I SO almost got killed on the freeway today

[Fred in Houston]

I was going down HW 290 today going about 65-70. There's a tractor trailer in the right lane and a landscaping truck with a trailer in the left and I was passing them both in the middle lane. I was going with the flow. I was in the E34/540i.
As I'm passing them, I'm right in between them and the landscaping truck abruptly changes into my lane and forms a "V" right in front of my face, I almost hit the passenger door & remembering that there is a trailer that he is hauling as well, I was afraid of the trailer dragging me under the tractor trailer.
I hit the brakes so fast and so hard and I could not believe I was able to stop in time. The lanscaping truck swerves back into the left lane. I am almost completly stopped while everyone around me is going 70. I looked in the rear view mirror and an Suv was going to crash into me. I mashed the pedal and barely got out of the way in time.
I could not believe how fast I was able to stop the car, and how fast it pulled away to avoid getting hit from behind.
I was tasting adrenalin. Several motorist passed me, some shaking their hands as if to say "that was close", but 2 people passed me and pointed to my car & gave me the thumbs up as if to say, "that car just saved your life"
When I put big brakes on my E28, I felt stupid for leaving that as my last mod when it should have been my 1st mod.
Think about getting big brakes if you don't already have them.
...scuse me while I pressure wash my drivers seat.
Fred/Houston

[PorscheH6]

540i brakes FTW. :buttrock

[Binjammin]

I used to have an 82 z28, in decent shape with a 350 4bolt (I swapped it in), 700r4. Knock on cars all you want, the thing was fun. One day in Boston I was having some fun in traffic with a dude in a Civic. We came up on a red light with three lanes going straight. There was a Ford Tempo in between us. I was power braking at like 2800rpm in first, and I was SO ready to give a major launch. I knew the Civic was getting ready too, as the lanes went from 3 down to 2 down to 1 in really short order. The light changed, I launched, and I saw a black flash out of the corner of my eye.

I *STOOD* on the brakes as hard as I could, all reaction. The Saturn missed the nose of my car by maybe two inches. Ended up T-boning the Civic in the driver's door. I spun the car around in the middle of the road and got out to see if everyone was ok. Someone had a cell phone, and even though the police station was literally 3 blocks up the road they wouldn't come out because nobody was injured. "Call your insurance companies if you're not hurt."

Blew my mind.


Moral of the story is that it's usually better to DO rather than sit around thinking about it. Good to see you came out ok Fred.

[E34nication]

man... sounds pretty close. glad you're alright. There is definitely something to be said for a car with good brakes, good power and solid high speed stability.

[zubbie]

I'm thankful that this is a no accident thread. Way to many dead E34's here lately. Good story Fred, Glad everything's alright.

[PorscheH6]

Way to many dead E34's here lately.

...but that increases the value of the ones remaining, right?

:shifty

[russiankid]

Coming from 10" front rotors. the brakes my 525i has great. Like E34nication said, great to have a car that is stable at highway speeds and can get up and go.

[jpntexas]

Whooooeeeee Fred,

If the rest of you guys knew how heavy the traffic is on that freeway that Fred was on, you would be even more amazed that nothing more happened. It is definitely one of the heaviest trafficed roads in the nation. Good reflexes Fred!

JP

[CleanE34]

jesus. good thing you had a good reaction time on that. i remember once i was cruising around 40 on a nice open road with a friend of mine, then all of a sudden some woman decides to slam on her brakes and do a full out K turn in the middle of the street all while chatting on her cell phone. i slam the brakes, and stop just short of hitting the dumb woman. she sped off after realizing she could've been hit by a big ol' black sedan. :shifty

[tonyroc14]

I used to have an 82 z28, in decent shape with a 350 4bolt (I swapped it in), 700r4. Knock on cars all you want, the thing was fun. One day in Boston I was having some fun in traffic with a dude in a Civic. We came up on a red light with three lanes going straight. There was a Ford Tempo in between us. I was power braking at like 2800rpm in first, and I was SO ready to give a major launch. I knew the Civic was getting ready too, as the lanes went from 3 down to 2 down to 1 in really short order. The light changed, I launched, and I saw a black flash out of the corner of my eye.

