[SEA6MT]

Hey, Sharing my recent experience a couple weekends ago with my 2018 540i mSport had while moving from Seattle to Chicago (awesome drive btw). BMW SOS was useless, Road side assistance was not helpful and given the timing of the event it would have taken too long to just get a tow on sight, both asked so many questions and the use of phone trees for accessing emergency services is not great. Finding a local shop and driving there myself was the best solution.

I had just packed my car in Seattle on Saturday afternoon and set out east on I90. Just outside of North Bend I could not avoid a deep hole in the center lane. My new Michelin PS4s could not cope. This area is the last set of services before you head over the mountains so a tow back to Sea was exhorbitant. Luckily there was a Les Schwab about 5miles away, Gingrrly drove it there and was able to get seen. The problem was this was at 4:00 on Saturday and they’re closed on Sun. They tried to get the tire earlier but my tire type and 20” need to be ordered. I ended up having to stay in a hotel until Tuesday when the tire arrived.

Otherwise it was a great trip, only got pulled over twice out of the maybe 4 patrol cars I saw for 2300 miles. Just inside Montana a nice trooper gave me a warning about driving in the left lane. And just outside of Sioux Falls a trooper sitting 500yds after a speed limit change from 80 to 65 was nice enough to warn me about my lack of a front plate.

There was very little traffic until Sioux Falls. Cheapest gas was in Sioux falls $3.69 for Premium(91), Iowa had the most wind turbines.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by SEA6MT

...

Otherwise it was a great trip, only got pulled over twice out of the maybe 4 patrol cars I saw for 2300 miles. Just inside Montana a nice trooper gave me a warning about driving in the left lane. And just outside of Sioux Falls a trooper sitting 500yds after a speed limit change from 80 to 65 was nice enough to warn me about my lack of a front plate....

https://www.valentine1.com/ will help with both your speed encounters I got a fix-it-ticket in Nebraska for no front plate

[Qsilver7]

Welcome to the MidWest.

FYI...here's the list of states (plus Washington DC) that currently require a front license plate:

1. California
2. Colorado
3. Connecticut
4. Hawaii
5. Idaho
6. Illinois
7. Iowa
8. Maine
9. Maryland
10. Massachusetts
11. Minnesota
12. Missouri
13. Montana
14. Nebraska
15. Nevada
16. New Hampshire
17. New Jersey
18. New York
19. North Dakota
20. Oregon
21. Rhode Island
22. South Dakota
23. Texas
24. Utah
25. Vermont
26. Virginia
27. Washington
28. Wisconsin
29. Wyoming
30. Washington D.C

Here's the list of states that do not currently require a front-mounted license plate:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. Delaware
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Indiana
9. Kansas
10. Kentucky
11. Louisiana
12. Michigan
13. Mississippi
14. New Mexico
15. North Carolina
16. Ohio
17. Oklahoma
18. Pennsylvania
19. South Carolina
20. Tennessee
21. West Virginia

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Welcome to the MidWest.

FYI...here's the list of states (plus Washington DC) that currently require a front license plate:

1. California
2. Colorado
3. Connecticut
4. Hawaii
5. Idaho
6. Illinois
7. Iowa
8. Maine
9. Maryland
10. Massachusetts
11. Minnesota
12. Missouri
13. Montana
14. Nebraska
15. Nevada
16. New Hampshire
17. New Jersey
18. New York
19. North Dakota
20. Oregon
21. Rhode Island
22. South Dakota
23. Texas
24. Utah
25. Vermont
26. Virginia
27. Washington
28. Wisconsin
29. Wyoming
30. Washington D.C

Here's the list of states that do not currently require a front-mounted license plate:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. Delaware
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Indiana
9. Kansas
10. Kentucky
11. Louisiana
12. Michigan
13. Mississippi
14. New Mexico
15. North Carolina
16. Ohio
17. Oklahoma
18. Pennsylvania
19. South Carolina
20. Tennessee
21. West Virginia

If your home state doesn't require a front plate, another state can not give you a ticket for not having one if that state requires them. They aren't even supposed to pull you over.

SEA6MT - I have found that AAA is the best to call even if you have BMW roadside assistance.

Curious - PS4S are non runflats - are you saying you drove on the flat gingerly for 5 miles?

I have factory non runflats which triggered the addition of the spare. It would take a lot for me to pull it out of the trunk. I think I would have just gotten it towed to the tire place you ended up using, but I am sure I don't know the whole story.

[SEA6MT]

Thanks for the list, yeah I was aware on WA its required but was confused why it would be an issue in another state.

