Ring Trip Disaster
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Regional & Specific Forums
Forum Name: Irish Forum
Forum Discription: where Irish members can discuss upcoming events, etc.
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=32737
Printed Date: 28-April-2024 at 23:09
Topic: Ring Trip Disaster
Posted By: ///M3Mick
Subject: Ring Trip Disaster
Date Posted: 12-August-2006 at 23:53
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Howdy Lads By this time I expected myself and Kin would be posting lots of cool shots and drive bys in the tunnels of wales as we make our way to germany for the BMW driver training. Instead I am holed up in a kippy hilton hotel in kensington, after my f**king engine decided to conk on me somewhere in north wales. Cruising along the motorway at nice speeds all of a sudden I lost power, engine starts spluttering and the emissions warning light comes on. Managed to make it to an exit, gave it 20 mins until the light went out. Managed to get another 40 miles or so before the same thing happened. Another enforced break, made our way off again and somehow I managed to coax the car all the way to london. Feels like an ignition coil is gone and I am down a couple of cylinders....once I get the car up to speed it will cruise ok but put the foot down at all and it will start splutttering and conk out. To top this off, we were relying on gps and neither myself nor kin had programmed our systems to avoid the area around heathrow. We therefore got caught in the mother of all traffic jams and to say I had 5 litres of urine in my bladder before we made it to a bog would be an understatement. Anyway, the AA will only help me if I join for 12 months but can't guarantee they can solve my problem. After many painful phonecalls to BMW assist I finally managed to get a really nice lady called Claire who helped me out and has organised a tech for tomorrow am, but we will now miss our chunnel crossing and all of the public day plus possibly registration for the event. I just hope its something as simple as coils, plugs or o2 sensors and not something major. Say a prayer for me tonite boys. Mick |
Replies:
Posted By: e46 m3
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 00:49
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jeez mick, bad luck, as i really can't be arsed to do any work this evening i wish you all the best for the morning and hopefully it'll be something minor finger crossed you get sorted and be at the ring within 12 hrs |
Posted By: Emmet323
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 01:45
| Yup that sucks but with a bit of luck you'll be downing the pints this time tomorrow celebrating your first day at the ring, wish i was going along too. Hopefully it's nothing major anyway. |
Posted By: US M3
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 01:46
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Fingers crossed its something small ///M3Mick and you get over to the ring in time. ------------- 1990 E30 M3 (US MODEL) 2008 BMW 520D M SPORT |
Posted By: ///M3Mick
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 10:22
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Woohooo!!! Thanks to my guardian angel, Alan, from BMW assist I am back on the road. As I suspected, it was a bust ignition coil on cylinder 5. They are old coils from a batch known to fail from before they moved to Bosch. He replaced all 6 sicne the new ones are not compatible with the old ones. Off to catch a train!! Mick ps Kin has lots of embarassing pics of the car in little pieces which I am sure he will post up later. |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 10:59
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glad you got sorted. enjoy the ring!
------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 15:19
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Thats good Mick. Hope all goes well for the rest of the trip. If it brakes down again just buy a real good tow rope and get Kin to tow you. I'm sure you could still cruise at 70mph. ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: lukeduke
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 18:13
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i know how you feel mick.. this happened to me on a trip to the north for karting and i was on the hard shoulder for 2 hours, eventually got sorted .. glad to hear your sorted .. enjoy the ring and cant wait to see the pictures!!!! ------------- Previous: 2001 M3 2004 M3 CS. Current: 2007 318D SE SALOON. |
Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 18:17
A trip to the North to go karting?????? Getting some practice are we?  ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: lukeduke
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 18:20
------------- Previous: 2001 M3 2004 M3 CS. Current: 2007 318D SE SALOON. |
flyingalexf68 wrote:Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 21:48
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Luke, just act like a real a**hole on the Sunday morning and you'll be kicked out of the house and then you can come karting. Mick, hope everything goes okay and I'm looking forward to video's and pics. Kin, looking forward to some 'Ring gardening vids. ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: Aidan316i
Date Posted: 13-August-2006 at 22:38
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Mick hope you and Kin Make it to the nurenburg ring, looking forward to seeing some photos, oh and don't forget to time it for us!
