jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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We picked up my new RIB in chichester last night, loaded it on my brother's 6m RIB trailer and wrapped it in packaging film. He's towing it down to Antibes now, with my father as co-driver, having got the ferry this morning.
They're towing it behind my old M5, which is now my brother's wife's car, and which as you can imagine flies along. The trailer is fab, no snaking, and it all cruises fine at 90mph.
Anyway, he wants to know, are you allowed in the 3rd lane with a trailer in France, on the toll motorways? Or is it like the UK where trailers may only use lanes 1 and 2? If you know for sure, let me know so I can text them
Pic below
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Mike_S
regular
Reged: 10/05/2007
Posts: 357
Loc: Penarth, Cardiff
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As far as I recall (from doing it) you're not allowed in lane 3 on the toll roads with a trailer. Having said that, I've towed a racecar trailer down through France before and not had an issue, both with the lane 3 and *ahem* speeds.
As an aside, I didn't know there was a towbar available for the M5 ?? I didn't buy one after my BMW salesman told me it couldn't be done, because of the rear exhaust silencer being across the back of the car. 
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S28
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Reged: 19/09/2002
Posts: 4354
Loc: South Coast
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Check here.
"Do not exceed 100 km/h"
"On motorway stretches with more than two lanes, only use the two right-most lanes, even for overtaking"
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benjenbav
regular
Reged: 12/08/2004
Posts: 2564
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jfm, we have been up and down the autorute to SoF in the last few weeks and there have been a vast number of cameras installed and flashing since we were last down a few months ago. I was flashed 3 times and I drive with the cruise control on 140 km/h so I hadn't been expecting that at all.
The cameras were particularly fierce on the A8 just east of Antibes where there are a couple of sections which are resticted to 110 by Cannes.
The peages are now decorated by solidly built gendarmes who appear to be receiving details of the numberplates of the more blatant offenders.
Edited by benjenbav (16/05/2008 11:48)
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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Thanks mike. He's just past Paris, and no probs so far with lane 3 and speed!
Officially there is no BMW towbar for the e39 M5 and BMW don't "allow" it. The one fitted to the car in the pic is an official BMW 540i towbar with a swan neck and cross bar behind the bumper so no clashing with the big silencer, and some simple cut-weld mods to make it fit round the exhaust brackets. Easily done, and the engineering firm who made it said the mods took 1.5 hours or so and charged £100 for the mods. It's actually a brilliant towcar, not least becuase of the 400hp and fanatastic brakes. So you should have got one! There are a few e39M5s on www.m5board.com who have fitted towbars too
There is an official BMW towbar availalbe for the e60 M5. That's my current car, and my brother will be fitting a towbar when he buys it off me in a year or so (he always buys my cars!)
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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Thnaks BJB, have relayed all that to him. He's actually ahead of schedule, 30km south of Paris now (at 12.45pm local time), and i dont get there to meet him till 9.20pm (plane lands time) tonight, so he's 75mph on cruise control hence should attract too much gendarme interest.
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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Thanks s28. you're better at googling than me, I didn't find that. Thanks
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benjenbav
regular
Reged: 12/08/2004
Posts: 2564
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Ahem, when I said east of Antibes I obviously meant west 
Also, having re-read my earlier comments, I think it would have been more accurate to suggest that the peages were decorated with gendarmes rather than by gendarmes as they did not appear to be there to bring out their inner Laurence Llewelyn-Bowens 
Edited by benjenbav (16/05/2008 11:52)
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Mike_S
regular
Reged: 10/05/2007
Posts: 357
Loc: Penarth, Cardiff
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Thanks for that. Friend of mine keeps looking at the older M5's but the lack of a towbar has put him off as it did me. I'll make mention of your solution, thanks. As a towcar it'll be fantastic.
The new M5 is a little out of my price range now, albeit the one I drove was stunning, so I'll have to wait a couple of years before looking again. It's a tad different to the Range Rover I ended up buying anyway 
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Questor
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Reged: 27/08/2003
Posts: 838
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Quote:
As a towcar it'll be fantastic.
Just a fabulous car. End of story. Full stop.
