JSpira

Be prepared to either stay outside of M?nchen or to pay 3-4x the standard rate for a room. Most people booked 6 months ago.

Nolan222

Ouch! Its okay, I don?t mind spending a little extra for once in a lifetime experience

525d MSport

Reminds me of the best driving I have experienced.

From the UK to Ellmau (in July 2000) in a 328iA SE saloon.

The road up the Grossglokner (probably spelt wrong) was absolutely fantastic too.

I drove home in 14 hours only stopping for petrol and when travelling through Euro Tunnel.

Once saw an indicated 147mph too.

We had planned to stop over night but made such good time there was no point.

Enjoy your trip!

Regards,

JSpira

Sounds like a great trip. You were close with spelling, it's Gro?glockner but no worries.

I?m assuming you mean Elmau. Did you stay at Scho? Elmau?

525d MSport

It was good trip.

Are yes, the Gro?glockner Hoch-Alpenstra?e, while some lessor machines struggled with the miles of hairpin bends we had no problems!

We stayed at the Hochfilzer.

http://www.hotel-hochfilzer.com/de/einzelz...-(kopie)-2.html

It was definately Ellmau, just down the road from Scheffau and Going. Perhaps I should have said Austria. We obviously passed through Bavaria on the way and whilst we were there visited a number places including Berchtesgaden.

We didn't go up to the Eagle's nest as I seem to remember the cost for the bus was high.

Now with two young children, 14 hour drives are not really reasonable, but we will get back to Austria sometime.

Regards,

JSpira

I didn't know we had an Ellmau but I'm not surprised. Danke!

rodybmw

Jonathan,

First of all.....congratulations on the 550 .

I assume you will be taking delivery of the 550 at the BMW Welt's delivery center. I will be waiting for your review and photos of your delivery experience at BMW Welt. I have done ED's at both Niederlassung and Freimann and can't wait to someday do another ED at BMW Welt.

P.S......while you're attending the BMW functions or dinners see if you can extract any reliable info from the "insiders" on when the X5 3.0sd twin-turbo diesel will be available for sale in the US. The rumors are anywhere between March 2008 to somtime in 2009......thanks

Ricracing

It would be nice to hear a fresh comparison between the 535dA and the 550i(A?).

Both very strong cars.

535d - 286 hp/4400 rpm - 580 Nm/1750 rpm

550i - 367 hp/6300 rpm - 490 Nm/3400 rpm

fünf dreißig

Garmish is nice. about 45 min down A95. There is Linderhof, Neushwanstein, and the Zugspitze all close bye. Pick up some beer in Ettal (Ettaler beer). There is a monostary that has been brewing it since the 1300's. They sale it right across the street from it. I recomend the Dunkel Weis and Hella Weis. Best beer I have ever had (must be from the fresh mountain spring water). Oberammergau is near Linderhof and just past Ettal, and they are famous for their wood carvings. Innsbruck Austria is about 45 min from Garmisch. In Innsbruck there is the Swarovski crystal plant. They have a nice musuem with a store (wife will like it). Oh on the way to Innsbruck, from Garmisch, there is a motorcycle musuem on the border. If you go east from Munchen on A8 you can visit Berchtesgarten (the eagle nest is located in this area). Also off of A8 is Herrenchiemeese. Hope you have a great trip.

JSpira

Thanks. I'll see what I can find out but everything keeps changing on this front.

And yes, I'm scheduled to be the first delivery at the Welt. Can't wait. In the interim, here's an brief article I wrote on the Welt.