There are a few factual errors in your write-up that should be mentioned.
East Germany has always had "right on red" and this was partially adopted throughout Germany after the reunification.
Intersections where it is safe to turn right on red (after coming to a complete stop are marked with either a lit green arrow like we find here in the US or with a sign affixed to the traffic light. Here is an example of the sign
The second traffic related correction relates to right of way. For some reason, many Americans have a problem with this concept (this is the number 1 cause of accidents with US military members in Germany and the number one reason for failing the already dumbed down test.)
Right before left is the prevailing rule of thumb on residential streets if not marked otherwise, but main roads have the right of way.
Main roads are marked with a
and a
indicates that you have the right of way at the next intersection only. There are various other signs that will indicate which road has the right of way.
The section about shopping is a bit misleading as well. Store hours are regulated by each state and each state determines how many Sundays a year a store may be open, ranging from 6 to 13.Drug stores, bakeries and stores selling milk or milk products can be open every Sunday but generally for no longer than 5 hours. In Bavaria for example (a preeminently Catholic state) the above mentioned stores may only be open on Sunday at times when there are no church services.
Stores catering to tourists or stores by train stations and airports are open on Sundays and you will find some very extensive supermarkets in train stations with normal prices.
Finally, you are required to drop your car off clean. US customs will not clear a dirty car or one with signs of bugs (live or larvae) so an underbody wash is strongly recommended. The bill for quarantining and remediation of a dirty car isn't cheap and you are not given a choice. The car will be cleaned and you will be given the bill. If you don't pay the bill then Customs owns your car. The companies hired to clean the cars don't worry about swirls or how your car looks when it is done - they worry about assuring that all the bugs are dead. IIRC, the cleaning fee is in the $1k range before the fines.
That's not to say that your car must be detailed before drop-off, but you need to pay particular attention to wheel wells and the like where mud (and bugs) like to hide. Squished bugs on your car are fine but like the OP said - not good for your paint.
I'd suggest taking an online course in traffic signs and laws before you go. That'll prevent a"what the h... does that sign mean?" a near miss or an accident.
Damn. Wiki won't let me link to signs. See examples here
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorfahrtsregel#Nordamerika