****Breaking Z4M Coupe
- Thread starter ranski
- Start date
Holy cow - just seen this. Haven't seen that car for a long time. Thought I never would again tbh.
Was just sat here relaxing at home and thought I'd look up my previous cars following a conversation with a work colleague earlier today.
Its been a while since I lost this car. Was previously a mint 22K mile 4 yr old top spec Z4M with champagne Nappa leather, piano black trim, full sat nav with iPod kit and CD changer. I bought her (£27K) with 7K miles from the main dealer in Hereford - who were superb!
Was previously owned by a surgeon, who had it as his 5th car!!! He traded it in against a new (at launch) M3 V8 Convertible.
I know - was an expensive car, but wasn't going to take the risk of buying one from anywhere else. Plus, I just could not find one in this colour/trim spec either.
1 year later and at 22K miles, I had new Conti SC3's fitted on the rear, followed a couple of weeks later by a major service at a main dealer (will not say who, but it was NOT Hereford BMW).
3 wks later It was a Thursday night - approx 10pm, in a well lit large town centre in Warwickshire.
Weather was dry, roads were dry too. Visibility was excellent and traffic was normal - i.e. light but present.
Turning right at some traffic lights (green), I accelerated from rest to approx 30mph. TC was off, but then I always drove her with it off.
Exiting the turn and starting to straighten up, the LSD began to fail, with the rear end starting to violently judder; mechanical grip was jumping from N/S to O/S rear tyres causing the car to 'snake' before finally seizing solid and entering an uncontrollable slide.
I tried to power out of it, with the aim of spinning it - would have been embarrassing but safe.
However, car was having none of it, it finally spun me and my passenger - (drivers side on) into a parked Metro - (possibly the last one in existence that wasn't rotten lol - whose owner failed to apply the hand brake), and pushed that into a new Vauxhall Movano van.
The red metro was a write off, being approx 12" shorter, and the van needed minor repairs to bonnet and bumper.
The main frontal impact was with a shop front as a result of bouncing off the metro. There was no fire at all. The drivers door glass did shatter.
Police stated that initial visible evidence, indicated that the car had a mechanical failure stating the rear tyre marks on the tarmac were not consistent with high speed or driver error.
Police and accident investigators later informed me that the diff had no oil in it.
There was a small pool (circa 4" dia) of gear/diff oil on the tarmac at the scene of the RTA under the rear of the car.
I was then cleared of negligence & driving without due care & attention, and praised for steering the car away from a fully packed out restaurant opposite the parked Metro and van.
Checking the service documents later that day, revealed it had been reported as having a 'slight leak from Diff', but no action to rectify was made. Instead, it was signed off as OK to drive - with hand written notes detailing this fact on the service sheet receipt - written by an M Technician!!!
Total repair cost was reported as £58,975 for the car alone. 7 A4 pages of parts ranging from an alloy wheel (front n/s had slight buckle), new engine £18K, (split block and bent timing gear - hence buggered valves), shot cooling pack and air con pack, steering rack, struts and springs, major panels and windshield etc.
My passenger and I were safe, with only drivers door bag deploying. No injuries at all.
So very very sad to see her like that. Cried my eyes out that night.
Time has moved on now and no longer owning or driving blue n white props - the service experience and the resultant accident put me right off I'm afraid.
Had a full BMW GAP policy payout within two days, with insurance company being superb and very helpful in getting the pay out sorted from the dealer.
Annoying really, as had only just renewed BMW warranty at cost of £585, and that would have covered the work to replace the diff - they only had to hold the car for another day!
Now drive blue ovals and very pleased with the two I have had so far - Focus ST3 and now Mondeo ST Estate (great load lugger for my young family etc and cheap to run).
I was assured the car was a CAT B - the chassis damage was so extensive, they didn't want the car falling into a breakers hands as most of the valuable parts were twisted or suffered impact damage that would be undetectable in the 2nd hand market place.
I am shocked to see her being broken for parts.
Hope the new owners take care of her offerings - she really was immaculate.
Be safe and happy driving to you all.
Please always always check the unexpected and normally overlooked fluids - they are just as critical as the water in the radiator.
Take care
Mike
Was just sat here relaxing at home and thought I'd look up my previous cars following a conversation with a work colleague earlier today.
