[Welshman]

My old 530d F11 did 110k in just over 3 years and a lot of those were motorway, autobahn, peage, autopista miles here and on the continent. I typically do 17 to 19 trips a year abroad and unless it's an in and out to Amsterdam where I can fly direct from Birmingham I prefer to drive - none of that taking your belt/shoes off rubbish at airport security. Always arrived feeling good. F11/F10 is a very nice place to be on a long journey. I've frequently driven the 800 miles from Worcestershire to the far side of Switzerland in one go. I also did this a few times in my 335i Coupe.

This was one of the reasons why, when I was deciding what to buy to replace the 530, for the first time in my life I bought the same car - albeit with the slightly pokier engine but if they had a 530 in the showroom with the right spec that would have done fine.

Today was a 600 mile drive to Strasbourg. It'll be followed by a 600 mile drive to South of Florence tomorrow. OBC said that at a tad over 80 I was averaging 39.6. Actual consumption for the first 394 miles - i.e. actual fuel used by counting how much it took to to refill the tank - was 37.1 so the OBC isn't being too optimistic.

As with the 530 this was a relaxing experience. Cabin is about as quiet as you can get it and this is helpful as wind noise does tire you out - sounds strange but wind noise increases the level of concentration required for any given speed. HUD display helps you keep you eyes on the road and is particularly good in and around town when the directions appear directly in front of you rather than to the side. Very useful when negotiating the idiosyncratic one way system in Strasbourg. HK sound system nice and clear for listening to 107.7FM - the Sanef (Motorway operator) station which gives you traffic reports.

Found out that there's very little DAB coverage in France so it was FM all the way. Wonder why that is?

So I'm well pleased with keeping with the same car. It's interesting to see how a few small improvements in the 3 years since I bought the 530 make a big difference in the driving experience.

[Piers]

Those sorts of journeys are what these cars are mad for.

BM and Atom, your cars are more extreme than mine BM and Elise!

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by Piers

BM and Atom, your cars are more extreme than mine BM and Elise!

I work on the basis that I have an extremely sensible car and an extremely silly car - at least that's what my wife says!

[Welshman]

OK Day 2 today and around 585 miles covered at a real average of 40.7 compared with the OBC figure of c.43.

Again a stress free day but virtually all motorway.

I don't know if anyone can confirm or otherwiese but I reckon BMW have changed the ratio in the auto box for 8th (or changed the final drive ratio in the diff) as in my 530 the official gearing in 8th was 48.1mph:1,000rpm. It's more like 45:1,000 now.

Tomorrow will see me tool around in Tuscany a bit then head back towards Switzerland and business.

[JustChris]

Congrats Welshman....although come on admit it....you're really Dennis Bergcamp!

[Jocky Wilson]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

Congrats Welshman....although come on admit it....you're really Dennis Bergcamp!

LOL!

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

Congrats Welshman....although come on admit it....you're really Dennis Bergcamp!

Where did Dennis Bergkamp come from

Anyway I'd be Dutchman if I was him, not Welshman.

Off to see a man about a bicycle: http://www.crisptitanium.com/

[JustChris]

Only jesting sir....the love of long distance land/car journeys vs his fear of flying bit if a tenuous link yes, just humour.
PS thanks I realise he's Dutch

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

Only jesting sir....the love of long distance land/car journeys vs his fear of flying bit if a tenuous link yes, just humour.
PS thanks I realise he's Dutch

Aha, now I get it - I remember that he had to leave a few days in advance if the match was outside the UK

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Welshman

Aha, now I get it - I remember that he had to leave a few days in advance if the match was outside the UK

No probs.

Did you buy a bike? Titanium frames, mmm nice.

Have a few nice steeds myself, Willier Iozard XP and a Trek Domane 5.2. The trek is so comfortable and fast it's ridiculous!

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by ChesterX5

No probs.

Did you buy a bike? Titanium frames, mmm nice.

Got the measurements done and will pay the deposit when I've got his bank details, and will collect in around june next year. In the meantime will continue to ride this:



And Day 3 consumption was 40.16 over 520.9 miles,

[Welshman]

Easy day today - Brescia to Bad Ragaz - about 230 miles. The route takes in the San Bernardino pass - not that the pass proper would be open but I fancied driving the old pass road at least up to the town of San Bernardino.

You can drive /ride the old pass road pretty much from Bellinzona but there's no point in getting off the motorway until you see the signs for Mesocco. Off the nicely engineered A road and onto the cobbles in Mesocco but soon you are back on tarmac and plenty of hair pin bends - it's about a 900 metre climb up to San Bernardino. they've had a lot of snow this year:

About 10 miles to go to where the motorway splits - left to the San Gotthard and right to the San Bernardino:



After Mesocco and there's an opportunity to get back on the nice new road:



Further up but still with a few hundred feet to the town:



This was the gentle descent into the town:



In the town the pass road wasn't shown as shut but the surface was pure snow - no tarmac - and the SatNav showed the pass as blocked at the top - presumably it was open to those with 4WD and Snow Tyres who wanted to get to the upper slopes. So I got back on the new road, into the tunnel and down to Bad Ragaz.

No consumption figure today - waiting to refill tomorrow so I can make a new calculation.

[dippo]

Is it wise to publish photos showing you were exceeding the speed limit?

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by dippo

Is it wise to publish photos showing you were exceeding the speed limit?

Well spotted and you raise a good point that I hadn't thought about with the HUD. However, I doubt if I'll be hearing from the Grenzpolizei over 5 mph but if I do I shall file it in the round cabinet that sits beneath my desk.

[MickyD'bo]

Great pics and awesome looking car. I can only imagine how amazing the 535 must be to drive.

[Welshman]

Just got back. 2,441 miles at a brim to brim average of 39.61. OBC had the average at 40.7 so that is the same level of optimism as my 530 had - around 1mpg.

[Piers]

Originally Posted by Welshman

Just got back. 2,441 miles at a brim to brim average of 39.61.

Great news and well run in now!

[xenon]

Don't you need a "GB" sticker or a Euro number plate? Been ages since I drove on the continent but I thought you still did.

Great car though and great pics.

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by xenon

Don't you need a "GB" sticker or a Euro number plate? Been ages since I drove on the continent but I thought you still did.

I've been averaging 17 or 18 trips a year for the last 7 and a bit years and never had either a GB or a Euro sticker and never had anyone in authority show the slightest bit of interest, even on the 3 or 4 occasions when I've been pulled for speeding. I believe technically the answer is yes, but it seems practically the answer is no.

[Piers]

Originally Posted by Welshman

I've been averaging 17 or 18 trips a year for the last 7 and a bit years and never had either a GB or a Euro sticker and never had anyone in authority show the slightest bit of interest, even on the 3 or 4 occasions when I've been pulled for speeding. I believe technically the answer is yes, but it seems practically the answer is no.

It is a bit like all the hi viz,triangle,first aid kit, lense direction changers etc etc. I am back and forth the continent half a dozen times a year, and never even been asked, despite being stopped for speeding Bureaucratic nonsense.

[Welshman]

Originally Posted by Piers

It is a bit like all the hi viz,triangle,first aid kit, lense direction changers etc etc. I am back and forth the continent half a dozen times a year, and never even been asked, despite being stopped for speeding Bureaucratic nonsense.

Yes all the French Police are interested in is their 90 Euros please. I know where most of the fixed cameras are on the Peage and make a point traffic permitting of giving them a nice V sign as I go past

I'm a lot more circumspect in the Netherlands - where fines are very steep and likewise in Switzerland and Germany.