[Speed-NYC]

I'm taking delivery in Spartanburg on September 15th.

The tail of the dragon is in the wrong direction so I'm looking for other suggestions about how to drive back.

I have a route planned that minimizes exposure to Virginia where the radar detector will have to be stashed away.

So right now its up to Charlotte then continuing on i85 & i40 to Raleigh, and then going almost all the way to the coast before entering Virginia and staying the night in Norfolk.

In the morning I'd tour the Naval yards then head across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and then stay on 13/113 to Wilmington and then i95 to home.

Google map path

[otay]

Planning on doing it in a day? Looks like 14 hours, don't think I'd try that...not much fun b/c after a while you just want to get there.

Only suggestion would be to try to spend some time on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you can. Would add some drive time, but you won't be disappointed!

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php

Saw some of your other posts...very sweet build! A bit envious...

[Speed-NYC]

Originally Posted by otay

Planning on doing it in a day? Looks like 14 hours, don't think I'd try that...not much fun b/c after a while you just want to get there.

Only suggestion would be to try to spend some time on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you can. Would add some drive time, but you won't be disappointed!

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php

Saw some of your other posts...very sweet build! A bit envious...

Thanks for the tip, ill check out blue ridge parkway.

I wasnt planning on doing the whole trip in one go. Initial plan is to stay a night in Norfolk.

[Harleybuc]

Something else to consider is staying off the highways as much as you can. It will be much easier to vary speeds on the secondary roads for break in. Be a really good excuse to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Speed-NYC]

Originally Posted by Harleybuc

Something else to consider is staying off the highways as much as you can. It will be much easier to vary speeds on the secondary roads for break in. Be a really good excuse to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

great point, thank you

[bimmercar]

Yeah, plus one on the blue ridge highway. also, places to check out: smokey mountains, and Asheville NC!

[CJ421]

The point Harleybuc made is a good one, about needing to vary the engine RPM. I was told by the BMW Performance Center staff that the engine needs to have its RPM varied as much as possible over the break-in period (I think it was 1,200 miles for my 340i, and not over 4,000 RPM). I took mostly state roads on my way back, which is not hard to do in the Carolinas, and it wasn't too bad, but still tiring. Essentially I'd cruise for a few minutes, then drop a gear or two down, accelerate, and decelerate back to cruising speed. And there were stoplights and towns frequently enough.

FYI you'll be at the Performance Center until 2-3pm or so on the day of delivery. Strongly consider staying over a night at the Marriott and going home the next day. BMW allows you to do this. I instead drove 6+ hours to my parent's house the day of delivery, and the drive sucked even though I had my brand new car. It's a very tiring day without having to drive anywhere. I drove 12 hours back to PA the day after. Next time I will make a 3 day event out of it.

Charles