2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of dr

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Introduction
Hello and welcome to my 2026 road trip through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and a little bit of Belgium with the BMW Performance Car Club!

After 15 years of road trips, i had driven most of the well known roads in europe, so this was a chance to explore some of the lesser known roads and with a group of like minded individuals.

As usual, on Saturday, the car was cleaned, prepped and packed ready for an early start on the Sunday morning.

161k miles on the car now.



Reset of the journey computer.



En route to the EuroTunnel.



Nice clear roads.



It was at this point i discovered the door window and mirror controls no longer worked! Individual windows still worked from their switches, so it was just the driver's panel that had died.



Which meant everything had to be done at the passenger side.



This year, it was just me departing the UK on Sunday morning. Other UK cars had travelled the day before, or were travelling later in the week.



All aboard. Last car on the train.



After an uneventful drive to Frankfort, it was time for the first hotel of the trip. The B'Mine hotel in Frankfort. This hotel allows you to park your car outside your room, no matter what floor you're on. Everyone else got floors 8-10 and had a great view, but i got floor 1! There is a bit of a story behind this, but it was to be expected after leaving my booking to the week before we departed. Still a cool thing though.





It was time to catch up with everyone on the trip. Some returning faces, some new faces.

Firstly, Jean and Kelly, in the G82 M4 Competition and Joao and Nancy in the F87 M2.



Mads and Line in another F87 M2.



Jennifer and Magda in the E92 M3.



Marco and his M235i.



Dan and Beth in another E92 M3.



Michael in the E46 M3 and Ingvald and Torun in the M6.



Marek and Wojtek in yet another F87 M2.



After hellos, it was time for the first beer of the trip.



More beer.



Finally, first proper meal of the day, Thai Green Chicken curry.



Back to the hotel to check out other people's views from their rooms.





Decided to leave the curtains open!



Total mileage for the day.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 1

First day proper of the tour and it is an early start as we head to Saarbrucken to meet a club partner, Nanolex. Nanolex had invited the club to visit their factory and meet the team.

A cloudy start to the day.



Empty de-restricted autobahn.



Nanolex headquaters.



They even fed and watered us! We demolished a plate of sandwiches and another came out! They fed 16 of us, many times.





Nanolex offered to wash one member's car FOC. So after a quick raffle of members, Dan was the lucky winner.









Resident Nanolex dog - sorry, can't remember her name.



Everyone else, slumming it out the front.





Looking clean.



A few other members had a demo of waterless wash products.



After wash time, it was tour time. We weren't allowed to take photos in all locations, due to NDA.

But on-site bomb shelter, built just before World War II broke out.



A very large warehouse, where they ship over 1 million units EVERY single quarter. That's a lot of bottles of shampoo!



BMW PCC members and Nanolex Staff.



After Nanolex HQ, it was time to hit the Black Forest.











A quick stop.



Viewpoint.









Local wildlife.



Back on the road.









Hotel for the night.



Reward.



Starter.



Mains.



Total mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 2

Today we continued through the Black Forest.

Another early start and a good view from my hotel window.



But before go anywhere, need to remove some bugs from the windscreen!



Made a new friend.



First things first, quick stop at the local supermarket for lunch supplies.



Then we're back in the Black Forest.









After spending the morning driving the B500, we stop at our first activity of the day, the Rhine Falls in Switzerland.



Plenty of fish living there.



A blistering hot day.










After 2 hours at the Falls, we were back on the road.



Not for long though, as next was the ferry across Lake Bodensee.













Then it was lunch on the lakeside.





And back on the B500.



Rain clouds moving in.



A quick break to stretch the legs.









After this stop, the rain came, and the thunderstorms. Driving whilst lightning cracks around you was a new experience for me.



A very wet Oberjoch Pass.



And our hotel for the night.



Driving reward.



Pasta n prawns.



Total mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 3

Little did we know that today it was going to rain ALL DAY. Not once did it stop.

We could barely see anything in front of us!





Our first stop was close by though, the Geratser Waterfall. The car park was a short 5 minute walk away.



