So I'm taking the E30 round France and Italy...(update!)

[George]

So, decision has been made. Myself, the E30 and the girlfriend are off through France and Italy for 2 weeks from next Monday.

Here's the approximate route (default settings from google maps):



We'll be staying 2 nights in Amiens, the girlfriend wants to visit the Somme/war graves etc which will be an interesting and worthwhile day out imo.

From there a long drive down to Lyon where we will be staying with a friend for 2 nights (free accommodation - hurrah!).

Then down to Nice (one night) and across the south coast via Monaco (dreading the traffic) to Italy where we will be staying in a little town called Aulla near the Cinque Terre. We'll be there for 3 nights, so plenty of time to chill out and enjoy the surrounding area. Plus much scope for day trips and little villages/towns to visit.

From there we will proceed north to Lake Como for a couple of nights. And then head west to Annecy (one night), Dijon (one night) and Reims (one night) on the way home.

Total 2200 miles according to google maps. I do need to look at the route more carefully however and try to minimise the amount of toll motorway use. No point going all the way to France/Italy to look at motorways, a point nicely illustrated by my recent trip to Andorra from Barcelona. Toll motorway on the way saved 40 mins, normal roads on the way back were breathtakingly stunning with the surrounding views. The extra time spent was worth it. Plus I don't think going through Paris is a particularly cunning plan.

Preparation

The car is used almost every day as such I don't expect it to throw up anything particularly unknown/unexpected short of an epic fail. Still don't trust the whole battery/drain situation so I've bought one of these:



Otherwise:
- TomTom Euro map edition
- High vis vests
- Warning triangle (already in car)
- Spare bulb kit (i.e. some old bulbs I found in the garage)
- 2x new Kumho KU31s after a puncture issue a couple of weeks ago. Car now has 4x same Kumhos. Spare is good. Tyres pumped up (2.6/2.9 bar as per handbook) to aid economy!
- 1x bottle oil
- 1x bottle water
- Worth taking a footpump just in case?
- V5/Insurance docs
- Breakdown cover - very difficult to get with older cars. Many places don't even quote for cars > 15 years, let alone 25! Managed to sort something with a company from Money Supermarket. Hopefully won't need it.

I never doubted my mate's W124 Merc (used in Spain/Andorra, and he's used it across Europe: France/Italy/Switzerland/Germany). The E30 feels altogether much more fragile. We will see! Should be banter. I'll do my best to get some good photos.

If anyone has any advice regarding prep/routes/recommended things to see on the way please feel free to share!

[Royalratch]

My iS has done 6000+ across Europe and North Africa on the same tyres, original clutch and zero issues. I'd take a thermostat and belts too.

You MUST take in the Stelvio Pass as you'll be right there.




Most of the French towns you've outlined are nothing places - I'd put the days into more spectacular routes or hit bigger cities like Milan and Vienna or even Munich.

[beemerbird]

I've recently got back from France. My cousin (who lives there) told me that if you come across a Stop sign, you MUST stop (even if briefly, and even if you can see that your way is clear ). Apparently cops love pulling people for violating that rule.

Loads of speed cameras on the coast road between Nice and Monaco, too

[DaveD]

looks like a great trip ...you are right about the French auto-routes...bloody expensive and the n routes are empty anyway If you pass by Luxembourg it has the cheapest petrol in Europe

here are a couple of links you might find useful

http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm?lang=en
http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-france.htm

[iceox]

keeps some cash on you (100 euros) becuase if the police pull you for speeding they want the cash, weird but who gives a fook if they let you go after lol

[Jon_Bmw]

At the end of the month and into August I am doing a similar'esk trip in the 540i or a diesel eurobox if I can find one in time.

My plan was 9-10 days and do the following:

1) Dunkerque
2) Luxembourg/or similar - stop gap to place 3)
3) Zurich - camp near the lakes of Luzern(lucerne)
4) San Bernadino Pass
5) Stelvio Pass
6) Wefern(n. Austria) - To see the castle that features in where eagles dare
7) Salzburg - Eagles nest
8 ) Munich - BMW museum, Dachau concentration camp
9) Mannheim or Frankfurt - Stop gap till 10)
10) Nurburgring(nurburg) On a thursday, during the day go and have a look at the Rhine River Valley. In the evening do a couple of laps.
11) Nurburgring - Friday practise for the DTM series. Do a lap in the evening.
12) Back to dunkerque and back home in time for working on Sunday.


Shall we have a bet on who breaks down the most? Less mileage than you, but a fair amount to go wrong on an e39.

I'll be taking lots of fuel money and a breakdown companies number. Me and my missus will be dong a mixture of camping and staying in hotels as I am too cheap to get a hotel every night!

I better get praying, in the right direction, for some nice weather.

