Gravel roads: how to reduce damage?
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Joined: May 2007
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Gravel roads: how to reduce damage?
I'm taking my E320 to Colorado and our property out there can only be reached by gravel roads. Any suggestions as to how I can minimize damage? Mud flaps? If so, what kind do you recommend? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
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From: Florida
Aston Martin Vantage, GLE 43 AMG, Volvo XC60, BMW X1 35i, Ram 1500, BMW Z4 35i
I'd get a cheap rental car if you're only there for a little while. If it not 4matic, I'd definitely leave it at home.
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How much gravel road are we talking here? 1/4 mile from the highway to the house, or 3-5 or more miles? Any chance of encountering oncomming traffic along the way?
If it's just a short trip on gravel, and it is practical to do it at 10 mph or so, I'd go for it, and not expect any problems.
If it's just a short trip on gravel, and it is practical to do it at 10 mph or so, I'd go for it, and not expect any problems.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Slowing down is the obvious solution. 
I drove slowly on about 2 miles of gravel road when camping once. No damage done.
2nd on the rental car unless it's just a short bit of road.
Another goofy looking alternative might be painters tape applied to the areas subject to the gravel damage.
I drove slowly on about 2 miles of gravel road when camping once. No damage done.
2nd on the rental car unless it's just a short bit of road.
Another goofy looking alternative might be painters tape applied to the areas subject to the gravel damage.
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Ive never had a chance to visit Colorado, what kind of gravel roads are you talking about? Dorenhagen mentioned mud flaps, are you mainly concerned about sand on the paint and the bottom, nothing more dramatic like the floor or suspension/drive train touching ground at big potholes or so?
We have gravel roads not far from where I live, roads that people drive to their homes every day. At winter times we may have sand instead of salt on smaller asphalt covered roads. Summer cottages are popular and are at difficult to reach places but daily drivers are always used to reach those places.
People normally do not have mud flaps here but I have at the front. OEM MB flaps of course (painted with car colour). This is mainly to keep a bit of the dirt away from the sides, also protecting a bit against chips. The bottom of your MB is mostly covered by plastic shields, most of the rest can take "a sand wash" even if it always is better if you can avoid that.
If you have some property there, I would assume you want to reach the place with your own car. If the road surface isn't too bad, driving slowly is enough.
Would anybody have pictures showing what kind of roads we are talking?
We have gravel roads not far from where I live, roads that people drive to their homes every day. At winter times we may have sand instead of salt on smaller asphalt covered roads. Summer cottages are popular and are at difficult to reach places but daily drivers are always used to reach those places.
People normally do not have mud flaps here but I have at the front. OEM MB flaps of course (painted with car colour). This is mainly to keep a bit of the dirt away from the sides, also protecting a bit against chips. The bottom of your MB is mostly covered by plastic shields, most of the rest can take "a sand wash" even if it always is better if you can avoid that.
If you have some property there, I would assume you want to reach the place with your own car. If the road surface isn't too bad, driving slowly is enough.
Would anybody have pictures showing what kind of roads we are talking?
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