Budapest to Sicily and back - 2004 E320 CDI I6 - Any tips?

[soundsource]

Hi Folks, I'm planning a trip from Budapest to Sicily over October with my wife and our 2004 E320 CDI. We love the car and though it's well used (269,000 miles), it still runs like a dream. Our last trip was to Split, Croatia from Budapest and back (1000 mile round trip) and got 47mpg overall and previous trip to Berlin from BP received similarly decent mpg. I've just changed discs and pads and will give it the B Service next week myself, I was wondering what else people would recommend either in preparation for the trip or tips on what to pack for running maintenance or just places to stop/garages etc along the way. It should be the trip of a lifetime and run to in excess of 3000 miles...

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hi, where have you been since June 2011 ! just 5 posts. I can't give you any advice on that trip despite having been to both destinations in the past.

Quite the opposite. I would like some advice from you as it appears you live in Budapest. I would rather PM but I'm not sure if you have enough posts to do so yet.

 

[soundsource]

Hi Pete, well in short a divorce, a move to Hungary and a wedding should go some way to explain my absence! Unfortunately I can't PM yet on this forum. What's the protocol on DM outside of the forum? I've been in BP for nearly three years now and am intrigued how I might be able to advise you.

 

[91dm]

Apart from the usual service items, in theory it should be fine doing the mileage in a short space of time! Before a very long trip I sometimes check the wheel studs aren't over tight, nothing worse than getting stuck and not being able to get the studs off or bring a long bar with you. A few spare bulbs maybe but you could buy them on route.

 

[soundsource]

Apart from the usual service items, in theory it should be fine doing the mileage in a short space of time! Before a very long trip I sometimes check the wheel studs aren't over tight, nothing worse than getting stuck and not being able to get the studs off or bring a long bar with you. A few spare bulbs maybe but you could buy them on route.

Hi 91dm, thanks for the tip and the vote of confidence! What would you put on your usual service items list?

 

[gaz_l]

In my experience older cars enjoy being used. I took a 17 year old Fiat round Europe, covering 2800 miles in 12 days, and it ran like a Swiss watch. Just as well, really, as none of the breakdown cover companies would touch it with a bargepole.

Make sure it's all ship shape before you go and enjoy!

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hi Pete, well in short a divorce, a move to Hungary and a wedding should go some way to explain my absence! Unfortunately I can't PM yet on this forum. What's the protocol on DM outside of the forum? I've been in BP for nearly three years now and am intrigued how I might be able to advise you.

It's complicated , and if you aren't fluent in the (very difficult) Hungarian language , or have someone trustworthy who is , our future chats will just be Mercedes Benz related. no problem

 

[toolman1954]

Before you go, get your lights sorted as per your other thread.!
Perhaps on such a journey, I might take a spare Serpentine belt, unless it has been changed recently. I would give my tank a dose of Millers to keep the injectors clean. Also I would pack my MB11 Diagnostic, just in case. If you have no diagnostic, and have a smart phone or tablet, get yourself a bluethooth ELM327 off of Ebay, they are only a few Quid. If you have an Iphone you will need a different version. Then just download the diagnostic app from playstore.
Then check brakes, lights, tyres, steering and all fluids and you will be good to go.
I am sure that once you get to Italy, if anything might happen then there are plenty of garages about. However I would spit feathers paying lots of Euros for just a diagnostic session.!
When you get back ,I am sure your road trip report would be well received.
I wish you a safe and happy journey.

Steve

 

[GP801]

If its well maintained this won't be problem at all. Our 1994 124 regularly does the run from the UK to Italy or vice versa. Over the past 10 years the only issue en route has been an oil leak from the oil cooler seal which did not need repair until we completed the journey. A couple of litres of oil would be a good idea unless you enjoy the motorway service station prices.I would just take the usual items such as spare bulbs, high viz jackets/vests for all passengers etc. There are plenty of MB approved service centres and independent garages in Italy more than capable of sorting out problems for reasonable money. They charge a lot les than the UK but not sure about Hungary. As an example I recently had a new section of fuel pipe fitted for 30 Euros including the part. Your main problem will be deciding which of the many amazing places to stop en route. How long have you got for the trip?

 

[Mactech]

I wish you a great trip, and the precautions listed by others seem very sensible.

The last time I drove to Sicily was in 1978 in a Ford A series Luton van (Like a big Transit) with a race car in the back. The return trip didn't go so well. The nasty York diesel engine decided to lunch itself within a few miles of our next stop, the Misano race track on the Adriatic.
Those final few miles were probably the most scary moments of driving ever. Chained to the back of a fellow competitors truck with zero visibility and virtually no brakes without a running engine will remain etched in my memory.
Open engine surgery in the paddock meant I had to fly home, then return with a new crank and bearings and rebuild the thing in situ.
After the race, I set off alone back towards Blighty with more oil pressure than the engine had seen in years. I fact so much, that it blew a main oil line just 5 miles up the road.
A friendly Pirelli race truck led me to a hydraulic pipe specialist whilst using about 1 gallon per mile of the on board race car oil (!) and they managed to make various adaptors from imperial to metric and back to get me back on the road.....

I'm sure your trip will be much smoother in a Mercedes

 

[m2287]

I would check all of the pulleys, fuel lines, for leaks on the fuel pump and for play in any of the suspension components

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I had a look around when waiting for the Santander ferry recently, you would not believe the complete sheds that people were taking abroad.
My favourite was an elderly LR Disco complete with dried out and cracked cheapo Chinese tyres. The inside was mainly the sort of cushions that Grannie threw out in the 80s.
In hindsight, even a relatively well maintained MB should breeze it.

 

[Darrell]

My mum and her husband live near La Rochelle and drive to and from the UK several times a year in her W plate Toyota RAV4 or his R plate BMW 316 compact. Both cars are lumps of junk that have no problems undertaking the journey. TBH my mum is 73 and her husband is in his early 80’s so the bets are on to what/who gives up first!!

 

[PaulXC]

I've done many 3000 + Euro tours in my old E320cdi - my routine if I remembered before I set off was - check oil, tyres and washer bottle fluid. Spare bulbs, spare tyre, small bottle of oil, decent wheel brace in the boot and then set off.

My best tip is carry a bottle of window cleaner and a cloth then clean the windows each day before you set off - nothing nicer than driving car with properly clean windows!

 

[jpwilliams]

Hi Folks, I'm planning a trip from Budapest to Sicily over October with my wife and our 2004 E320 CDI. We love the car and though it's well used (269,000 miles), it still runs like a dream. Our last trip was to Split, Croatia from Budapest and back (1000 mile round trip) and got 47mpg overall and previous trip to Berlin from BP received similarly decent mpg. I've just changed discs and pads and will give it the B Service next week myself, I was wondering what else people would recommend either in preparation for the trip or tips on what to pack for running maintenance or just places to stop/garages etc along the way. It should be the trip of a lifetime and run to in excess of 3000 miles...

WILL you need an INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT?

 

[renault12ts]

All very helpful...but he asked this last September.