How well do Z's hold up in a Crash?

[ovrkll]

I know it is not a roadster, but the cabin integrity is about the same between the two. Pics are from a crash in California, where the driver sustained a couple of bruises and cuts from having to crawl out the window.

 

[TOM14S]

well atleast it shows that folding wing mirrors work 50% of the time

 

[fridaypassion]

Most upset at those pics!

At least if it car V car the 1500 KG kerb weight should bouce most things off

 

[Sticks]

Isn't it as much to do with the balance between energy absorbtion and structural integrity? If a lot of the energy isn't absorbed by the car, it will be by you.

 

[Sephanite]

all i can say is VERY WELL. Dont ask me what happened but a honda civic did the exact same thing as me 1 week later and the car was crushed to the windscreen whereas my Z only needed a new bumper and bonnet

 

[TO//M]

From the photos I've seen and the reports I've read it looks like the Z4 does fairly well. But, a few years ago I had an Epiphany when I watched a 4x4 backing up toward me and I noticed that his rear bumper was at the same level as my head. I don't think the side air bags would be of much use to me if I suffered a side impact with a similar vehicle.

 

[Traxxer]

Wow....really hate to look at those pictures but lets hope somebody can learn from their mistakes.

 

[Aebous]

I wonder if he wants to give away his M logo.....

 

[a11y]

A super solid modern car driver and a stray fence post through the screen can result in a fatality

Luckily this wasn't a fatality (driver was completely uninjured) and it ain't a Z4 (obviously), but it shows exactly what you're talking about when you mention luck being a big factor. Scary stuff...

 

[Mr Whippy]

Yikes!

And as unlucky as that was for the fence rail to go through, the driver was super lucky and it missed them!

You just can't double guess accidents sometimes, the chaotic nature can be hard to replicate with NCAP and so on... I think the Z4 is inherently a tough design, by the need to be strong as a roadster and sports car, and then be wrapped in some efficient crumple zones, and then, assuming the driver doesn't drive into things, the stability control helps you not have them in the first place!

 

[sp3ctre]

I know it is not a roadster, but the cabin integrity is about the same between the two. Pics are from a crash in California, where the driver sustained a couple of bruises and cuts from having to crawl out the window.

Overkll, wasn't that the Darwin Award contender who claimed "the car did this..."? I remember he said something along the lines of "I realised I was going far too fast into the corner, so I hit the brakes" LOL!

 

[BSVA]

Click on the pic....interesting segment about Z4 Safety.

 

[Smokin]

The coupe has the same A pillar and if you look at the way the roof goes on, it has a C pillar that looks like it ties into the are where the roll bars are in the roadster. We also have the same "bulkhead" the roadster has behind the seat. Now, does this mean we have the same strength in the bulkhead area (across the car behind the seat) we just lack the roll bars? It would make sense if the subframe was the same.

 

[Top pup]

The coupe has the same A pillar and if you look at the way the roof goes on, it has a C pillar that looks like it ties into the are where the roll bars are in the roadster. We also have the same "bulkhead" the roadster has behind the seat. Now, does this mean we have the same strength in the bulkhead area (across the car behind the seat) we just lack the roll bars? It would make sense if the subframe was the same.

I'm sure your right, it looks like BMW left all of the roadster structure in place except the roll hoops and just added the coupe roof and C pillars. The coupe must have one of the strongest cabin/roof areas of any car about. Didn't the car above fall off a 60ft cliff onto it's roof? If that's the case I think the roof area has stood up extremely well.