My Cross Conutry Road Trip Thread (02/03/12:) PART III

[BrooklynMW]

02/03/12
ROUND 3 BEGINS TOMORROW MORNING. SKIP TO THE END TO READ ON

01/16/12
Ok, so I never updated this thread or uploaded photos from my 2nd trip (CA to NY). sorry bout that. Got wrapped up in, you know, real life. But I'm making Round 3 and heading back to California next month. Will definitely post stats and photos of my 3rd cross country trip.

08/25/11:
Thos of you who read this thread know I moved from NY to California back in December. The plan was to move to L.A., spent 2 months there, but fell in love with San Diego instead. We've been living in SD for a few months now right next to the beach. I've been relaxing, surfing and enjoying some well needed time off. I even went on a national tour with a local SD band.
But nevertheless my un-employed lifestyle can only take me so far, work in my various fields out here is scarce and I need to head back to NYC where I have guaranteed steady income. (Plus, I admittedly miss my city).

I'm leaving in about 2.5 weeks time. Same car. Only this time, she's 14,000 miles wiser. New e36 steering rack, completely rebuilt cooling system, a coupla new bruises and a broken odometer. My girlfriend is already back in NY so I will be doing the trip all by meself. I'm not sure what route I'll be taking yet, but most likely the quickest one possible to save money. I'll post some photos and stats and keep everybody posted like I did last time.

Thanks California. I really love it here in San Diego and I plan on coming back soon. Just need to go make some money first!


Back to original post:
12/14/10
Hey, as some of you know, I'm moving from Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles. My girlfriend and I are leaving tomorrow morning and driving across the country, taking about 8 days to do so. I thought I would document the trip in a thread, and take some pictures along the way with the car.

So, I never started a build thread, so here's just a little history on the car that will be making the trip. (Pictures will be added later):

1987 325i, 4 door, Automatic. Bronzit/Black. Currently has 170,000 miles and going strong.
I bought the car back in May. It had a massive list of problems, but it's strong points included a fully loaded interior in excellent condition (including 13 button OBC, premium sound, comfort seats, rear armrest and headrest), a completely rust free body and underbody, a newly replaced transmission and a strong engine.
Since I've had it, with the help of GUTEN PARTS, plus my local mechanics, I have brought the car completely back to life, and it now runs flawlessly. Some of the maintenance and repair issues included, amongst other things, Timing Belt, valve adjustment, guibo, new exhaust, power steering pump, complete front suspension rebuild, clutch fan, rear sway bar links, coolant leaks, minor electrical work, and a slew of little fixits here and there.
Haven't done much bodywork yet, (it dire need for a paintjob, although kinda glad it looks crappy while driving across the country), but some of the upgrades, mods and comfort enhancements I've done so far are:

-Bilstein HD's
-Euro Smileys
-BBS 15x7 Euroweaves (Thanks, Levent..)
-Kenwood head unit
-Husco Armrest
-Bavauto Chip w/ 173 ECU (installing tomorrow)

And here's what I still plan on doing:

-H&R Sports (only wanting a slight drop)
-5 speed swap
-Complete body work and bronzit respray
(has a few handsome dents and needs new fender and valance)
-Trunk Spoiler
-Considering Euro bumpers, OR keep DB's and throw on an ES lip.

Well, that pretty much brings the car up to present day. I'll have pictures up soon. Now onto the Road Trip.

Our Scheduled stops are
-Blacksburg, VA (also Natural Bridge)
-Nashville, TN
-Gus's Fried Chicken, Mason TN
-Memphis, TN (Sun Studios, Graceland)
-Austin, TX
-El Paso, TX
-Tuscon, AZ
-Salton Sea, CA
-Land in San Deigo, CA, where my girlfriend can spend X-mas with her family before heading to L.A.

We plan on staying off the interstates and taking scenic highways, such as the Blue Ridge Pkway, Higway 61 (Blues Highway), Hwy 70 East, etc. But depends on how the weather behaves.

I'm going to try to post once every day, throw up some pictures, and stats. Miles travelled, gas fillups, average MPG's etc.

