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Discussion starter · #21 ·
A bit of a scary day today...

We left Lake Como this morning to head up to Grindelwald in Switzerland. As we checked out, the recptionist meantioned there might be some snow in the mountains, so we figured we'd probably not do the passes. *But as we headed north, TomTom spotted an hour's delay on the motorway up around Airolo, so we decided to give the passes a go afterall. The weather was ok - mild even - with a bit of rain, but snow seemed hugely unlikely.

So off we headed in the direction of the Nufenen Pass. A little way in, a black e92 M3 on local plates rolled up behind me at temporary lights, so for the next few miles, we pushed on a bit. *The old M5 performed admirably, pulling very well up the mountains, and sliding around a little out of the hairpins. *But the e92 had 120 extra bhp, a fair bit of extra low-end shove, and (I'm guessing) the benefit of local knowledge. And he didn't have Mrs Gruber in the passenger seat clinging to the door handle and making regular scared noises.*So I let him past and took it a bit easier.*

And then the scenery started to change. Before long we were passing quite considerable amounts of snow. And then as we approached the top, more began to fall.

I jumped out to take a couple of quick snaps, to capture the moment, and then dived back into the car to begin the descent. *You can just about make out the fear on Mrs G's face...

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For the next couple of minutes, the snow got heavier and then, thankfully, we left it behind as we dropped down from the peak. But the fun of the climb with the e92 20mins earlier was completely forgotten.

Problem was, we then had to get over Grimsel to get to Interlaken. So with a sense of dread, we started the ascent - rather slower this time. *

This time, rather than falling snow, we found ourselves in a hefty cloud / fog. Visibility was terrible. *The next photo was taken a couple of minutes into the descent, once we'd grown a little more accustomed to the fear, so doesn't capture the worst of it...

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And then a little further down, just below the fog, the view started to improve... but still a disconcerting amount of snow on inadequate summer tyres...

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Very pleased to be safely at journey's end, in Grindelwald for a couple of nights. *No more passes for me this trip!
 
Can totally empathise with the nervousness experienced in that situation after driving through Yosemite National Park with my wife , Melissa , on summer tyres 6000 ft up and a touch of snow on the ground ........

Was just glad to have a change of underwear in the bag !

Great pics , thanks for sharing !

D
 
I had visions of scrolling down and seeing yet another E28 M5 written off, glad you got down safely.

I also had a similar experience in the snow in a BMW, not much fun with 286 bhp to the rear wheels on summer tyres and no traction control. Despite it being a bit nerve racking the photos are great, keep them coming.
 
Thanks for the picture; this brings back memories from a long time ago.

Snow in September is not uncommon in those areas; on the 9th of September 2001, we met with some Swiss E34 M5 owners in Andermatt and consecutively drove the Tremola (old St Gotthard), Nufenenpass, Grimselspass and the Furkapass. But the weather started to change when ascending the Nufenen fro Airolo. It was already cold at the St Gotthard, but snowfall on the Nufenen..... Nevertheless teh drive from Airolo was a blast and at some point we ended up in three digit speeds in the imperial-domain.

Lots of fun and we closed the day with a dinner in the Belvedere-restaurant near the Rhone-glacier. We left at half past nine, but the Furkapass towards Gletsch was already ice-covered and that with summer-tires. We managed our way down and returned to Saas-Fee where the temperatures were more friendly.

Technically, the Nufenenpass is brilliant; it originates from the 1960's era so designed with a modern layout that suits high-powered cars quitte well.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Quick question please chaps...

Does anyone know where the extneral temperature sensor is located on the e28? The reading on the OBC keeps fluctuating from -30 to +30 on mine and pinging away as it does so... would be good to turn it off or disconnect it before we do 350 miles in it tomorrow!!

Thanks in advance
 
Quick question please chaps...

Does anyone know where the extneral temperature sensor is located on the e28? The reading on the OBC keeps fluctuating from -30 to +30 on mine and pinging away as it does so... would be good to turn it off or disconnect it before we do 350 miles in it tomorrow!!

Thanks in advance
Behind the left air-duct in the front-spoiler.
 
Discussion starter · #28 · (Edited)
Well we're home!

Trip computer says we've done 1964 miles since we left home just over two weeks ago.

Absolutely awesome car. Perfect for this sort of trip. We've done almost 400 miles today in complete comfort and often at a fair old speed. Brilliant on the autoroutes, great up the mountains (provided it's not snowing...), and even better on a quick country road.

It's now washed, had a quick polish and is safely tucked away in the garage.

Very pleased I've had the opportunity to do this sort of trip at the start of my ownership of it. A perfect opportunity to bond with it.



A few minor niggles: the brake judder down the mountains being the worst. A deteriorating ventilation fan resistor and a wonky external thermometer should be easily fixable.

