Discussion
And not the M5 in the Midlands either.....
When I picked the M5 up on the 2nd Jan I was eager for a road trip of some sort and I finally got round to it last week to celebrate my 40th birthday!!
So I had a week off and so did the wife and I was scratching around on things to do, whether a trip to San Francisco or bum around in Europe in the M5 ?? Flights to San Fran were going up and I wanted first class but it was getting further out of my reach and I wasn't going to spend 8k plus to drink beer on Pier 39......again!!
So the original plan of taking the newly acquired M5 across Europe became more appealing and I threw some ideas up in the air and I booked the ferry then the hotels.......job done!
I set off with 49127 on the clock with a full tank of V-Power, boot full of clothes and the wife and we was heading towards Hull! How glamorous but it was 100 miles from me and I couldn't be arsed driving down to Dover so I decided to go Hull to Rotterdam and sample the P&O overnight ferry. After a blast down the M62 at a fast paced 80mph we reached Hull and drove straight on the ferry to our cabin, drop bags off then hit the beer and the cabaret, told you it was glamorous!
Fresh morning arrival in Rotterdam after a fill ya boots breakfast, we rolled off the ferry with an open road ahead of us. The roads were quiet but I stuck to speed limit with a quick blip to liven up the V10, it was munching the miles up but I became rather bored doing 80mph. A lunch break in Luxembourg and a quick walk around for a few hours led to our next stop in Baden Baden after a blast down the autobahn......now it livens up and so do I.
Plenty of this......
The autobahn is a great piece of road and I was pushing 135mph most of the way but it became rather natural after a while and it became addictive. The 5.0 V10 with the 'M' button pushed becomes a monster and it flips it from a dozy V10 to a growling V10 and I became king of the road until a Audi RS6 left me dead at 150mph and I shuffled across to the middle to make way and compose myself once more.
More of this.....
We headed into Baden Baden to our 5* hotel, I wear shorts and Adidas Samba and I didn't fit in but I don't care as all I want is a sh*t and a shower followed by the local beer which I consumed plenty of.
Next morning I travelled down the scenic 500 road through the Black Forest, stunning is the word and we ended up in Luzern in another 5* hotel, again shorts and sambas we strolled through and headed of to the Ratkeller for more beer and to watch the sun set.....
Another walk around Luzern and very nice too led me to more of this.....
Luzern to Switzerland was the next move and to drive over some passes like the Furkapass.....
Epic driving roads and the scenery was breath taking!! Loved it.
It was tiring and I ended up here in Verbier and after a long day driving I relaxed with a cigar and Weissbier to celebrate my 40th.... It was the most expensive hotel stay on the trip at £400 but the views made it for me and it's what I wanted.
So a fresh day led ahead and the M5 was munching away at anything you threw at it and there was more to come.
Verbier to Baden Baden was the route, I know I stayed at Baden Baden before but I wanted something central and I liked BB and the Lowenbrau beer Keller was good. The route we took was via Bern then a lunch stop at Basel, which it rained so we had a quick tour then tip toe'd off.
Back in Baden Baden and the same hotel, Dorint Maison Messmer which is located next to the Casino and ideally located for a walk around the town, well worth a visit.
By now the M5 was needing fluids at both ends, rocket fuel in the rear and 10w60 up front as the warning flagged up needing oil. Quick trip to the dealer in BB led to me buying 2 litres of oil which I needed, they came out and had a good look around the M5 and it stirred a bit of a crowd. They asked if it was fast and I said it's good for 150mph and they laughed and said was that it!! Feeling embarrassed for only doing 150 I left to push it to Nurburg via the autobahn.
I passed a stationary police car at 145mph and froze thinking sh*t but it seemed normal for everyone else so I did it too and cracked on expecting a tug and a stint in the clink later on, but no they don't care!!
Fast forward the amount of fill ups with Super 100, I actually lost count and still don't know now without going through the receipts how much I passed over, I'd say £900 at a guess!!
Anyway I rocked upto to the ring expecting some action.....not that ring either...I stepped out of the car expecting to buy my ticket to rattle round the ring in my trademark shorts and sambas to be told the ring was shut till 17.15!!! b
d I've driven this way home to tackle the ring in the M5 and the f*cking thing was closed to the public!!
So I drove around.....
Just to prove I went!!!
After a quick dash to Rotterdam through rush hour traffic, I had only 20mins to make the ferry and we made it,but only due to the autobahn which I became accustomed to driving like I stole it and the M5 stepped up to the mark again.
So if you're still here reading at this point, I bet not many will, I covered 2585 miles and I can honestly say that the E61 M5 was an epic chariot for doing it in and for that I fell in love deeper with the car that carried me across Europe in a spectacular fashion.
Thank you.....
When I picked the M5 up on the 2nd Jan I was eager for a road trip of some sort and I finally got round to it last week to celebrate my 40th birthday!!
So I had a week off and so did the wife and I was scratching around on things to do, whether a trip to San Francisco or bum around in Europe in the M5 ?? Flights to San Fran were going up and I wanted first class but it was getting further out of my reach and I wasn't going to spend 8k plus to drink beer on Pier 39......again!!