Thanks for reading, everybody. Looking forward to it, and always open to suggestions....food, lodging, good highways, etc. Lemme know!!! See you in L.A.

-Ariel

[lolcantturn]

Hey I saw this car at Guten! Good luck, that beast will make it.

[BrooklynMW]

Hey I saw this car at Guten! Good luck, that beast will make it.

Thanks, fellow Bronzitian

[Farbin Kaiber]

Why are you going to the Salton Sea?

[Evan12]

so you have a 1987 325i with a new tranny and a stron engine with 170k on it. you should just say you have a tank. with the interior you have that beast should make it out here to cali for sure. have fun and drive safe man!

[Avus E30]

I grew up near the natural bridge part of the parkway there.

http://www.peaksofotter.com/

try the frog legs

depending on what day youre going through natural bridge, the hotel there has a prime rib buffet friday nights and seafood buffet thats fucking fantastic.

[BrooklynMW]

Why are you going to the Salton Sea?

To look at it.

so you have a 1987 325i with a new tranny and a stron engine with 170k on it. you should just say you have a tank. with the interior you have that beast should make it out here to cali for sure. have fun and drive safe man!

Thanks!

I grew up near the natural bridge part of the parkway there.

http://www.peaksofotter.com/

try the frog legs

depending on what day youre going through natural bridge, the hotel there has a prime rib buffet friday nights and seafood buffet thats fucking fantastic.

thanks!

[Farbin Kaiber]

I cannot grasp why someone would visit that nastyass place. I wrote an article on it back when I lived near it in the 90's.

[chrisesteschiro]

If you need anything around the Knoxville area hit me up!!!

[matias88e30]

Nice man! good luck.. i want to do same thing after i finish with my e30.. i live in Miami and planing to drive to San Francisco next year with my wife.

[MrSlacker]

Good luck man! Hope its going to be smooth sailing!

[txtorquemade]

This sounds like epic fun. Hope all goes well. I dont blame you for stopping in Austin, but if you get to Dallas, hit me up. I have extra rooms.

[ZM Blue Devil]

meow...

[grantlacey11]

I cannot grasp why someone would visit that nastyass place. I wrote an article on it back when I lived near it in the 90's.

well now we need to see the article

[BrooklynMW]

Day 1

DAY 1: Wednesday, 12/15/10
Starting Location: Brooklyn, NY
Starting Mileage: 170,102
Average MPG: 22.6 - Not great. Lots of uphill, and VERY windy...not to mention all the cargo in the trunk. hope to make up for it out in the flatlands.
Final Destination: Waynesboro, VA
Total Miles driven: 444

Stop 1: Guten Parts, Maplewood NJ. for last minute install of 173 ECU and Bavauto Chip
Stop 2: Red Robin, Mechanicsburg, PA. Would not recommend it.

Gas Stops: only one, at 225 miles...have to refill in the morning


Overall a pretty smooth day. Stopped at guten to pick up my chip. Spent most of the day on the interstates, 78 to 81 to 64. In Virginia, we got off the interstate to try to hit the Skyline Drive, through the Shenandoa River and Blue Ridge Mountains. However it was closed. But we stayed of Highway 340 for a while, which was pretty scenic, went through some cute little towns and pretty nice mountain ranges.
We landed in Waynesboro, VA. Not quite our planned stop, (which was originally Blacksburg, VA) but we want to try to hit the Blue Ridge Parkway tomorrow, so we decided to camp closer to the highway. Hope to hit the Blue Ridge tomorrow and take some great pictures.

Car ran pretty smooth. Despite the extremely heavy winds, I kept her straight. Had a little "Check Engine" light scare. But everything seemed to check out alright. All gauges were fine, fluids were fine, nothing broken, no overheating....so I took a risk and kept going. Tomorrow, I'll disconnect the battery for 20 minutes to reset the car. If it happens again, I'll be on the forum looking for the closest reliable BMW service station to wherever me might be.
In the meantime, I'm going to pass out.


Here's a few pics I shot while still in Brooklyn, and at Guten:






Oh, by the way...Not a single peep from the cats.