Sensible family daily wagon - Mercedes Benz S211 E500
Discussion
What a day! We missed our morning alarm, headed off onto the autobahn network via Nurnberg in the hope that we'd enjoy the benefits of free flowing limitless roads and were instead met with endless limits, roadworks and jams.
Of course, there were some tremendous moments of ridiculous (by the conditions of our usual environment) speeds fully loaded and of course the car felt entirely capable of this, save the juddering brake issue which is afflicting it at present.
As Germany is central to industrial Europe and the roads are toll free, it is heavily congested particularly with freight traffic. Once the roads begin to get busy, the standard of lane discipline is noticeably worse than most of France and almost on a par with Blighty. Also, there is less frequently the willingness to move right when the opportunity arises. I should think that full autonomous functionality on vehicles would be best applied when there arrives a critical density of traffic and available road space can be allocated accordingly with vehicles communicating to enable safe lane changes whilst maintaining the flow. As it is, there are too many factors involved in traffic flow to ensure sensible progress.
After all that, however, we missed the tourist session at the Nördschleife by all of fifteen minutes, so had to settle for a kolsch and pizza at the Pistenklause.
In actual fact, I think that we were all a little pooped after the tiresome and frustrating drive -- some of it in very heavy rain. So it can wait for another occasion.
Of course, there were some tremendous moments of ridiculous (by the conditions of our usual environment) speeds fully loaded and of course the car felt entirely capable of this, save the juddering brake issue which is afflicting it at present.
As Germany is central to industrial Europe and the roads are toll free, it is heavily congested particularly with freight traffic. Once the roads begin to get busy, the standard of lane discipline is noticeably worse than most of France and almost on a par with Blighty. Also, there is less frequently the willingness to move right when the opportunity arises. I should think that full autonomous functionality on vehicles would be best applied when there arrives a critical density of traffic and available road space can be allocated accordingly with vehicles communicating to enable safe lane changes whilst maintaining the flow. As it is, there are too many factors involved in traffic flow to ensure sensible progress.
After all that, however, we missed the tourist session at the Nördschleife by all of fifteen minutes, so had to settle for a kolsch and pizza at the Pistenklause.
In actual fact, I think that we were all a little pooped after the tiresome and frustrating drive -- some of it in very heavy rain. So it can wait for another occasion.
bolidemichael said:
There's something cool about that, isn't there? Just as well I did purchase one, incidentally, as there was a divertion via border control in Austria from Italy and I suspect that they waived us past as they were checking that we had the appropriate sticker in the window...
Strangely enough, my friend -- upon hearing that I had stopped in Fussen, told me a story of when he stopped there and met the owner of the pizzeria who was the President on the Bavarian (iirc) Ferrari Owners' Club! It must surely one and the same...
We both know that any European road trip is a great one and there is so much culture to experience and discover... this trip to Venice does seem particuarly exotic and travelling over the mountains each way but on different roads has been tremendous -- particularly on the quieter route from Venice and into Salzburg, northbound.
I think for the cost, the vignette is worth it. Plus I like stickers, so win win. Strangely enough, my friend -- upon hearing that I had stopped in Fussen, told me a story of when he stopped there and met the owner of the pizzeria who was the President on the Bavarian (iirc) Ferrari Owners' Club! It must surely one and the same...
We both know that any European road trip is a great one and there is so much culture to experience and discover... this trip to Venice does seem particuarly exotic and travelling over the mountains each way but on different roads has been tremendous -- particularly on the quieter route from Venice and into Salzburg, northbound.
It’s a good Pizza, too! And seeing as it has the prancing horse on the outside, you must be right.
Excellent, stuff, I’ve got some time off work in a few weeks and I think we’re headed up through Sweden this time. We’ll be doing that Harwich-HvH ferry again, which I really enjoy.
I really enjoy reading these trip reports.
Was skiing in Alpbach a couple of weeks ago. Through your thread, I can imagine what a drive down there from the UK would be like.
A young family does create barriers to any massive road trips at the moment. Traipsing through the airports is a hassle in itself though. It does leave me wondering if we should have a crack at self driving these sort of distances
Was skiing in Alpbach a couple of weeks ago. Through your thread, I can imagine what a drive down there from the UK would be like.
A young family does create barriers to any massive road trips at the moment. Traipsing through the airports is a hassle in itself though. It does leave me wondering if we should have a crack at self driving these sort of distances
JakeT said:
I think for the cost, the vignette is worth it. Plus I like stickers, so win win.
It’s a good Pizza, too! And seeing as it has the prancing horse on the outside, you must be right.
Excellent, stuff, I’ve got some time off work in a few weeks and I think we’re headed up through Sweden this time. We’ll be doing that Harwich-HvH ferry again, which I really enjoy.
Stickers are very cool. It’s a good Pizza, too! And seeing as it has the prancing horse on the outside, you must be right.
Excellent, stuff, I’ve got some time off work in a few weeks and I think we’re headed up through Sweden this time. We’ll be doing that Harwich-HvH ferry again, which I really enjoy.