I *STOOD* on the brakes as hard as I could, all reaction. The Saturn missed the nose of my car by maybe two inches. Ended up T-boning the Civic in the driver's door. I spun the car around in the middle of the road and got out to see if everyone was ok. Someone had a cell phone, and even though the police station was literally 3 blocks up the road they wouldn't come out because nobody was injured. "Call your insurance companies if you're not hurt."

Blew my mind.


Moral of the story is that it's usually better to DO rather than sit around thinking about it. Good to see you came out ok Fred.
something similar happened to me once. I didnt see anything, or launch or anything, Just going like normal. And out of no where i just stopped, like i said, i didnt see anything. But this gray astro van swerved around the nose of my car, missed by littleraly 2 inches. I shit myself, and pissed myself, and wondered how on earth i knew to stop :dunno some things blow your mind

[makaveli2k]

jesus. good thing you had a good reaction time on that. i remember once i was cruising around 40 on a nice open road with a friend of mine, then all of a sudden some woman decides to slam on her brakes and do a full out K turn in the middle of the street all while chatting on her cell phone. i slam the brakes, and stop just short of hitting the dumb woman. she sped off after realizing she could've been hit by a big ol' black sedan. :shifty

Woman, everytime I think of them I just...
http://www.forumammo.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10062/SiskoAnimated.gif

=p

To the OP, Glad you're alright and it's a good thing you had the 540i... imagine the outcome if you had an M20 powered 525i.... :devillook

Thats right boys, Big power E34's save lives!
:buttrock

[XR000mb]

man.... glad to see your alright. i worry about that shit everytime i get in my car and think ill do something stupid.
although im sure e34 would double as a very luxurious casket.... hhah

[CleanE34]

i always worry when i'm on the highway. someone, ALWAYS SOMEONE has to go as slow as possible and someone else has to go as fast as possible.

[tonyroc14]

i always worry when i'm on the highway. someone, ALWAYS SOMEONE has to go as slow as possible and someone else has to go as fast as possible.
things like this scare me. People are idiots, and dont check there mirros. I always like to go as fast as the people around me, idc about the people behind me or in front of me. I also keep my distance, and always know if i have open spots around me.

Althought i cruise at 80 at 2300rpms and 25mpg! :buttrock hard to pass that up

[funnyman06]

I had a similar incident, but i was in my F250. I was coming back from the beach with my best friend, getting ready to go through a green light under the freeway. This prius runs the red light to make the turn to go the same direction i was. At first, not a big deal, there were 2 lanes and i was in the far one. BUT the prius decided it wanted my lane instead. So i jump on the breaks lock up all 4 tires, not a big deal, it happens alot. BUT i have to through the truck sideways to get the extra space i needed to stop as to not hit the car. Prius kept driving like nothing had happened. I was so pissed.

Def dont need any more dead E34s. I want to buy another one some time in the future, SO DONT KILL THEM. I just dont have any money for a nice one. Something with an engine 3.5 liters or bigger and a 5 or 6 speed gearbox behind it... Some day...

[russiankid]

I was on my way to Philly this Sunday and I am cruising about 70-75mph. I see an older Benz enter the highway. I am in the middle lane, and the driver is an elderly woman. She gets into the right lane, and we now have about one and half car lengths between us. Then, without looking, she proceeds to go into my lane. Now she is going about 45-50 and I am going 70-75. I do a very quick lane change, luckily no one was there. She kept driving like nothing happened.

Ok so that wasn't anything with braking but it shows E34 stability at high speed.

[funnyman06]

I had to avoid a rug at like 80 one night. That was fun, in the fast lane doing like 80, then in the darkness i see a shape and im like OOO sh**. since then ive been a true believer. Car took it like a champ, and was looking for some more.

[Black0ut07]

I'm pretty happy with the reflexes of these cars especially the brakes. My M20 may take forever to get up to speed but it stops amazingly. Has definately saved me a few times.

I hate other drivers so much. I really don't know how most people on the road even got their licenses.

[Binjammin]

I shit myself, and pissed myself.

Touching story. Make sure you explain the smell to any prospective buyers.


I had to avoid a rug at like 80 one night. That was fun, in the fast lane doing like 80, then in the darkness i see a shape and im like OOO sh**. since then ive been a true believer. Car took it like a champ, and was looking for some more.


The dude abides.