Not the biggest you'll ever see.











As the rain started to come down heavier, back on the road.





Lunch was at Lake Walchensee, but as it was raining, everyone sat in their cars to eat lunch!







The rain was relentless as we contiued to our hotel for the night.





On a nice day, i bet this place is stunning.



Waiting at some traffic lights.



Next stop was Sylvensteinsee Dam / Tunnel Am Staudamm. Not sure if i had translated the information incorrectly, but this was very underwhelming. Or as it was lashing with rain, we didn't walk far enough around to experience it properly.











This rain was no fun, so we were back on the road.









If only it was dry.......



Our hotel for the night.



Reward.



Pasta and pork.



Another car park party.



Cracking sunset.



Total mileage.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 4

Weather looks much better than yesterday's rain!







But before we leave, a quick clean up!



A now familiar sight behind me.



On our way to Austria.



Getting lunch supplies.





First stop of the day, Weissback Waterfall.

















En route to the Rossfeld Panoramic Pass.





The Rossfeld Pass is a toll road, but definitely worth it.



















Picked up a new sticker for the bonnet.



From there, it was straight over to another panoramic toll road, Panoramastrasse Stoderzinken. This is an unusual pass, as you don't pay the toll on the way up, but instead, on the way down.











A super tight, twisty road.











At the exit.



And one from the Rhine Falls.



Without delay, the Solk Pass.













Might be time for a car wash?



Cows on the road.











Seems i don't have a photo of the hotel for the night, but it was nice.

Reward.



Pinsa.



Nice view from the hotel room.



Total mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 5

A long day today, as our destination is Croatia, so we're out the hotel at 8am.

Hotel room view.



Our first pass of the day is on the Austrian / Italian border, Nassfeld Pass.





Drive it hard enough and the DCT will warn you.



Recently resurfaced road.













Before long, we're at the top.







From here, we were meant to go through a little bit of Italy and over the Sella Nevea Pass, however, the Italian side of the Nassfeld Pass was closed. So we had to go back over and route around, through Slovenia to our lunch location of Lake Predil.





Fantastic lunch location.





After lunch, it was straight on to the Predil Pass.





And into Slovenia.















And on to Road 610.









And the final pass of the day, the Godovic Pass.



















A quick breather.



Finally, Croatia!



Our hotel for the next 3 nights.



Reward.



Sunset in Krk.





Total mileage at the halfway point.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 6

Today was a designated rest day and we needed it!

For me, i decided to take the car for a wash and get some photos taken.

Artwork on the way to the car park.



Some lovely parking.



Bath time.





Looking a lot better now.



Time for a photo or two.











I spent a little time catching up on club admin and double checking the routes for the 2nd half of the trip.

After lunch, it was time to go for a wander along the seafront and find beer.







Whilst i was out walking along the beach, the E92 M3 had been driving to the otherside of the island when the air con failed! The air wasn't even cool, but full heat! I guess windows down all the time for those ladies!

A beer with a dragon on the bottle has to be great, right?



Food.





Another sunset.



Some kind of Polish spirit.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 7

After yesterday's rest day gave people time to recharge the batteries, it was back to driving.

Half the group decided to make it two rest days and stayed at the hotel / beach, and the other half of the group, left early for the ferry off the island to Rab.











The cars getting plenty of attention as usual.



Once on Rab, it was a short drive to the next ferry, which will take us back to the mainland.











And on to the next ferry.









Now, we're on the Adriatic Highway.









Quick stop for lunch supplies.















Quick group photo.





Then a quick climb to the Senjska Draga Viewpoint.





From here, a short drive back to the hotel.



Reward.



Mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 8

Time to leave Croatia and head back to Austria via Slovenia.







It was a 2 hour drive to our next stop, the Postojna Caves. You cannot simply walk in to the caves, as the distance is too far, so you take the train.



Watch your head.



Once in, it is an approximate 90 mins walk.























After lunch, it was time to get driving again. Next up, the Seebergsattel-Jerezski Pass.

















At the summit.





Without delay, we're on to the next pass, the Pavlic Pass, which is super tight and narrow in places.



























