ED Trip Journal: Winter F80 3000 miles

[///REWO]

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

Most countries don't actually "require" winter tires. The only ones that do are Austria and Amsterdam (I think). However, if you're involved with an incident in most countries without M+S (all weather tires), you're likely to be held at fault. Their definitions of "Winter" also vary, but generally are understood to be mid-October to mid-April.

Well, since when is Amsterdam a country?

In Germany Snow tires are required whenever there are 'winter' conditions (snow, ice, etc)

In Austria the usage of snow tires is required between 1st of november and the 15th of april, again in winter conditions or if its indicated by a road sign before you enter a certain mountain pass.

In Italy there isn't an official requirement of winter tires, except between 15th of October and the 15th of april in the Aosta valley.

In Switzerland, France and most other countries winter tires are only recommended.

Hope this helps!

[IB M]

More info on the wheels please. They look good. Are they a third option - different than base 18s and the optional 19s? What size are they?

[Hujan]

Good looking car. F80 in Alpine White with red interior? Check, check, and check! Nicely done!

[MrFargo13]

Very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

[Diver]

Driving in Venice could get you a flooded motor...

[m3rxn]

Nice . Thanks for posting

[Bosozoku]

Very nice photos, fantastic car!
Looking forward to more.

[Sean@PSI]

Awesome trip, thank you for sharing.

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

The tires were pretty simple Continental all-weather numbers (I think I've seen these tires on a buddy's pickup). .

Thanks for sharing! <sigh> I am going to have to do an ED one of these days. The tires might be Conti DWS, my current favorite tires. Amazing performance in rain.

[Falafel Combo]

Says is not a photographer ...





... still takes amazing pictures anyway.

[Falafel Combo]

Congrats! Nice write up! Welcome back home.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

Says is not a photographer ...





... still takes amazing pictures anyway.

Anyone with a camera is a photographer, some are good, some are not.

[Luminor513]

Congrats on the new ride. AW/SO is a great combo on the F80.

[michal12]

Yes, Czech republic requires winter tires between Nov 1 and March 31st. Whenever there is snow on roads, that is. So unless you want to be swapping wheels every week, you run them throughout the winter.

Originally Posted by seis-speed

subscribed:

Doing ED this winter.

I was just in Prague, but it never gets old. Originally I was just going to return the car and train to a few cities and fly home, but I might want to drive. Are you trying to stay out of the mountains?

Does Czech Republic not require winters?

If you could explain how you went about getting the winters that would be great.

Thanks!

[michal12]

You can't drive in Venice. There are no roads, only canals.

EDIT: Ah. Got it now

Originally Posted by Diver

Driving in Venice could get you a flooded motor...

[dclowd9901]

Guess I should update this thing with the rest of the trip while it's on the front page.

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by ///REWO

Well, since when is Amsterdam a country?

No excuses -- boneheaded mistake.

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by IB M

More info on the wheels please. They look good. Are they a third option - different than base 18s and the optional 19s? What size are they?

Not sure if someone already answered, but those were the rented ED Winter tires, and I only had them through Switzerland, Austria and Italy. They're expensive, but really, I was pretty blown away that I got genuine M wheels to go with my new car, and they looked brand new.

[M3 n X5M]

OP, thank you for this thread. I enjoyed the pictures and the read.

I am highjacking this thread: I want to comment that the M3 in MW and AW looks truly fantastic!

I cannot say the same for the M4: AY and YMB look terrible -- just disgusting. And frankly the metallic black paint made an M3 look entirely plain.

The most dramatic M3 or M4 I have seen so far of the new generation is the M3 in Mineral white, and this AW combo looks also fantastic. Great color choice OP!

YMB is the most underwhelming color on any M that I have ever seen in person. The YMB color is truly ideal for a toilet brush. If anyone is on the fence for this color, get off the fence. The YMB color is a real disappointment.

OP, congrats on the new car, it looks truly fantastic in AW with SO interior and the dark wheels!

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by M3 n X5M

OP, thank you for this thread. I enjoyed the pictures and the read.

I am highjacking this thread: I want to comment that the M3 in MW and AW looks truly fantastic!

I cannot say the same for the M4: AY and YMB look terrible -- just disgusting. And frankly the metallic black paint made an M3 look entirely plain.

The most dramatic M3 or M4 I have seen so far of the new generation is the M3 in Mineral white, and this AW combo looks also fantastic. Great color choice OP!

YMB is the most underwhelming color on any M that I have ever seen in person. The YMB color is truly ideal for a toilet brush. If anyone is on the fence for this color, get off the fence. The YMB color is a real disappointment.

OP, congrats on the new car, it looks truly fantastic in AW with SO interior and the dark wheels!

Thanks so much for your kind words, and thread jacking approved

I had originally ordered the car with the cloth interior, but I started imagining the car with that sparse interior and was wondering if I would feel some regret having spent so much on the car without it *feeling* expensive. Up until this point, I've never had a car that felt like a million bucks, but this car with that full SO interior looks and feels like a million bucks. The stitching on the dash is gorgeous and for the 90% of the time it will be a tame daily driver, I know the car is going to make me feel like I've really arrived. To be fair, the heavily styled interior felt a little awkward when I was hammering on the track.

I think if one is buying this car to treat it like a track monster, they shouldn't feel any regret going with the cloth interior. But I, personally, just wanted something a bit more luxurious feeling for the day-to-day.

[bavarianride]

Wow, how did the car stay that clean with all the driving through storms? The car looks really sharp against the scenic backdrops, congrats!

[P1]

Excellent write up mate! And very honest also. Many just say everything is "amazing" when they travel, but you were able to give many some actual tips. Nice to see you visited my home country of Belgium!