[ah]

Reims,you will have do the E30 photo in front of the pit lane buildings.

and take plenty of photos of the trip good luck.

[jas025]

Last year did a road trip with my dad - Millau Viaduct (spectacular), then down to the coast and across to Avignon then across several of the Tour de France Alpine passes staying in cheap hotels along the way. Avignon is a nice town and surprisingly buzzy when we were there. Went through several skiing villages on the way but they're all shut so beware of that. We might have been too early for the hiking season (start of June). Beaune is a great stop on the way back if you like posh food and wine. Some fantastic mountain passes - Col de Galibier, Col de Bonnet (if it says it's shut along the way then it is) and also the little St Bernard pass (if you decide to do this one then I can email you the Matt Monro theme song from the Italian Job to play along the way). Took my diesel 520d M Sport which was great fun to punt along.

In general if the French post a speed camera warning sign then that means that there is one. Normally they'll be in the sections where it goes down to 110kph. Leave the real speed to Germany and Belgium!

Do a bit of research on the French towns and I'm sure you'll find some good places to stay. This year did the Pyrenees starting at Alicante (dad lives in Spain) then into Andorra and across the French Pyrenees staying in a couple of quite nice towns - St Girons, Argeles Gazost and stopping off for leisurely lunches along the way. Then came back into Spain into Logrono and Rioja country and then Zaragoza on the way back to Alicante. Slightly different driving experience as using my dad's Ibiza but enjoyable all the same.

Have a great time whatever you decide to do though!

[Simon13]

Jon salzburg has some good night life if a little bit different to ours! stopped there on the banger rally for a night last year. Stunning city dug out of the rocks

[bab-91]

"opec likes this topic"



sounds like a awesome trip. Enjoy

[DaveD]

if you are going through Switzerland remember to get a road tax thingy otherwise its a hefty fine ...still cheaper than paying for the tunnels

[daimlerman]

Enjoy the trip!

I have always avoided Paris and their M25 equivilent,too many horror stories about bumper car usage...

Ask your Tomtom to route you avoiding toll roads,you will be pleasantly suprised at how quiet the N roads are,and you get to see the villages and sample the roadside cafes as well.

Do carry a credit card,cleared for use in Europe,with plenty of credit to get you home....one way by rail from central France to a UK destination will cost about £500 for a couple....

You could cary a complete spares car and still not have the bit that breaks,cable ties,gaffer tape,fuses,bulbs,fuel pump and DME relay and a selection of good quality tools are a good idea.
There are scrapyards in France,a French speaker helps,a lot,in the quest for a top hose or a driveshaft!

[George]

Most of the French towns you've outlined are nothing places - I'd put the days into more spectacular routes or hit bigger cities like Milan and Vienna or even Munich.

Munich I've been to (and anyway is quite far out of the route) and I reckon Milan isn't particularly suited to a driving type holiday.

It has to be a balance. The gf isn't a massive car enthusiast and I don't think it's fair to take fair old detours to sling the car round the twisties and make her sick!

The 'main' part of the holiday will be at the Cinque Terre and Lake Como. Everything else is a bonus.

I've recently got back from France. My cousin (who lives there) told me that if you come across a Stop sign, you MUST stop (even if briefly, and even if you can see that your way is clear ). Apparently cops love pulling people for violating that rule.

Loads of speed cameras on the coast road between Nice and Monaco, too

Thanks for the advice. I know they are quite hot on their speeding over there. Ever since events like the Gumball and the various banger rallies they are coming down much harder on UK registered cars where before they might have turned a blind eye.

looks like a great trip ...you are right about the French auto-routes...bloody expensive and the n routes are empty anyway If you pass by Luxembourg it has the cheapest petrol in Europe

here are a couple of links you might find useful

http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm?lang=en
http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-france.htm

Thanks!

As I mentioned, I'm sure the autoroutes are brilliant but ultimately if you're off in a foreign country it's nicer to see the actual countryside rather than an expanse of grey. Plus fuel is £££ on the motorways.

At the end of the month and into August I am doing a similar'esk trip in the 540i or a diesel eurobox if I can find one in time.
Shall we have a bet on who breaks down the most? Less mileage than you, but a fair amount to go wrong on an e39.

I'll be taking lots of fuel money and a breakdown companies number. Me and my missus will be dong a mixture of camping and staying in hotels as I am too cheap to get a hotel every night!

I better get praying, in the right direction, for some nice weather.

I've sorted euro breakdown cover (£77 for the whole year) so hopefully even if the worst happens, it won't ruin the entire holiday.

Tbh, I'm backing the car. As mentioned, it's a daily drive. It doesn't overheat, it drives straight. It has had all the belts inc timing belt changed a few months ago. On ascending the mountains I'll have the heater on max just in case, otherwise I hope it'll be ok.

