Ship or drive?

raneman · 03-15-2011, 05:10 PM

I'm flying up to pull the trigger on an '08 E90 M3 tomorrow. Should I cancel my return flight and drive it back from Madison, WI (1000 miles) or just have it shipped? Shipping is $740. Fuel cost of driving $235. Driving is fun and I could have it home sooner, but there's the added mileage (it only has 8800 miles on it...what is that, a 20% increase?) and I'm terrified of rock chips. Shipping will take around a week and I guess nothing would happen to it all strapped down in a carrier. I'm all hot and bothered over this decision.

Addded details: I have to be at work in Dallas on Thursday by 1p and there's a couch in Kansas City (roughly halfway) I can crash on for a few hours.

Also, hi. I'm new.

I originally posted this in the wrong forum I think...which is a great way to start out.

OC3 · 03-15-2011, 05:15 PM

Drive that bitch down I-35, baby

Brosef · 03-15-2011, 06:35 PM

drive it with no stops. I once took a 7AM flight down to Naples to drive a car straight back 1,470 miles. 24 hours from walking out the door to my apartment to walking back in. it was brutal, but fun in a masochistic way. would have been a lot more enjoyable in an M. you can do it.

also, make sure your 1,000 mile quote is from actual door-to-door directions, not as the crow flies. that wasn't a fun surprise when I discovered the trip was actually 350 miles longer than anticipated.

Grail05 · 03-15-2011, 06:43 PM

if you drive it you will have so many rock chips and your probably going to say damn i should have shipped it... but if you drive it... its going to be so freakin boring the entire time. so wait and have it shipped.

kibosh · 03-15-2011, 06:50 PM

Drive it! F the rock chips... spend the $500 you save from shipping on getting the dings touched up when you get home

FWIW: it's only about an 11% increase in the total miles on the car

mdosu · 03-15-2011, 06:53 PM

what's with the rock chip thing? it's going to get chipped sooner or later, you bought the car so you can drive it right?
On the other hand, my limit is 8 straight hours of driving. Even in the M3, I don't think I can handle anymore, so it'll be pretty gruelsome.

immiketoo · 03-15-2011, 07:13 PM

Drive it. Road trips are the foundation of a great relationship with your car!

Seattle S65B40 · 03-15-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Drive it. Road trips are the foundation of a great relationship with your car!

Well said.

Anyway you could pre-arrange for a 3M clear bra to be put on your car. It's a great investment if you worry about chips. I have one on my Alpine White and it has saved my ass so many times. Then you can drive that thing home and focus on enjoying the trip.

Lodaka · 03-15-2011, 07:31 PM

D R I V E.

raneman · 03-15-2011, 07:35 PM

Okay. I-35 is a pretty damn boring drive. No twistys. No scenery to speak of. Just Schneider trucks and Flying Js. I've driven Dallas to KC once and hated it...albeit that was in an '04 Tacoma Pre-Runner with absolutely no highway power. Or cruise control. Then there's the issue of a few stretches of Oklahoma's highways that'll rattle a filling out of your head.

Sooo. I'll be patient and ship. But I'm still going up there to take all the pictures I can before it gets on a truck. I'm burning AAdvantage miles so I'm only out a hotel room...and the shipping.

Thanks for the input everybody. I did buy this car to drive it, and yes it will get rock chips. I'd just rather get them from a more spirited drive.

ES_TRADER · 03-15-2011, 08:46 PM

slap a bra on it first before u drive it or the front end will get trashed

MVF4Rrider · 03-15-2011, 08:52 PM

ship it! Wasted miles and wasted rubber. You'll feel sad to trip over 10K anyway. Why not put it off a bit?

dpiette · 03-15-2011, 09:05 PM

I've driven Milwaukee to Houston a couple of times. It's not the Rockies, but there are some fun stretches.

Drive it. Especially if you are a Democratic WI State Senator.

BMWBoss · 03-15-2011, 09:44 PM

Drive that bastard like it was meant to be driven!!!!!

adc · 03-15-2011, 09:56 PM

Im having trouble believing that on an enthusiast forum like this one, people are telling him to ship it... What do you guys do, look at the car and dream of driving it?

I drove mine 4k miles in Europe, including a 12 hr stint from Nurburgring to Barcelona (with my wife's help).