Its been a while since I lost this car. Was previously a mint 22K mile 4 yr old top spec Z4M with champagne Nappa leather, piano black trim, full sat nav with iPod kit and CD changer. I bought her (£27K) with 7K miles from the main dealer in Hereford - who were superb!
Was previously owned by a surgeon, who had it as his 5th car!!! He traded it in against a new (at launch) M3 V8 Convertible.
I know - was an expensive car, but wasn't going to take the risk of buying one from anywhere else. Plus, I just could not find one in this colour/trim spec either.
1 year later and at 22K miles, I had new Conti SC3's fitted on the rear, followed a couple of weeks later by a major service at a main dealer (will not say who, but it was NOT Hereford BMW).
3 wks later It was a Thursday night - approx 10pm, in a well lit large town centre in Warwickshire.
Weather was dry, roads were dry too. Visibility was excellent and traffic was normal - i.e. light but present.
Turning right at some traffic lights (green), I accelerated from rest to approx 30mph. TC was off, but then I always drove her with it off.
Exiting the turn and starting to straighten up, the LSD began to fail, with the rear end starting to violently judder; mechanical grip was jumping from N/S to O/S rear tyres causing the car to 'snake' before finally seizing solid and entering an uncontrollable slide.
I tried to power out of it, with the aim of spinning it - would have been embarrassing but safe.
However, car was having none of it, it finally spun me and my passenger - (drivers side on) into a parked Metro - (possibly the last one in existence that wasn't rotten lol - whose owner failed to apply the hand brake), and pushed that into a new Vauxhall Movano van.
The red metro was a write off, being approx 12" shorter, and the van needed minor repairs to bonnet and bumper.
The main frontal impact was with a shop front as a result of bouncing off the metro. There was no fire at all. The drivers door glass did shatter.
Police stated that initial visible evidence, indicated that the car had a mechanical failure stating the rear tyre marks on the tarmac were not consistent with high speed or driver error.
Police and accident investigators later informed me that the diff had no oil in it.
There was a small pool (circa 4" dia) of gear/diff oil on the tarmac at the scene of the RTA under the rear of the car.
I was then cleared of negligence & driving without due care & attention, and praised for steering the car away from a fully packed out restaurant opposite the parked Metro and van.
Checking the service documents later that day, revealed it had been reported as having a 'slight leak from Diff', but no action to rectify was made. Instead, it was signed off as OK to drive - with hand written notes detailing this fact on the service sheet receipt - written by an M Technician!!!
Total repair cost was reported as £58,975 for the car alone. 7 A4 pages of parts ranging from an alloy wheel (front n/s had slight buckle), new engine £18K, (split block and bent timing gear - hence buggered valves), shot cooling pack and air con pack, steering rack, struts and springs, major panels and windshield etc.
My passenger and I were safe, with only drivers door bag deploying. No injuries at all.
So very very sad to see her like that. Cried my eyes out that night.
Time has moved on now and no longer owning or driving blue n white props - the service experience and the resultant accident put me right off I'm afraid.
Had a full BMW GAP policy payout within two days, with insurance company being superb and very helpful in getting the pay out sorted from the dealer.
Annoying really, as had only just renewed BMW warranty at cost of £585, and that would have covered the work to replace the diff - they only had to hold the car for another day!
Now drive blue ovals and very pleased with the two I have had so far - Focus ST3 and now Mondeo ST Estate (great load lugger for my young family etc and cheap to run).
I was assured the car was a CAT B - the chassis damage was so extensive, they didn't want the car falling into a breakers hands as most of the valuable parts were twisted or suffered impact damage that would be undetectable in the 2nd hand market place.
I am shocked to see her being broken for parts.
Hope the new owners take care of her offerings - she really was immaculate.
Be safe and happy driving to you all.
Please always always check the unexpected and normally overlooked fluids - they are just as critical as the water in the radiator.
Take care
Mike
Liverpool
Thanks for the update - and that's a hell of a lot of damage for only a 30mph collision.
Despite what your insurer says, Cat B means the shell must be crushed and the car can never return to the road. It specifically allows other salvaged parts to be sold as 2nd hand.
Cat A means it should all be crushed and no parts can be salvaged and sold on.
Despite what your insurer says, Cat B means the shell must be crushed and the car can never return to the road. It specifically allows other salvaged parts to be sold as 2nd hand.
Cat A means it should all be crushed and no parts can be salvaged and sold on.