|
Got this on the nc-bmw email list from Al Taylor. Some good advice right here. Enjoy...
Sorry for the lack of updates, I have been with very limited email since I left Phoenix. I thought I would email a few tips on driving an old car cross country in case anyone ever gets the bright idea to go out west and drive back an old rust free car....
Spares: Belts, hoses- go to the parts store and buy them you want new ones anyway, right?
Fuel pump, water pump, relays, FI parts like brain, air flow meter, coil, if applicable. I went to the U Pull It and spent $100 on spares that I figured might help for side of the road diagnoses, it gave me a little piece of mind.
Other stuff: RTV gasket crap, starting fluid, jug of water, oil, brake fluid, spare tire in a can, wire with alligator clips, flashlights, loaded handgun, map, Friends of BMW book,
And of course: good spare, lug wrench, jack, tools , and CELL PHONE.
Take the car to the local Jiffy Lube, have them change oil and check trans and diff oil level, nothing like having the trans start whining half way thru a 3500 mile trip...
NEVER shut the car off where there are no or limited facilities, if I am getting gas in the middle of nowhere I leave it running, I generally take a leak on the side of the road with the car running as I dont like to leave the car unattended and running at a gas station. Basically I will shut it off anywhere I would be comfortable staying a day or two....also figure how many times you will need the starter to get home...will it die 1000 miles from home or 100? Who knows, but every time you use it you are 1 use closer to the death of the starter, also during starting is the time other components choose to die.
I also do crazy stuff like skip gears, When getting back on the highway I go 1-3-5 to save shifts...I once had a clutch cable snap on a 914 in west Texas....if I had been skipping gears it probably would have made it home.
Do not run the gas tank down to empty, I always fill up between 1/4 and 1/2 tank, that way you do not stir up the crap on the bottom, do not stress the pre pump/main pump and if you do get some bad gas, it is somewhat "diluted". I did not follow this rule one trip and had to clean the floatbowls on some SU carbs every 100 miles as a result.
Get some spare keys made for the car before you head out.
A Haynes manual might be a good idea.
Get internet board info for the car you are driving, I registered on several Z car boards in case I had trouble en route, if I had net service I could post for help.
Carry plenty of beef jerky.
I just made it back after driving the Z car 4000 miles with no trouble.....I think that makes it 12 cross country drives in old cars.....
Al
_________________ Mike Whitney whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445 V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
