[rsmallwo]

Hi,

Im planning on driving from rotterdam to basel switzerland and then onto lake garda italy.

Im hoping for some unrestricted autobahn fun along the way

Thing is, searching the forum and google theres no 'map of unfestricted autobahns' around so i thought i'd see what u guys recommend. i dont really want togo too much off route. i also bet your all going to say i will have to travel early doors to get traffic free streches in order to get upto speed.

Cheers!

[dxb335d]

Never had an issue going off the clock on the 'Bahn any time of the day!!

Lake Garda is beautiful!!

[rsmallwo]

So I'll be hitting some unrestricted "Bhans" on my route from Rotterdam to Basel then?

As long as I get at least 1 good run so I can have my car at near max speed, even just the once I'll be happy

[willhollin]

You will be going almost past the Ring on that route!

If you don't make it to the Ring you will certainly hit some unrestricted Autobahns.

[dxb335d]

I don't know mate, but ive nailed it on restricted Bahn's also. Just keep an eye out!

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I don't know mate, but ive nailed it on restricted Bahn's also. Just keep an eye out!

There are 2 autobahns running North - South. One is mainly restricted to 120kph, the other largely unrestricted and quite winding.

The Germans are fascinated with photography and unmarked cars, so travelling at substantially more than the limit is very unwise. Penalties are stiff and international. Its very unlikely you'll be able to spot cameras and unmarked vehicles when travelling at very high speeds, so be warned.

Most autobahns are very busy these days so you'll find yourself oscillating between 200kph and 60 kph.

However fast you're going, there's ALWAYS someone wanting to go faster, so watch your mirrors.

German lane discipline is good but not foolproof. Passing a line of trucks heading east always requires caution. East European car and truck drivers may not automatically judge the distance required to slow when someone is closing them down going 140kph faster!

Bear in mind that on unrestricted autobahns, there is still an advisory 130kph limit and that no matter what happens, the person travelling at >130kph is automatically to blame for any accident. This can have major ramifications.

If you want to travel fast on German autobahs, late summer evenings and very early mornings are about the only time you'll finds lanes free of traffic.

If you are going to test Vmax, do make sure your oil is topped off, your tyres at precisely the correct pressure with plenty of tread and that you've not done anything silly like filled a tyre with tyreweld. Vmax puts an enormous strain on the drivetrain. Also, after substantial full throttle runs, give your car a good few minutes at normal velocity to cool down the oil and bearings. This is especially important with turbo motors, where hot turbo bearings will fry static oil, if you stop soon after a prolonged full throttle blast.

Bear in mind that German autobahns are far windier than UK motorways. Some bends can be really scary at 200+ kph

[dxb335d]

You don't need to tell me mate. We never had any issue going off the clock any time of the day!!

[rsmallwo]

SteveC, which Autobahn would I be using going direct from Rotterdam to Basel....the slow one or the fast one, so to speak.

Thanks for all that info, I'll be using it for my trip.

Lastly is very early morning pre 6am?

I wonder, does the BMW Sat Nav calculate your Speed on Autobahns's at 130kph or some other average....

[Palmnuts]

I've used this LINK before when wanting to find out he same info you're after.

Just click the 'maps' button, scroll down to see the 'speed limits on motorways' maps and then use the legend to find out which motorways to use...there's still loads of unrestricted ones

Hope this helps

[rsmallwo]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

I've used this LINK before when wanting to find out he same info you're after.

Just click the 'maps' button, scroll down to see the 'speed limits on motorways' maps and then use the legend to find out which motorways to use...there's still loads of unrestricted ones

Hope this helps

Excellent! Thanks for that.

I should have at least 1 really good blast from Karlsruhe down to Freiburg. I can also see the route SteveC was refering to about the restricted and none restricted routes from Koln to Russelheim/Frankfurt. SteveC, in your experience (if you have it) will I make better time taking the longer unrestricted route than the short restricted route. I think with traffic at around midday, you will say there won't be any difference.

[Palmnuts]

Personally, when driving to Switzerland I often go out of my way for derestricted/fun bits. I do it practically every year at around Geneva Motorshow time....I used to live there when I was a kid so always like to go back for nostalgic reasons!

A really nice trip I once took was via Stuttgart two years ago - Rotterdam to Stuttgart took me about 5-6 hours IIRC and I stayed the night there as I had a tour of the AMG factory the next day (had a C63 at the time).

After the AMG visit I then drove to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland by going down the A81 out of Stuttgart then leaving the motorway at Villingen Schwenningen to go across the black forest to Freiburg where I rejoined the motorway network on the A5 that goes into Basel (just enter these name in Google maps and you'll see the route). It was a stunning drive taking in the largely derestricted A81 followed by a cracking cross-country drive across the Black Forest. This isn't ideal if you're in a hurry to get anywhere but if you didn't stop in Stuttgart, you could do this route and make Basel in a day from Rotterdam.

