3,000 Mile road trip...How to prepare? Please help.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Gnip Gnop

my mods make up for that lost power... It is something I would like to address in the near future.
I love my sport seats!

The sports seats on the 1er are some of the best, if not the best, all around seat BMW has ever fitted to a car. They are simply spectacular and outstrip the price point of the car.

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

The sports seats on the 1er are some of the best, if not the best, all around seat BMW has ever fitted to a car. They are simply spectacular and outstrip the price point of the car.

100% agree.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Bring a spare HPFP.

I kid.

[NorthernDancer]

1. DONOT use a radar detector
2. could go via Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury, Ottawa, Montreal then QC but expensive gas, 2 lane roads.
3. fastest to enter Canada at Detroit/Windsor; fast 4 lane to QC.
4. maybe better to enter Canada at Buffalo/Niagara Falls & see the Falls
5. avoid Toronto and Montreal at rush hours
6. follow traffic speed, usually about 75 mph
7. Toronto, Ottawa & Montreal have active BMWCCC car clubs.
8. premium gas running about $5 a USG and up. Gas hugly expensive all around Montreal so gas up in Ontario before entering Quebec province.
9. ever had poutine?

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by NoirthernDancer

1. DONOT use a radar detector
2. could go via Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury, Ottawa, Montreal then QC but expensive gas, 2 lane roads.
3. fastest to enter Canada at Detroit/Windsor; fast 4 lane to QC.
4. maybe better to enter Canada at Buffalo/Niagara Falls & see the Falls
5. avoid Toronto and Montreal at rush hours
6. follow traffic speed, usually about 75 mph
7. Toronto, Ottawa & Montreal have active BMWCCC car clubs.
8. premium gas running about $5 a USG and up. Gas hugly expensive all around Montreal so gas up in Ontario before entering Quebec province.
9. ever had poutine?

1. Didn't plan on using one.
2. will look into
3. Was planning on that route.
4. Seeing the falls would be nice. We are on a tight schedule for driving.
5. Will keep in mind.
6. Perfect speed
7. Hope to see some nice bimmers
8. I was fearing this. Will gas up before hitting QC. Is gas in quebec city the same as montreal?
9. Quoi?

[NorthernDancer]

Montreal is usually most expensive in Quebec except for far North, however recently: Montreal = $5.33 USG Premium Quebec City = $5.52 USG Prem

#9. I'll let you wait until you get there but you'll enjoy it

And our local club: www.bmwccottawa.org

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by NoirthernDancer

Montreal is usually most expensive in Quebec except for far North, however recently: Montreal = $5.33 USG Premium Quebec City = $5.52 USG Prem

#9. I'll let you wait until you get there but you'll enjoy it

And our local club: www.bmwccottawa.org

those gas prices are insane but still cheaper than flying....

i will report back on how i like that haha

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Gnip Gnop

Would you rather take a route through the states until Michigan and cross into Toronto, or go through the border in MN and make the drive across Canada?

I'd take the southern route. Madison / Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, etc. along the way. Even if you don't stop and diddle around in any of those for touristy stuff, it'll still be easier "if" you need food, lodging, repair, etc. If I had my truck and a bunch of camping gear I'd head for the northern route. W/ the 135i, I'd go the southern route.

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I'd take the southern route. Madison / Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, etc. along the way. Even if you don't stop and diddle around in any of those for touristy stuff, it'll still be easier "if" you need food, lodging, repair, etc. If I had my truck and a bunch of camping gear I'd head for the northern route. W/ the 135i, I'd go the southern route.

Yes I agree with you. Maybe go canada route on my way home. Good point

[Bimmer B]

It was posted as might/think ya need before, but you will definitely NEED to have a passport, without otherwise it's a no go!

Good luck on the trip, Montreal is awesome

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by Bimmer B

It was posted as might/think ya need before, but you will definitely NEED to have a passport, without otherwise it's a no go!

Good luck on the trip, Montreal is awesome

Yes both my passenger and myself have valid passports. Anything else to be aware of while passing through to Canada?

[rking117]

no drugs or weapons in your car. Just saying not that we think u are a terrorist or anything.

hahahaha!!!

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by rking117

no drugs or weapons in your car. Just saying not that we think u are a terrorist or anything.

hahahaha!!!

there will be none of the above in my car haha.

