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How To Drive Abroad by Richard Stern.
As that time of year is here not everyone knows the law and regulations for driving in Europe.

Documentation, always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.

Drinking and driving, Don't do it. Over 0.05 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment.

Fines, On the spot fines are issued across Europe. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.

First-aid kit is advised, compulsory in Germany and Austria.

Fuel, All grades of unleaded petrol and diesel are available. As in the UK, LPG is only available at some stations. Leaded no longer exists. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps in rural areas open out-of-hours, which also means lunch-time from noon to 3pm. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

GB sticker, Compulsory for all UK registered vehicles, cars displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a separate GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.

Headlamp converters are compulsory.

Lights, dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles over 125cc must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Minimum age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and a motorcycle over 125cc and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc.

Motor insurance, third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.

Replacement bulb set recommended.

Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.

Snow chains are recommended to be carried everywhere in Austria during winter, and if you do not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can prevent you continuing your journey.

Supermarkets: Most supermarkets are closed on Sunday.

Visibility Vests are compulsory in France from July 1st 2008, and in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried in the car. Do this and you will not have a problem.

Warning triangle is compulsory in Europe.

Radar Detectors are illegally in France even not in use.

LEZ Cities more European Cities are now becoming Low Emission Zones, so check before you set out.

English Speaking Call Centres both the AA and RAC have central English speaking call centres as often the roadside assistance telephones the operators do not speak English. You need to upgrade your standard UK policy to cover trips abroad.

What spares should I carry?
As Murphy’s law states, you are bound not to have the one thing you need when you breakdown on a long trip, but you can lower the odds by carrying the following recommendations (including above items). Obviously make sure your car is road-worthy as possible including good tyres, lights and wipers;

    • Fan belt
    • Spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor arm, plug leads, points and condensor (where fitted)
    • Tools and torch
    • Spare wheel, jack and wheel brace designed for your car (don’t forget locking wheel nut key too)
    • Oil, Water, and brake fluid
    • Water hoses (where possible) could save hours of heartache
    • Duck tape
    • Full can of petrol
    • Sat Nav (or maps) and mobile phone with car charger
    • Blanket

     

     

    How to Megasquirt a BMW 2002

    http://www.hbci.com/~tskwiot/2002.html

    http://www.zeebuck.com/bimmers/tech/Megasquirt/megasquirt.html

    How to swap a 320i (E21) Alternator onto a non-Tii BMW '02s
    By Trent Tilton

    Parts Needed:

    1977-79 320i Alternator. These can be bought new or found at the junkyard. You might want to get new alternator bushings at the same time. Most recommend urethane bushings as they will outlast the stock rubber ones by a considerable margin.

    Instructions:

    1. Disconnect Battery

    2. Remove stock 45 AMP Alternator - Remove 3 prong wiring harness and the 10mm bolt that holds the red wire. Remove bottom 13mm nut and bolt from the tensioning arm. Remove the top 13mm bolt. Remove Alternator, and list it on “fleabay” (RARE! Original! BMW Alternator!)

    3. Remove the square voltage regulator located next to the relays on the drive side engine compartment.

    4. The 320i alternator is internally regulated, so 2 wires only need to be hooked up. The wiring is very easy. The thick red wire goes back on the 320i alternator, on the "B+" post - this wire does the charging. Cut the BLUE wire off the stock 3 prong harness and connect it to the "D+" terminal on the alternator.

    5. Hook up the ground wire (brown) just like it was on your stock alternator

    6. Bolt up 320i alternator in the reverse of the removal procedure of the stock one.

    7. Tighten the fan belt just enough so that you can take the belt between the water pump pulley and the alternator pulley and twist it 180deg. Don't over tighten it because you will kill the water pump bearings. If it squeaks under load (when lights, etc., are on), snug it up a little more.

    8. Enjoy brighter lights and fewer charging problems! Take her for a night drive!

    6 into 2 goes

    Here

    bmw2002faq FAQs

    Here