[George]

Last year did a road trip with my dad - Millau Viaduct (spectacular), then down to the coast and across to Avignon then across several of the Tour de France Alpine passes staying in cheap hotels along the way. Avignon is a nice town and surprisingly buzzy when we were there. Went through several skiing villages on the way but they're all shut so beware of that. We might have been too early for the hiking season (start of June). Beaune is a great stop on the way back if you like posh food and wine. Some fantastic mountain passes - Col de Galibier, Col de Bonnet (if it says it's shut along the way then it is) and also the little St Bernard pass (if you decide to do this one then I can email you the Matt Monro theme song from the Italian Job to play along the way). Took my diesel 520d M Sport which was great fun to punt along.

In general if the French post a speed camera warning sign then that means that there is one. Normally they'll be in the sections where it goes down to 110kph. Leave the real speed to Germany and Belgium!

I was tempted by the Millau viaduct as it does look pant wettingly epic. It does however mean motorway use which is not ideal.

I believe the route from Lake Como to Annecy will be via the petit St Bernard pass but I'll have to double check.

Will keep an eye on those speed cameras.

This year did the Pyrenees starting at Alicante (dad lives in Spain) then into Andorra and across the French Pyrenees staying in a couple of quite nice towns - St Girons, Argeles Gazost and stopping off for leisurely lunches along the way. Then came back into Spain into Logrono and Rioja country and then Zaragoza on the way back to Alicante. Slightly different driving experience as using my dad's Ibiza but enjoyable all the same.

Have a great time whatever you decide to do though!

My mate lives in Barca and we did a drive to the Pyrenees and Andorra. Stayed in a town called Arinsal. The views weren't too shabby!

[George]

if you are going through Switzerland remember to get a road tax thingy otherwise its a hefty fine ...still cheaper than paying for the tunnels

I remember buying one for our Rover on the banger rally, Vignette I think it's called.

Enjoy the trip!

I have always avoided Paris and their M25 equivilent,too many horror stories about bumper car usage...

Ask your Tomtom to route you avoiding toll roads,you will be pleasantly suprised at how quiet the N roads are,and you get to see the villages and sample the roadside cafes as well.

Do carry a credit card,cleared for use in Europe,with plenty of credit to get you home....one way by rail from central France to a UK destination will cost about £500 for a couple....

You could cary a complete spares car and still not have the bit that breaks,cable ties,gaffer tape,fuses,bulbs,fuel pump and DME relay and a selection of good quality tools are a good idea.
There are scrapyards in France,a French speaker helps,a lot,in the quest for a top hose or a driveshaft!

I've sorted out my card so they are aware I'll be in Europe so with luck they won't block it!

I have quite a few things, but as any cab owner knows, the boot is a little small. Plus when you have a woman tagging along who needs clothes for 14 days, space is at a premium!!

[daimlerman]

Do you use a wind deflector?

With just two of you,the rear seat area can become extra storage/luggage space.The deflector hides/retains stuff on the rear seat!

There's also a bit of room under the front seats,handy for maps and similar stuff.Extra tools and 'just in case' spares can live in the spare wheel well,the package could be cable tied to the inside of the spare wheel,snag here is that the boot has to be emptied to access that fuse that you think you packed...

Main thing is to be positive,I have covered many miles in Europe completely trouble-free,the look on the faces of others in the queue for the ferry at Dover when we used to roll up in a 1963 Daimler was priceless!

[Gert_8]

Sounds absolutely brilliant.

I look forward to seeing your pics and report on how you got on. The main reason I re-bought our E30 was to do a trip to Italy in it - France might be better for the initial road trip, though. It's on the cards in the next couple of years! Good luck and hope everything goes well.

[BMWE30325]

keeps some cash on you (100 euros) becuase if the police pull you for speeding they want the cash, weird but who gives a fook if they let you go after lol

+1

[Coops90]

Mega. Jealous.

Lake como, mint. My rents used to live there. Ran a radio station. Living the dream.

[sideshowbob]

Would detour over to Fallaise, Alencon and then Lemans, instead of heading for Paris. At least you can then say you have driven along the Mulsanne straight !!

[Jon_Bmw]

Dave, have you any links to further information on the Swiss tax thing?

Simon, sounds good, although I am too old for all that shit. Uni/party days seems a long time ago.

[George]

Dave, have you any links to further information on the Swiss tax thing?

Covered here:

http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/drivin ... erland.htm

HTH

[Jesus325iTouring]

One thing you'll enjoy in France George,is the extremly high standard of roads,even piddly back roads are top notch.

There is a lot of tolls on major routes anywhere from 1 euro to 7 euros on the roads I used,but TBH I didn't mind,especially when even the lay by's are clean,well kept and even nice enough for a picnic,can;t say the same about our rubbish strewn p1ss soaked lay by's!

