[///M1]

Originally Posted by flzrider

///M1, awesome thread. Love the pictures, especially the f1 behind-the-scenes. My ED date is in October and seeing your pictures has brought up a couple questions..

-Do you have any more details on the Sixt M3 rental, especially on the 80 euro deal?
-Do all ED customers get a credit voucher and key chain from the Welt?
-Did you purchase any bmw phone adapter for use on your trip? If you did, did you purchase it in the US and bring it or get it at the Welt? Same for the usb/ipod cable?
-Where might one be able to purchase Sonax products for mid-trip car washing and where can you wash your own car?
-You passed 1200 miles on your trip, did you get your run-in service done while there? If so, how was it and do you expect any trouble getting refunded the cost of the service?
-Is taking the front plate allowed? Will it not be left on the car if not personally removed?
-Do you have a copy of the letter you left on the dash? I'd like to use that too.

Thanks!

Here are your answers:

- the Euro 80 M3 overnight rental I mentioned is through The Welt (pickup before close, return at opening hours next morning). Sixt is just a regular rental, with no such restrictions.
- yes, all ED customers get a small credit voucher good to be applied towards anything in the store. Ditto for the key chain, they will engrave anything you like on it for free (and key chain of course is free)
- yup, I bought my BMW iPod media adaptor from one of our board sponsors (Dan@United who has hooked me up on a number of things for my 135i and I would recommend any day of the week and twice on Sunday), was $200 or so IIRC. Definitely do so prior to your date and carry it with you from the US. Take it back though, don't risk leaving it in the car, you just never know what our friendly customs officers can do (they will take your warning triangle and first aid kit)
- you can buy Sonax products from any Shell station (perhaps from OMV and others as well, but I stuck to Shell V-Power only and each station had abundant Sonax offerings). I was staying at a friend's house on the day of the wash, but otherwise believe you can find stations where you can do it all yourself, kinda like some of the ones we have States-side
- I didn't get the 1200 mile service, but it was chosing the lesser of two evils. I was in CZ when I hit the mark, spoke to the 3 largest dealers in the area (Prague, Pilzen) and none had serviced the car, knew exactly what was needed, nor had the fluids when I gave them the part number (diff especially). Found that to be the case in HG as well, and in Austria I really didn't drive the car that much so felt I should just do it in the States rather than be the first car serviced at a dealer that was honest and admitted to not being 100% sure what is needed as far as work performed. The guys here at the delivery center have assured me it will be serviced, so when I pick it up at SC from the PCD it will be good to go.
- taking the front plate is OK, the girls (how lovely they were!) in Vienna didn't care. Many have done the same with no issues. Hopefully I will be able to retrieve my rear one as well. The front was with 2-sided tape, so easy to take off, but do it slowly side to side so you don't bend the plate too much, it is fairly soft and the tape is strong.
- Papethova beat me on the PDF doc, it is also available on the ED Wiki