Mother of all Road Trips in my Z4

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Hi fellows ... I've been busy enjoying my Z4 ... Left home on Sunday morning July 25. I am now in Flagstaff, AZ.

The Car is handling like a charm "flawless performance" I just passed the 12,600 KM point. Average speed around 125 KM/HR (75 MPH) Fuel consumption gets better as I drive now at 9.2 L/100 KM.

Today July 29 it's off to Vegas via the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.

Some pictures can be seen in the photo album link attached ....

http://web.me.com/solgain/Road_Trip_...er_Canada.html

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[juhap]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

Average speed around 125 KM/HR (75 MPH)

Step out of the vehicle, sir!

[tranquility]

Orion silver on black: very classy color combo, sir. 12,600kms, wow!

[Mr Breeze]

Awesome! Welcome to Arizona! Have a fabulous rest of your trip!

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by juhap

Step out of the vehicle, sir!

US freeways are usually around 75mph posted speed limit and most traffic does about 78 or 80mph so 75 mph avg is quite good and the cops won't even give you a second glance....

[Mr Breeze]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

US freeways are usually around 75mph posted speed limit and most traffic does about 78 or 80mph so 75 mph avg is quite good and the cops won't even give you a second glance....

+1
Most are good with up to 10 mph over posted limit. Even the dreaded speed cameras here in AZ are set to only fire if 11 mph or greater.

[HerrK]

Glad to hear the car is running well. The Indiana photos were nice to see as I grew up there and we made many trips to Texas on Route 66 before/during Intersate construction. Can't wait to hit the road myself now that our Z has made it stateside after our ED. How are the RFT's performing?

HerrK

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by Mr Breeze

+1
Most are good with up to 10 mph over posted limit. Even the dreaded speed cameras here in AZ are set to only fire if 11 mph or greater.

Good to know, I have a place in Chandler and see lots of those little suv's with the high antennas but I never knew what the tolerance was.....thanks..

I'll be there in Sept, in the Z4 so keep your eyes open for a white one with Alberta plates (just on the back).

Hey Rolf...how's the back and the butt after all those miles ??

[Wraith.]

Rolf, I see you are planning to come up to the Northwest as far as Oregon. Hwy1 on the Ore. coast has become overdeveloped and in my opinion not worth while. You should consider crossing over into WA and taking the HWY 101 loop around the Olympic Penn. It's a fantastic drive, few cars, few cops and great roads. As a matter of fact there are 2 local BMW chapters making that exact run next weekend, If i had my car already I'd be joining them. Anyway, at 3/4 through the loop you can take a ferry into DT Seattle (the only real city in the NW) and head east to Idaho from there.

PM me if interested and I can help you with the details.

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by Wraith.

Rolf, I see you are planning to come up to the Northwest as far as Oregon. Hwy1 on the Ore. coast has become overdeveloped and in my opinion not worth while. You should consider crossing over into WA and taking the HWY 101 loop around the Olympic Penn. It's a fantastic drive, few cars, few cops and great roads. As a matter of fact there are 2 local BMW chapters making that exact run next weekend, If i had my car already I'd be joining them. Anyway, at 3/4 through the loop you can take a ferry into DT Seattle (the only real city in the NW) and head east to Idaho from there.

PM me if interested and I can help you with the details.

If you do the peninsula route, stop at Kalaloch....good food when I was there and a great view....

[Wraith.]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

If you do the peninsula route, stop at Kalaloch....good food when I was there and a great view....

+1

[suvidh]

We did a total 4200 kms road trip last month. The Z4 did great all through the trip. Got oil change done at a BMW showroom en route. Did you get the first oild change done before this trip?

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by Mr Breeze

+1
Most are good with up to 10 mph over posted limit. Even the dreaded speed cameras here in AZ are set to only fire if 11 mph or greater.

So sad. Our poor southern cousins in Victoria have 100km limits (62mph) and a tolerance of 3kph (2 mph).
Anything over that gets a ticket and starts them losing points off their licence.
They make over $400m a year in tickets in that state alone!

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

So sad. Our poor southern cousins in Victoria have 100km limits (62mph) and a tolerance of 3kph (2 mph).
Anything over that gets a ticket and starts them losing points off their licence.
They make over $400m a year in tickets in that state alone!