I have heard they do random searches and basically tear through all of your stuff. That would suck. Not that im hiding anything but Im sure it takes them forever.

[jb2178]

Made more than a couple all day 800+ mile runs in my 128i, my biggest suggestion is skip McDonalds, even though it is super easy breakfast/coffee on the interstate.

Made a stop on a drive from Knoxville to Tampa for coffee and an egg mcmuffin, 10 minutes back on the road after the coffee cooled I took a swig and got a mouthful of clumped liquid creamer (this is after they started their gourmet coffee BS where they add the creamer to make it seem fancy) doing 85 in Georgia. I couldn't roll the window down fast enough so it all went back in the cup and it went in the first garbage can I came across. Haven't been back to the clown restaurant in 3+ years over that one.

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by jb2178

Made more than a couple all day 800+ mile runs in my 128i, my biggest suggestion is skip McDonalds, even though it is super easy breakfast/coffee on the interstate.

Made a stop on a drive from Knoxville to Tampa for coffee and an egg mcmuffin, 10 minutes back on the road after the coffee cooled I took a swig and got a mouthful of clumped liquid creamer (this is after they started their gourmet coffee BS where they add the creamer to make it seem fancy) doing 85 in Georgia. I couldn't roll the window down fast enough so it all went back in the cup and it went in the first garbage can I came across. Haven't been back to the clown restaurant in 3+ years over that one.

haha! Funny you said skip McDonalds. I HATE McDonalds.

[Gnip Gnop]

Soo does anyone here live in Quebec City?

[Paul]

Unless you plan on driving through Chicago after 10pm, avoid it. Lots of tolls, traffic, trucks. I travel to NY every year and hate 294, 94, 90. 80/90 in IN is a pain, esp near 65.

I did a Chicago/Algonquin PP/Toronto a number of years ago via SSM. Really easy going. Might be a little slower, but IMHO, way better than the rust belt!

If you're set on driving through MI, another alternative is the ferry in WI.

If you have *any* service done on your 1er, do it a couple of weeks before you head out!

Have a great trip!!

[Paul]

I have heard they do random searches and basically tear through all of your stuff. That would suck. Not that im hiding anything but Im sure it takes them forever.

True. Had my car stripped of everything in Sarnia on the way to a Blue Rodeo concert. CA customs were super nice however and repacked my car better than it was originally

[JimD]

20 years ago when we took family vacations to Canada, we learned to not stop in the French speaking towns. I'm not sure if this is still a problem. It was hard to even buy gas.

[Gnip Gnop]

Originally Posted by JimD

20 years ago when we took family vacations to Canada, we learned to not stop in the French speaking towns. I'm not sure if this is still a problem. It was hard to even buy gas.

Thanks, I think I will be safe. My friends who live there speak french as a first language and they will be with us during our entire stay.

Originally Posted by Paul

Unless you plan on driving through Chicago after 10pm, avoid it. Lots of tolls, traffic, trucks. I travel to NY every year and hate 294, 94, 90. 80/90 in IN is a pain, esp near 65.

I did a Chicago/Algonquin PP/Toronto a number of years ago via SSM. Really easy going. Might be a little slower, but IMHO, way better than the rust belt!

If your set on driving through MI, another alternative is the ferry in WI.

If you have *any* service done on your 1er, do it a couple of weeks before you head out!

Have a great trip!!

Thank you! I do plan on avoiding chicago. Mainly because I will be driving to chicago a week before this cancada trip!

[Gnip Gnop]

the road trip is a go! leaving in one week. small road trip this friday into downtown chicago.

[MightyMouseTech]

3000 miles? I would fill up the tank, check the tire pressure and go. Only thing extra I would bring is good glass cleaner and cloths for the windscreen.

Oh, and extra advil for after all the wine in QC.

Poutine is best in small towns in Quebec. The sketchier the better, the gravy pot should look like it has not been cleaned ever, and the gravy near black!

Watch the roads in/near Montreal for potholes, their roads are like driving in a third world county. You can thank the mob run construction industry for that.

Avoid Toronto at all cost IMHO. If you get stuck on the 401 during rush hour, plan on packing a lunch with you. 16 lanes of parking lot.