UberXY Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 True story: May 31, 2007 Dear BMW of North America: I'm very pleased to share this with you. Last August and September, I drove my 2001 BMW 540i six speed from Washington DC to Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and back. The BMW may have not been the cleanest when I got home, but it was no worse for wear from the 10,571 mile, 30 day journey. No breakdowns, no flats, no hiccupping from all that 89 octane "premium" along the Alaska Highway, or even from the "best-we-got" 87 above the Arctic Circle. Instead, the trip came off trouble-free, even on some of the roughest roads in North America. They include Alaska's 414 mile Dalton Highway north across the Arctic Circle: mostly loose gravel and softball-size rock surface, potholes, washboard, frost-heaves, defiles... you get the picture. The trip did call for good planning, careful driving indeed, and certainly a durable car. Jury's out on me, but the BMW fit the bill perfectly. Still does, too! Bottom line? My life dream trip came true. And BMW builds great automobiles. Sincerely Clifford Brody Link to comment
smiller Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Man, that guy must be one tough SOB. Link to comment
Alien_Hitchhiker Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I drove my 2001 BMW 540i six speed from Washington DC to Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and back. I just hope nobody is crazy enough to try that kind of a stunt on a motorcycle. Link to comment
Warren_H Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I drove my 2001 BMW 540i six speed from Washington DC to Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and back. I just hope nobody is crazy enough to try that kind of a stunt on a motorcycle. That is the best reply of the week ok the month. Link to comment
Tippy Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 As a BMW car fan, and having owned a couple, it isn't that I don't think the car could do such a trip and perform up to its usual admirable level, it's just that I can't bear the thought of subjecting such a fine automobile to such conditions. Before I travelled from Edmonton to Inuvik, including the Dempster highway, which is 750 km of gravel from Dawson City to Inuvik, I bought an older full sized Chev Impala sedan in good shape, ran the snot out of it on the trip, and flipped it when I returned. I would worry so much about rock chipping the paint and shaking the crap out of the chasis, I don't think I could bring myself to take a nice car on such a trip. Link to comment
smiller Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I bought an older full sized Chev Impala sedan in good shape, ran the snot out of it on the trip, and flipped itYeah, but did you remember to write Chevrolet a letter complementing them on a fine automobile when you returned? Link to comment
Whip Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 I drove my 2001 BMW 540i six speed from Washington DC to Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and back. I just hope nobody is crazy enough to try that kind of a stunt on a motorcycle. oops....too late!!!! I'm glad no one told Chris Olson and Mrs. Whip(pillion) Whip(from Hyder) Link to comment
OoPEZoO Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 That guy wrote a nice article about the trip for the BMWCCA magazine ROUNDEL a few months ago. He took a good number of pictures and brought the car home in one piece. Personaly, I think he was nuts......I wouldn't take a 540i anywhere near roads like that. Those roads call for an old E30 325ix Link to comment
GoGo Gadget Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 it's just that I can't bear the thought of subjecting such a fine automobile to such conditions. I know a guy who wants to meet my wife and I in AK. We both have trips planned and thought it would be cool to meet up. However, he and my wife want to ride to Prudhoe Bay. He has a Hayabusa and my wife rides a CBR 1000RR. Itold them to go right ahead, I would wait in Fairbanks on the paved roads. If I had a GS or a beater bike, sure, but not on my new RT. Link to comment
BMWRich58 Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 True story: May 31, 2007 Dear BMW of North America: I'm very pleased to share this with you. Last August and September, I drove my 2001 BMW 540i six speed from Washington DC to Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and back. The BMW may have not been the cleanest when I got home, but it was no worse for wear from the 10,571 mile, 30 day journey. No breakdowns, no flats, no hiccupping from all that 89 octane "premium" along the Alaska Highway, or even from the "best-we-got" 87 above the Arctic Circle. Instead, the trip came off trouble-free, even on some of the roughest roads in North America. They include Alaska's 414 mile Dalton Highway north across the Arctic Circle: mostly loose gravel and softball-size rock surface, potholes, washboard, frost-heaves, defiles... you get the picture. The trip did call for good planning, careful driving indeed, and certainly a durable car. Jury's out on me, but the BMW fit the bill perfectly. Still does, too! Bottom line? My life dream trip came true. And BMW builds great automobiles. Sincerely Clifford Brody I'd say right around "Oil Spill Hill or Happy Valley" the last 75-100 (northbound) miles, were the toughest. Soft gravel,construction,drizzle/sleet conditions. Here's a link to some photo's taken by a guy (post #38) right around (a week or two after)the same time I also went up the haul road. You'll notice how smooth the road is. I'm sure after a good rain conditions will change for the worst but just watch the weather. The most amazing thing was "people on bicycles" riding the Haul Road. So for him to drive a car I feel was no more of a big deal than I riding a motorcycle. But those folks on bikes, now that was a Big Deal!!! http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254397&page=3 Link to comment
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