Just like any long trip I take, have your local mechanic give it a good look over - checking belts, fluids, looking for leaks, etc - have you replaced the water pump yet? This goes between 60-80,000 miles - if not, I'd definitely get it done along with the thermostat; and might as well replace the belts then - have taken my 2001 from NYC to Idaho, Idaho to SF, Las Vegas, Charleston(SC), FL, & back to NJ - I ran great - only slept in it once though - normally I start early (5-7am) and stop 4-7pm depending how I feel,where I am, and what's the weather - at 70-80mph, you'll get 500-800 miles a day - pack a small bag with the essentials and a change of clothes, so you won't have to carry alot into the motel (or unpack alot) - if you have the time, I strongly suggest one or two short sightseeing stops along the way (or a laundry day) - maybe somewhere you'd like to visit, but would not schedule a whole trip for - in over 67,000 with my 2 X5s in the last 2.5yrs, the only problems I've had traveling cross country was a window regulator and a cracked windshield - Stoppping overnight will allow you to check the weather - VERY IMPORTANT! - so you can avoid hail, the occasional tornado, and mountain snows - you are hitting 2-3 springtime weather fronts by heading west - have done the KC to Denver I-70 a few times - only things lit at night are the stars and headlights(& not many of those) - REMEMBER west of the Mississippi to look to fillup your tank at 1/4 tank - exits are far'n'few and not all have gas stations - Good luck and enjoy

__________________
Mark _______________________________
2001 X5 4.4i topaz blue/sand Sport, complete Dinan S2 , hitch, V1, tint, BSW Stage 1, Alpine INA-W910BT
___________
Life is not fair!
You can't protect people from their own stupidity!
Laughter makes life worth living