BMW 1M in Valencia Orange
Discussion
I returned yesterday from a two week road-trip around Eastern Europe with the 1M and thought I would share some of the experience. The plan was to meander through Germany and Hungary before meeting up with a friend in Ukraine then work our way back.
We spent the first night in Luxembourg then made a stop at the excellent Sinsheim auto and technik museum before spending the next two nights camping at Lake Constance. I have driven on Autobahns previously though never in a car with as much shove as the 1M. On the whole I enjoyed the experience with a few caveats! When traffic is lightish a cruise at 100 - 120 mph is really comfortable and enjoyable. Above this and things start to happen quite quickly and if a truck pulls out unexpectedly then you have to act fast! The maximum I achieved was an indicated 145 mph which disappointed me a bit but the combination of a laden car, traffic, lack of straight sections and a somewhat nervous passenger made me hold off going faster. The 1M was though charging pretty hard at that point and it felt like there was lots more to give.
Next up was Munich and the amazing BMW Welt and museum. This really is impressive if you're at all into BMWs and I'd highly recommend it. Managed to get a picture outside too!
After this we headed to Hungary to spend a few days at Lake Balaton. Managed to get pulled over by the Slovenian police for a document check after crossing the border:
Spent a couple of days after this in wonderful Budapest before heading east again towards Ukraine. To be honest I was a little apprehensive about taking the 1M to Ukraine. I tried to research it a little before going and it seems that not many people actually drive there! Things are certainly very different as the EU is left far behind. It really does feel like stepping back in time. One of my concerns was that typical European car insurance stops at the border and Admiral refused to cover me there. I read that the only option was buying third party insurance at the border which is what we did from a man in a hut! The whole process was a bit farcical and took nearly an hour. He spoke no english whatsoever and there wasn't a computer in sight. With the use of books, tables and a very long form he produced what I hoped was a certificate of insurance to drive there. All for the fee of £4.15! The reason for doing this was to have something to show police if stopped as if I was in an accident I'd just have to take my chances!
The insurance hut:
After this we were finally off. Nothing had prepared me for the experience of driving in Ukraine. With hindsight the 1M was completely unsuitable. The road surfaces were appalling. Easily the worst I have driven on anywhere and I have travelled quite a lot. Huge potholes (craters) at random intervals with no attempts to repair them. Transverse ridges randomly. It was impossible to maintain any sort of speed and concentrating constantly on avoiding the worst was draining for the journey from the Hungarian border to Lviv, our destination. Another issue were random road hazards: horse and carts, people, animals and erratically driven Ladas. I was surprised but there are loads of these still in service.
We fortunately managed to avoid a puncture or other damage as the 1M doesn't have a spare or even run flat tyres. I suspect sourcing a Michelin PSS may have proved tricky!
After a lovely few days in Lviv, a charming place, we started to head back via the closer Polish border. Only a 2 hour queue to cross, again nobody spoke English but we managed.
Worked our way home then via Poland, Germany and Belgium stopping for a night in Leipzig where the 1M was built. Some more pictures from the journey:
Once again I've been very impressed with the 1M, it was a delight at all times and faultless over the journey. I'd happily do it all again tomorrow but unfortunately work duties beckon for me and the car.
Some stats from the journey:
We spent the first night in Luxembourg then made a stop at the excellent Sinsheim auto and technik museum before spending the next two nights camping at Lake Constance. I have driven on Autobahns previously though never in a car with as much shove as the 1M. On the whole I enjoyed the experience with a few caveats! When traffic is lightish a cruise at 100 - 120 mph is really comfortable and enjoyable. Above this and things start to happen quite quickly and if a truck pulls out unexpectedly then you have to act fast! The maximum I achieved was an indicated 145 mph which disappointed me a bit but the combination of a laden car, traffic, lack of straight sections and a somewhat nervous passenger made me hold off going faster. The 1M was though charging pretty hard at that point and it felt like there was lots more to give.
Next up was Munich and the amazing BMW Welt and museum. This really is impressive if you're at all into BMWs and I'd highly recommend it. Managed to get a picture outside too!
After this we headed to Hungary to spend a few days at Lake Balaton. Managed to get pulled over by the Slovenian police for a document check after crossing the border:
Spent a couple of days after this in wonderful Budapest before heading east again towards Ukraine. To be honest I was a little apprehensive about taking the 1M to Ukraine. I tried to research it a little before going and it seems that not many people actually drive there! Things are certainly very different as the EU is left far behind. It really does feel like stepping back in time. One of my concerns was that typical European car insurance stops at the border and Admiral refused to cover me there. I read that the only option was buying third party insurance at the border which is what we did from a man in a hut! The whole process was a bit farcical and took nearly an hour. He spoke no english whatsoever and there wasn't a computer in sight. With the use of books, tables and a very long form he produced what I hoped was a certificate of insurance to drive there. All for the fee of £4.15! The reason for doing this was to have something to show police if stopped as if I was in an accident I'd just have to take my chances!
The insurance hut:
After this we were finally off. Nothing had prepared me for the experience of driving in Ukraine. With hindsight the 1M was completely unsuitable. The road surfaces were appalling. Easily the worst I have driven on anywhere and I have travelled quite a lot. Huge potholes (craters) at random intervals with no attempts to repair them. Transverse ridges randomly. It was impossible to maintain any sort of speed and concentrating constantly on avoiding the worst was draining for the journey from the Hungarian border to Lviv, our destination. Another issue were random road hazards: horse and carts, people, animals and erratically driven Ladas. I was surprised but there are loads of these still in service.
We fortunately managed to avoid a puncture or other damage as the 1M doesn't have a spare or even run flat tyres. I suspect sourcing a Michelin PSS may have proved tricky!
After a lovely few days in Lviv, a charming place, we started to head back via the closer Polish border. Only a 2 hour queue to cross, again nobody spoke English but we managed.
Worked our way home then via Poland, Germany and Belgium stopping for a night in Leipzig where the 1M was built. Some more pictures from the journey:
Once again I've been very impressed with the 1M, it was a delight at all times and faultless over the journey. I'd happily do it all again tomorrow but unfortunately work duties beckon for me and the car.
Some stats from the journey:
I ordered a set of genuine blackline taillights from a seller in Germany. Unfortunately one was damaged when they arrived so I've sent them back but when fitted I actually wasn't keen on the look anyway. Think they'd be better on a darker car.
The blackline is on the left, usual taillight on the right:
The blackline is on the left, usual taillight on the right:
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