That is freaking ridiculous! I would go crazy living there. 3kph tolerance?! Do they expect all speedometers to be perfectly in sync? Gimme a break!

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by tranquility

That is freaking ridiculous! I would go crazy living there. 3kph tolerance?! Do they expect all speedometers to be perfectly in sync? Gimme a break!

Just one of the reasons they move North to Queensland at a rate of 1500 a week...

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Thanks ALL

The hotel in Vegas just got the Internet service back and I got myself a 24 hour card so I can check e-mail and get back to you fellows. I will get to your individual questions after supper. Meanwhile know this I'm loving it.

The only thing I hate while driving in the US (as I will most of this trip) is the way we Canadians are being treated. I mean just trying to get gas is a production. They want you to enter the "Zip Code" well someone should tell them nice programers that up there in Canada our friendly neighbors have different Zip Codes we BTW call them Postal Codes LOL. Well suffice it to say it is a pain in the bud to purchase gas. I mean come on I am not standing out there on the pump with an old clunker LOL. I guess you sense I am pissed off yes I am. Ah well let us write it up as the Technological Improvements we are dealing with LOL

Anyway, Had a great day today at the Hoover Dam (what a grand American achievement this was) build as you all know during the depression. Anyone passing this way should dedicate a day taking the entire tour it is so worth your time to learn what our fore fathers have achieved. My Zetti just had to wait it was safely tugged away in a shaded garage at the dam for 7- most of the day. Temperature today started out at 35 C I think and ended up 44 C.

Performance is still super the RFT are a bit noisy (when I do compare them to my former M3). Now with 13,455 KM on the clock running average 110 KM to 120 KM (maintaining the 55 to 65 MPH speed limit Cops here don't seam to take too many coffee breaks). Most of the time I go with the flow, here and then I overtake just to show I can do it LOL. Anyway Milage consumption is not 9.1L/100KM I am to tired and hungry to translate it other then to this --> 2.4 US Gallon/62.14 Miles right now.

Going to dinner then taking walk (well from casino to Casino anyway). I'll post some more pictures into my albums later tonight from the Grant Canyon and the Hoover Dam.

Meanwhile you all enjoy your weekend and try to get some top down time hear

Cheers, Rolf-Dieter

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

Thanks ALL

Well suffice it to say it is a pain in the bud to purchase ass.

I know its a typo but I still have to laugh!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Dr Stig

Yes it was, I quickly corrected it reading it over one more time

Thanks for the heads up, nice to know someone is in my corner

[tranquility]

I'm confused: why do they want your zip/postal code?

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by tranquility

I'm confused: why do they want your zip/postal code?

After I insert my credit card at the pump, they ask for the ZIP CODE needless to say the transaction stops. You then have to run into the store leave them another credit card and a picture ID to prove you are the one on the card. Then you pump your gas run back into the store and pay your bill. Hoping they did not abuse your card (the one you left with them whilst you pumped your gas). All this in 40C something temperature.

I've ended up now going in purchasing say $20- or $30- gas at pump number so and so. At least it saves me another trip back to the store. Filling up your tank forget it it just does not work for us Canadians in the USA.

Hope this clears it up

I still love the USA just not the way they some business organizations treat there neighbors.

I remember a Jay Leno Road Show, asking passers by in Hollywood this question "Who are our Neighbors to the north and south?" Some replied "Oh up north it's Europe and down south it be Australia" Some of them must have been the programmers for Shell programming the Credit Card transaction codes for there gas station pumps

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[tranquility]

^Wow, that really is a pain in the butt. I'm sure you're used to Petro-Canada (Petro card, credit card, zip zip, done)...so much more efficient, us Canucks lol.

[richard in NC]

I am glad you are enjoying the trip, except for the gas purchases.

The zip codes are simply a security feature. I have to enter mine while at several stations in North Carolina. I guess some idiot programmer just didn't think that other countries may be in a different format. You could try a debit card and just enter a PIN.

The Hoover Dam was definitely impressive. While in Vegas, go to the top of the Paris Casino Eiffel Tower for a great view of the city.