Going to Europe - what do i need to do to the car?

[MrLizard]

I am looking to take my n430 to Europe next year, specifically France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and then back through France to end up on the fkin m20 again.

The car is a 2015 fsh etc, I got BR to look over it when I purchased it, there was a bit of rust on the rear subframe which they suggested will need doing but not quite yet and they also said the ASM(?) oil return on the SS2 box should be done -

Is there any other considerations I should take?
Service it just prior, take any spare fuses, risk it for a biscuit?
Im assuming if I take snow chains im going to be upset if i need to use them....

any help appreciated!

[Calinours]

Most important is breakdown insurance and a credit card. After that, a warning triangle and hi-vis. Make sure your compressor and gunk are OK or carry a tin of tyre weld.

Your lights can be switched for driving on the right if you can be bothered, front wheels off, remove an inspection panel and a waterproof cover and there’s a lever buried in the unit internals. There’s plenty threads on that.

[MrLizard]

Calinours said:

Most important is breakdown insurance and a credit card. After that, a warning triangle and hi-vis. Make sure your compressor and gunk are OK or carry a tin of tyre weld.

Your lights can be switched for driving on the right if you can be bothered, front wheels off, remove an inspection panel and a waterproof cover and there’s a lever buried in the unit internals. There’s plenty threads on that.

Thanks Calinours, not as easy as the Volvo then just pressing a button for the lights. I will have a look at it before leaving though. I'll definitely be checking my breakdown cover!

[Simpo Two]

This is why I stop at Dover

[MrLizard]

Simpo Two said:

This is why I stop at Dover

we usually stop just the other side in a pretend purple palace

Do you have to book a high vehicle ticket to get onto the larger train?

[Mr.Tremlini]

MrLizard said:

we usually stop just the other side in a pretend purple palace

Do you have to book a high vehicle ticket to get onto the larger train?

When you are doing the booking and add the car details it should put you in the larger train automatically, at least that`s how it went for me.

[Mustang Baz]

MrLizard said:

I am looking to take my n430 to Europe next year, specifically France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and then back through France to end up on the fkin m20 again.

The car is a 2015 fsh etc, I got BR to look over it when I purchased it, there was a bit of rust on the rear subframe which they suggested will need doing but not quite yet and they also said the ASM(?) oil return on the SS2 box should be done -

Is there any other considerations I should take?
Service it just prior, take any spare fuses, risk it for a biscuit?
Im assuming if I take snow chains im going to be upset if i need to use them....

any help appreciated!

I've just taken mine on a 2.5k road trip over 7 days and across all the above named countries except Belgium. Dependant on time of year, snow chains won't be needed in reality - esp if June onward.

A few additional thoughts;

- Euro Breakdown cover but you may already have this if you've got the AM warranty
- Hi Vis jackets in the car with you
- If you are going anywhere near certain French cities, the Crit-Air sticker is a good bet and v easy/cheap. Even for piece of mind in case you were diverted through the cities covered! Switzerland will need the Annual car permit which can easily be purchased online and make sure you drive the Gross Glockner amongst the many other glorious roads in Austria and the other countries you plan to visit. Furka, Grimsell and Juan passes all epic. Dolomites also stunning.

I got mine serviced fully after I returned but was confident it was A1 beforehand having had a brief healthcheck once over. I'd also recommend you just check your tyres/age of tyres as well clearly given the wide ranging quality of roads you will be covering.

Above all, enjoy these magnificent cars and appreciate how well suited they are to a major Euro trip!

[drt30]

After doing a road trip this summer, I would very much recommend the bip and go electronic tag system for the toll roads so you can go straight through the tolls at 30kph. Especially handy in a right hand drive car!! Dead easy, costs v little to set up.
Tyre weld.
David

[ST565NP]

If you are going from 1st November until 15th April you must have winter tyres on all wheels with minimum of 4 mm thread depth. Valid in most countries you plan to visit. The all season with M+S / that have the Alpine symbol (a symbol that looks like a snowflake) are also ok.

[ds666]

For France I think you need a warning triangle and first aid kit , plus a disposable alcohol test .
I have been to a Paris in my VQ a couple of times recently and didn’t bother with the sticker for emissions .

[MrLizard]

ST565NP said:

If you are going from 1st November until 15th April you must have winter tyres on all wheels with minimum of 4 mm thread depth. Valid in most countries you plan to visit. The all season with M+S / that have the Alpine symbol (a symbol that looks like a snowflake) are also ok.

We are going on the 16th of April - though only due to Goodwood being the wkend just before, not because of the above, assume the above is requirement as opposed to a suggestion, looks like the weather could be variable.

[MrLizard]

Mustang Baz said:

I've just taken mine on a 2.5k road trip over 7 days and across all the above named countries except Belgium. Dependant on time of year, snow chains won't be needed in reality - esp if June onward.

A few additional thoughts;

- Euro Breakdown cover but you may already have this if you've got the AM warranty
- Hi Vis jackets in the car with you
- If you are going anywhere near certain French cities, the Crit-Air sticker is a good bet and v easy/cheap. Even for piece of mind in case you were diverted through the cities covered! Switzerland will need the Annual car permit which can easily be purchased online and make sure you drive the Gross Glockner amongst the many other glorious roads in Austria and the other countries you plan to visit. Furka, Grimsell and Juan passes all epic. Dolomites also stunning.