What's the destination in Sweden and how will you get there from Denmark?
bobiwine said:
I really enjoy reading these trip reports.
Was skiing in Alpbach a couple of weeks ago. Through your thread, I can imagine what a drive down there from the UK would be like.
A young family does create barriers to any massive road trips at the moment. Traipsing through the airports is a hassle in itself though. It does leave me wondering if we should have a crack at self driving these sort of distances
Thanks, I hope that you had a nice time when skiing. Austria seems pleasant enough. Was skiing in Alpbach a couple of weeks ago. Through your thread, I can imagine what a drive down there from the UK would be like.
A young family does create barriers to any massive road trips at the moment. Traipsing through the airports is a hassle in itself though. It does leave me wondering if we should have a crack at self driving these sort of distances
I'd break the back of the journey on late afternoon day one, stay overnight as far as you can can without eating into dinner/bed time and cover the remaining miles on day two.
A comfortable car is key and I think that a big engine helps, for relaxed coasting. I'd also cover as many miles in France as possible, their road network and drivers are largely superior to the other available options during busy periods.
Yes, the Pistenklause.
It was nice to wake to the sound of race cars thundering around track and our room overlooked the end of the straight -- seeing the water spray from their wets was quite dramatic. Mrs BoMi less impressed as they must've been on far earlier than my waking time of 0810hrs.
I don't recall your having a W211... what flavour is yours?
It was nice to wake to the sound of race cars thundering around track and our room overlooked the end of the straight -- seeing the water spray from their wets was quite dramatic. Mrs BoMi less impressed as they must've been on far earlier than my waking time of 0810hrs.
I don't recall your having a W211... what flavour is yours?
Edited by bolidemichael on Saturday 1st April 00:07
Sounds like similar conditions to November 2021 when I was there with a friend in our tesla model 3. It peaked at 5 degrees temperature and the car was quite skittish coming out of corners.
The W211 we have is an E55 AMG imported from Japan last month. Carneol Red with a contrasting black and matching red leather interior.
The W211 we have is an E55 AMG imported from Japan last month. Carneol Red with a contrasting black and matching red leather interior.
Very nice, I'm not familiar with the colour so looks forward to seeing more images. I must wake you against staying at the Hotel am Tiergarten with the family. The rooms aren't suitable for allowing the children to sleep whilst any lights are on. Additionally, there are no bona fide double beds available for couples.
We started the day with a strong offering for breakfast. A fantastic selection of meat, cheese, eggs and some lovely bread and cute waitresses was a soothing tonic for the slightly off kilter day I had experienced just a few hours before. However, before leaving the domain of the Nordschleife, I just had to fill up at the most famous fuel station in Europe
and take the family to
watch some action trackside. After seeing that they were charging €10 for parking at Brünchen, I turned around and parked on the verge at Wipperman.
We stayed for a
few minutes until the rain started to get really heavy and embarked on our journey, via Ghent and onto the Chunnel. After stopping in the Netherlands to sample their chicken nuggets (good crispiness but oily and no seasoning) we passed into Belgium. The drivers were almost exclusively well behaved today -- the downside was the awful mind numbing congestion around Antwerpen. At least we had Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' playing which was very soothing indeed.
We stopped long enough in Ghent for a quick hello to my chum and he also gave us a bag of veg from his farm, which was rather nice. The leeks actually smell of onions, which was hilarious as we were sat at passport control and my son exclaims 'WHAT'S THAT SMELL OF ONIONS, OH, PERHAPS IT'S THE L..." before his mother gave him a swift rebuke!
Just before the French border, I swapped driving with Mrs BoMi, duly obliging the temporary restriction on my ability to drive legally within France.
I'd also grabbed a pin and unblocked one of the jets on the o/s that wasn't working. However, this has had the annoying knock on effect of blocking the other one on the same side! Any ideas, let me know...
The journey back home was wet, wet, wet, increasing in intensity as we progressed through the journey. Remarkably, however, I experienced excellent lane discipline far more than usual -- I should say that I came a across a few notable examples of people moving to the extreme left, contrary to the usual MLH experience.
There was a notable odometer reading, but I missed it again, as I have done for 183,000 and 184,000 -- both marked on this roadtrip:
Back home and I was so satisfied to have judged the fuel consumption well.
The day
The trip
The mpg -- I think that the higher pressures for winter tyres, fully loaded and >130mph helped a lot with that... I wonder what the wear is to the tyres. We'll find out soon when I swap them for summers.
Finally, no engine oil top up required!
The cost for fuel was £729.41 estimated with exchange rates at an average of £1 = €1.125, working out at £0.33/mile.
Looking good!
and take the family to
watch some action trackside. After seeing that they were charging €10 for parking at Brünchen, I turned around and parked on the verge at Wipperman.
We stayed for a
few minutes until the rain started to get really heavy and embarked on our journey, via Ghent and onto the Chunnel. After stopping in the Netherlands to sample their chicken nuggets (good crispiness but oily and no seasoning) we passed into Belgium. The drivers were almost exclusively well behaved today -- the downside was the awful mind numbing congestion around Antwerpen. At least we had Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' playing which was very soothing indeed.
