Layover in Germany, help!

[Dodge2Dub]

In late January, I will have an 8 hour layover in Frankfurt. I was hoping to rent a car and drive out to Nurburgring. Have any of you done something similar and, if so, who did you rent the car from at the airport? Also, do you know if anybody offers M3's or Audi S4's for rent without restrictions on using them on the Nurburgring toll road?

The Nurburgring Web site is a bit cumbersome. Is there another Web site that can be used to determine if the Nurburgring toll road will be open to the public on the day of my travel?

Last, what route did you use...A3 to A48 to A61 or A3 to A48 to B257 or A60 to A61 to B412?

TIA!

[karussell]

Originally Posted by Dodge2Dub

In late January, I will have an 8 hour layover in Frankfurt. I was hoping to rent a car and drive out to Nurburgring. Have any of you done something similar and, if so, who did you rent the car from at the airport? Also, do you know if anybody offers M3's or Audi S4's for rent without restrictions on using them on the Nurburgring toll road?

The Nurburgring Web site is a bit cumbersome. Is there another Web site that can be used to determine if the Nurburgring toll road will be open to the public on the day of my travel?

Last, what route did you use...A3 to A48 to A61 or A3 to A48 to B257 or A60 to A61 to B412?

TIA!

I highly doubt it will be open. it closed on monday when the first snow fell. They do not plow the snow off the ring. its reopened when the snow melts usually in march or april.

Still I guess we could have a freak warm spell. In which case PM me and I'll probably be going at the same time.

As for websites, only the german version shows scheduled opening times for touristenfahrten. (tourist driving)

http://www.nuerburgring.de/de/angebo...dschleife.html

Another great site has the webcam on it. If you see white stuff on the webcam its guaranteed closed.

http://ringfan.de/

If it were open the day you will be here it would be possible to make it to the ring. Its about 1.5 hour drive to and from the track. If its a weekday should not be much traffic.

Rental is not so easy. rental companies specifically exclude the nurburgring in the rental clause. on public days photographers take photos of rental fleet on the track and get paid well for spying. its very easy to identify the rental vehicles. to answer your question, SixT rents E92 M3's but DSC cannot be taken off and they also specifically exclude the track. I advise renting from RSR Nurburg. You will get a safe car ready for the track with full insurance coverage. It will cost more though. For half-day an M3 rental is €1200. I suggest getting a much cheaper Renault Clio Cup. Its just as fun especially since you won't know where you are.

I like your thinking though. If I was in your situation I would do this exact thing if it was in any season except winter.

jim

[pmeloche]

We used to rent at Avis in the '80s Porsche 911 for 300DM per hour. Our per diem down the drain for an hour or two of sheer pleasure.

[vividracing]

I had a chuckle reading this

Not trying to sound mean, the same idea would occur to me too, but I did reckon that the rental companies would be somewhat against this. Mind, having said that, I didn't think that they would go to the lengths of encouraging photographers to shop anyone driving a rental car around the 'Ring

Hope you find a fun way of killing the layover time in Germany, even if it's just a blast down the Autobahn.

Graeme

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

It is a 5 hour round trip. Add your time at the airport, in my opinion you don't have enough time my Friend. Better planning is called for. My 2 cents.

PS. A BMW 5er Gran Turismo *NAVI* / Luxury class would run you about 85- Euro for 8 hours, nice toy to have a go along the Autobahn. The airport car rental company SIXT always have them. I do recommend you reserve them. A Porsche you can rent downtown.

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by karussell

I highly doubt it will be open. it closed on monday when the first snow fell. They do not plow the snow off the ring. its reopened when the snow melts usually in march or april.

Still I guess we could have a freak warm spell. In which case PM me and I'll probably be going at the same time.

As for websites, only the german version shows scheduled opening times for touristenfahrten. (tourist driving)

http://www.nuerburgring.de/de/angebo...dschleife.html

Another great site has the webcam on it. If you see white stuff on the webcam its guaranteed closed.

http://ringfan.de/

If it were open the day you will be here it would be possible to make it to the ring. Its about 1.5 hour drive to and from the track. If its a weekday should not be much traffic.

Rental is not so easy. rental companies specifically exclude the nurburgring in the rental clause. on public days photographers take photos of rental fleet on the track and get paid well for spying. its very easy to identify the rental vehicles. to answer your question, SixT rents E92 M3's but DSC cannot be taken off and they also specifically exclude the track. I advise renting from RSR Nurburg. You will get a safe car ready for the track with full insurance coverage. It will cost more though. For half-day an M3 rental is €1200. I suggest getting a much cheaper Renault Clio Cup. Its just as fun especially since you won't know where you are.

I like your thinking though. If I was in your situation I would do this exact thing if it was in any season except winter.

jim

Thanks for taking the time to post this info. Saving it later for when I go to Germany...