Yea I did drive, up to 40mph for about 1 mile to get off highway and then 20mph or so to get to the store. In a minor panic I forgot I wasnt on run flats only realizing in the store. It apparently wasnt an issue. I was biasing for action given the time, date, and having no home to go back to and wait. I had literally packed everything into a truck and sent it off 1hr before setting out.

[SEA6MT]

I also averaged 28mpg with an average speed of 80mph for 2200 miles in sport mode, no tune.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by SEA6MT

And just outside of Sioux Falls a trooper sitting 500yds after a speed limit change from 80 to 65 was nice enough to warn me about my lack of a front plate.
[/IMG]

Sounds like a bored cop to me. He was probably sniffing around for drug trafficking or seeing if you were impaired. I bet he got your ID and ran it through the database to see if you had warrants too.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Sounds like a bored cop to me. He was probably sniffing around for drug trafficking or seeing if you were impaired. I bet he got your ID and ran it through the database to see if you had warrants too.

The minute you get out of your state and a few states away, the cops just love to pull over "outsiders".

I got pulled over in NJ on the turnpike three times in one day. My Massachusetts Red Sox license plate was a magnet. Got a big fat ticket for driving in the left lane.

[SEA6MT]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Sounds like a bored cop to me. He was probably sniffing around for drug trafficking or seeing if you were impaired. I bet he got your ID and ran it through the database to see if you had warrants too.

Funny you say that, the officer had me go back and sit in the front seat of his vehicle, we were on the shoulder of I90 and it was very busy. I didn't think too much of it, and kinda want to see the inside of a cop car in a low stakes situation. I didn't realize it but after maybe 5 minutes inside I realized it was a K9 officer when I heard the dog. That dog was silent the entire time outside of that small sound. I feel like it was a tactic to get a drug detection.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

The minute you get out of your state and a few states away, the cops just love to pull over "outsiders".

I got pulled over in NJ on the turnpike three times in one day. My Massachusetts Red Sox license plate was a magnet. Got a big fat ticket for driving in the left lane.

Wow since when did cops start policing left lane road hogs? We need them in FL ASAP! Left lane hoggers are so common on the East/West coast that it is laughable that they're ticketing anyone for that...must be that time of the year to fill up the coffers.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by SEA6MT

Funny you say that, the officer had me go back and sit in the front seat of his vehicle, we were on the shoulder of I90 and it was very busy. I didn't think too much of it, and kinda want to see the inside of a cop car in a low stakes situation. I didn't realize it but after maybe 5 minutes inside I realized it was a K9 officer when I heard the dog. That dog was silent the entire time outside of that small sound. I feel like it was a tactic to get a drug detection.

I definitely would not have done that. And it pisses me off when they do stuff like this.
You have Constitutional Rights. They can ask you to step out of your car, but they sure as shit cannot force you to sit inside their vehicle to be interrogated for no reason.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Wow since when did cops start policing left lane road hogs? We need them in FL ASAP! Left lane hoggers are so common on the East/West coast that it is laughable that they're ticketing anyone for that...must be that time of the year to fill up the coffers.

Tell me about it. We use the left lane as well, a lane. If it really were supposed to be a passing lane and get out, we’d have a log jam. It is a passing lane, stay in it and pass people in the middle lane who like to go slower.

That cop said to me, “I’ve been behind you for a while and you’ve been in it and not passing anyone”. There was hardly anyone on the road. If if it is the law, was I hurting anyone? I wasn’t even speeding. Fucking douche bag. As you can tell, it was 17 years ago and it still pisses me off. Talk about profiling, I’m sure he was annoyed with the brand new seven series as well.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Tell me about it. We use the left lane as well, a lane. If it really were supposed to be a passing lane and get out, we’d have a log jam. It is a passing lane, stay in it and pass people in the middle lane who like to go slower.

That cop said to me, “I’ve been behind you for a while and you’ve been in it and not passing anyone”. There was hardly anyone on the road. If if it is the law, was I hurting anyone? I wasn’t even speeding. Fucking douche bag. As you can tell, it was 17 years ago and it still pisses me off. Talk about profiling, I’m sure he was annoyed with the brand new seven series as well.

Well I'm not a fan of folks cruising in the left lane when not overtaking.. I myself immediately move over to the middle lane as soon as I can. But on the coasts, the lanes are so full and people drive so recklessly in all lanes that pulling people over for left lane cruising seems like whack-a-mole even if the cop was correct in doing so. Almost like pulling people over for overtaking in the right lane, which is so common in the US that it would be endless (also something I'm not a fan of but one just can't help it in the states).