------------- www.ni-bmw.co.uk E46 316i Saloon E36 323i Touring 
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Posted By: US M3
Date Posted: 14-August-2006 at 00:20
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Good to hear you got sorted lads, enjoy the Nordschleife Have a few bitburgers for us all ------------- 1990 E30 M3 (US MODEL) 2008 BMW 520D M SPORT |
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and dont forget to cook your own steak in the pistenklausePosted By: llatsni
Date Posted: 14-August-2006 at 12:27
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OH MY GOD! and THANK GOD!
lol that was a close one mick... hope you lads didnt miss out on too much. Paul ------------- 1996 e34 525i SE Touring [uberwagon!] 1992 e36 325i Coupe [track car] 1998 e36 316i SE Saloon [sold... but missed] |
Posted By: dryle
Date Posted: 14-August-2006 at 12:46
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seems to be something with bringing BMW's thru england. ------------- Dave Ryle  "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw |
Posted By: Fey!
Date Posted: 14-August-2006 at 17:05
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Sorry to hear of your troubles. At least you're on the road again fairly quickly! ------------- "http://www.tempoantiques.com""> 
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Posted By: ///M3Mick
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 16:55
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Wahey Lads I'm writing this sitting comfortably now in the hilton waldorf in london. Back tomorrow. Made it in the end at around 7.30 on sunday night just in time for registration. Full report to follow, but we had a fantastic time and I think I can safely say there is no better way to learn the ring than to go on this course. We went out on some public laps on wednesday night and I think it would take 50 laps in those conditions to learn what we did in 3 days. Its not just beginners; myself and kin were the only two in our group who hadnt been before and the standard of driving was excellent!!! I am planning next years visit already. The standard of cars was amazing; E46 M3's and CSL's were common as muck, as were 911's and a fair bit of exotica thrown in such as a corvette Z06, Ferrari Superamerica, F430 etc As regards lap times, my best was sadly a 9.35 but I think we both can do better. We just wanted to get back in one piece on our first trip. We did have the steak in the pistenklause and it is fabulous, and although its cliche we will both be sporting 'ring stickers on our bootlids now. If anyone is itching to read about it, ben Lovejoy (yes the famous one who has over 1500 laps under his belt) was in our group and was writing it up as he went along. http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/trip_reports/trip48/index.html - http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/trip_reports/trip48/index.html Ciao Mick |
Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 17:05
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Well done. Glad you got there in time. And glad you got out of there in one piece too. Looking forward to more info and pics. ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: lukeduke
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 20:56
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i'm glad you guys made it!!! cant wait for the pictures... ------------- Previous: 2001 M3 2004 M3 CS. Current: 2007 318D SE SALOON. |
Posted By: JohnH
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 21:54
| Glad to hear it turned out well in the end - looking forward to seeing the pics. |
Posted By: Aidan316i
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 22:40
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Sounds a great experience, hope you had fun!
------------- www.ni-bmw.co.uk E46 316i Saloon E36 323i Touring
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Posted By: Emmet323
Date Posted: 17-August-2006 at 23:31
| Sounds great all right, do you have a link for this course? I was hoping to try the '75 experience' before the end of the year for my first excursion on the ring but this sounds the business too. |
Posted By: spokey
Date Posted: 18-August-2006 at 01:00
Alright, Mick? Did you and Kin make it back in one piece?  ------------- Ciao, Spokey 
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Posted By: Fey!
