Hi guys,

My wife and I will be taking our 09 MCS from Las Vegas to Fayetteville, Ar., in April. I have never taken the mini on a trip except to SoCal. This one will be about 1400 miles each way.

Outside of doing an oil change, and generally checking the car out, is there anything I should look out for before the trip? Bullzai will have about 15k on him by that time.

Thanks!

 

Check the fluids, tires and put in some gas. You should be good to go.

 

Hi,

I am planning trip from NYC to Key West about the same time. Check this thread in Travel Stories https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-a-budget.html there are very very useful tips for long trips.

Waiting for your travel story ASA400.

 

Thanks, the travel story is a good one for helpful hints. One thing I forgot to ask. Since I have an MCS, I have the runflats and no spare. My wife and I would feel a lot better putting a spare in the back, just in case (long distances between cities where one of my 17" tires would be available.)

However, a spare wheel, tire and air pressure sensor would run quite a few bucks. So, a co-worker suggested that I just get a new tire and set it in the back. His theory is that the run flats would get me to a shop where they could mount the new tire on the wheel and away we would go.

Does that sound reasonable or would I be better off getting a spare wheel and tire?

 

Go with the unmounted 17'' spare in the boot if you have room.

When ever I launch out cross country I like to have the benefit of a oil change and 2 quarts in the boot. A good flashlight with fresh batteries.
A few wrenches and a socket set. A cell phone with batteries charged up. It might be a good idea to have 3 orange cones and 3 triangles incase of side of the road breakdowns. I also generally bring a gallon of antifreeze and a gallon of windshield washer fluid. It doesnt hurt to have a selection of fuses.

Now with 15K on the car, how are the tires, plenty of tread? Some people seem to use up their run flats pretty quickly. I wouldn't want to take off with less than 6/32nds showing. I figure you will probably be around 80 to 85 most of the way. I would like to know I had plenty of rubber on the ground. Also make sure your A/C is working well, and make sure all the belts and hoses are in good shape.

Have a fun trip

 

I generally take nothing beyond the drive belt removal tool, an extra drive belt, and two quarts of oil. I've gone on three different trips, 3,000+ miles each. Never needed a spare, or the extra belt... did have to add oil though.

My thoughts are, any mechanic or tire shop out there can change a wheel or something, but nobody will have the special BMW tool for removing the drive belt.

 

Lots of good suggestions here.

Take your AAA+ card along with your credit card of choice. Throw in a spare quart of oil. Have a fun safe trip.

One more thing....
My .02 here, I would not do that, in an accident that tire/wheel could very well kill you.

Edit... Just noticed your NAM name ASA400. Better load the camera with Tri X & bring a few extra rolls for good measure.

 

seems I'm chasing yer posts around here.

Anyways ASA400, my .02 as Chuck says, don't use your bank debit card for your gas purchases, use a credit card. That way if the bad guys get your info they won't be able to drain your bank account, they'll just charge up your credit card but that then becomes someone elses issue.

And don't forget road food. My personal fav is Twizzlers, strawberry. 1300 miles? Better take 2 big packs.

 

Oh, add in a case of 5-Hour Energy. That stuff is great. Makes 15-20 hour days (drive time) possible. Just don't drink more than 2 in a day, 5 hours apart.

 

Also gas purchases can put a hold of $50-100 on your account, so if you use a debit card it could tie up your checking account.

A hundred or two for emergency cash?

Road flare?

Satellite phone?

Shot gun?

 

Thanks guys!

Good ideas all. As for the tire, we've decided to mount one on a cheap full-size wheel. Yes, I'll have it secured behind the seat, in a Tire Rack bag, the bag secured to tie-downs. No problem with the debit cards, we use cash for gas, and replenish the cash from bank auto tellers. We usually carry a big bag of trail mix, it came in handy once when we got stuck in a two-hour stop by police in New Mexico while they cleared a tractor-trailer rig from the road.

Crashton, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've left film pretty much behind, I now have a cool little panasonic 12mg digital camera and a JVC video recorder.

 

Nothing to be embarrassed about. Shot & processed lots of Tri X over the years. Used to buy 100 foot rolls & roll my own. Over the years I developed, no pun intended, a sensitivity to the chemicals. I resisted digital until I could buy a digital SLR. Now that I have I haven't looked back & photography is fun again. My only problem is going through 35 years worth of negatives to digitize them.