My 545i saved my life today
12-30-2005, 05:19 PM
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport, Premium, Logic 7, Jet Black, Black Leather, M-Aero Kit, 15% (very dark) Tint, Eichbach Lowering Springs, Red Brake Calipers, Radenergie R-10's, Michelin PilotSport2 in 245/35/20 and 285/30/20, Rolled Fenders, and a nifty Graco Baby Car Seat.
Next Up: Xenon fogs, Eisemann Exhaust, iPod Interface, Comfort Seats.
Today my BMW (2005 545i) saved my life. No question about it.
Here's what happened:
Driving home at 60mph on a road with two lanes in each direction, separated by a curbed and grassy median.
Approaching, and entering an intersection, 60 mph, a Ford F350 decides to run a red light. He is perpendicular to me, coming from my left, moving through the intersection to the right.
From 60mph I slam on the breaks. ABS kicks in. Looking over into my right lane is a minivan, can't swerve right. Besides, by that point, he F350 is closer to the right anyway, no good.
Look to the left, clear in the intersection, so swerve left. My BMW kicks out sideways, skidding at 90 degrees now, my car regains control, and just in time, because I was about to hit the curbed median sideways at about 45 mph, which probably would have sent me in a sideways spin roll.
My BMW grips again, quickly jerk the wheel back to the right, avoiding the median, then jerk left to get back into my lane, safe.
The whole experience lasted about 1 second. I drove past again just now, and my tire marks are there, at a 90 degree angle to the road. The tire marks are SIDEWAYS. Basically, within 50 feet, I went from having my car pointed South at 60mph, to pointed East at 45mph, to South again at 40mph.
My son still has a father thanks to this BMW. This was accident avoidance and emergency maneuvering at it's upper limit. I hope you never have to push your car to this extreme, but if you do, you'll be thankful to be behind the wheel of a BMW.
Here's what happened:
Driving home at 60mph on a road with two lanes in each direction, separated by a curbed and grassy median.
Approaching, and entering an intersection, 60 mph, a Ford F350 decides to run a red light. He is perpendicular to me, coming from my left, moving through the intersection to the right.
From 60mph I slam on the breaks. ABS kicks in. Looking over into my right lane is a minivan, can't swerve right. Besides, by that point, he F350 is closer to the right anyway, no good.
Look to the left, clear in the intersection, so swerve left. My BMW kicks out sideways, skidding at 90 degrees now, my car regains control, and just in time, because I was about to hit the curbed median sideways at about 45 mph, which probably would have sent me in a sideways spin roll.
My BMW grips again, quickly jerk the wheel back to the right, avoiding the median, then jerk left to get back into my lane, safe.
The whole experience lasted about 1 second. I drove past again just now, and my tire marks are there, at a 90 degree angle to the road. The tire marks are SIDEWAYS. Basically, within 50 feet, I went from having my car pointed South at 60mph, to pointed East at 45mph, to South again at 40mph.
My son still has a father thanks to this BMW. This was accident avoidance and emergency maneuvering at it's upper limit. I hope you never have to push your car to this extreme, but if you do, you'll be thankful to be behind the wheel of a BMW.
12-30-2005, 05:26 PM
#2
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SWFL, FL - USA
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '06 530i -6speed - Comfort Seats - Premium Package - Premium Sound Package - Cold Weather Package - Ventilated Seats - Xenon -HUD - PDC - Nav
glad you are OK .. but really .... ==> 
12-30-2005, 05:30 PM
#4
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport, Premium, Logic 7, Jet Black, Black Leather, M-Aero Kit, 15% (very dark) Tint, Eichbach Lowering Springs, Red Brake Calipers, Radenergie R-10's, Michelin PilotSport2 in 245/35/20 and 285/30/20, Rolled Fenders, and a nifty Graco Baby Car Seat.
Next Up: Xenon fogs, Eisemann Exhaust, iPod Interface, Comfort Seats.
Originally Posted by Bokke' post='217458' date='Dec 30 2005, 09:27 PM
Glad you're ok!
What is your location........
What is your location........
