e39 m5 road trip advice

[feanor75]

Have had my M5 for a few months now but not done anything in terms of serious mileage, and fingers crossed no problems so far.

I am taking the family to Euro Disney next month, which will be a 1200 mile round tripish, is there anything I should top up(petrol tank I know), look at, check etc before I go? Any common long journey faults?

If its a daft question, i dont know, but with 500 e39 m5 miles under my belt and feeling under M experienced, thought it would be better safe than sorry, and ask the brains of those who have owned and driven them for thousands of miles.

Any help appreciated.

[marmite monster]

just get in it and drive
dont forget euro breakdown cover

[MattOz]

As above. Make sure you have Euro breakdown and also a litre of 10W60 to hand. Apart from that, and the bulbs/flouro jacket etc, nothing needed.

[neil_bolton]

Check your auxiliary belts before you go, and ensure you're taking enough oil for the trip.

I'd probably get an oil service done just beforehand if it were me, and a once over to be safe.

I've done multiple several thousand mile jaunts in my M5 and only had one major issue (fuel pumps). Every other trip has been a dream - with only oil and fuel top ups being required.

[Quinten]

+1

Check fluids, top up where neccessary, take with you 1L of Castrol's finest (and an old cloth to wipe the dipstick/hands ), check tyre pressures and tune in to a radio station of your choice...

[jaedba2604]

didn't alex roy cover 2,800 miles at nearly 100mph with no problems?

i think his fuel pump failed on one attempt...

[neil_bolton]

jaedba2604 said:

didn't alex roy cover 2,800 miles at nearly 100mph with no problems?

i think his fuel pump failed on one attempt...

Yep.

I can imagine that the Funf will do that in it's stride. Fuel Pumps are an issue, but a bit pot luck.

I've done hundreds of miles at a time at similar speeds.

[Neil.D]

If something was to happen it would be bad luck to happen on your road trip.

Either a can of tyre weld (make it two) or a spare wheel if possible for the chance of a blow out.

I also kept a roll of duck tape in case of a window breakage/break in.
The thought of 400 miles at 100mph+ would be tedious with no glass in the window.

[ArmaghMan]

Quinten said:

+1

Check fluids, top up where neccessary, take with you 1L of Castrol's finest (and an old cloth to wipe the dipstick/hands ), check tyre pressures and tune in to a radio station of your choice...

+1

and a small funnell too. makes life that little bit easier

[Quinten]

ArmaghMan said:

+1

and a small funnell too. makes life that little bit easier

Top tip: Shell stations in Holland carry paper funnels behind the counter (sometimes visible)... all you have to do is ask I keep a bundle in the car

[feanor75]

Cheers guys!

Will be doing an oil top up and have it checked over before I go.

[hornetrider]

feanor75 said:

Cheers guys!

Will be doing an oil top up and have it checked over before I go.

Bring some with you - they like a drop.

[feanor75]

hornetrider said:

Bring some with you - they like a drop.

Ordering an extra litre on ebay.

On top of garage supply

[jonnydm]

jaedba2604 said:

didn't alex roy cover 2,800 miles at nearly 100mph with no problems?

i think his fuel pump failed on one attempt...

I shouldn't think an M5 would need much if anything in the way of preparation for a trip like that. Apart from the first time I drove to Europe I haven't prepared more than buying a Tunnel ticket.

If you read the book, you'll learn that Alex Roy's car had a lot of prep.

[neil_bolton]

jonnydm said:

I shouldn't think an M5 would need much if anything in the way of preparation for a trip like that. Apart from the first time I drove to Europe I haven't prepared more than buying a Tunnel ticket.

If you read the book, you'll learn that Alex Roy's car had a lot of prep.

Any trip over Europe should require a glance of some sort under the bonnet.

I have headed east before and with not a care in the world, but now I am cautious to ensure I at least check a few things.

Theya BMWa garages ina Italia are expensivio!

[fluffnik]

jonnydm said:

I shouldn't think an M5 would need much if anything in the way of preparation for a trip like that. Apart from the first time I drove to Europe I haven't prepared more than buying a Tunnel ticket.

Flipping the beam adjusters to continental mode is worthwhile too.

jonnydm said:

If you read the book, you'll learn that Alex Roy's car had a lot of prep.

Most of the work was to boost range and improve stealth, surprisingly little reinforcement of the mechanics involved... It's quite a good read!

[Gad]

I have recently done a 700 mile round trip to france in 14 hours agree withall points fluids oil etc as said keep a spare 1 litre on hand check tyre pressures

Apart from that i had no issues with mine and i didnt hang about if you know what i mean

just fill up and enjoy the trip

[jonnydm]

fluffnik said:

jonnydm said:

If you read the book, you'll learn that Alex Roy's car had a lot of prep.

Most of the work was to boost range and improve stealth, surprisingly little reinforcement of the mechanics involved... It's quite a good read!

Indeed a good read. As you say little work to the mechanics but an awful lot of checking, refreshing etc.

[mondeoman]

Hmmm.

Oil - check
Water - check
Lights - check
Driver - check
Passengers - check
Fuel - check
Warning triangle - check
Credit cards - check
Passports - check
Luggage - check
Insurance - check
Roadside assist - check

Thats all.

I did a trip to LeMans in mine, and tbh I don't think I even checked the oil or water before I went.
Just drive it - thats whats its designed for: a big, fast, comfortable mile muncher.

[jm doc]

Clutch pedal snapped on mine on one trip of 1500 miles and several laps of the 'Ring, just as I drove through customs arriving back in Hull. On long trips if you are pushing on I found my e39 could use nearly a litre of oil on that kind of trip.