- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Points
- 88
- Model of Z
- Z4 3.0Si Sport
Thought I would share my recent experience as it may help others.
Last monday morning I caught the Euro Tunnel to Calais on the start of a 5 day cruise thru parts of europe, the plan/excuse was to visit 4 GP circuits Spa, Nurburgring,Hockenheim and Reims-Gueux (last F1 race 1966).
I took out European Breakdown cover with the AA, cost £49.54 for the 5 days, which I thought was a bit pricey for the 5 days, but what the heck....
All went well until Thursday late afternoon, when tootling along the E54, there was a load beep, looked at dash and couldn't see anything so carried on, 5 mins later another load beep, this time I saw that the temp gauge had pegged hard over and the light was on. As I watched, it dropped back to normal and stayed there, however I was severely worried, an exit appeared so I tok it and almost immediately there was a sevice station so pulled in to the forecourt.
I let it cool off and checked the water level, which was fine. So I started the engine again, temp seemed ok, I ran the heater on full hot to see if there was any water circulation, it was stone cold. I had similar on a merc once and it was the thermostat stuck shut, so assumed a similar prob.
I PM'd @t-tony who reckoned it was probably the electric water pump, he suggested PMing @Lee who also reckoned that this was likely, so thanks guys for putting it into a bit of perspective for me.
Whatever the problem was way beyond me, so I called the AA number, after hanging on for 22 mins I finally spoke to someone, explained the prob, they worked out where I was and said they would get a recovery van there.
I got a text almost immediately to confirm the call with an ETA of 45mins. about 40mins later recovery flat bed arrived, couldn't understand a word he saide and his accent was so thick it was way beyond my school boy french. However by using google translate I worked out he would take the car and drop me at a hotel.
Found one nearby on booking.com, dropped me and off he went with the car, I took the precaution of taking a photo of the car on his van with number plates showing and also his card.
After I'd settled into the hotel I rang the AA again and asked what happens next, they said they would ring the garage in the morning for a diagnosis, but wouldn't give a time, which didnt fill me with confidence.
After a crappy night thinking all sorts of bad thoughts at 8:30 in the morning I got a call from the AA, to say that they felt the recovery garage, which was an Opel specialist, wouldn't not be a suitable repair place so they'd arranged to recover the vehicle to a BMW agent in a nearby town, as the car wouldn't get there till later and wouldn't be diagnosed till next week, they would arrange to fly me home. I explained I'd got stuff in the car I needed to get, so they arranged a taxi to the BMW garage, got my stuff and a taxi to the airport (1hr away).
They emailed me the boarding pass and by 7:30pm Friday I arrived back.
Still waiting to find out what the prob is and (gulp) what its going to cost to fix and will update when I do find out, I still then have to fly back out and pick up the car.
I have to say hats off to the AA, (I know its not really the AA, just a European Breakdown Service, but not sure who they are). Its not just that every thing was arranged and they kept me up to date all the time, the biggest thing was the language barrrier. Without them I reckon the car would still be in a little Opel garage in the middle of rural France and I would probably still be trying to work out how to get back and struggling every step of the way.
I will never ever take a car abroad again without 5 star european cover and will consider it money well spent even if I don't use it. Hope this helps anyone considering taking the car abroad make up their mind about breakdown cover, so glad I took it out....
Last monday morning I caught the Euro Tunnel to Calais on the start of a 5 day cruise thru parts of europe, the plan/excuse was to visit 4 GP circuits Spa, Nurburgring,Hockenheim and Reims-Gueux (last F1 race 1966).
I took out European Breakdown cover with the AA, cost £49.54 for the 5 days, which I thought was a bit pricey for the 5 days, but what the heck....
All went well until Thursday late afternoon, when tootling along the E54, there was a load beep, looked at dash and couldn't see anything so carried on, 5 mins later another load beep, this time I saw that the temp gauge had pegged hard over and the light was on. As I watched, it dropped back to normal and stayed there, however I was severely worried, an exit appeared so I tok it and almost immediately there was a sevice station so pulled in to the forecourt.
I let it cool off and checked the water level, which was fine. So I started the engine again, temp seemed ok, I ran the heater on full hot to see if there was any water circulation, it was stone cold. I had similar on a merc once and it was the thermostat stuck shut, so assumed a similar prob.
I PM'd @t-tony who reckoned it was probably the electric water pump, he suggested PMing @Lee who also reckoned that this was likely, so thanks guys for putting it into a bit of perspective for me.
Whatever the problem was way beyond me, so I called the AA number, after hanging on for 22 mins I finally spoke to someone, explained the prob, they worked out where I was and said they would get a recovery van there.
I got a text almost immediately to confirm the call with an ETA of 45mins. about 40mins later recovery flat bed arrived, couldn't understand a word he saide and his accent was so thick it was way beyond my school boy french. However by using google translate I worked out he would take the car and drop me at a hotel.
Found one nearby on booking.com, dropped me and off he went with the car, I took the precaution of taking a photo of the car on his van with number plates showing and also his card.
After I'd settled into the hotel I rang the AA again and asked what happens next, they said they would ring the garage in the morning for a diagnosis, but wouldn't give a time, which didnt fill me with confidence.
After a crappy night thinking all sorts of bad thoughts at 8:30 in the morning I got a call from the AA, to say that they felt the recovery garage, which was an Opel specialist, wouldn't not be a suitable repair place so they'd arranged to recover the vehicle to a BMW agent in a nearby town, as the car wouldn't get there till later and wouldn't be diagnosed till next week, they would arrange to fly me home. I explained I'd got stuff in the car I needed to get, so they arranged a taxi to the BMW garage, got my stuff and a taxi to the airport (1hr away).
They emailed me the boarding pass and by 7:30pm Friday I arrived back.
Still waiting to find out what the prob is and (gulp) what its going to cost to fix and will update when I do find out, I still then have to fly back out and pick up the car.
I have to say hats off to the AA, (I know its not really the AA, just a European Breakdown Service, but not sure who they are). Its not just that every thing was arranged and they kept me up to date all the time, the biggest thing was the language barrrier. Without them I reckon the car would still be in a little Opel garage in the middle of rural France and I would probably still be trying to work out how to get back and struggling every step of the way.
I will never ever take a car abroad again without 5 star european cover and will consider it money well spent even if I don't use it. Hope this helps anyone considering taking the car abroad make up their mind about breakdown cover, so glad I took it out....
