Time for a road trip... a LONG one

[electricalserv x5]

I drove my 4.6is from San Diego to New York in 08......new tires and a oil change to start , make sure your alternator is good , check Your front end suspension is all sorted.
I would bring some of Your good oil with You 4 quarts.
Also keep You weight down for You load.
My trip went great , it was very hot ,[august] sometimes the temp was 120'
Air filter and throttle body clearing is not a bad idea.
How many miles?

[x5Alpine]

I would regularly take my 02 4.6is up to Seattle then to LA right after no stop and it had around 150k miles. My timing guides, cooling system, and alternator were all new. It never skipped a beat and would scream over mountain passes and two lane highways. Loved it to death and hope to get another to accompany my E39 M5.

[chivas]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

My last epic road trip was last Summer. Over 6,000 miles and 4 weeks in the 4.8is. The X5 did GREAT with ALL that I threw at it, including some off-road adventures. Here's a look at the Great Western Loop:



The family so enjoyed our trip last year that I have been ramping up for a similar trip this Summer. This one will take less time at about 21 days, but we'll cover about as many miles.



Just North of Las Vegas is a Park called the Valley of Fire. This was an INCREDIBLE experience for the wind-blown carvings into beautiful red rock. We have a company outing that plants us on the strip once a year. I am the champion of renting a car and setting out on this awesome day-long trip. If you are one to savor a natural experience over that of the bright lights and constant appeal to see a noodie show, the park offers an incredible respite.

If you are ANYWHERE close to Flagstaff, you must- and I mean you MUST- take a detour south to Sedona, AZ. Interstate 17 down if you must, but FIND AND TAKE Hwy 89A North from Sedona to Flagstaff and DO IT in a BMW. I did it with my E39 on the way to Bimmerfest in... well.. 2004, I guess. While the date may be far from memory, the experience is not. You HAVE TO. The loop off of I-40 and back to Flagstaff is maybe 2-3 hrs in traffic.

If you are spending time in ABQ, NM, find the Sandia Peak Tramway. Get tickets early. Many people don't know that ABQ has some of the best sunsets in the world. Watch one. Be viewed as deep and sensitive. Get deep and sensitive. ON the mountain.

I've prepped the X with transmission service so far. I will change the oil in July before the trip. I did the complete cooling system overhaul in Dec of 2013, so I am good until I go radical with an all aluminum unit. My fluids are also in pretty good shape.

I have to take it in for a look at the alternator as well. I noticed some fluctuation in the driving lights at idle.

And, here's an odd one: I have clear bra installed in the X, but some of those places in Montana and Wyoming were the most dense bug farms I have ever seen. I'v just reminded myself that I *may* (probably will) find and install an ugly OE front bra on the X5 this time through. If I can fit one of those bug deflectors, I may also install that.

About 1/2 way through the trip last year, I just had to remind myself that I'd chosen to drive this thing for 6,000 miles out west and I needed to OWN that it was going to come out with more wear as a result. It was a painful conversation, but I got there.

I'm going to go find that bra. And that bug deflector. Oh! And maybe a comfort windshield. My 11 yr old one is cracked. And a cargo box for my roof rails! And.. and...

Thanks!! I guess I'll be using more than just a cell phone camera on this trip with all the places advised to see. Going to mount the GoPro for some in car footage too.

Need to get a bra as well though I'm trying to track down the one where it also covers the bottom part.

[chivas]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

One nice thing to check out while visiting Vegas is to drive to the Red Rock Canyon just west of Vegas. at sunset its just gorgeous there. the red rocks are even redder and yet the sky is still a beautiful blue.
I ahve been to Vegas about 7 times in last 3 year (and am going to be back there again for July 4th weekend) and that is still one of my fav memories. beautiful road to drive too.

So where to get cheap Blue Man Group or Xanadu tickets for June 16th?

Red Rock is something we'll definitely go but it has to be during the sun set yes?

[chivas]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

I ran my 4.8is up to New England last summer with out a hitch or a hiccup. Cruised along at 75-80 the whole way (hit 110-120 a few times). Comfortable and get torque for shooting those gaps in traffic. 2000 miles in 7 days. One leg was 600 miles in less than 10 hrs. Would have been less but you know how NYC traffic is on a Friday....

Do all the preventative maintenance, including fluids, check brakes, test charging system and starting systems out put and draw, and then off you go to a fine trip. There is an old stream train run into the Grand Canyon that you should not miss. Welcome to the Grand Canyon Railway | Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, Arizona "Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona, 65 miles south of the world-famous abyss. Coined the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”, Williams is located off Interstate 40, 32 miles west of Flagstaff."

Best experience into the Canyon for the whole family..... My wife still talks about it.

Enjoy!

Flagstaff seems to be the place to see on this drive. Sweet!! Pretty sure there's going to be hotels there, no? I foresee spending more than a day to do all the sightseeing and driving.

[chivas]

Originally Posted by admranger

Get a hitch mounted carrier like the Thule Terrapin instead of a roof mounted one. So much easier to load stuff into.

Going to pack light so I don't see the need for one.
For me: 2 shorts, 2 jeans, 1 slack, a few tees and one polo.

Her..... hum, might need a trailer.

[chivas]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

I drove my 4.6is from San Diego to New York in 08......new tires and a oil change to start , make sure your alternator is good , check Your front end suspension is all sorted.
I would bring some of Your good oil with You 4 quarts.
Also keep You weight down for You load.
My trip went great , it was very hot ,[august] sometimes the temp was 120'
Air filter and throttle body clearing is not a bad idea.
How many miles?

4 quarts!?!??? REALLY? I'm going to need that much? I have just shy of 100K (something like 99,498 or something).

One thing is for sure: the X's AC is COLD. Here in TX heat, I even have to turn it down a bit.

[jdstrickland]

You do not need 4 quarts of oil. If you are not using oil now then you are not going to spontaneously start using oil on your trip. Check the oil when you get gas, and put some in as needed, and it probably will not be needed. They have WalMart and autoparts stores all over the West, it's not all desolate wilderness.