1500km roadtrip

[M3KW]

Hi guys and gals

I will be doing a roadtrip within the next week and I wanted to know, besides the usual checks (tyres, engine etc...), is there anything specific you do to your car to prepare?
Anything useful that should be carried in the boot as well?

Thanks in advance

[besiktas]

keep a quart of engine oil in the trunk. just in case.

[john_thor]

Good idea about the oil. It's hard to find.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Call your credit card company and let them know that there will be unusual high activity in regards to gas stations.

Actually, really do this. Twice my card has been deactivated for multiple stops in various states in one day of driving.

A quart of oil as others are saying. Can't find it anywhere.

I have this as a backup/alternative to the Mobility kit: http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=38

[///WeissBisBlau]

Are M's really THAT bad on oil, that you need to carry some spare around with you? I figured the gas might be rough, but oil too?

[bimdo]

Originally Posted by blitzboy76

Are M's really THAT bad on oil, that you need to carry some spare around with you? I figured the gas might be rough, but oil too?

they're not that bad on oil,it's just you can only get right oil,castrol tws or edge 10w/60, at a dealer or a few suppliers,so if you have to add some while you're away from home,you've got the required liquid gold.

[besiktas]

it depends on the mood of the car. I have taken the car on track for 6 times now, didnt burn any oil, but sometimes when i drive long distances on the highway my oil gauge shows the car burned some oil. I always drive with a quart of oil in the trunk.
To me, the oil usage happens very rare, but again you are driving a thousand miles, why risk it. $15 a bottle, just buy one and keep it in the trunk.

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by blitzboy76

Are M's really THAT bad on oil, that you need to carry some spare around with you? I figured the gas might be rough, but oil too?

Specifically on long drives at highway speeds, the car eats oil. You want an extra quart of 10w60 in the trunk. If you don't have it, you can substitute a more common oil like 10w40 without much of an issue, but it's best to have the 10w60.

[Sandye90m3]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Call your credit card company and let them know that there will be unusual high activity in regards to gas stations.

It's not horrible bad, I can manage to get 330 miles/530kms a tank

[M3KW]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Call your credit card company and let them know that there will be unusual high activity in regards to gas stations.

This is true, never thought about that, last thing I need is to have my card blocked due to excessive fuel stops.

Originally Posted by besiktas

keep a quart of engine oil in the trunk. just in case.

A good idea.

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Actually, really do this. Twice my card has been deactivated for multiple stops in various states in one day of driving.

A quart of oil as others are saying. Can't find it anywhere.

I have this as a backup/alternative to the Mobility kit: http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=38

I will have a look at this, currently I have a tyre solution that seals the leak but this will not be a bad idea as a backup considering what happened last time.

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

It's not horrible bad, I can manage to get 330 miles/530kms a tank

I get at best 450km's and that is pushing it but that is with a mix of spirited driving, city and highway.

Originally Posted by Foodle

Specifically on long drives at highway speeds, the car eats oil. You want an extra quart of 10w60 in the trunk. If you don't have it, you can substitute a more common oil like 10w40 without much of an issue, but it's best to have the 10w60.

I know that Castrol is recommended, but BMW lists part numbers like LL-01. Will any oil that is 10w60 be fine?

With regards to that mobility kit, I have read the manual and attempted to use it once. The end result was that I got covered in liquid latex and made a HUGE mess. How does one use this properly? Must the entire tyre be deflated and how does that compressor work? I think my mistake was that the tyre still had air in it, which caused the latex container to start spraying uncontrollably.

Thanks for the ideas so far

[BimmerRob08]

Bring the above items and bring a camera! Take shots of your M3 and enjoy the trip!!! Do the standard checks and it'll be fine.

[HeartMD]

+1000 on the extra quart of oil. I was actually in a nerve racking situation a few weeks back. Drove out to boston from NYC on a sunday evening and on my way to boston got the low engine oil sign. Unfotunately every BMW dealship was closed and no auto supply stores around where open. I wound up having to stay overnight at a hotel and wait til monday morning to get some oil as my trip back to NYC was well over 300 mile. Now I will carry TWO quarts of the 10w-60 in my trunk.

[M3KW]

Thank you peeps I will definitely be keeping a quart or two in the trunk!