A scary (but fortunate) end to Z4 Ownership

[ronk]

It shakes you up found out a few years ago !
I also had the notion afterwards that I could have done a better job during my accident - mine was in a big Volvo 740 and all the family and grandparents upside down - No it wasn’t my fault.

 

[Smartbear]

Hi all,

Yesterday morning I had the unhappy privilege of rounding a blind bend and finding myself on a stretch of road covered in snow and ice. I wasn't going fast, as it was wet and 0.5 degrees out, but the rest of my journey did not contain such dangerous conditions so I just wasn't expecting it.

Couldn't slow the car in time, got onto the snow and ice, fishtailed, couldn't hold it, went off the road and into a farmer's field a four foot drop away. Car went nose first in, bounced onto passenger side, and then landed on the roof.

Amazingly I was cut free by the fire brigade and able to walk away from my car. My injuries are no more serious than a few cuts and bruises, and a bit of whiplash.

I am a lucky boy and probably owe my life to whoever at BMW was responsible for engineering that roof and the other safety systems.









Stay safe out there guys. I'm well aware I got away with this one - lucky I'm able to post this at all.

So they say e89’s don’t handle? Here, hold my pint for me! 8)
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

The only cars (I've owned) that I even half-trusted in snow* were an AWD 911 and a Citroen Dyane 6. In other words, four-wheel-drive (with fat tyres) or very lightweight (with narrow ones).

As we all know, RWD is just hopeless, especially 300+ bhp.

(*As for on ice, nothing.)

 

[Busterboo]

... Think I might buy one of those hammers/belt cutters too.

If the OP's experience is common to the Z4 and the belt pulls very tight in a major accident, then a cutter's obviously essential.

Have also bought one for the wife's Fiesta, anyway.

 

[dk345]

Sorry to see the car like that, they do engineer these B pillar things quite well thankfully, I've also had that experience before.. twice :lol:
But, you say you crashed coming off a road packed with snow and you land in the adjacent field, which doesn't have a drop of snow on it by the looks of your picture? :?

I can see why you're skeptical regarding the snow. The first two pictures were taken 6 hours after the incident when the day had had time to thaw. The 3rd picture shows the edge of the road that had turned to a slushy mess thanks to all the vehicles pulling up and people walking across.

If this had been entirely my own stupid fault through driving like a fool I'd gladly admit it. However, the road conditions were a massive contributing factor to why I ended up in that field. Sure, I could have come round the corner slower, maybe I should have been more cautious - keep running it through in my head. But the road literally went from damp to ice in the space of one bend. You could see a distinct line where the crap started, but I just couldn't stop in time.

Kinda wish I'd got a picture of the road after I got out of the car, it was still slippery underfoot, but I guess the paramedic was more worried about my neck than letting me take a few selfies

... Think I might buy one of those hammers/belt cutters too.

If the OP's experience is common to the Z4 and the belt pulls very tight in a major accident, then a cutter's obviously essential.

Have also bought one for the wife's Fiesta, anyway.

Re: the seatbelt. I assumed it was just holding me in tight because of the impact and the fact I was upside down, but now that I think about it I thought one of the design features of a seat belt is that it's easy to undo in case the worst happens and you need to get out quick...

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

One less 35is on the road, that will keep prices up

 

[MrPT]

Re: the seatbelt. I assumed it was just holding me in tight because of the impact and the fact I was upside down, but now that I think about it I thought one of the design features of a seat belt is that it's easy to undo in case the worst happens and you need to get out quick...

They have a pyrotechnic pretensioner that yanks you back into the seat when a big impact is anticipated. You should still be able to unbuckle them though. Was it the case that the buckle was out of reach or jammed?

 

[DPG]

Sorry to see read this.

Glad you are ok, that’s the main thing.

 

[Smartbear]

Re: the seatbelt. I assumed it was just holding me in tight because of the impact and the fact I was upside down, but now that I think about it I thought one of the design features of a seat belt is that it's easy to undo in case the worst happens and you need to get out quick...

They have a pyrotechnic pretensioner that yanks you back into the seat when a big impact is anticipated. You should still be able to unbuckle them though. Was it the case that the buckle was out of reach or jammed?

Maybe it was because the op was inverted & his weight was bearing on the belt?
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

Maybe it was because the op was inverted & his weight was bearing on the belt?
Rob

The buckle should work in those circumstances.

 

[Darren Slone]

Sorry to hear the sad news, but as others have said glad you’re ok

 

[cj10jeeper]

Ouch - pleased you're OK, even if the car is going to be more than a quick polish
Bit of an extreme way to justify looking at ads for F Types though

 

[Busterboo]

The AA window-breaker & belt-cutter has arrived and will be in my car from now on.

As will the fire-extinguisher that I ordered with it.

 

[Austin]

Sorry to hear about your scary end to the Z, but glad to hear you are ok and thanks for sharing the timely reminder about hidden ice.

 

[dk345]

They have a pyrotechnic pretensioner that yanks you back into the seat when a big impact is anticipated. You should still be able to unbuckle them though. Was it the case that the buckle was out of reach or jammed?

Yeah, I remember reading about how pre-tensioners work months back. I could reach the buckle release easily, but pressing the button down (well, up) was met with resistance and it wouldn't budge.

 

[Buckz]

They have a pyrotechnic pretensioner that yanks you back into the seat when a big impact is anticipated. You should still be able to unbuckle them though. Was it the case that the buckle was out of reach or jammed?

Yeah, I remember reading about how pre-tensioners work months back. I could reach the buckle release easily, but pressing the button down (well, up) was met with resistance and it wouldn't budge.

that's quite worrying.. lucky that you were in the dry but imagine being in water, you'd be gone in a couple of minutes.

 

[cj10jeeper]

The AA window-breaker & belt-cutter has arrived and will be in my car from now on.

As will the fire-extinguisher that I ordered with it.

Don’t forget to bolt down all such items. What seems like a good idea becomes a lethal weapon as the car rolls or crashes as it flies around. I know from rolling Jeeps and seeing a friend injured from tools hitting him

 

[obewan]

The AA window-breaker & belt-cutter has arrived and will be in my car from now on.

As will the fire-extinguisher that I ordered with it.

And if it's not stating the obvious - within reach as well
If the belts pulled tight there are only a couple of places you could get the belt cutter from

 

[Marlon]

The AA window-breaker & belt-cutter has arrived and will be in my car from now on.

As will the fire-extinguisher that I ordered with it.

And if it's not stating the obvious - within reach as well
If the belts pulled tight there are only a couple of places you could get the belt cutter from

This is turning into a nightmare of 'what ifs' - perhaps carry the belt cutter like this:

 

[dk345]

that's quite worrying.. lucky that you were in the dry but imagine being in water, you'd be gone in a couple of minutes.

Yeah, it is a worrying thought. I can't be too angry at the car's safety features though - it's the reason I've not got a broken head.