[OC40]

Happy Thursday.

Preface:
My wife and I want to check out the Portland/Seattle areas over the next year or so. I am about to purchase the Musicar NW Level 2 speaker upgrade for my F30. A light bulb went off. We should drive from Irvine, CA to kill two birds with one stone: (i) we can experience Portland/Seattle and (ii) Musicar can install the speakers directly.

Bonus:
The Heat are playing the Trailblazers that week, so we would be able to attend two Heat games this year (at the Clippers and at the Blazers). Flame suit on.

Reality check:
Then reality set in. I have not driven that far since I was 18 (I'm 33 now). Do we really want to drive 1,000 miles each way? I am not worried about the miles as I have only encountered 5,500 miles since February. I am concerned that we will get halfway there and then have a "WTF are we doing" moment.

Your experience(s):
Has anyone driven that far in an F30? If so, were you comfortable for the entire drive? In the words of the infamous "Bro," is it worth the mcdoubles?

I would appreciate your thoughts.

[Cup o' Joe]

Bro. Its worth the mcdoubles.

I drove my F30 from NY to Boston the week after I picked it up. Sitting in the car for hours wasn't bad (sports seats are more comfortable than the base seats). Made some rest stops along the way. I think the most annoying part for me was the wind noise and steering wheel vibration above 40mph (so basically most of the highway driving). Got some great mpgs in eco pro mode with cruise control on. Wouldn't call it a bad road trip car, wouldn't call it a exceptional one either.

Take some time, look up some interesting stops along your route (there and back). If you're trying to sit in the car for 1,000 miles and make it there in the shortest amount of time, its bound to get boring after the first 100 miles.

[Philipangoo]

1000 miles really isn't that bad.

Well its a day trip each way, each way is 14 hours roughly at 70 mph. I would get a radar detector for sure, you don't want to spoil the road trip with a ticket. Portland is a wonderful city if you are into football maybe you can even score tickets to the No.3 BCS Ranked Oregon team.

Road trips are always fun, if you are only driving 50-80% I would do it hahah. Driving for 14 hours straight blows though. I have driven from Durham, North Carolina to Dallas, Texas to San Jose, Cali all in the span of a week. That sucked but I did that in a Cayenne which was very comfortable. The 3 series has comfortable seating and is quite comfortable.. longest trip I have taken in my F30 is only about a 60 mile trip so far though. The good part is, if the car sucks to roadtrip in you will prob find out within the first 5 hours. The bad part is, haha that's when you will know.

[Frogman]

I did a 2,500 mile trip from LA to AZ, NM, and back. We'd never been to the Carlsbad Caverns before and wanted to see them; way cool!

My F30 was very comfortable and I wasn't sore or tired at all, even after some 8+ hours days of driving.

I agree with Philipangoo; don't try to do it in one shot unless you have to and make regular stops along the way to stretch your legs.

Definitely do the trip, the time just flies by and the car loves the open road.

[Venom692x]

+1 road trips are fun, I would imagine a 335 msport would be a great road trip car. Driven at least 9+ hours up to 18 hours in a day in my e92 several times over the past spring/summer. Its nice to get on the open road sometimes, especially since it seems like its been a long time for you. Plus you have a spare driver so no problem. See some sights on the way, I drove 2200 miles all over BC, Washington, and Oregon in the summer over a week in a 2013 Fusion Titatnium. Was a beautiful place, and the fusion was a great car for it. 335msport is just that much better.

[SD_E88]

Road trips have been some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Excellent time spent with the wife! Enjoy!

[300hp]

Originally Posted by SD_F30

Road trips have been some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Excellent time spent with the wife! Enjoy!

+1

Excellent way to spend time with the family. Took my family truck to Martha's Vineyard. Road trip + ferry = fun for the family.

If I had time I would do a trip from the east to the west.

[Eric SS]

If you've never made that specific trip before, it will be awesome and will go by pretty quick.

If you have made that trip before, it will feel like it's taking forever. The 300 mile trip between Phoenix and Vegas seems like it takes FOREVER since I've done it so many times when in reality it's just under 4 hours. But, the wife and I took a trip to Durango last month which is 500 miles and the 8 hour drive flew by because we had never done it before it was beautiful scenery.

[OC40]

Thanks. I appreciate everyone's input. I have driven up to Napa in the past but that was only 8ish hours. I hear Redding, CA to Portland is amazing.

The other bonus...we can listen to the new stereo for 16 hours on the return trip!

[anelson524]

Originally Posted by OC40

Thanks. I appreciate everyone's input. I have driven up to Napa in the past but that was only 8ish hours. I hear Redding, CA to Portland is amazing.

The other bonus...we can listen to the new stereo for 16 hours on the return trip!

I would definitely make a stop in Leavenworth, WA if you will be in Seattle. It's about a 1.5-2 hour drive but is a very cool city to see and a nice drive as well. I'm actually planning a trip there this Christmas but no F30 for me

[Cyberdemon]

We're planning on doing a big road trip from Xmas through new years. NY->VA->NC->Miami then back up through Savannah and DC. ~2800 miles

I'm already over my lease mileage and considered renting a car, but what's the point of having a car if you can't enjoy it. The price was about the same as the mileage overage charge anyways.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

We're planning on doing a big road trip from Xmas through new years. NY->VA->NC->Miami then back up through Savannah and DC. ~2800 miles

I'm already over my lease mileage and considered renting a car, but what's the point of having a car if you can't enjoy it. The price was about the same as the mileage overage charge anyways.