Pics? My car is fine, looks good in fact. When I got home I washed it, lol! Probably nervouse energy, and being thankful. I may be in need of an alignment and new wheels/tires. I can try to post some tomorrow morning.
12-30-2005, 05:46 PM
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SWFL, FL - USA
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '06 530i -6speed - Comfort Seats - Premium Package - Premium Sound Package - Cold Weather Package - Ventilated Seats - Xenon -HUD - PDC - Nav
Alpharetta ... nice area. I used to live off North Shore Pkwy/US 41/Cobb PKWY right by I-75 where the IBM / Trinity School is .... we used to stop by Andretti all the time ... hahaha.
pics fo the skid marks i was refering to, or maybe a drawing of how you skitted ;-)
take care!
pics fo the skid marks i was refering to, or maybe a drawing of how you skitted ;-)
take care!
12-30-2005, 06:20 PM
#6
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport, Premium, Logic 7, Jet Black, Black Leather, M-Aero Kit, 15% (very dark) Tint, Eichbach Lowering Springs, Red Brake Calipers, Radenergie R-10's, Michelin PilotSport2 in 245/35/20 and 285/30/20, Rolled Fenders, and a nifty Graco Baby Car Seat.
Next Up: Xenon fogs, Eisemann Exhaust, iPod Interface, Comfort Seats.
pics fo the skid marks i was refering to, or maybe a drawing of how you skitted ;-)
take care!
[/quote]
Yeah, I could try to snap a shot of the skidmarks tomorrow, although I fear standing in that intersection with a digital camera might mean my wife is writing the next post here about how I was run over while doing it.
take care!
[/quote]
Yeah, I could try to snap a shot of the skidmarks tomorrow, although I fear standing in that intersection with a digital camera might mean my wife is writing the next post here about how I was run over while doing it.
12-30-2005, 06:43 PM
#7
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
cattman, I'm glad you're okay! It's for this exact reason that I feel everyone should take at least one driving school on a racetrack with your BMW. Many people have no idea what the limits of their car is (and usually the car's limits are higher than the driver's skill level) and after some training (as often as you can) some of these evasive manouvers become "automatic" and happen without any real panic.
You stayed calm and did what you had to do to avoid the accident and it paid off -- happy new year to you and your family...
You stayed calm and did what you had to do to avoid the accident and it paid off -- happy new year to you and your family...
12-30-2005, 06:44 PM
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: In a place where the Mercedes density is the highest in the world (no. of MB per square kilometer) I choose a Bimmer, why? because of one thing "The Ultimate Driving Experience"
My Ride:
523i Steptronic, Silver Grey Exterior, Black Interior with Black Dakota Leather and Maple Wood Trim. Chrome Grill, Style 123 rim, Airbags everywhere, PDC, Rain sensor, Auto lights, Moveable front armrest, Advance Climate Control, Glass Sunroof, Auto dimming interior and exterior mirror with foldable functions, Extended Lights package, 6 CD changer in glove box, Power seats with memory, Power adjustable steering wheel, Power rear sunblinds.
Add ons: 123 wheels, chrome grill, K&N Hi flow filter, Eibach Pro Kit, e60.net decal and 24,000km
Past rides:
2001 Nissan Xterra SE
1999 E39 523i
1999 E46 323i
1996 Acura Integra LS
Glad you are ok 
12-30-2005, 07:10 PM
#10
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport, Premium, Logic 7, Jet Black, Black Leather, M-Aero Kit, 15% (very dark) Tint, Eichbach Lowering Springs, Red Brake Calipers, Radenergie R-10's, Michelin PilotSport2 in 245/35/20 and 285/30/20, Rolled Fenders, and a nifty Graco Baby Car Seat.
Next Up: Xenon fogs, Eisemann Exhaust, iPod Interface, Comfort Seats.
You are 100% correct, sir. These cars are capable of far more than I am. While I did manage to stay calm and make split-second decisions, the car did, too, and more.
I have to admit it was a rush to go through that, and it's gratifying to know that my car can handle it!
I have to admit it was a rush to go through that, and it's gratifying to know that my car can handle it!