We stopped long enough in Ghent for a quick hello to my chum and he also gave us a bag of veg from his farm, which was rather nice. The leeks actually smell of onions, which was hilarious as we were sat at passport control and my son exclaims 'WHAT'S THAT SMELL OF ONIONS, OH, PERHAPS IT'S THE L..." before his mother gave him a swift rebuke!
Just before the French border, I swapped driving with Mrs BoMi, duly obliging the temporary restriction on my ability to drive legally within France.
I'd also grabbed a pin and unblocked one of the jets on the o/s that wasn't working. However, this has had the annoying knock on effect of blocking the other one on the same side! Any ideas, let me know...
The journey back home was wet, wet, wet, increasing in intensity as we progressed through the journey. Remarkably, however, I experienced excellent lane discipline far more than usual -- I should say that I came a across a few notable examples of people moving to the extreme left, contrary to the usual MLH experience.
There was a notable odometer reading, but I missed it again, as I have done for 183,000 and 184,000 -- both marked on this roadtrip:
Back home and I was so satisfied to have judged the fuel consumption well.
The day
The trip
The mpg -- I think that the higher pressures for winter tyres, fully loaded and >130mph helped a lot with that... I wonder what the wear is to the tyres. We'll find out soon when I swap them for summers.
Finally, no engine oil top up required!
The cost for fuel was £729.41 estimated with exchange rates at an average of £1 = €1.125, working out at £0.33/mile.
Looking good!
Edited by bolidemichael on Saturday 1st April 13:39
cwoodsie2 said:
Enjoy BM. Sounds like a great trip. In no way am I expecting the stats shot from the binnacle from the Autobahn runs to resemble earlier trips ;-)
I suppose this journey serves as a tonic to the recent stats ... so many delays, it's a pretty bad place to cover ground during the day. I don't myself repeating the recent stats from Lyon to Ghent anytime soon. That was a rather charmed drive.
It may not look it, but after all those miles, Magnus was quite dirty. The heavy rain over the last two days, however, did a fantastic job of washing a lot of it off, including the C5 coated alloys, which is very impressive performance.
A closer look
Came up nice and just as well, as the FFRR has a battery issue so the E500 needed to be turned around like a high mileage courier vehicle, which according to PH legend, is well suited to the S211 particularly.
The damage from the Venetian car park
A quick check of the tyre pressures showed that over around eight hundred or so miles from Salzburg, the rears lost around 3.5psi and the fronts, 1.5psi.
Off to Glasgow it went and with the light touch of Mrs Bolide's right foot achieved a fabulous mpg.
I'll have to wait to get the SBC rectified but at least I can lay the ground work in the meantime by speaking to my The Man.
A closer look
Came up nice and just as well, as the FFRR has a battery issue so the E500 needed to be turned around like a high mileage courier vehicle, which according to PH legend, is well suited to the S211 particularly.
The damage from the Venetian car park
A quick check of the tyre pressures showed that over around eight hundred or so miles from Salzburg, the rears lost around 3.5psi and the fronts, 1.5psi.
Off to Glasgow it went and with the light touch of Mrs Bolide's right foot achieved a fabulous mpg.
I'll have to wait to get the SBC rectified but at least I can lay the ground work in the meantime by speaking to my The Man.
bolidemichael said:
JakeT said:
I think for the cost, the vignette is worth it. Plus I like stickers, so win win.
It’s a good Pizza, too! And seeing as it has the prancing horse on the outside, you must be right.
Excellent, stuff, I’ve got some time off work in a few weeks and I think we’re headed up through Sweden this time. We’ll be doing that Harwich-HvH ferry again, which I really enjoy.
Stickers are very cool. It’s a good Pizza, too! And seeing as it has the prancing horse on the outside, you must be right.
Excellent, stuff, I’ve got some time off work in a few weeks and I think we’re headed up through Sweden this time. We’ll be doing that Harwich-HvH ferry again, which I really enjoy.
What's the destination in Sweden and how will you get there from Denmark?
Today spent decontaminating and protecting the freshly refurbished alloys. I learned that Spit n' Polish have been bought by Lepsons and whilst the quality isn't perfect, the methodology is clear and there is a step up in the finished article.
Where there was minor corrosion, the edges were filleted -- but this would have to be repeated across the surface to ensure equilibrium.
I applied Korrosol to remove any iron filings.
Then auto wheel before a wash.
This underside has a lovely dressing, another indicator of quality.
I finished off with an application of the superb Gtechniq C5 -- Ill apply another coat soon.
There is excessive wear on the shoulders of the front tyres, so I think that this'll be the final season for them.
Where there was minor corrosion, the edges were filleted -- but this would have to be repeated across the surface to ensure equilibrium.
I applied Korrosol to remove any iron filings.
Then auto wheel before a wash.
This underside has a lovely dressing, another indicator of quality.
I finished off with an application of the superb Gtechniq C5 -- Ill apply another coat soon.
There is excessive wear on the shoulders of the front tyres, so I think that this'll be the final season for them.
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