[DaveD]

If you are going to Lake Como (one of my favourite places) take a day trip to Bergamot Alto (the old town) its well worth the visit...I stopped in Menaggio which is a good base ..not as pretty as Bellagio across the lake but a lot cheaper and you can cut across from Lugano to get there saving the trip all the way down

[George]

Finals preps being done for tomorrow's departure. Many thanks for the positive wishes.

Proper write up and pics on our return.

[Jon_Bmw]

Good luck chap

Looking forward to going in a week and a half.

We'll be coming into Dunkerque a few days before you arrive there.

[George]

Bit of an update. Writing this post from Italy!

Made it all the way down with no prolems. Lots and lots of rain in France. Did some interesting trips to the monuments around the Somme. From there, drove down to Lyon to stay with a friend of the gf.

The drive down from Lyon to Nice via the 'Route Napoleon' was brilliant but long. E30 was at home in the twisties and once the sun was out, the roof was down all the way.

Today: Monaco. Drove through the 'F1 tunnel' and round THE hairpin. Brilliant. Must admit, E30 struggled in the pose battles with RR Phantoms, Ferrari Californias and millions of Porsches! Also saw the new McLaren at their dealership.

Drove along the caost on some stunning elevated motorway with amazing views and now in the town of Aulla. Tomorrow the Cinque Terre and the day after, Pisa.

Car has been behaving. No overheating (even in hot city traffic or up the Alps) and the reactions from the French has been very positive. Apart from a policeman who didn't like my (illegal) overtake over the single unbroken central line! That little incident left me 90 Euros lighter. Oh well.

Memory cards filling with plenty of pics. The views around here are stunning! Will update as and when possible. Not all the hotels have internet/wifi.

Euro road trips FTW!

[Ajsingh]

Good to hear its going good mate!! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

[daimlerman]

It's just the thought of that bit of water that put's folk off from living the dream.

Pleased that all is going well,shame about the 90euro fine,though!

Yell if you get problems...

[appletree]

If you get abit of spare time at the ring Cochem is a realy nice place to go and see and the drive there from the ring is nice to, quite a few viewing areas looking down on to the river and villages below especialy if you stay off the motorways and use the back roads, its about 40mins from the ring.

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=cochem%2 ... gQ8wEoAjAA

[fozzymandeus]

Epic trip! I love this kind of adventure. The missus and I are planning a two week trip to see my cousins in Pisa next summer. I cannot wait and I'm very envious of your "Writing this post from Italy" input!!

[George]

Epic trip! I love this kind of adventure. The missus and I are planning a two week trip to see my cousins in Pisa next summer. I cannot wait and I'm very envious of your "Writing this post from Italy" input!!

Funny you should mention that, just got back from Pisa about an hour ago.

I can confirm that the leaning tower is indeed leaning (quite a lot)! We got there about 11:30ish and the first available time to get up there tower was 3pm! Obviously didn't bother - it's quite expensive anyway 15Euro each.

Bloody busy though, absolute tourist central. Unfortunately does take the enjoyment out of it somewhat which is a shame.

The rest of the surrounding stuff is worth a look though I wouldn't bother with the two onsite museums. By the time you've fought through the tourist masses you won't have the energy for them.

Tomorrow checking out the Cinque Terre which is a group of 5 villages on the Italian coast. Plenty of hills, cliffs, sea and photograph potential. After that, up to the Italian Lakes, Lake Como in particular.

[fozzymandeus]

Pisa is a strange place. The leaning tower and the duomo are on a single precinct which is ram jammed with tourists and (last time I was there anyway) horrid market stalls. Yeah it's not great.

The town itself is mostly a university town so the place is full of students through most of the year. As a result there are some fairly good bars and reasonable restaurants, but they are all off the beaten track a bit. I like the Piazza dei Cavalieri which is very near the tower but usually pretty quiet. Find a bar near there and have a nice bottle of morretti!

[Blitz]

What could be better a road trip through Europe in summer is a classic open top car.

[George]

Pisa is a strange place. The leaning tower and the duomo are on a single precinct which is ram jammed with tourists and (last time I was there anyway) horrid market stalls. Yeah it's not great.

The town itself is mostly a university town so the place is full of students through most of the year. As a result there are some fairly good bars and reasonable restaurants, but they are all off the beaten track a bit. I like the Piazza dei Cavalieri which is very near the tower but usually pretty quiet. Find a bar near there and have a nice bottle of morretti!

Agree. The Piazza you mention has some interesting buildings with great architecture. I think I only took one photo of that area however as the fatigue had already kicked in. As with everything, the stuff off the tourist trail is usually better.

We tried to find some of the restaurants recommended in the Rough Guide but they were closed. As such decided to go to McDs rather than spend 40+ Euro on some crap tourist restaurant with laminated menus and photos of the food!

I wish they did the Bacon McCrispy in England! It's very good!