European Road Trip (Alps + Nurburgring!)

[polak]

Hi everyone,

So I made it back very recently from a 2,800 mile european road trip. We had an excellent time, 3 cars (E36 M3, 997 C2S and my 3.0si Coupe).

Route was London, Brugge, Reims, Strausbourg, Geneva, Turin, Como, (via Davos, Stelvio etc) Munich, Nurburgring, Koln, Brussels and back home!

Did not take a single toll road - best roads we found where at the start of the french alps - empty, smooth, twisty. We where also very lucky as the alpine passes had just started opening so we had stelvio completely to ourselves, amongst others! Prior to leaving, I had a basic brake upgrade done - new discs, Ferodo pads, 5.1 brake fluid. It was essential and an excellent choice as the brakes where amazing and never really faded even after some serious driving.

The Z4 came alive on the twisties, was more than a match for the stock E36 (seemed to hold its own in the corners particularly better) and the 911 could not shake me (although, that was more down to the driver than the car ). Hit the 155mph limiter many times on the autobahns. My pads are rather squeeky now... and I will treat the car to an oil change in the next few weeks Had one incident where my windscreen was hit by a stone, and a one foot long crack develop within the hour, so autoglass Italy changed it in Turin.

Saw a fantastic amount of machinery at the ring, including a couple of Z4 Coupes (sixpeed amongst them) and a new grey Z4. Never been to the 'ring before, but all I can say is.. its certainly not going to be my last visit!

Hope you enjoy these photos - let me know if you want to see more!

Start of good roads in France


Parked up next to a completely empty road near to an airstrip, was like a private race track!


Peering out over lake geneva


Start of the climb into the French mountains


One of the few closed alpine passes meant we had several miles of twisty completely empty road to play on!


Posing at the top of San Bernado


End of the road


Spectacular




You can never have enough hairpins!


At the nurburgring




Me on the ring!


Cheers!

[Superbow]

Sounds and looks like a fantasic trip

[Dreamer]

Looks a fine time . Would love to do a trip there some time.

[Smokin]

Sure looks like fun!!!!!!

My coupe loves the twisties, too. I could almost hear her say "finally!"

[IK.]

Fantastic photos! Do you have any more?

[Tref]

So cool! I'm heading down that way in a few weeks (several trips including to SE Germany/Austria and the compulsory stopover in Adenau for the'ring.

I just love Montego Blue. Wish it was a colour choice on the earlier model Z4.

[Fidgits]

I'm doing a similar trip in about a month - i would love some more info on the routes you took and the hotels you stayed in..

(yes yes, im leaving it all to the last minute!)

[Lucy]

Great pictures and looks like you had an awesome time

[AJZ4London]

Fantastic pics! Heading to the Alps in a couple of months and cannot wait.

Do love the coupe but imagine those Alpine roads with nothing but blue sky above you...but that's another topic!

[polak]

Thanks all, I have loads more photos - I'll post up a few more of the interesting ones this weekend, perhaps some more from the 'ring.

Do love the coupe but imagine those Alpine roads with nothing but blue sky above you...but that's another topic!

I did have my moments of wishing I could put the top down! But I probably would have burnt to a crisp, as it hit 34C at one point (not bad for May). One thing I noticed about the Europeans is that there are relatively few convertibles... its actually too sunny most of the time The aircon in my friends E36 broke about mid way through the journey... and no amount of window open driving at speed action gave the same satisfying feeling as windows up, aircon on.

I was going to change all 4 tyres to Falkens before I left, but I had about 5mm so I thought I'd give the runflats a good sending out. On the smoother mountain roads they were really good, but I did get shaken to bits in places - once they and the brakes warmed up (hard compound pads) it really came alive, DTC off, I quite frequently made my passenger sick.

The Z4 got a lot of looks, thumbs up, and generally a lot of attention! (The red tint on my alloys on the last ring picture is actually all brake dust )

[gannet]

Great pics and looks a lot of fun

[Tref]

Crikey, all these Z4s heading for the Alps - we'll have to make sure we stop and say hi if we see another Z4 on our various travels! Or how about a forum meet in Switzerland?

I've just replaced my front brakes with standard discs and pads as the originals were shot. I'm a bit worried whether they'll be fading on me now. Which pads do Z4 peeps recommend? I hate EBC greens so don't even mention them.

My TVR was a bit lighter (not that much actually - the Z4 is a light car), and had Ferodo DS2500s on the front which stopped it fading on the track - no problems on the Stelvio 2 up with luggage either.

[polak]

I'm running DS2500s and find them a great compound pad, apart from the odd squeekiness, no fade, also with 2 up + luggage (btw, the coupe can carry a surprising amount of luggage!).

I did see one other uk grey Z4 roadster, top down, heading up the stelvio into Italy as we where coming down it (the only car we passed on the whole pass). Gave it a wave but couldnt really take my hands off the wheel and passed them very quickly

[Tref]

I'm running DS2500s and find them a great compound pad, apart from the odd squeekiness, no fade, also with 2 up + luggage (btw, the coupe can carry a surprising amount of luggage!).

I did see one other uk grey Z4 roadster, top down, heading up the stelvio into Italy as we where coming down it (the only car we passed on the whole pass). Gave it a wave but couldnt really take my hands off the wheel and passed them very quickly

Biggest problem I found on the Stelvio (or most passes - esp in France) was cyclists! Complete nutters cycling UP these passes. Why can't they just go and beat themselves with birches in a dark corner or some other less painful excercise!?!

[Road Trip]

Loving the pics.

More please