So the original plan of taking the newly acquired M5 across Europe became more appealing and I threw some ideas up in the air and I booked the ferry then the hotels.......job done!
I set off with 49127 on the clock with a full tank of V-Power, boot full of clothes and the wife and we was heading towards Hull! How glamorous but it was 100 miles from me and I couldn't be arsed driving down to Dover so I decided to go Hull to Rotterdam and sample the P&O overnight ferry. After a blast down the M62 at a fast paced 80mph we reached Hull and drove straight on the ferry to our cabin, drop bags off then hit the beer and the cabaret, told you it was glamorous!
Fresh morning arrival in Rotterdam after a fill ya boots breakfast, we rolled off the ferry with an open road ahead of us. The roads were quiet but I stuck to speed limit with a quick blip to liven up the V10, it was munching the miles up but I became rather bored doing 80mph. A lunch break in Luxembourg and a quick walk around for a few hours led to our next stop in Baden Baden after a blast down the autobahn......now it livens up and so do I.
Plenty of this......
The autobahn is a great piece of road and I was pushing 135mph most of the way but it became rather natural after a while and it became addictive. The 5.0 V10 with the 'M' button pushed becomes a monster and it flips it from a dozy V10 to a growling V10 and I became king of the road until a Audi RS6 left me dead at 150mph and I shuffled across to the middle to make way and compose myself once more.
More of this.....
We headed into Baden Baden to our 5* hotel, I wear shorts and Adidas Samba and I didn't fit in but I don't care as all I want is a sh*t and a shower followed by the local beer which I consumed plenty of.
Next morning I travelled down the scenic 500 road through the Black Forest, stunning is the word and we ended up in Luzern in another 5* hotel, again shorts and sambas we strolled through and headed of to the Ratkeller for more beer and to watch the sun set.....
Another walk around Luzern and very nice too led me to more of this.....
Luzern to Switzerland was the next move and to drive over some passes like the Furkapass.....
Epic driving roads and the scenery was breath taking!! Loved it.
It was tiring and I ended up here in Verbier and after a long day driving I relaxed with a cigar and Weissbier to celebrate my 40th.... It was the most expensive hotel stay on the trip at £400 but the views made it for me and it's what I wanted.
So a fresh day led ahead and the M5 was munching away at anything you threw at it and there was more to come.
Verbier to Baden Baden was the route, I know I stayed at Baden Baden before but I wanted something central and I liked BB and the Lowenbrau beer Keller was good. The route we took was via Bern then a lunch stop at Basel, which it rained so we had a quick tour then tip toe'd off.
Back in Baden Baden and the same hotel, Dorint Maison Messmer which is located next to the Casino and ideally located for a walk around the town, well worth a visit.
By now the M5 was needing fluids at both ends, rocket fuel in the rear and 10w60 up front as the warning flagged up needing oil. Quick trip to the dealer in BB led to me buying 2 litres of oil which I needed, they came out and had a good look around the M5 and it stirred a bit of a crowd. They asked if it was fast and I said it's good for 150mph and they laughed and said was that it!! Feeling embarrassed for only doing 150 I left to push it to Nurburg via the autobahn.
I passed a stationary police car at 145mph and froze thinking sh*t but it seemed normal for everyone else so I did it too and cracked on expecting a tug and a stint in the clink later on, but no they don't care!!
Fast forward the amount of fill ups with Super 100, I actually lost count and still don't know now without going through the receipts how much I passed over, I'd say £900 at a guess!!
Anyway I rocked upto to the ring expecting some action.....not that ring either...I stepped out of the car expecting to buy my ticket to rattle round the ring in my trademark shorts and sambas to be told the ring was shut till 17.15!!! b
d I've driven this way home to tackle the ring in the M5 and the f*cking thing was closed to the public!! So I drove around.....
Just to prove I went!!!
After a quick dash to Rotterdam through rush hour traffic, I had only 20mins to make the ferry and we made it,but only due to the autobahn which I became accustomed to driving like I stole it and the M5 stepped up to the mark again.
So if you're still here reading at this point, I bet not many will, I covered 2585 miles and I can honestly say that the E61 M5 was an epic chariot for doing it in and for that I fell in love deeper with the car that carried me across Europe in a spectacular fashion.
Thank you.....
What a brilliant report, with great photos too.
Your excitement and exhilaration just jump out of the page.
There is no better way to do such a journey than in a V10 M5, an engine which remains the best I've experienced.
By the way, did you hit the limiter on the Autobahn or did you think 150 was fast enough??
The M5, when derestricted, has nothing to fear at those speeds.
Oh, and happy 40th!!
Your excitement and exhilaration just jump out of the page.
There is no better way to do such a journey than in a V10 M5, an engine which remains the best I've experienced.
By the way, did you hit the limiter on the Autobahn or did you think 150 was fast enough??
The M5, when derestricted, has nothing to fear at those speeds.
Oh, and happy 40th!!
Great write up.
I know Verbier very well as we have a place their. Some great roads near by including the grand St. Bernard pass and return on the 14 km tunnel.
