BMW 1M in Valencia Orange

BMW 1M in Valencia Orange

Author
Discussion

eddd1e

499 posts

167 months

Tuesday 9th June 2015
quotequote all
Lovely car mate. Am I right in thinking you live in a town a few miles outside of Oxford? Pretty sure you live just round the corner from my family.

anomaly

Original Poster:

459 posts

172 months

Wednesday 10th June 2015
quotequote all
eddd1e said:
Lovely car mate. Am I right in thinking you live in a town a few miles outside of Oxford? Pretty sure you live just round the corner from my family.
Thanks! Not me I'm afraid, must be an imposter. I'm in Nottingham

anomaly

Original Poster:

459 posts

172 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
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:

BlueMeganeII

338 posts

158 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
Fantastic road trip. It's nice to see a car like this being used like this. Might want to pack a spare wheel next time smile.

snoopy25

1,858 posts

119 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
Always love reading the updates on this thread smile

Nice to see a the 1M being used as it should biggrin

anomaly

Original Poster:

459 posts

172 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
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:


aussieinlondon

660 posts

218 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
Standard is much better suited to the VO, blacklines run well with AW and BSM.

gregs656

10,818 posts

180 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
Lovely car, glad to see you're still enjoying it.

neilbauer

2,467 posts

182 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
Love these smile

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
Saw one of these in the flesh the other day, couldn't believe how wide the rear arches are smile. Lovely. Just need 40k to buy one now smile..

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
anomaly said:
What's that top left please?

anomaly

Original Poster:

459 posts

172 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
e21Mark said:
What's that top left please?
It's a Lotus Evora.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
anomaly said:
e21Mark said:
What's that top left please?
It's a Lotus Evora.
Aah, right. Thank you. Very nice, although give me the 1M every time.

0836whimper

974 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
That insurance shack pic is awesome biggrin

anomaly

Original Poster:

459 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
I pick up the 1M's replacement next week. I hope it copes with everything as well as the BMW did...

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
Lovely looking thing. Seems very different to the 1M though?

As a fanboi I'd have kept the 1M although both are a bit modern for me. Anyway, enjoy! smile

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
The arches are a thing of perfection, saw one on the road the other day and fell in love with just the arches smile.

cerb4.5lee

30,197 posts

179 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
quotequote all
Love the Aston and they are such a gorgeous shape, what a lovely replacement, enjoy thumbup

sinbad666

184 posts

207 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Has the BMW gone to Munich Legends?

Be great to hear your views on the Aston.

neilbauer

2,467 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
The 1M such a fantastic car what could replace that and still have a wow factor? An Aston hmm yes that could work smile