Just drive the sucker, take it all in and savor it.

GregW / Oregon · 03-15-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

Im having trouble believing that on an enthusiast forum like this one, people are telling him to ship it... What do you guys do, look at the car and dream of driving it?

I drove mine 4k miles in Europe, including a 12 hr stint from Nurburgring to Barcelona (with my wife's help).

Your example is not exactly relevant to his route when it's still Winter!

///My5UV · 03-15-2011, 10:51 PM

I say drive it. Modern BMWs are so comfortable on long trips it's ridiculous. Just time it to avoid rush hour through major cities and you can average much faster than Google says.
Probably a good idea (and usually not much more expensive) to book it as a round trip and just don't use the return ticket if the car looks good.

1sikbmr · 03-15-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Drive it. Road trips are the foundation of a great relationship with your car!

+1

MVF4Rrider · 03-15-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

Im having trouble believing that on an enthusiast forum like this one, people are telling him to ship it... What do you guys do, look at the car and dream of driving it?

I drove mine 4k miles in Europe, including a 12 hr stint from Nurburgring to Barcelona (with my wife's help).

Just drive the sucker, take it all in and savor it.

Driving through Europe is a little different than driving through America on concrete highways and at low speeds. I've driven from Kaiserslautern (Germany) to Monaco many times. Now that's a worthy trip across Switzerland and northern Italy. However, Wisconsin to Houston. That would be a crap trip, and risks your paint quite a bit. Not to mention it's 1/15th the life of the tires.

I'm moving to San Antonio this summer. About the same distance. Driving the M3 and shipping the Porsche. Only reason I'm driving the M3 is to stop off in Phoenix at ESS Tuning to get some software updates (SMG and engine).

johnL · 03-16-2011, 12:19 AM

Drive it!!!! It's threrapy

donovan · 03-16-2011, 03:46 AM

You all are NUTS lmao, all this crazy ass driving long ass hours.

Surprised

ADV.1 Matt · 03-16-2011, 01:50 PM

Drive it! Make it more fun and make a rule that you can't use the interstate so you actually get to put it through the paces on the back highways!