And I've been very impressed by the fuel economy. I reckon it's bettered 25mpg on the autoroute days... and we haven't been hanging around.

Surely the definitive super saloon??
 
Well done. Sounds like you had a great trip and you couldn't have done it in a car more suited to it.

Speed, luxury, loads of space and an M88 to listen to.

The original and definitive super saloon.
 
Surely the definitive super saloon??
Gruber, you couldn't have understated the car any better than that!

Thanks again for documenting and sharing this experience.:M5thumbs:
 
Discussion starter · #31 · (Edited)
Front M5 badge part no.51141919480

RealOEM.com * BMW E28 M5 Emblems

It will need to be ordered from Germany, or if you passing through.......
Bayerische - Just to say another "thank you" for this! I ordered the badge on Tuesday and picked it up today. I'll fit it tomorrow morning.

I really do think the BMW parts capability is fantastic. The breadth of what's available, and the speed with which they're able to get it to me, is pretty impressive considering the fairly niche market. And prices aren't bad!

The car is off to spend a couple of weeks getting odds and ends sorted out, and particularly to get the control arm bushes replaced.

After a fortnight of using it (or at least seeing it) every day while we were on holiday, I've really missed it this week - me at work and the car tucked up in the garage.

And it is just about to be joined, in the Gruber Fleet, by a 1994 Merc W124 E280 estate. Keeping it old and German!
 
Your very welcome Gruber, always happy to help out a fellow BMW addictee!

She will look the part now with the new badge.

You are correct that BMW classic are really making an effort to support the older cars. I am on first name terms with the parts guys in my local dealer due to the amount of bits that I have purchased off them over the years. There has been very very little that I have not been able to source brand new from BMW, case in point is your front spoiler which has been NLA from Germany for a long time, BMW classic have obviously reacted when demand was there for the part and had it remanufactured. Well done BMW Classic!!

I am about to embark on an E9 CSL restoration and most of the parts can still be got for a 40 year old car.

Some of the pricing can be a little off the scale though, check out the price of front wings for an E24!!

Good luck with the W124, a very fine bus indeed with more street cred than the current version.

HTH.
 
There has been very very little that I have not been able to source brand new from BMW, case in point is your front spoiler which has been NLA from Germany for a long time, BMW classic have obviously reacted when demand was there for the part and had it remanufactured. Well done BMW Classic!!

I am about to embark on an E9 CSL restoration and most of the parts can still be got for a 40 year old car.
Totally agree with you on this point, Nick: the spares support from BMW Classic is surely without equal.

So, is the E9 coupe a new winter project then?
It's certainly one of the two best CSL colours, IMHO - Inka and Taiga.
 
Yes, the E9 is a new acquisition to the fleet Peter. A car that I stumbled accross but couldn't pass on, same owner for the last 38 years and 27,000 miles from new.

It is a very good car as CSL's go but needs a bit of work so I am going to take my time researching the restoration process. A car of this calibre should only be restored once and properly. I agree, Inka Orange and Taiga green are the two best colours.....very 1970's.

Anyway, I am on the wrong site, we better get back to talking about E28 M5's. :)
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
Sorry for the distraction Gruber - back to your lovely red M5!:M5thumbs:
Fine by me!! I love the e9. If my lottery numbers came up, a CSL would be at the very top of my list. 4star have had a few lovely ones in recently, which I've had the chance to see / stroke / drool over.

Choosing a colour would be tough! Inka orange looks so "right". But I'm rather smitten by the Chamonix white car they've got wih the lightweight rear bumper and the bat mobile front valance

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They sound wonderful and look beautiful - such a light, elegant design.

...One day perhaps...
 
Choosing a colour would be tough!

They sound wonderful and look beautiful - such a light, elegant design.

...One day perhaps...
Me too....I'll have the Taiga Green, please!!
 
Discussion starter · #39 ·
Hello all

A bit of advice please...

I mentioned the juddering through the steering under heavy braking in earlier posts. Well the mechanic has duly replaced the control arms and bushes but the problem is still very much there - maybe even worse than before. Applying the brakes even gently / moderately results in very noticeable vibration through the car. He's now suggesting I need new discs, but the current ones have done less than 3k miles and I'm very reluctant to start spending more money in random attempts to fix the problem.

There also seems to be a vagueness in the steering (it's a month since I last drove it, so it's difficult to remember exactly how it felt before).

Any suggestions?

Mechanic is collecting car today sometime, so perhaps I just need to let him have another look at it. But are there any common causes that I should ask him to focus on?
 
Hi Gruber

Sorting the suspension arms/bushes has exacerbated the problem, which tells me that the discs are probably warped.

Worn front shocks could also be a contributing factor here.
 
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