I got mine serviced fully after I returned but was confident it was A1 beforehand having had a brief healthcheck once over. I'd also recommend you just check your tyres/age of tyres as well clearly given the wide ranging quality of roads you will be covering.

Above all, enjoy these magnificent cars and appreciate how well suited they are to a major Euro trip!

Thanks very much for that - i will have a goose at the road suggestions, did you take yours to an AM specialist just prior? or just a local place you trust?

[VanquishRider]

ds666 said:

For France I think you need a warning triangle and first aid kit , plus a disposable alcohol test .
I have been to a Paris in my VQ a couple of times recently and didn’t bother with the sticker for emissions .

They never brought in the law on the alcohol testers. But the ferry will still happily sell you them.

[VanquishRider]

Mustang Baz said:

I've just taken mine on a 2.5k road trip over 7 days and across all the above named countries except Belgium. Dependant on time of year, snow chains won't be needed in reality - esp if June onward.

A few additional thoughts;

- Euro Breakdown cover but you may already have this if you've got the AM warranty
- Hi Vis jackets in the car with you
- If you are going anywhere near certain French cities, the Crit-Air sticker is a good bet and v easy/cheap. Even for piece of mind in case you were diverted through the cities covered! Switzerland will need the Annual car permit which can easily be purchased online and make sure you drive the Gross Glockner amongst the many other glorious roads in Austria and the other countries you plan to visit. Furka, Grimsell and Juan passes all epic. Dolomites also stunning.

I got mine serviced fully after I returned but was confident it was A1 beforehand having had a brief healthcheck once over. I'd also recommend you just check your tyres/age of tyres as well clearly given the wide ranging quality of roads you will be covering.

Above all, enjoy these magnificent cars and appreciate how well suited they are to a major Euro trip!

All the above is excellent advice. Do have the vests, the 1st aid kit and the triangle. If you break down and don't use them they will hammer you.

Don't bother messing with the headlights or the UK sticker. Nobody will bother you for it. Never once been hassled in over 30 years of going over to Europe regularly.

Consider getting a motorway toll pass from https://ulys.vinci-autoroutes.com. Costs hardly anything and you only pay for what you use. Work perfectly across France and Italy. Saves cracking a wheel on a toll booth curb. And trying to pay the booth by reaching out the wrong window. Plus at a lot of booths you can drive through at 30kmh.

You can get the Swiss motorway pass at most border checkpoints or online in advance.

Don't speed unless you can afford to lose your car. Or you know there is zero chance of getting spotted.

[Mustang Baz]

MrLizard said:

Thanks very much for that - i will have a goose at the road suggestions, did you take yours to an AM specialist just prior? or just a local place you trust?

A pleasure; I took mine to AM Works who (excellently) do all of the servicing. It was a simple look over at the time of warranty extension but gave me confidence ahead of the trip - in the car and the tyres.

The journey down to Switzerland/Austria/Germany/Italy is a long one, but once you've cracked out the miles (and you can plan to do these across lovely non-autoroute roads), the passes, scenery and roads were a joy. The ones I mentioned were standouts, and some stunning roads also in the Dolomites, around Livigno/St Moritz. Stelvio a decent (if usually busy) road on the Bormio side, but personally I find the other side much less so! A few landscape pics

[VanquishRider]

Couple of Pics from last years trip.

[anonymous-user]

MrLizard said:

they suggested will need doing but not quite yet and they also said the ASM(?) oil return on the SS2 box should be done -

Is there any other considerations I should take?
Service it just prior, take any spare fuses, risk it for a biscuit?

any help appreciated!

I’d probably get the ASM pipes done. They carry pressurised hydraulic fluid from/to the gearbox. They crack over time from the outside. Once they go, they go, and you lose drive immediately and are stranded. You won’t damage the car but you will be looking for a flat bed to take you to somewhere that can replace them, and in mainland Eurpoe that could be a long diversion.

DAE do a steel braided updated set of pipes, and can fit them at a lower cost than an AM dealer (not sure what BR charge). A main dealer follows the book which says drop the gearbox to get at the pipes - from memory I was quite about £1500 in labour. I sourced the pipes from DAE and had them done at Chiltern Aston for 750’or so all in.

[MrLizard]

BlackWidow13 said:

I’d probably get the ASM pipes done. They carry pressurised hydraulic fluid from/to the gearbox. They crack over time from the outside. Once they go, they go, and you lose drive immediately and are stranded. You won’t damage the car but you will be looking for a flat bed to take you to somewhere that can replace them, and in mainland Eurpoe that could be a long diversion.

DAE do a steel braided updated set of pipes, and can fit them at a lower cost than an AM dealer (not sure what BR charge). A main dealer follows the book which says drop the gearbox to get at the pipes - from memory I was quite about £1500 in labour. I sourced the pipes from DAE and had them done at Chiltern Aston for 750’or so all in.

i will get that booked in, thanks