Date Posted: 18-August-2006 at 11:29
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If you don't mind me asking, what are the costs like? ------------- "http://www.tempoantiques.com"">
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Posted By: Kin Mak
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 10:45
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Oh jeebuz... we are back. After missingthe boat on Friday and having to stay a night in Holyhead. There was a few problems on the way to Holyhead, one being a F360 and a S type crashed on the side of a motorway and then a oil spill on the M6 which caused a 20mile tailback. ------------- http://www.kinmak.com - KinMak.com - http://www.elara.ie - Elara Online |
Posted By: digweed
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 15:21
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any pics guys, and does it beat mondello???
D. ------------- Dermot O Rourke, used to be '99 520 black metallic Now '01 525 M-Sport, cosmos black, sports half leather seats, upgraded lights and a kick like a mule!!! |
Posted By: Kin Mak
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 16:09
€990 - driver training €500 - Dublin to Holyhead(depends on when you book) €600 (2 x €300) - 2 nights stay in London, to and from Germany (depends on where you stay) €170 - Folkstone to Calais (depends on when you book) €700 - Petrol (depends on what car you drive) €200 (4 x €50) - 4 nights stay in Germany (depends on where you stay) €1000 - Spending money, entertainment... I would say minumum €3000 for the trip, €4000 if you want to live it up. ------------- http://www.kinmak.com - KinMak.com - http://www.elara.ie - Elara Online |
Posted By: ///M3Mick
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 16:18
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The places you can save on that are; Dublin/Holyhead. If I had booked the ferry when I booked the trip, it would have been €300, instead of the €500 it cost at the last moment. It gets even cheaper if you take the slow boat (3.5 hrs instead of 1.5hrs) London Accomodation. We were staying in the Hilton Waldorf. You can do much cheaper or do without staying in london at all. Entertainment entirely at your discretion! Dining at Christophers not to be advised!! mick |
Posted By: Kin Mak
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 16:23
Here now I don't think Christophers was the expensive entertainment, it was where we went after which would have caused the damage.  ------------- http://www.kinmak.com - KinMak.com - http://www.elara.ie - Elara Online |
Posted By: Fey!
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 18:57
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Were those costs for both of you or just one? ------------- "http://www.tempoantiques.com"">
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Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 19:46
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€700 for petrol? Ouch! ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: ///M3Mick
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 20:04
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LOL Fey the costs were per person!! On the petrol, he did say it depended on the car you drive :) I did 21mpg overall for 1800 miles and used approx 400 litres of fuel. Its about €1.60 a litre tho in the uk and €1.30-€1.40 in Europe. Smaller cars would obviously do better! mick |
Posted By: US M3
Date Posted: 21-August-2006 at 23:19
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Some classic photos there Kin
------------- 1990 E30 M3 (US MODEL) 2008 BMW 520D M SPORT |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 00:10
 Kin - do the goggles help you find the grass quicker or what? ------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Posted By: Kin Mak
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 09:48
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You don't believe what it looks like through those gogles... complete tunnel vision.
------------- http://www.kinmak.com - KinMak.com - http://www.elara.ie - Elara Online |
Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 10:36
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I'd believe it alright Kin. But surely you'd have been faster/safer without them. Is it some sort of German fashion thing? ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: ///M3Mick
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 10:55
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Lads Would you believe that Kin, despite not being a drinker at all, actually did the best out of the lot of us with the beer goggles on :) Oh and Killian, Kin managed to find the grass just fine without the goggles Mick |
Posted By: flyingalexf68
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 11:13
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OK lads, where are the pics and vids? ------------- 1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel. 2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
Posted By: spokey
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 11:21
It's to emulate driving drunk and to show you how much being drunk impacts you. Although, frankly if the world looked like that to me after 0.08mg, I wouldn't ever drink again!  ------------- Ciao, Spokey
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Posted By: Kin Mak
Date Posted: 22-August-2006 at 13:36
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The write up and pic and vids will be up tonight if my internet is working...
------------- http://www.kinmak.com - KinMak.com - http://www.elara.ie - Elara Online |