European driving tour car security

[BTB 500]

The only problem I ever had in Europe was someone nicking the MB alloy valve caps (no longer available) off the Vito while it was in a car park.

 

[Steveml63]

The only problem I ever had in Europe was someone nicking the MB alloy valve caps (no longer available) off the Vito while it was in a car park.

They were lucky they managed to get them off - they always seem to weld themselves to the valve stems!

 

[BTB 500]

They were lucky they managed to get them off - they always seem to weld themselves to the valve stems!

The MB ones have a plastic insert with the thread cut into that, so they don't seize onto the valves. Sad that they are no longer available - I still have a set on my SL though:

 

[rf065]

The only problem I ever had in Europe was someone nicking the MB alloy valve caps (no longer available) off the Vito while it was in a car park.

Mercedes badge on the boot of my CLK was nicked outside hotel in Biarritz, well half of it was and the screwdriver or whatever they used to pry it off scored the paint too.

 

[Engadine]

Interesting thread with some useful tips. Thank you.
I have been driving interesting cars (some of them owned by manufacturers) to and through Europe since the late 80s. Last time I was broken into was in 1986 in Florence (my dads Olympus camera stolen). Suspected vandalism in 1998 at a service area on the A6 near Auxerre, when the Lotus V8 I was driving had a nail stuck in its tyre, though can't prove anything.
It may be luck, but otherwise it's just extreme paranoia and planning. Service stations, a family member is always in or near the car, if I am driving alone I park illegally right in front of the shop, no CCTV enforcement to date. Cities, I call the best hotel in town (even if not staying there) and ask where I can park my nice car safely and the concierge always has a good tip.
This also applies to small towns etc in Italy. Be prepared to walk or taxi to your hotel from the best car park. Much better than arriving to a broken window.
obviously, leave nothing in sight in the car. I empty the whole interior even when staying a single night at a roadside inn. Several jouneys to and from the room. Better than the broken window and good exercise after a day's driving!
uber has helped. I have taken many Ubers from secure car parks to more dodgy characterful areas where I am staying or eating. Just need to factor in the time.
It might be luck, but apart from AMGs I have driven Ferraris, Astons, Bentleys, RRs, Porsches and RSs around Europe more than once a year this century and nothing has ever happened. You just need to factor in time, planning and paranoia.

 

[kcsun]

I'm off with the family to Italy next week, due to flight prices, hire car costs & the fact i love driving my E63 we always drive & we have never had an issue.
We always remove anything from sight, cover the luggage, stay in hotels with secure parking en route & tend to stay in rural villas once at our destination.
This year we're heading south of Siena via Germany & Switzerland - can't wait..!!

Siena -- awesome

kc

 

[badgx]

If your short in time and haven't had the chance to invest in either Ghost or Pandora, as a precautionary measure pull both the fuel pump and starter relay from the fuse box. That will confuse and slow down the rats as it would be the last thing anyone normally would do.

Also moving the seat forward and the back rest forward towards the steering wheel is another great idea, again will slow down the rats.

 

[badgx]

Another thing I forgot to mention, you can get a lockable obd port, which serves as a blanking plate or can even relocate the obd port hidden somewhere else. That will prevent a programed clone start on the fly.

Can also install a secret kill switch, its cheap but equally effective that will confuse and slow the rats.

 

[DriverLDN]

Jumping on this Euro-driving thread with a slightly different question.

I'm driving to the Monza F1 at the end of this month, the trip will be stopping in Baden-Baden, St Moritz, Genoa, Monaco, Geneva. On the last day of the trip, we'll be heading through some routes like Route Napoleon, Maddelena Pass, Col de Bonnette, Col de Lombarde, etc.

Has anyone driven any of these areas before and if so, what is the fuelling situation like? Is it worth taking a 10L petrol can seeing the that C63 can stretch to around 300 miles if you're driving sensibly? This range won't be likely as we'll be in a group of about 15 cars

 

[AMGeed]

^ That sounds a fun trip. Watch yourself in Switzerland. They are hard on speeding if you are stopped.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Jumping on this Euro-driving thread with a slightly different question.

I'm driving to the Monza F1 at the end of this month, the trip will be stopping in Baden-Baden, St Moritz, Genoa, Monaco, Geneva. On the last day of the trip, we'll be heading through some routes like Route Napoleon, Maddelena Pass, Col de Bonnette, Col de Lombarde, etc.

Has anyone driven any of these areas before and if so, what is the fuelling situation like? Is it worth taking a 10L petrol can seeing the that C63 can stretch to around 300 miles if you're driving sensibly? This range won't be likely as we'll be in a group of about 15 cars

I have driven those routes and there are filling stations in large towns, so just stop regularly to brim the tank even if you still have half a tank, to avoid the risk ruining the experience with a bum twitch fest.

