E61 strange happenings...

[Cheburator mk2]

Took my wife and our daughter to the Rhine and Mosel Valleys on Saturday. On Sunday something strange happened. We ended in a strange place - full of sports cars of all descriptions and nationalities, near the village of Nurburg. I followed the road, which was signposted to Adenau. It turned out it was one way and I also had to pay a toll. What was really strange was that the car really came alive on this road. Pressed a M button on the steering wheel and the Touring went mad. The clonky gearbox suddenly made sense, the seats hugged me, the traction control was just right. This car actually made a lot of sense. I found this road so strange that I actually had to go round it 6 times in a row. Much to my astonishment I always ended in Nurburg... Strange, eh? Cost me a tank of petrol for these 6 round trips... I must mention that the only other traffic to get past the touring was two VW beetles. Some sort of strange designation on the back of them GT3 and GT2 it said? The race car with M3 does not count... All in, epic...

Did I mention that my 13 month old daughter was in the back and laughing her little head off as I was getting lost around the Nurburg one way system?

So the, moral of the story is - if you have a M5/6 - do go to Germany and do your best to get lost around the Nurbrurg one way system. It is soo worthy...

[DennisCooper]

[ecain63]

And there was me thinking we needed to don our technical hats. Thank god for that as its a sunday and I'm tired.

Glad you had a good time. I dread to think what your fuel bill was for the holiday, but no doubt the ring trip made it all worthwhile. Jellous! Did you get any pics?


Eddie

[playalistic]

Nice post

[krallicious]

I took my girlfriend along for a trackday there in July. 26 laps later and she was still smiling
She said it was like a rollercoaster

Edited by krallicious on Tuesday 30th August 00:37

[RWDKurt]

Excellent post! Did something similar with my family last year (e39 M5). It helps when you know you're way around, but there's something very surreal about passing the odd motorbike and race car whilst the kids eat crisps in their booster seats...

[Cheburator mk2]

ecain63 said:

And there was me thinking we needed to don our technical hats. Thank god for that as its a sunday and I'm tired.

Glad you had a good time. I dread to think what your fuel bill was for the holiday, but no doubt the ring trip made it all worthwhile. Jellous! Did you get any pics?


Eddie

No technical problems...

Actually, yes, there was one technical problem. It seems there is a hole somewhere in the fuel tank. Seven laps (95miles) to a tank...

Nothing like taking the family out for a drive. You can see the wife and the baby at the back...

They do corner very well for a 2tones+ beast...

Love the approach to this corner...

[Porkie]

Awesome

[Zod]

You took an 18 month old around the Ring? Well, I suppose they have better seats and harnesses than anyone else!

My wife would kill me if I did that.

[zip929]

How did your brakes and tyres fair after 7 laps of the ring? I would love to do the ring but the idea of going through a set of tyres and brakes all round does not appeal. Does the E61 cope that well around the ring wear and tear wise?

Picking mine up next week so very interested in your views.

[Zod]

zip929 said:

How did your brakes and tyres fair after 7 laps of the ring? I would love to do the ring but the idea of going through a set of tyres and brakes all round does not appeal. Does the E61 cope that well around the ring wear and tear wise?

Picking mine up next week so very interested in your views.

A few laps of the Ring will not over stress your tyres and brakes. Because it is so long, with some decent gaps between corners, you won't stress the components as much as on a normal track.

[zip929]

Zod said:

zip929 said:

How did your brakes and tyres fair after 7 laps of the ring? I would love to do the ring but the idea of going through a set of tyres and brakes all round does not appeal. Does the E61 cope that well around the ring wear and tear wise?

Picking mine up next week so very interested in your views.

A few laps of the Ring will not over stress your tyres and brakes. Because it is so long, with some decent gaps between corners, you won't stress the components as much as on a normal track.

I was at VMax last week and after a few high speed runs and a little bit of hard braking on the few bends back to the start my brakes were smoking really badly on the RS6. Initally thought the smoke was from the engine and nearly shat myself but then realized it was the brakes.

I would love to have a few laps of the ring, it is definitely on my agenda for next year.

[Cheburator mk2]

Zod said:

You took an 18 month old around the Ring? Well, I suppose they have better seats and harnesses than anyone else!

My wife would kill me if I did that.

Actually Ava is 13 months old on the 26 Sep

My wife told me to be careful and sat next to the Recaro child seat for the first lap. Since Ava really liked the first lap - she was constantly laughing and clapping - my wife then took the front seat for the second lap.

You are spot on - the Ring is kinder than most tracks on the car since it is so long and it actually flows very well. There is enough time for the brakes/tyres to get some rest between corners. Still would not track an M5 there, mind! This six laps to a tank malarky can get a bit too much. For the novelty value and for the bemused looks on the faces of people when they are overtaken by an estate with baby on board stickers and a baby, funny that, yes, it is worth doing. On a regular basis, however, the M5 does not belong there.