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aml
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Reged: 03/06/2005
Posts: 309
Loc: Southampton
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Did the trip 2 weeks ago with a 6.5m rib. I stuck cruise on at about 70 and had no problems, afaik if the combined is less than 3500kg then the speed limit is 130kph ( same as car )?.
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burgundyben
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Reged: 28/11/2002
Posts: 1974
Loc: Hamble
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I have a 1985 520i E28, its no M5 but its goes well enough, after 40 cars its definately the best.
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AlistairR
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Reged: 12/12/2002
Posts: 8678
Loc: North Ayrshire/ Loch Lomond.
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jfm, can we get some pics of the unloading and trail of it, not forgetting the newly re-fitted out boat?
BTW, is it the new 4 stroke, did you go for it in the end?
Cheers
Al.
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Video of Callum.
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Anchorite
regular
Reged: 22/10/2002
Posts: 379
Loc: FRANCE nr. Lyons
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Basic rule is:for zones limited under 100 kph the flash will be triggered if you exceed the limit by more than 5 kph (i.e. 96 in a 90 zone) or more than 5% in zones above 100 kph (137 in a 130 zone). The fixed radars send the photo to a central computer: for the moment foreign number plates escape fines (but EEC is working on it). The temporary sets (including the infamous binoculars) will have a couple of mobiked cops (highwaymen) a few kms down the road to stop you...or sometimes they set the trap just before the pay gate. A nasty habit you'll come across on the motorways is putting the speed zone change on the RHS only, easily hidden by a truck.
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Questor
regular
Reged: 27/08/2003
Posts: 838
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Nice car. I see that decent E28 M5s are fetching the same sort of money as early E39 M5s. Just love the sound of the E39's V8 though. Sheer Music
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mikef
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 9287
Loc: chesham, bucks and palma,major...
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Apropos nothing much at all, do you miss the E39 M5? I never owned one but drove one on several occasions and I just loved it. I know the E60 M5 is a brilliant car but that clunky gearbox would put me off owning one and you don't feel connected to the car in the same way as the E39
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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Yup, willdo. Yes, it's the 4 stroke. The story is that, by coincidence, the friend of mine and Magnums who takes deliv of a hattan 70 this week traded in his Sq58 but excluded the tender from the deal so offered it to me at good price. It is a june 2007 new style 4 stroke Avon 320 with 1.5 hours on the clock. Absolutely mint! And I've known the seller 10 years (he works here in the City) so I know it is an honest sale. In fact I haven't even paid him yet!
Will collect a few pics of fit out in next week or so. Unfortunately weather forecast isn't great this weekend for getting photos of new flybr. Here is internal refit New alcantara panels, carpet, silk curtains and Heirlooms bedlinens http://www.heirlooms-linens.co.uk/superyachts/index.htm. Photos taken with new Canon camera that has wide angle lens attachment which alas creates a shadow on the internal flash. I'll have to get another flash that attaches to the hotshoe
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Observer
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Reged: 21/11/2002
Posts: 1177
Loc: Bucks
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What's the new toy then jfm? New avon jetrib tender?
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Fair Prospect
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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No, i dont miss it. I much prefer the e60. It's substantially faster than the e39. 500 vs 400hp is noticeable, and the e60 brakes (crossdrilled discs, floating on radial pins, all round) are stunning. And (having invested the necessary 6months getting used to it!) i love idrive and the switch-minimalistic cabin
I also like the gearbox and dont find it clunky at all. On the contrary it does lightening quick changes at high speed. I never use it in auto mode, only paddle. Much preferable to a slushbox auto or 3 pedal manual imho. But it is a shame BMW put all that effort into SMG 1/2/3 cos single clutch is the wrong fundamental technology, and they now know that. The right model is manaul gears and twin clutch, a la VW/Audi. I have driven the current golf R32 lots and although overall that car is a POS compared with M5 the twin clutch gearbox is fantastic and loads better than single clutch. BMW are working on getting twin clutch for next M5 but it's a few years away.
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mikef
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 9287
Loc: chesham, bucks and palma,major...
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Nice job. V tasteful. I still prefer darkish cherrywood to the light minimalist timbers used on some new boats
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EME
regular
Reged: 06/08/2001
Posts: 2354
Loc: ked Away: Courtesy HMG
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Keep out of the 3rd ( and only 3rd) lane ... but who cares ....