Montreau on lake Geneva which on the opposite side you have Evian in France. It's a good run over to chamonix.
You can also cut across to Italy and take a number of passes to the Italian lakes. We set the brakes on fire on one trip over the goetards pass. (Not spelt this correct)
Pretty much anywhere in Switzerland has fantastic roads and views. Just don't speed unless you enjoy prison time the Swiss Police do not muck about.
I know Verbier very well as we have a place their. Some great roads near by including the grand St. Bernard pass and return on the 14 km tunnel.
Montreau on lake Geneva which on the opposite side you have Evian in France. It's a good run over to chamonix.
You can also cut across to Italy and take a number of passes to the Italian lakes. We set the brakes on fire on one trip over the goetards pass. (Not spelt this correct)
Pretty much anywhere in Switzerland has fantastic roads and views. Just don't speed unless you enjoy prison time the Swiss Police do not muck about.
Thanks all.
The trip started on the Saturday afternoon and we was back home 09.30 on the Friday, not a huge amount of time but a sampler for the wife as she's never seen Germany or Switzerland. We'll plan a longer one now as she likes Germany.
The cost was excessive but we did treat ourselves to nice hotels and plenty of V-Power but if you work it right you could probably reduce it by half and still have a great time exploring.
We kind of winged and we only booked one night in Baden Baden and the other night in Verbier, the other two nights were where we fancied and it worked.
The wife asked would I do it in my E30 M3, I'd like to but the E61 M5 fits the bill perfectly for the next trip.......
The trip started on the Saturday afternoon and we was back home 09.30 on the Friday, not a huge amount of time but a sampler for the wife as she's never seen Germany or Switzerland. We'll plan a longer one now as she likes Germany.
The cost was excessive but we did treat ourselves to nice hotels and plenty of V-Power but if you work it right you could probably reduce it by half and still have a great time exploring.
We kind of winged and we only booked one night in Baden Baden and the other night in Verbier, the other two nights were where we fancied and it worked.
The wife asked would I do it in my E30 M3, I'd like to but the E61 M5 fits the bill perfectly for the next trip.......
Great car, great road-trip and great write-up. Fantastic engine for the autobahn no doubt, I did a slightly shorter 1600 mile adventure in my E39 M5 a couple of years ago, but the extra 100bhp and top-end on your engine would undoubtedly have made moments even more special.
I would however, have let my wife sit in the car with me ;-)
I would however, have let my wife sit in the car with me ;-)
Bodie390 said:
boot full of clothes and the wife
It's great, hope you enjoy it as much as I did and go for it.
I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
Bodie390 said:
It's great, hope you enjoy it as much as I did and go for it.
I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
Sorry to be pointing the bleeding obvious, but did you swap the correct Navigation DVD in? With the correct Europe one in, my E61 M5 would show even the tiniest roads in the Ardennes... I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
Top speed - 172mph indicated on the HUD on the Autobahn - 4-up, luggage, crate of Koelsch and Bitburg each in the boot...
Epic cars...
Happy B-day too!
Bodie390 said:
It's great, hope you enjoy it as much as I did and go for it.
I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
I've got a ltr in the boot but I wondered if I should take more, maybe its not necessary.I'd take 1ltr of 10W60 oil just in case, I left with the oil reading showing 3/4 and it never moved since Jan till June when I was away. You might not need it but to be on the safe side etc.
Switching over to KM in the Idrive helped a lot when using the HUD.
The nav wasn't the best on the idrive, my map reader - who I let out of the boot occasionally, used the Michelin road map and together it worked fine. I found the smaller roads wasn't on the maps and it kept showing 3000m > that way etc.
Great idea on the iDrive, would not have thought of that!
The nav map looks to be spot on where I'm going, I do have the 2015 update if that makes a difference but I also have Navmii on my phone which I use in other cars and has generally been OK. Michelin map will be in the boot as backup!
This morning I bought a 128gb memory stick so I could just dump my entire music library onto it
I also signed up to the Sanef tag subscription so I don't have to worry about the tolls! Getting very excited now!Yes it's got the up to date disc in but never picked up in the smaller roads when I deviated off route. I may have messed around with the tick boxes on the toll roads and fast roads etc.
I also did the sunroof seal which proved to be an excellent choice as mine was loud at 50mph and above. Then we drove around with the blind open most of the time, well worth doing if you've got time to do it before you leave.
I also did the sunroof seal which proved to be an excellent choice as mine was loud at 50mph and above. Then we drove around with the blind open most of the time, well worth doing if you've got time to do it before you leave.
Bodie390 said:
I also did the sunroof seal which proved to be an excellent choice as mine was loud at 50mph and above. Then we drove around with the blind open most of the time, well worth doing if you've got time to do it before you leave.
What is this? funny enough I don't use the sunroof much as it rattles and over 50mph causes horrible pressure/noise, would love to be able to use it more.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=114...
This very forum helped me and it's worked brilliantly.
The hardest bit was removing the old sticky stuff but when that's done it's easy.
This very forum helped me and it's worked brilliantly.
The hardest bit was removing the old sticky stuff but when that's done it's easy.
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