You know what, myself and the wife have a week off during that time. You just gave me an idea, I might end up driving to Florida or one of the Gulf of Mexico states. Gives me a chance to escape the NE cold for a while

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by OC40

Happy Thursday.

Preface:
My wife and I want to check out the Portland/Seattle areas over the next year or so. I am about to purchase the Musicar NW Level 2 speaker upgrade for my F30. A light bulb went off. We should drive from Irvine, CA to kill two birds with one stone: (i) we can experience Portland/Seattle and (ii) Musicar can install the speakers directly.

Bonus:
The Heat are playing the Trailblazers that week, so we would be able to attend two Heat games this year (at the Clippers and at the Blazers). Flame suit on.

Reality check:
Then reality set in. I have not driven that far since I was 18 (I'm 33 now). Do we really want to drive 1,000 miles each way? I am not worried about the miles as I have only encountered 5,500 miles since February. I am concerned that we will get halfway there and then have a "WTF are we doing" moment.

Your experience(s):
Has anyone driven that far in an F30? If so, were you comfortable for the entire drive? In the words of the infamous "Bro," is it worth the mcdoubles?

I would appreciate your thoughts.

It's worth it if you're up for an adventure. I drove from Wisconsin to California in a SAAB 9-3 vert...........now that was a drive.

[btbossman]

Lol Mcdoubles I love it. Well furthest Ive driven mine was about 400mi. Im a pretty big dude so that was about all I can take in this size car. Whenever my girl and I take a trip like that we try to do a portion of the trip(3-400mi) then stop and check some stuff out or get a nice room somewhere for the night and enjoy the city or local area.

I did take a 900 mi trip from FL to VA in my x5 a few months ago in one day... It wasn't so bad(except GA) but I dont think I could go straight in the f30.

But to answer the real question, anything fun, with family or loved ones is always worth the mcdoubles! Especially mcdoubles...with mac sauce MMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!

[btbossman]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

We're planning on doing a big road trip from Xmas through new years. NY->VA->NC->Miami then back up through Savannah and DC. ~2800 miles

I'm already over my lease mileage and considered renting a car, but what's the point of having a car if you can't enjoy it. The price was about the same as the mileage overage charge anyways.

I hope youre stopping in charlotte! Also Columbia/Charleston SC are awesome, But if you want a real gem, Sea island GA.

[newoldbeemer]

I haven't done 1000 miles each way but I've done 400 miles a day and 400 miles back the next day. The drive wasn't bad at all.

For me the biggest challenge is not falling asleep.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by btbossman

I hope youre stopping in charlotte! Also Columbia/Charleston SC are awesome, But if you want a real gem, Sea island GA.

Charlotte, maybe Columbia for lunch since I have friends in each town.

[ft1330]

I love to make road trips in rental beaters, last summer I did the dirt trails at the Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah and the Monument Valley in Arizona in a Nissan Versa. LOL. Overall drove from Vegas to Monument Valley and back. It just gives it that authentic edge. Car was dirty but held up well. I would not dream of doing a road trip in my 335. Well at least you'll have pavement.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

For me the biggest challenge is not falling asleep.

Change the car

[btbossman]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Charlotte, maybe Columbia for lunch since I have friends in each town.

Cool man... I used to live in charlotte..lots of islanders moving down there. Every time I head anywhere in that direction I have to stop for at least a night.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by OC40

...
Has anyone driven that far in an F30? If so, were you comfortable for the entire drive? In the words of the infamous "Bro," is it worth the mcdoubles?

(In cars other than BMWs count?)

My son went to CalPoly/SLO. The Seattle to SLO drive is 1050 miles, so Irvine is a bit further. I agree with others, take two days. After a few trips, we decided to overnight in Sacramento going down, usually Redding or Medford OR on the way back. That's about a 12 hour drive followed by 5 hour the 2nd day. I-5 is really boring, btw. Southern OR is a little chancy in the winter - Siskyou summit mostly; be sure to figure out OR's winter driving regs. US 395 up the back side of the Sierra and Cascades to US 26 to Portland is almost as fast and more interesting.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

(In cars other than BMWs count?)

My son went to CalPoly/SLO. The Seattle to SLO drive is 1050 miles, so Irvine is a bit further. I agree with others, take two days. After a few trips, we decided to overnight in Sacramento going down, usually Redding or Medford OR on the way back. That's about a 12 hour drive followed by 5 hour the 2nd day. I-5 is really boring, btw. Southern OR is a little chancy in the winter - Siskyou summit mostly; be sure to figure out OR's winter driving regs. US 395 up the back side of the Sierra and Cascades to US 26 to Portland is almost as fast and more interesting.

Thanks for the info. It's 1,005 miles from my house in Irvine to the hotel in Portland. We are considering staying in Redding on the way to break it up. Are the Oregon roads bad in the winter? Will we have to worry about a lot of snow? I'm cold just thinking about it!