Frejus-La Nap cameras are still in the same place so no new problem ....
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I am WHAT I say I am
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Questor
regular
Reged: 27/08/2003
Posts: 838
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Quote:
BMW are working on getting twin clutch for next M5 but it's a few years away.
You can see the new Double Clutch Transmission in action on the new M3 here
As I understand it, Gears 1, 3, 5, & 7 are engaged through one clutch and 2, 4, & 6 via the other.
It looks good.
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7810
Loc: London/Antibes
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That's correct. The clever part is you never take the power off during a gear change. If you're going from say 2 to 3 both gears are "selected" at the dog clutch level and all that happens to "change gear" is that the clutch for 2 is released while simultaneously the clutch for 3 is engaged, and at no time is the power taken off. It's brilliant - well worth a go in Golf R32 to feel how well it works (or any VW/Audi car with DSC or DSG or whatver they call it). The VW/Audi version uses wet clutches by the way, with multiple clutch plates sitting in an oil bath. Great job. all serious car manufcaturers know that the BMW style SMG concept is dead and twin clutch is the way to go.
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Pinnacle
regular
Reged: 06/01/2006
Posts: 2030
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Great thread this....
Starts about advice on speed restrictions on roads in France and turns into a debate on transmissions. I love it!
ps looks like a super refurb job!
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2004 Four Winns Sundowner 225 for sale - PM me!
Edited by Pinnacle (16/05/2008 18:02)
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Questor
regular
Reged: 27/08/2003
Posts: 838
Loc: Hertfordshire
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I have indeed tried the DSG box in a 3.2 TT, and very impressive it is too. Would like to get my paws on the new M3 cabrio with DCT, but unfortunately there are other priorities, so the E39 stays.
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Mike_S
regular
Reged: 10/05/2007
Posts: 357
Loc: Penarth, Cardiff
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Quote:
Great thread this....
Starts about advice on speed restrictions on roads in France and turns into a debate on transmissions. I love it!
Same here, especially when it's talking about one of my favourite 'daily driver' cars. I regret not buying the E39 M5 and having driven the E60 I can't wait till they drop low enough to be able to afford one. I remember trying it out when they were first released, my BM salesdude mate saying to me leave the M button alone for a few miles. I know I uttered something at him as I pressed it before even pulling away Whata car. Very nimble for a big saloon and demonically quick, I was pulling gears faster than a demented dentist pulls teeth !! I'll have one one day.
Is this a boating forum btw ?
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volvopaul
regular
Reged: 01/04/2007
Posts: 862
Loc: midlands
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The way this country is going we will all be able to afford one, just wont be able to run it!!!!
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Avenger
regular
Reged: 16/05/2006
Posts: 206
Loc: Wiltshire (top bit)
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Seems to me ythat anyone who blatantly ignnores the speed limit for towing should even worru for a second about towing in lane 3
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dpb
regular
Reged: 14/02/2007
Posts: 222
Loc: Poole, Dorset
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Not to mention the illegal and possibly dangerous towbar.......mind you..with a BMW involved what do you expect!!!!!
All very well till it all comes apart.
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MapisM
regular
Reged: 11/03/2002
Posts: 3130
Loc: Italy
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Quote:
M5, which is now my brother's wife's car
So, what does your brother have as his own car, a Veyron?
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jrb1978
regular
Reged: 04/04/2005
Posts: 7820
Loc: ality Unknown
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New M3 sequential is the first BMW twin clutch gear box.
AFAIK VWAudi group protected the technology for two years from launch, hence the other manufacturers now catching up.
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Recent Raymarine Electronics for sale:
Raymarine C80 Plotter
Raymarine Raystar GPS Antenna
Raymarine S1 Autopilot Core Pack
Raymarine 240E Modular DSC VHF
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Avenger
regular
Reged: 16/05/2006
Posts: 206
Loc: Wiltshire (top bit)
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Yawn!!
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C_Playa
regular
Reged: 14/06/2007
Posts: 885
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Why yawn?
All motor boaters I know love cars. Then they progressed to boats, and one even to having priva |
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