Good idea to take x5m on 2500 mile road trip

[SyL3nTFoRcE]

Hey guys im planning on driving down to florida from new york and each way is 1100 miles and estimated me driving around florida so id say 2500-3000 miles in total.

Part of me is saying go for it it will be awesome since i will be meeting up with some friends and cruise around while they have their bikes and evos.

the other part of me is saying not to do it because something might go wrong with the car and i dont want to be stuck somewhere.

I know gas will be about 600-700 and thats not so much an issue since i will be splitting it within 3 people. im going to replace my tires before i go since i have only about 1-2k miles left on them.

any ideas or tips, and for those of you who have taken your x5m's on long trips how was the experience?

thanks in advance

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by SyL3nTFoRcE

Hey guys im planning on driving down to florida from new york and each way is 1100 miles and estimated me driving around florida so id say 2500-3000 miles in total.

Part of me is saying go for it it will be awesome since i will be meeting up with some friends and cruise around while they have their bikes and evos.

the other part of me is saying not to do it because something might go wrong with the car and i dont want to be stuck somewhere.

I know gas will be about 600-700 and thats not so much an issue since i will be splitting it within 3 people. im going to replace my tires before i go since i have only about 1-2k miles left on them.

any ideas or tips, and for those of you who have taken your x5m's on long trips how was the experience?

thanks in advance

I don't see why you'd have any trouble. Make sure you do a thorough check of the vehicle before you leave, maybe change the oil, check the brakes, fluids, squeeze all the hoses, check the belts, dust out the filters...basic check stuff just to be safe. Don't buy off brand gas during the trip, bring a quart of oil just in case, and make sure you check the car again every morning. If you get any codes while driving just stop by an autozone or use carly if you have it. 1100 miles each way isn't that far though...you driving each in one day?

[SyL3nTFoRcE]

Originally Posted by jandref321

I don't see why you'd have any trouble. Make sure you do a thorough check of the vehicle before you leave, maybe change the oil, check the brakes, fluids, squeeze all the hoses, check the belts, dust out the filters...basic check stuff just to be safe. Don't buy off brand gas during the trip, bring a quart of oil just in case, and make sure you check the car again every morning. If you get any codes while driving just stop by an autozone or use carly if you have it. 1100 miles each way isn't that far though...you driving each in one day?

see this is why i needed to ask i didnt think about checking my brakes or filters, i will be bringing a quart or two of oil, its 1100 to go down ill stay there a few days and then another 1100 coming up.

Is carly really worth it?

[jandref321]

I actually don't like Carly for diagnostics. It gives you an odd Carly only code that you have to figure out, but it does give you freeze frame info so good if you're a mechanic. I use dashcommand app for the general codes. Carly is good for doing some basic coding like if you buy a battery and want to install yourself or if you need to reset the car service. The other coding is good to set up your car the way you want...audio/visual for locking/unlocking, closing mirrors on unlock, brightness of DRLs, auto lock/unlock when driving, lift door height, etc. I think it was worth the purchase since I have and will continue to have 2 BMWs so can keep coding the cars the way I want.

[philly42]

If you don't want to drive the whole way, there's a transportation service that has you and your car on a train. The train will take you from VA to FL.
https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train-yo...-stuff-and-you

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by jandref321

I don't see why you'd have any trouble. Make sure you do a thorough check of the vehicle before you leave, maybe change the oil, check the brakes, fluids, squeeze all the hoses, check the belts, dust out the filters...basic check stuff just to be safe. Don't buy off brand gas during the trip, bring a quart of oil just in case, and make sure you check the car again every morning. If you get any codes while driving just stop by an autozone or use carly if you have it. 1100 miles each way isn't that far though...you driving each in one day?

What he said -

Just drive it and enjoy. Nothing like a road trip to appreciate your ride.

[frankenm]

I've done quite a few cross-country trips totaling well over 10k miles in my M and never had an issue other than when we went through the Nevada desert and the truck literally never went out of limp mode.

As others stated check the simple things out beforehand, have fun and drive hard!

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by frankenm

I've done quite a few cross-country trips totaling well over 10k miles in my M and never had an issue other than when we went through the Nevada desert and the truck literally never went out of limp mode.

As others stated check the simple things out beforehand, have fun and drive hard!

Just too hot? I thought the cooling system was solid. I kept getting codes in death valley with the wife's 3.0si and I was stressing but turned out to be bad gas...from a legit shell station...wtf

[frankenm]

Originally Posted by jandref321

Just too hot? I thought the cooling system was solid. I kept getting codes in death valley with the wife's 3.0si and I was stressing but turned out to be bad gas...from a legit shell station...wtf

This is what I thought at first just some bad gas even ran the tank down to empty and put fresh gas in.

Didn't end up going away until we stopped in vegas and waited until the evening for the temps to go down.

Scary part is we were half-way into the beginning of our trip and on the complete opposite side of the country from my house ... I was seriously afraid I was going to eat a few K in a repair bill but all ended up fine.

Turned out the bank 2 injectors were failing

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by frankenm

This is what I thought at first just some bad gas even ran the tank down to empty and put fresh gas in.

Didn't end up going away until we stopped in vegas and waited until the evening for the temps to go down.

Scary part is we were half-way into the beginning of our trip and on the complete opposite side of the country from my house ... I was seriously afraid I was going to eat a few K in a repair bill but all ended up fine.

Turned out the bank 2 injectors were failing

Argh! Those injectors! It's killing me that they are a normal wear item. The PO had all replaced before and I've had 6 of mine replaced under warranty because of separate actual faults. The dealer will not replace the other 2 until the computer actually throws another fault. I have some unilateral black soot collecting on the tail pipes from bank 2 and I know it's the injectors from cylinder 6, 7...but not causing problems yet so no warranty replacement. I've considered doing it myself, but doubt the wife will approve of the bill, coding required also I believe. I'll have to look up the DIY.

...Sorry OP...You should still be okay.

[SyL3nTFoRcE]

no problem thanks for your input guys i have a few things im going to check before the road trip to fl like jandref said

Since i got a oil change less than 2 weeks ago and according to bmw service my car has no issues. i think i ll be ok

Im only debating now if i should buy my rims before i go down or if i should buy them after i go down.

[omgboost]

Have fun. Careful with speeding in VA, NC, and GA. Those guys love laser and have strict speeding laws!

[JMD]

...you did buy it to drive it,..right? Mine has been to Birmingham,...to Atlanta!...to Tampa,...to Norfolk,...to Baltimore! It has been "going up the country" for sure.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by omgboost

Have fun. Careful with speeding in VA, NC, and GA. Those guys love laser and have strict speeding laws!

...true, but most will give you 7-10 mph over the limit! Especially if you're not all erratic changing lanes every 1/4 mile or so!