[immiketoo]

http://www.rent-racecar.de/

This^^^

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

We used to rent at Avis in the '80s Porsche 911 for 300DM per hour. Our per diem down the drain for an hour or two of sheer pleasure.

Sounds more expensive then Las Vegas

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by immiketoo

http://www.rent-racecar.de/

This^^^

I think you just made his day

so he can rent his car at the airport, then rent a M3 at the ring, I bet a dollar to a donut he will miss his plane nothing wrong with that he will have so much fun

Did we tell him about the fee to get onto the ring? let me see I think a A 15-lap package can be had for $415 (€310), 25 laps will cost you $629 (€470)

more information here CLICK

I plan to do it when I take ED of my next car it will be a M3 and I will take a few days at the ring, what memories that will make

[masamune]

I think it is extremely risky to do this. Google Maps does say it takes about 2 hours, one way, to get there. So 4 hours is eaten up driving there. Then you need to allot time at the track. You don't mention where you are coming from, but assuming that it is a layover there it sounds like it would be another country. So, you would also need to go through immigration leaving the airport and then also going back into the airport. Not to mention dealing with getting the rental car and returning it with full gas. And then of course, passing through security again at the airport. Boarding time is typically 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time for international flights. It is just too much in my opinion and too many variables involved that would potentially delay you and not worth missing a transatlantic flight. And this is assuming your flight in is not delayed.

[attbimmer]

I wouldn't recommend trying to make it to/from the ring in your short time window even if the ring is open. What you can do is rent a new 911 from Avis for ~199 euro for the day and spend a couple hours on the autobahn near the airport. You can pick up the car at the airport. I spent 10 days in Germany last Summer in a rental Porsche from Avis. You'll have a lot of fun as long as the weather is ok. Weekends would be ideal, because traffic is lighter and trucks aren't aloud on the roads saturday afternoon/sunday.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

I think you just made his day

so he can rent his car at the airport, then rent a M3 at the ring, I bet a dollar to a donut he will miss his plane nothing wrong with that he will have so much fun

Did we tell him about the fee to get onto the ring? let me see I think a A 15-lap package can be had for $415 (€310), 25 laps will cost you $629 (€470)

more information here CLICK

I plan to do it when I take ED of my next car it will be a M3 and I will take a few days at the ring, what memories that will make

Well lets say the stars aligned and he was able to make it out to the nordschleife and it happened to be open and empty, i think he would be best off doing a single lap. maybe 2. also, I highly recommend sitting with an experienced driver for a lap and having them ride with you before going at it alone especially if you have no experience on a race track. (coaching is forbidden on public lapping btw). Best to have all of that worked out beforehand. The nordschleife is mecca to gear heads and I think its worthy of the pilgrimage but you have to respect it or it will bite back. We don't need any more 7-second ring kings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Qxic6qj3E

[karussell]

Originally Posted by attbimmer

I wouldn't recommend trying to make it to/from the ring in your short time window even if the ring is open. What you can do is rent a new 911 from Avis for ~199 euro for the day and spend a couple hours on the autobahn near the airport. You can pick up the car at the airport. I spent 10 days in Germany last Summer in a rental Porsche from Avis. You'll have a lot of fun as long as the weather is ok. Weekends would be ideal, because traffic is lighter and trucks aren't aloud on the roads saturday afternoon/sunday.

this is better idea although its limited to 250km per day and you have to reserve with Avis.de directly or you may end up with an "equivalent class" vehicle which includes an S class Benz. If you rent directly from an airport location there are additional fees tacked on. You could save quite a bit by picking up at a different location, but then there is a matter of getting to it.

It is supposed to be a brutal winter here this year and already that is proving to be a true sentiment. Probably safest thing to do is stay in the airport. Frankfurt is the most congested airport in germany and frequently has delays due to security.

Come back out in late spring or summer when you can do the ring visit correctly. spend a week or two there. do either a private track day with a coach or with a school. BMW Club has an excellent and safe 3-day school at the ring every August as an example.

[donovan]

What ever Karusell says, believe it and go by it. Good friend and teacher!

[osteome]

My wife is waiting for me to head back on R&R to shovel all the snow that dumped...what a winter already!

I would throw in my two cents that the timing for the trip is ambitious and may be all for naught depending on the weather conditions. Thank goodness I am home in June!

[Dodge2Dub]

Thanks everyone!

So, based upon the responses, my best bet will be to take a blast on the autobahn with a 5 GT if we spend too much money in Southern Africa or a Porsche if our travel budget hasn't been busted!

It looks like I'll be saving the Nurburgring run until the summer or if/when we take ED on an X5.