03-15-2011, 05:10 PM	#1
raneman New Member 2 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 (pending) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fort Worth, Tx iTrader: (0)	Ship or drive? I'm flying up to pull the trigger on an '08 E90 M3 tomorrow. Should I cancel my return flight and drive it back from Madison, WI (1000 miles) or just have it shipped? Shipping is $740. Fuel cost of driving $235. Driving is fun and I could have it home sooner, but there's the added mileage (it only has 8800 miles on it...what is that, a 20% increase?) and I'm terrified of rock chips. Shipping will take around a week and I guess nothing would happen to it all strapped down in a carrier. I'm all hot and bothered over this decision. Addded details: I have to be at work in Dallas on Thursday by 1p and there's a couch in Kansas City (roughly halfway) I can crash on for a few hours. Also, hi. I'm new. I originally posted this in the wrong forum I think...which is a great way to start out.
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03-15-2011, 05:15 PM	#2
OC3 Havin' a blast! 125 Rep 4,847 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 E92 Jerez Blk DCT ZCP Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	Drive that bitch down I-35, baby __________________ BRP 1:56 \| CVR 2:01 \| ACS 1:53 \| WSIR 1:34
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03-15-2011, 06:35 PM	#3
Brosef Brigadier General 876 Rep 3,450 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (4)	drive it with no stops. I once took a 7AM flight down to Naples to drive a car straight back 1,470 miles. 24 hours from walking out the door to my apartment to walking back in. it was brutal, but fun in a masochistic way. would have been a lot more enjoyable in an M. you can do it. also, make sure your 1,000 mile quote is from actual door-to-door directions, not as the crow flies. that wasn't a fun surprise when I discovered the trip was actually 350 miles longer than anticipated.
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03-15-2011, 06:43 PM	#4
Grail05 Putcha ang ganda... 281 Rep 5,441 Posts Drives: 17 F82 M4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Brea CA. iTrader: (10)	if you drive it you will have so many rock chips and your probably going to say damn i should have shipped it... but if you drive it... its going to be so freakin boring the entire time. so wait and have it shipped. __________________
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03-15-2011, 06:50 PM	#5
kibosh Private First Class 3 Rep 117 Posts Drives: 2011.5 E92 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Drive it! F the rock chips... spend the $500 you save from shipping on getting the dings touched up when you get home FWIW: it's only about an 11% increase in the total miles on the car __________________ 2011.5 E92
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03-15-2011, 06:53 PM	#6
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	what's with the rock chip thing? it's going to get chipped sooner or later, you bought the car so you can drive it right? On the other hand, my limit is 8 straight hours of driving. Even in the M3, I don't think I can handle anymore, so it'll be pretty gruelsome.
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03-15-2011, 07:31 PM	#9
Lodaka Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 203 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (4)	D R I V E.
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03-15-2011, 07:35 PM	#10
raneman New Member 2 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 (pending) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fort Worth, Tx iTrader: (0)	Okay. I-35 is a pretty damn boring drive. No twistys. No scenery to speak of. Just Schneider trucks and Flying Js. I've driven Dallas to KC once and hated it...albeit that was in an '04 Tacoma Pre-Runner with absolutely no highway power. Or cruise control. Then there's the issue of a few stretches of Oklahoma's highways that'll rattle a filling out of your head. Sooo. I'll be patient and ship. But I'm still going up there to take all the pictures I can before it gets on a truck. I'm burning AAdvantage miles so I'm only out a hotel room...and the shipping. Thanks for the input everybody. I did buy this car to drive it, and yes it will get rock chips. I'd just rather get them from a more spirited drive.
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03-15-2011, 08:46 PM	#11
ES_TRADER Colonel 344 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: 328i, 335i, M3, 535i, X5, 36M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (3) Garage List 2014 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2012 328i E92 [10.00] 2013 X5 [0.00] 2013 335i F30 [8.00] 1990 Toyota Previa [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2011 E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 535i [0.00]	slap a bra on it first before u drive it or the front end will get trashed
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03-15-2011, 08:52 PM	#12
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	ship it! Wasted miles and wasted rubber. You'll feel sad to trip over 10K anyway. Why not put it off a bit? __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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03-15-2011, 09:05 PM	#13
dpiette Private 5 Rep 51 Posts Drives: Alpine White 2011 E90 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	I've driven Milwaukee to Houston a couple of times. It's not the Rockies, but there are some fun stretches. Drive it. Especially if you are a Democratic WI State Senator.
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03-15-2011, 09:44 PM	#14
BMWBoss Lieutenant 13 Rep 483 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	Drive that bastard like it was meant to be driven!!!!!
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03-15-2011, 09:56 PM	#15
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	Im having trouble believing that on an enthusiast forum like this one, people are telling him to ship it... What do you guys do, look at the car and dream of driving it? I drove mine 4k miles in Europe, including a 12 hr stint from Nurburgring to Barcelona (with my wife's help). Just drive the sucker, take it all in and savor it. __________________ 2018 F80 Santorini 2019 Z4 3.0i 2022 X2 M35i
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03-15-2011, 10:51 PM	#17
///My5UV Lurker 78 Rep 812 Posts Drives: YMB F80, SS E90 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Austin iTrader: (0)	I say drive it. Modern BMWs are so comfortable on long trips it's ridiculous. Just time it to avoid rush hour through major cities and you can average much faster than Google says. Probably a good idea (and usually not much more expensive) to book it as a round trip and just don't use the return ticket if the car looks good. __________________
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03-16-2011, 12:19 AM	#20
johnL Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 290 Posts Drives: e46 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Drive it!!!! It's threrapy
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03-16-2011, 03:46 AM	#21
donovan Brigadier General 371 Rep 4,167 Posts Drives: R8 - Ford Raptor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: National iTrader: (17)	You all are NUTS lmao, all this crazy ass driving long ass hours. Surprised __________________ Audi R8 v10 Ford Raptor m3e46freak@yahoo.comfor all euro parts!! ebay/craigslist verified/ m3post/e46fanantics/m3forum/zpost/bimmerforum
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03-16-2011, 01:50 PM	#22
ADV.1 Matt Lieutenant Colonel 130 Rep 1,512 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Drive it! Make it more fun and make a rule that you can't use the interstate so you actually get to put it through the paces on the back highways!
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