in three weeks we drove over 4.500 kilometres in our 2004 Z4. No spare parts, no tools, just my wife anI …
This year we’ll make a tour in France; and again, no tools or spare parts. One can by everything you need in almost every town, so don’t bother…
anI …This year we’ll make a tour in France; and again, no tools or spare parts. One can by everything you need in almost every town, so don’t bother…
That is reassuring. Sounds like you are making good use of your car. I'm looking forward to pootling along french back roads with the occasional burn, when the mood takes me. My wife is not known for packing light so I won't have much room for tools or, unfortunately, wine. Is wine, not the paint stripper variety, still cheaper in France?