[JCE]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

I think you just made his day

so he can rent his car at the airport, then rent a M3 at the ring, I bet a dollar to a donut he will miss his plane nothing wrong with that he will have so much fun

Did we tell him about the fee to get onto the ring? let me see I think a A 15-lap package can be had for $415 (€310), 25 laps will cost you $629 (€470)

more information here CLICK

I plan to do it when I take ED of my next car it will be a M3 and I will take a few days at the ring, what memories that will make

I would like to do the same thing.....probably gonna do ED after the new M3's come out maybe in a 2014. Everybody whining about losing the V8....there will be a 2010 SG sedan for sale in Houston in late 2013 for nastalgia buffs lol.

How do we deal with the 1200 mile break in period not being met? Ride around Europe for 1200 then hit the track? What about the service that is supposed to be done at 1200 miles?

I know the warranty vs the break-in period has been discussed on the forum but I am curious about what you guys think about this. Thanks.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by JCE

I would like to do the same thing.....probably gonna do ED after the new M3's come out maybe in a 2014. Everybody whining about losing the V8....there will be a 2010 SG sedan for sale in Houston in late 2013 for nastalgia buffs lol.

How do we deal with the 1200 mile break in period not being met? Ride around Europe for 1200 then hit the track? What about the service that is supposed to be done at 1200 miles?

I know the warranty vs the break-in period has been discussed on the forum but I am curious about what you guys think about this. Thanks.

break-in period and following it versus a different method is highly subjective. do what you feel is appropriate for the 1200 miles. you can have the service done at any bmw dealership in europe. probably pick a place based on your planned itinerary and schedule it beforehand. i'm not sure, but I think you have to pay for your service if you have it done here. oil is €30/Liter so be prepared for the bill.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by Dodge2Dub

Thanks everyone!

So, based upon the responses, my best bet will be to take a blast on the autobahn with a 5 GT if we spend too much money in Southern Africa or a Porsche if our travel budget hasn't been busted!

It looks like I'll be saving the Nurburgring run until the summer or if/when we take ED on an X5.

X5's are built in Spartanburg, SC. no ED on them.

[EmmDrei]

Originally Posted by Dodge2Dub

So, based upon the responses, my best bet will be to take a blast on the autobahn with a 5 GT if we spend too much money in Southern Africa or a Porsche if our travel budget hasn't been busted!

I live an hours drive from the Frankfurt airport, so I know the area. To your idea: depends on two factors: time of day and weather. If it's raining or snowing, just stay at the airport and watch her shop. If you are there any time between 6:00 in the morning and 10:00 at night, you may as well forget the idea immediately. Leaving Frankfurt you have to drive south if you want long unlimited stretches of Autobahn and driving south during the hours I have quoted has a chance of 90+% that you'll end up standing around in traffic jams. Going east, the Autobahn is two lane only, I wouldn't advise someone not used to them trying to drive fast there. Go north or west and you'll have speed limits most of the way. The "drive to the ring and back in eight hours" idea will not work and especially not at that time of the year.

[auggiem3]

I just went through a similar decision and I'm glad I took the timing risk.

I had a 9 hour layover in Munich with which I intended to visit the BMW Welt and Tour the Museum. For once, the airline proactively put me on a more convenient flight without me requesting a change. My layover was reduced to 5 hours.

I landed at 8:30am and, after clearing customs, took the train out of the airport at 9am. This put me at the Welt just before 10:30 - perfect timing to tour the museum for about an hour. Then 30 minutes in the Welt (of which 15 minutes were spent in the shop).

I approached the concierge at noon and told him I needed to catch a flight at 1:30 that will board at 1:00 - he had a cab there in literally less than 3 minutes. The cab driver clipped 190 kph a few times on the ride to the airport (in unrestricted zones on a saturday morning) earning himself a 15 euro tip over the 45 euro fair.

I entered the airport at 12:30 and was through security, near my gate at 12:45 leaving 15 minutes of pure relaxation - I marked the occasion with a weis bier (or two).

Although I was worried about timing and disappointed that my visit to the welt/museum was cut short, I am glad I made the visit as it could be years before I get the chance again.

On a side note, the impetus behind my flight originated from travel from the Abu Dhabi grand prix. I sported a Vettel shirt and it was well received throughout my short stint in his home country. The folks are up on their racing!

I hope this story compels you to take some risk around getting to the ring, albeit a calculated risk with some time cushion. I did that trip a few years ago to ride with Sabine in the ring taxi but it was totally planned with no time constraints....i'll never forget it.

[Tio///M]

Yeah don't get stuck in a STAU!!! It'll piss you off and if you have a traveling companion it'll piss them off too...so = bad experience.

I would just go downtown Frankfurt and go see the Christmas Markt if its early January, I think....it should be open til the 2nd. You might want to look that up.