Finally think very carefully about how much distance you’ll actually cover in a day on those roads, it catches lots of people out, as even driving at pace doesn’t often yield the progress one might expect.

Oh, and don’t fall into the trap of driving those roads in the dark, after a very long and intense day of driving. Again it can really knock the shine off the day, and can compromise onward travel too.

 

[clk320x]

Go and enjoy your holiday without overthinking things, just take the normal precautions such as parking in a secure car park overnight if available… ensure you have fully comprehensive cover for EU use (some policies only provide the basic legally required level as standard)…
Have fun.

 

[jonboyE63]

I've done most of these passes in groups of 4-8 cars, we always fill when available - 98+ is not always on sale so we tend to stop when half full in case we have to top up with 95.
Never had any issues on any trips other than police stops, speeding tickets following us home & the occasional issue finding hotels en route later in the day.
We rarely drive after dark as we like to have a beer in hand to chat & laugh about the day we've just had.
The Route Napoleon is a personal favourite but be careful it's very easy to push on & get yourself into trouble with the law, we found out the hard way that 140+kph is not acceptable in a 90kph zone, we were fined, cars were impounded for 24hrs & we received a 3 month ban from driving in France - this made the drive back to Calais extremely bum twitchy - but we still go back to France, Germany & Italy every 18 months or so as the roads are epic - the Dolomites are fantastic.!!
This Autumn we're going the Pyrenees, not been in a group before but apparently the roads are quiet, well surfaced & great fun - 8 cars this trip - should be a blast.
Enjoy you trip..!!

 

[badgx]

Enjoy the trip, should be a good'en

 

[jonboyE63]

Terrible start to my trip, my recently welded rear nearside wheel buckled on route to Dover early this morning, the vibration made it impossible to continue so we turned back @ Maidstone, limped it back to Dorset & bundled all luggage & family into Mrs Cookes VW Golf….not ideal but at least we’re on the ferry..
To say I’m gutted is an understatement - I should’ve taken the wheel shops advice & replaced the wheel before my trip, at least I’ll save a fortune in fuel
Wish me luck

 

[kcsun]

Terrible start to my trip, my recently welded rear nearside wheel buckled on route to Dover early this morning, the vibration made it impossible to continue so we turned back @ Maidstone, limped it back to Dorset & bundled all luggage & family into Mrs Cookes VW Golf….not ideal but at least we’re on the ferry..
To say I’m gutted is an understatement - I should’ve taken the wheel shops advice & replaced the wheel before my trip, at least I’ll save a fortune in fuel
Wish me luck

Hopefully the saving in fuel cost will pay for the wheel

kc

 

[W1ghty]

Park it in the most secure location possible. Put the drivers seat in the highest, most forward position possible, with the backrest angle as far forward as possible. Then get on with enjoying whatever you’re doing

The whole car seat bit , is that because you can’t move the seat without the key ??

 

[W1ghty]

Terrible start to my trip, my recently welded rear nearside wheel buckled on route to Dover early this morning, the vibration made it impossible to continue so we turned back @ Maidstone, limped it back to Dorset & bundled all luggage & family into Mrs Cookes VW Golf….not ideal but at least we’re on the ferry..
To say I’m gutted is an understatement - I should’ve taken the wheel shops advice & replaced the wheel before my trip, at least I’ll save a fortune in fuel
Wish me luck

Jesus buddy , what a horror story !! How long did it take to go back to Dorset and the back to Dover again ?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The whole car seat bit , is that because you can’t move the seat without the key ??

Manual or electric, it makes it difficult and slow to get in, because you need to move the seat a long way before you can get in.

It might not stop someone getting in, but in might increase the likelihood that they’ll abort after the y have started.

 

[Neiltodd]

Jumping on this Euro-driving thread with a slightly different question.

I'm driving to the Monza F1 at the end of this month, the trip will be stopping in Baden-Baden, St Moritz, Genoa, Monaco, Geneva. On the last day of the trip, we'll be heading through some routes like Route Napoleon, Maddelena Pass, Col de Bonnette, Col de Lombarde, etc.

Has anyone driven any of these areas before and if so, what is the fuelling situation like? Is it worth taking a 10L petrol can seeing the that C63 can stretch to around 300 miles if you're driving sensibly? This range won't be likely as we'll be in a group of about 15 cars

When I took my 63 over those and similar roads I did take a fuel can. I used it once, there are quite a number of fuel stops but can be hard to find though.