Taking the M5 Touring to the south of France?

[velocgee]

Mags said:

Just looking to book a place near Carcassone and would like to take the M5 touring down there. I've never taken it on a decent long motorway run so was looking for some feedback on mpg others have had doing this? Google maps says it's about 760 miles from my house so assuming 3 tankfulls to get there?

doesn't work that way. you sit on the motorway and the fuel gauge shows halfway. next time you look, it's nearing a quarter. but you've just passed the petrol station. and the next is miles away...and you see the fuel gauge sprint to it's stops (it's an E60 M5, repeat, E60 M5). you sweat. so after finally getting to next petrol station and fill up, you decide not to let it near the 1/4 qtr mark. basically, you have a thirsty car and will be doing lots of fill-ups. more if it's it summer.

Edited by velocgee on Friday 12th February 07:23

[Schermerhorn]

The fuel light came on my M6 once, filled up with £20 and drove about 5 miles before the light came back on again

Did hammer it abit though, very addictive engine, especially at 5am in the summer and camera free roads

[ss1977]

nick1275 said:

Iirc when I went to Le Mans with ecain63 in his tourer I don't think we got above 20/21mpg. That was 4 up with luggage

This is similar to my experience when we drove down to the South of France a couple of years ago, managed no better than 21-ish mpg on the autoroutes. The touring is a little worse on fuel than the saloon.

[Mags]

velocgee said:

doesn't work that way:- you sit on the motorway and the fuel gauge shows halfway. next time you look, it's nearing a quarter. but you've just passed the petrol station. and the next is miles away...and you see the fuel gauge sprint to it's stops (it's an E60 M5, repeat, E60 M5). you sweat. so after finally getting to next petrol station and fill up, you decide not to let it near the 1/4 qtr mark. basically, you have a thirsty car and will be doing lots of fill-ups. more if it's it summer.

Lol, its an E61 M5 so its even worse as the tank is smaller than the E60!
I was thinking more from a cost perspective than actually getting there in 3 tanks, flying would be so much cheaper but I haven't driven through france for almost 20 years now and my wife doesn't like flying so the roadtrip is going to be fun!

My local Shell station have got to know me pretty well since owning the M5
@Bodie390, That's a lovely colour, like it. Mines Red on black:

(the view most people see )

Edited by Mags on Friday 12th February 07:50

Edited by Mags on Friday 12th February 07:52

Edited by Mags on Friday 12th February 07:53

[rassi]

Mags said:

Lol, its an E61 M5 so its even worse as the tank is smaller than the E60!

The tank is 70 litre on both?

I got 400 km out of mine at autobahn speeds, riding the yellow light.

[Shaoxter]

Very nice Mags, full leather interior too!

Take the car, it's a bit more expensive but you won't regret it when you're there. Also you don't have to get on a Ryanjet plane with all the plebs.

[Mags]

rassi said:

The tank is 70 litre on both?

I got 400 km out of mine at autobahn speeds, riding the yellow light.

I thought the E61 Tank was smaller?

[Cactussed]

Took ours down last year, around Cognac area.
The motorways are fine as there's plenty of stops along the autoroute.

Bigger issue was once we'd arrived, with lots of short trips I had to fill the poxy tank regularly, which became annoying.
Make sure you know where your local pump is once you get there (and that its open on weekends) is my only advice.

[Mikeeb]

I agree on the 20/21mpg. I've never seen better than 22 (on the dash)on a long run with the cruise set to 85 in my M6.

[minimatan]

I cannot contribute anything other than when I drove around Europe (4,000 miles +/-), I just filled up when necessary and enjoyed the 645Ci.

I also wish to say that you are a lucky bd (probably well earned) & I aim to replicate your experience some day.

The nicest E61 M5 that I have seen was this beauty from Munich Legends that had an Indianapolis Red body with a Merino Sepang Bronze interior. Absolutely beautiful.

http://www.munichlegends.co.uk/item/bmw-e61-m5-tou...

[Mags]

I thought I should follow up on this as people took the time to reply!
So I eventually stayed in Fayence, about 30/40 mins inland from Cannes, a lovely little village and the house we rented was amazing and very private.
I left the UK on the same day as many were going to Le Mans so was sitting in the Q for the Eurotunnel with some nice machinery, I also parked up next to another E61 M5 but I don't think he saw me as I was gone before he came back to his car.
The M5 was faultless on the journey, I stayed in Lyon overnight, although the flippin' satnav took me via Paris which is my own fault for using it after researching the route and putting it into my phone nav app. Down to Fayence the next day, nearly 2 weeks there with a couple of trips to Cannes, Grasse and Lake St Cassion and then back via a night in Nuit St Georges which is also a nice little place.

I haven't a clue on the mileage or fuel consumption but on the very last leg from around Dijon to Calais I did reset the trip counter and was surprised to see I only managed around 20-21 mpg as it was up and down hills so much. On the outward bound leg I filled up quite often as I was unsure about the fuel shortages that were around but I need not have worried, I had zero problems getting fuel and there are so many Aires in comparison with our hopeless m'way services. On the return leg I ran down to the warning light so stopped less often.
The only amusing part was where we stayed was seriously hilly, I took the back roads to Cannes and she guzzled a serious amount of fuel but I wasn't counting.
Having your own car is great and I would do it again no problem. In fact I was pleased I took the M5, if I had taken the Cerbera I honestly don't think I would have made some of roads I went down, our house was down a track in the woods that had a couple of challenging turns and bumps! I even took my cleaning stuff and washed the M5 whilst we were there as there was so much space in the car, and yes my family think I'm weird.

Here's a little pic of the M5 enjoying the beach at Cannes,Taxi to the kerb please

Edited by Mags on Friday 15th July 12:45