Hotel for the night.



Reward.



Food.



Total mileage.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 9

This was the day i was looking forward to!!

But first, as it was a late start, time to wash the car again.





Robot butler at breakfast.



Alpine Rollercoaster time! The Nocky Flitzer.













A short drive to the Nockalm Pass where we'd have lunch.



More fresh tarmac.





















Jungfernsprung Waterfall.







Time for the Grossglockner.



































Marmots fighting.





















Our hotel for the night.



Chalet on the mountain edge.





The "hut" across from the Chalet.



Friendly sheep come to say hello.











Reward.



Goulash Soup.



Currywurst.



Test mules at the top.







Sunset.



Total mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 10

A very short day today. But some of use decided to get up early and go for a sunrise drive at 5am and before the road opened at 5.30am.

























Cat.





From here, it was straight to BMW Classics.





But a quick look around BMW Welt foyer.

















Back to BMW Classics for a tour from Benny.













































































































Hotel for the night.





Found a good parking spot.



Time for a wander around the hotel.....

























10.2L!!

















And the final activity of the trip.....go karting!



Whilst go karting was not as brutal as last year, it was still thirsty work.



Mileage update.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 11

Whilst the trip may be officially over, i had arranged for a couple of days in Dusseldorf instead of the usual Gent.

Not the greatest view from the hotel.



But it was time to say our goodbyes to everyone and start our 6 hour drive to our next hotel.



Reward time at the hotel bar.



Time to explore Dusseldorf and the first stop was the Schumacher Brewery for Dusseldorf famous "Alt beer".



And a rather nice slow cooked pork.



The evening was spent relaxing.



Total mileage so far.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 12

Thankfully, no driving today!

A wander around the city.







Stopped at a bakery for a snack.



Back to walking.



Everyone was starting to get hungry, and this Brazilian place was recommended.

A very good burger.



And of course, a walking reward.



Interesting artwork in the men's toilets.



After food, we checked out the Holy Craft bar round the corner.





A slow walk back to the hotel.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Day 13

Final Day.

Due to the air con failure in the E92 M3 last week, we left earlier than planned to beat the heat. On the road by 8am meant we were in Gent for lunchtime pizza at Gigi 6161.



I've previously posted loads of photos from Gent, so won't post many.



After leaving the car park, the E92 M3 then proceeded to throw a Check Engine light. A quick code read and it showed a problem with the MAF sensor. So bonnet up and time to check the connection.

Well, that was easy! Wasn't even clipped in!



So, plugged back in, codes cleared. Back in business.

A very quiet Eurotunnel.



Most appropriate boarding card.



Total mileage for the trip.



Some stickers to add to the under bonnet collection.

[mjn77]

2026 - Curves & Coastlines / HGT '26: 13 days, 10 cars and a few thousand miles of driving

Bonus Day

After arriving home, i had a WhatsApp message from the BMW London Car Club organiser saying there was a BMW Heritage event on the Sunday, and if i wanted to go? It was 9 hours after i got back home, so said maybe, will see how i sleep. Anyway, woke up early, so decided to go!

First things first.

BMW Burger.

























Didn't even have time to wash mine.

[snowbimmer]

Outstanding thread.....again. Lot of distance to cover in 10 days.

Favorite: the Grossglockner and the hotel on the edge with the sheep. Stunning location to spend the night.

Plus, it was nice to see some of the Adriatic countries.

Nice job, man.

[mjn77]

Love the Grossglockner. Must have been there 7 or 8 times now.

[mjn77]

Video from Day 4. Marek didn’t join us until the evening of Day 3.

[Saker_]

Crashing the site

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Saker_

Crashing the site

Don't think you can blame my post for that!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by mjn77

Video from Day 4. Marek didn’t join us until the evening of Day 3.

Awesome video. Looking forward to the rest.

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Awesome video. Looking forward to the rest.

Yup, me too!!

Marek has been with the club since 2024, and his videos have gotten better each time.

Keep a look out for next year, Marek and myself have an epic trip planned.