Onerib’s Risky AY M3 ED Journey

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by 2swift

Great post! Thanks for sharing! I'm leaving to Germany in 3 weeks and looks like I'll be going on a similar route. I'll be going directly from Susten/Gotthard Pass and staying at a hotel in Liechtenstein/Austria back to Munich. This is part of my route:



The thick red lines are part of the Autobahn I noted as no speed limit. Is the slow speed limit you're referring to from point A to B on the map? Did you take the same E43 route?

Yeah, the red areas of the autobahn are pretty much speed limit free. BUT there will be some construction zones(80 kph) and other areas where the speed limit will only be 100 to 130 kph. Then there will be the free sections "end of controls" ie no limit. But one should know that even when you see the white sign with three diagonal slats - even though this means that area os free of speed limits... the German government recommends a 130 kph. IF you get into an accident driving above 130 kph... you could be held at fault or partially at fault. This is why you see small cars(usually first car owners or new drivers) driving at 130 kph... while more experienced and expensive cars driving at 180 to 220 kph. Its kind of rare to see someone driving more than 220 kph... but you do see it.

end of controls or speed limits...

You also mentioned something about the Gotthard Tunnel and the crazy one-way street? Is this where the Gotthard pass is? Not sure if I should consider taking another pass instead?

I've driven that way once... I don't remember it being especially narrow. But all our roads over here are way narrower than in the states.

I do remember the tunnel's toll not being cheap! But not as bad as Mont Blanc's 44 euro fee! (near Geneva to Milan)

boring Swiss speed limits. They drive just too damn slow and have way too many tunnels.


Also NOTE that when passing a car on a back road... you HAVE to signal as you move back to the right. This is another "way" for the Swiss to "tax" drivers. Everyone signals left to pass... but you MUST also signal Right to pass say on a 80 kph back road.

And DO NOT speed more than 40 kph... or the cops can TAKE your car. As in they now own it. Yep.

Last thing - I already purchased a Swiss vignette. Is there an additional toll/price to drive the Susten pass and/or other Swiss passes?

Your route will also take you thru Austria for a brief bit. As you drive from St Gallen and into Germany. You will see signs for "Berg Grenz" meaning end of your country and a new county coming up ie "The Border".

You will need a Austrian Vignette, which costs 8 euros for ten days. IF your cought without one... it is a 120 euro fine. Also... you need to have one on your windshield BEFORE you enter Austria. this is new starting this year. Also... IF you don't fully apply the "sticker" to the windshield, that can be a 500 euro fine. Put these Vignettes full on the glass. The fine is high bc the cops think you are moving the "stickers" from car to car.

Austrian Vignette (toll sticker)...






Some other important signs...

"Yellow" stadt or city sign. Not only tells drivers the city's name... but NOW the speed lmit is 50 kph when you see one of these signs!


Pedestrian area! Also the speed limit is 5 kph!! Yes, 5 kph, the German call it "walking speed". These signs are only in inner city areas.


Maut = Toll Road. ie" you have to pay!


Just some of the 800 road signs Germany has. Your in luck bc you only need to know 600 of them to pass your drivers test here!



And the three BEST signs to see...




Have fun on your ED adventure. It will be a blast!!

Dackel

[Donger Kim]

great thread and great last post

[OneRib]

Just a quick update. My car has reached NYC as of 8/13. Hoping to get it soon.

[///Madness]

You bring tears to my eyes! I lived 20 min from Venice and have been to Milan/Barcelona/Roma/ lived in Italy for 6 years myself. I miss all of those places, and I get both happy and sad when I see you guys going on your trips! I can't wait to get to that point in my life to be able to go back to my favorite place on earth (Europe). Beautiful car and thanks for the write-up!

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by ///Madness

You bring tears to my eyes! I lived 20 min from Venice and have been to Milan/Barcelona/Roma/ lived in Italy for 6 years myself. I miss all of those places, and I get both happy and sad when I see you guys going on your trips! I can't wait to get to that point in my life to be able to go back to my favorite place on earth (Europe). Beautiful car and thanks for the write-up!

I'm glad I could bring you some joy and I hope you are able to return soon.

[dom55]

My brother saw your car in Lake Como and actually emailed me a picture while he was still there on vacation. Looks like you had an amazing trip.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dom55

My brother saw your car in Lake Como and actually emailed me a picture while he was still there on vacation. Looks like you had an amazing trip.

Wow! Where did he see it in Como? Did he know it was an ED car by the plates? If you don't mind could you send me a copy via PM?

[larryn]

Thank you. Amazing experience. I did ED in 2005 with one of the best vacations of my life, and just got confirmation on my next ED in an M4. You made my evening with these great stories.

I do a lot of travel to some really cool places for work, but having your own very cool car makes it so much better.

[azula]

Amazing trip and pictures, what kind of camera did you use??

[imyopusha]

Why can't you drive in Liechtenstein?

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by azula

Amazing trip and pictures, what kind of camera did you use??

Thanks. I used a Sony A6000. It was my first "real" camera and it was great. Very light compared to DSLRs from Nikon and Canon. Mirrorless cameras look like the future.

Just like the M3 it's better than I am. The pictures would have even been better if I was an experienced photographer.

The fact that the pictures turned out as good as they are is a tribute to the camera and a quick crash course in basic photography settings.

Originally Posted by imyopusha

Why can't you drive in Liechtenstein?

They don't recognize the ED plates and insurance. If anything happens to your car, is a nightmare to deal with.

[OneRib]

Here is a quick picture now that my car is home. Time for some cosmetic mods and detailing over the next few weeks.

Five weeks and 1 day, so better than the average.