If you want the quickest route down, take the A3 to Frankfurt and then the A5 to Basel.

Note - there's traffic everywhere in the day, even on the Black Forest route I took, so you're best just accepting that and either driving through/round the traffic or doing the journey at inconvenient times of the day (which isn't really an option).

[rsmallwo]

Palmnuts, even if there is traffic where you still able to get upto vmax or somewhere near it.

Your route does sound interesting, however I may have to stick to the quickest route as I'll have the missus and our 12yr old in the car.

I'm meeting a friend in Basel for a few nights but if that doesn't pan out then my most direct way to Lake Garda would be via Stuttgart.

Thing is, the cost of the Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is £430 return after April....its proving to be a prohibative cost. I could drive down to Dover and hop over the channel but then I have to drive in France

[dxb335d]

the 335d is a quick motor, it does not take long to go off the clock.

[rsmallwo]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

the 335d is a quick motor

I know she is, thats why her

Sorry, just saw your "Bitch" post and couldn't help it.

Lovely Lab btw, glad she's been easy to train for you.

[dxb335d]

Cheers mate, she has been so quick to learn everything really.

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by rsmallwo

Palmnuts, even if there is traffic where you still able to get upto vmax or somewhere near it.

Your route does sound interesting, however I may have to stick to the quickest route as I'll have the missus and our 12yr old in the car.

I'm meeting a friend in Basel for a few nights but if that doesn't pan out then my most direct way to Lake Garda would be via Stuttgart.

Thing is, the cost of the Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is £430 return after April....its proving to be a prohibative cost. I could drive down to Dover and hop over the channel but then I have to drive in France

Erm...it depends on your interpretation if vMax....despite my numerous trips to Germany, I've never actually driven a derestricted car flat out. You can quite easily get an indicated 170mph in a fast (400bhp+) car and I regularly managed this throughout the day in both C63 and M3 (so if an M3 can do it, a tweaked 335d should be able to despite being down on power )

Any faster than that does take some room....I saw 184mph on the speedo of my (derestricted) C63 but that was at night with no traffic - and I don't recommend doing that speed at night because you actually can't see where you're going...when I tried it for a very short spell, it appeared the car was outrunning the lights so I couldn't see far enough ahead for my liking - I won't be doing that again! To be honest, anything above 170mph even in daylight takes some balls because these cars just aren't designed (aerodynamically) for those speeds and start to feel a bit 'uncomfortable' above 170mph!

If your 335d is standard (and therefore still limited), you'll probably see 160-165mph on the speedo and in my experience, that will be relatively easy to do.

With regards to the ferry, why not go out on the Hull-Rotterdam ferry and return Calais-Dover - I often do this to save on the extortionate return cost of the return north sea crossing whilst still giving myself an easier ride out by doing it one-way. It does make the return journey a bit long but when I'm coming home and have entered northern Europe (so north of say the Stuttgart/Paris level) most of the excitement has gone and I'm not fussed about route etc.

[rsmallwo]

Yet another fantastic reply from the "Palmnuts"

Very insightful. i think i may end up doing the split journey as u mention.

My car is remapped and to my knowledge is derestricted but u dont really know unless u try it. i think 170 for me in the day will suffice

Thanks again

[335ier]

Remember you need to get a vignette to go on motorways in Austria and Switzerland. you can pre order the Switz one on line.
My last experience of the autobahns was extremely heavy traffic on most of them and speed restrictions with police enforcements on the rest of them (last summer) totally different to 2010!!!

[rsmallwo]

335ier,

was this last summer....doesn't sound promising if it was

Thanks for the info on the Swiss Motorway "vignette". Can I get one of these for a few days rather than the yearly one at £29? Seems abit steep. Is this an excuse to fleece the tourist.

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by rsmallwo

Thanks for the info on the Swiss Motorway "vignette". Can I get one of these for a few days rather than the yearly one at £29? Seems abit steep. Is this an excuse to fleece the tourist.

Only option is for the year. You can buy one at the border.

D.

[rsmallwo]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Only option is for the year. You can buy one at the border.

D.

Robbing Nazi Gold hording.........Pardon me, "that's most unfortunate".

any other tolls in Germany or Italy I should be warey of.....sigh.

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by rsmallwo

Robbing Nazi Gold hording.........Pardon me, "that's most unfortunate".

any other tolls in Germany or Italy I should be warey of.....sigh.

I always drive back through France and make great progress on their Autoroute toll roads, which to be fair cost about the same as a vignette.

D.