Accelerator jam car hits 135mph

11-03-2006, 20:54

Quote:

A motorist drove for 60 miles at speeds of 135mph after the accelerator on his BMW car jammed and his brakes failed.

Link

My first thought was to simply switch of the engine - but keep the key in so the steering lock would not engage....

What would you have done?

Russ · 11-03-2006, 20:57

I reckon it was just a typical BMW driver fancying a good speeding session without hassle from those pesky police

11-03-2006, 21:05

...and what if BMW come back with a result of NFF....will the police nick him?

---------- Post added at 21:05 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Just found another version of the story.

Quote:

He tried but was unable to get the automatic car into neutral and did not turn off the ignition for fear of disabling the power steering.

You what? Slightly heavier steering than normal OR 135mph into a back of a lorry...I know which option I'd go for...

greencreeper · 11-03-2006, 21:06

Switching off the ignition might have disabled various other features, such as power steering and ABS. Modern cars for you - run on electrics. I've have put my foot down. Given that the brakes, gears and accelerator had gone, pretty much only the engine left, so flogging it might cause it to explode.

---------- Post added at 21:06 ---------- Previous post was at 21:06 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

You what? Slightly heavier steering than normal OR 135mph into a back of a lorry...I know which option I'd go for...

No power steering is bad - it's worse than no power steering.

Russ · 11-03-2006, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Switching off the ignition might have disabled various other features, such as power steering and ABS. Modern cars for you - run on electrics. I've have put my foot down. Given that the brakes, gears and accelerator had gone, pretty much only the engine left, so flogging it might cause it to explode.

It's a Beemer though - engines like that can usually take a good wellying.

greencreeper · 11-03-2006, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

It's a Beemer though - engines like that can usually take a good wellying.

With the miles on the clock it had, it had taken a wellying

Might have been one welly too far, was my thinking. Mind you, might have ended up like a tin of corned beef in a fly-over support. Life for you. One minute a tin of Roses, the next a tin of manky cow.

Chimaera · 11-03-2006, 21:15

I'm waiting for the engineer's report on the car!

11-03-2006, 21:22

greencreeper - Yes - but the engine would have also "shutdown" as well wouldn't it?

greencreeper · 11-03-2006, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

greencreeper - Yes - but the engine would have also "shutdown" as well wouldn't it?

Well yes, but at 135 mph I wouldn't fancy trying to steer a car that should have power steering but hasn't, and/or stop a car with no brakes. Be quicker just to drive into a concrete support and test the NCAP rating.

I never passed my test. Just as well really

I'm too emotional - no control over them and too empathic. As a result, I do everything in life badly.

Stuart · 12-03-2006, 00:08

I have to admit, I agree with GC here. When the brakes failed in my friends car,an elderly suzuki, it was terrifying (I was a passenger), but he was able to use the gears to slow the car to a speed where he could coast to a stop.

Of course, jamming the car into first at >70 MPH nearly blew up the engine (making a horrible noise), but it did stop.

This guy didn't have that option (no gears).

I suppose another option (depending on the layout of the motorway) might have been to steer the car off the motorway and use the land to slow the car a bit. Of course, that is assuming there are fields either side of the motorway. Not much use if it went through a small town.

Nikko · 12-03-2006, 01:21

Power steering is only useful at low speeds, especially when parking, etc. At high speeds a lot of high performance manufacturers take steps to calm it down - ie give the steering more 'feel'

What you do NOT want is for the steering lock to engage whilst mobile, rendering the car unsteerable.

So in the circumstance described, if the brakes are unable to restrain a racing engine connected to an automatic, and, unusually, you are unable to disengage the transmission (due, one assumes, to a totally isolated and unconnected failure) select a straight bit of road, turn off the ignition, ideally back to the accessory position, and keep standing on the brake. If you find the steering locks, turn the key back to the next position as you have gone past accessory to off. Whilst this may appear fiddly, you are doing 35 not 135 and even if you hit a roundabout via the hard shoulder, chances are you will not roll it.

AndrewJ · 12-03-2006, 01:45

Did he check if he used the indicators, that the car may return to control...

handyman · 12-03-2006, 03:36

This car would have got to 135 within a minute. Lets face it with the benefit of the time to think it over we can all go over the pros and cons of the various options but if your in a car at 135mph and possibly with no experience at that speed your not likely to want a option thats possibly going to lock the steering.

12-03-2006, 06:26

I'm keeping an open mind on this one, I can smell a rat. I know the A1 that runs through Notts like the back of my hand, there are a few bends just before Doncaster that he'd not have gotten round doing 135mph. Like I said I can smell a rat.

etccarmageddon · 12-03-2006, 09:32

I smell bull too.