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Well I'm not a fan of folks cruising in the left lane when not overtaking.. I myself immediately move over to the middle lane as soon as I can. But on the coasts, the lanes are so full and people drive so recklessly in all lanes that pulling people over for left lane cruising seems like whack-a-mole even if the cop was correct in doing so. Almost like pulling people over for overtaking in the right lane, which is so common in the US that it would be endless (also something I'm not a fan of but one just can't help it in the states).

I can understand that, but using it as we do here is the norm and how we learned to drive on the highway.

It works well for the most part. People use it to do 85, middle lane 75 and right lane 65 or below. Once in a while I’ll get someone riding my ass in the left lane when I’m doing 85+. I don’t move over.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

The minute you get out of your state and a few states away, the cops just love to pull over "outsiders".

I got pulled over in NJ on the turnpike three times in one day. My Massachusetts Red Sox license plate was a magnet. Got a big fat ticket for driving in the left lane.

The Masshole reputation precedes you. 😂. My KY plate draws some eye rolls in the Bay State, and probably elsewhere.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I can understand that, but using it as we do here is the norm and how we learned to drive on the highway.

It works well for the most part. People use it to do 85, middle lane 75 and right lane 65 or below. Once in a while I’ll get someone riding my ass in the left lane when I’m doing 85+. I don’t move over.

So true. SR128 runs from I95 north of Boston up to Gloucester/Rockport for about 20 miles. You can’t stay in the right lane because of all the short on ramp vehicles merging into traffic. Then again most of that left traffic is going 15+ over the limit already. If you drive in the right lane you’ll get stuck there forever. Much different than pass in the left lane and move back to the right as I learned years ago or the same lane discipline practiced in European countries.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by SEA6MT

I also averaged 28mpg with an average speed of 80mph for 2200 miles in sport mode, no tune.

Sorry about your early troubles. That can ruin a good road trip. I’ve averaged over 32mpg in my Dinan tuned 2019 540i driving 1000 miles and averaging about 70mph between the Midwest and Northeast. Maybe the somewhat unlimited section in Montana caused a big hit in mpg? Btw, beautiful Mediterranean Blue G30 just like mine.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

So true. SR128 runs from I95 north of Boston up to Gloucester/Rockport for about 20 miles. You can’t stay in the right lane because of all the short on ramp vehicles merging into traffic. Then again most of that left traffic is going 15+ over the limit already. If you drive in the right lane you’ll get stuck there forever. Much different than pass in the left lane and move back to the right as I learned years ago or the same lane discipline practiced in European countries.

If you think Boston is bad, wait till you come to FL. My brother-in-law from Germany was flabbergasted to see how people drive here and would keep asking me questions about it. I told him to just get used to it and explained to him pretty much what you said. Took him a few trips to kind of get it, but I don't think he'll ever get used to it.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by adhrp

If you think Boston is bad, wait till you come to FL. My brother-in-law from Germany was flabbergasted to see how people drive here and would keep asking me questions about it. I told him to just get used to it and explained to him pretty much what you said. Took him a few trips to kind of get it, but I don't think he'll ever get used to it.

I’ll be there again in a week. I’ve driven so many places it doesn’t really phase me anymore. But yeah, it’s all the refugees from cold states collecting there with all their bad driving habits, right?

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I’ll be there again in a week. I’ve driven so many places it doesn’t really phase me anymore. But yeah, it’s all the refugees from cold states collecting there with all their bad driving habits, right?

That's who we'd like to blame, but hey I'm a recent transplant to FL from the north myself and I do concur that some NJ/NYC drivers are to blame

[G30 B58]

Stay outta' the left lane.

KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS.

It's easy.

On a recent 170 mile beach trip, we got 39 mpg (38 mpg on the trip down) doing the speed limit in ECO PRO standard. This I6 B58 and trans is amazing.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

So true. SR128 runs from I95 north of Boston up to Gloucester/Rockport for about 20 miles. You can’t stay in the right lane because of all the short on ramp vehicles merging into traffic. Then again most of that left traffic is going 15+ over the limit already. If you drive in the right lane you’ll get stuck there forever. Much different than pass in the left lane and move back to the right as I learned years ago or the same lane discipline practiced in European countries.

That stretch of road is an absolute anxiety induced panic attack during rush hour. I've been all over the US and World and cannot think of anywhere else where people drive like complete assholes. I almost wrecked my brand new Telluride 2 weeks ago as an 18 wheeler tried turning into me halfway down his trailer. Found out how ABS worked.