[Skeg]

What the hell is with landscaping trucks??... I almost got smoked by one that went through a red light as I was turning right on a green

[bigsixe34]

^ many of the drivers haven't got their licenses? I've always admired how they like parking about 5 feet from the curb on sidestreets making them almost impassible. That's how it is around here at least..

[BBatt98]

I dont miss Houston traffice or dumbass Houston drivers. Born and raised there. Ironically my dad's name is Fred, and he lives in Houston. Daddy?

[Chinman]

Last spring I almost bought the farm because of a semi on I-83 in Harrisburg. He was in the left lane, I was in the right. He decided to use the off ramp to the right of me and didn't seem to care that I was still in that lane. I two-footed the brake pedal as hard as I could, BARELY escaping the back end of his trailer. The ABS did come on (dry roads,sunny weather/ fairly warm) and I think my face stretched forward a couple of inches or so. If i was in one of my previous cars, it would not have been as nice of an outcome. German brakes FTW!!!!

[XR000mb]

ha i always thought my dad was just bitching about how much he hates jersey beacaause of the turnpike, but when i drove it... holy shit. i hate the jersey turnpike now. highways in my shimmying e34 are frightening. PERIOD

[SpeedsterBek]

I was going down HW 290 today going about 65-70. There's a tractor trailer in the right lane and a landscaping truck with a trailer in the left and I was passing them both in the middle lane. I was going with the flow. I was in the E34/540i.
As I'm passing them, I'm right in between them and the landscaping truck abruptly changes into my lane and forms a "V" right in front of my face, I almost hit the passenger door & remembering that there is a trailer that he is hauling as well, I was afraid of the trailer dragging me under the tractor trailer.
I hit the brakes so fast and so hard and I could not believe I was able to stop in time. The lanscaping truck swerves back into the left lane. I am almost completly stopped while everyone around me is going 70. I looked in the rear view mirror and an Suv was going to crash into me. I mashed the pedal and barely got out of the way in time.
I could not believe how fast I was able to stop the car, and how fast it pulled away to avoid getting hit from behind.
I was tasting adrenalin. Several motorist passed me, some shaking their hands as if to say "that was close", but 2 people passed me and pointed to my car & gave me the thumbs up as if to say, "that car just saved your life"
When I put big brakes on my E28, I felt stupid for leaving that as my last mod when it should have been my 1st mod.
Think about getting big brakes if you don't already have them.
...scuse me while I pressure wash my drivers seat.
Fred/Houston

:eek: I had near miss moments but nothing like what you encountered. Bravo for your E34 and your quick reflexes! Sometimes when I drive around in my E34 it almost feels like I'm in a commercial :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2dVtQ3b3I8

[MJFX328]

Haha nice commercial. So dirty looking tho lol

[moroza]

That's what happens when FTKR laws don't get enforced.

Glad to hear your 15-year old brakes are still doing well!

[pushpins]

I have had to use my brakes pretty hard to avoid accidents..

Thats why i did a complete change this summer just be surea everything i good..

[steevieweevie]

yeah houston traffic sucks.

[Steve540i]

The Ultimate Driving Machine.

[Binjammin]

That's what happens when FTKR laws don't get enforced.

Glad to hear your 15-year old brakes are still doing well!

FTKR laws?

[Fred in Houston]

I dont miss Houston traffice or dumbass Houston drivers. Born and raised there. Ironically my dad's name is Fred, and he lives in Houston. Daddy?

S-s-son?
ROTFLMAO!!!
Fred

[m60b30530i]

unlike that commercial if i were to do any of that my back end comes right out

today driving to school i get out of a parking lot i smash the throttle all i get is wheel spin literally smoking them ( i couldn't help my self)

then i go around a turn at 4k and the rear end just shoots right out and i do a full 360 wtf !!!

[Elekta]

good job fred..

change your brake fluid once a year...esp if you live in a swamp like houston with all the temp changes and panic stops...that DOT4 will not hold up like new.

OT: I've had two people call me from Houston in the last couple days asking me if I was in town....seems there is another silber///M par touring with roof racks zoomin the loops near Rice and UH law school. anyone?

[Travis R]

I had something similar in my old Subaru 2.5RS. When that car first came here in '98 all they really did was swap everything from the larger Legacy, so it had pretty good brakes. And it only weighed about 2800lbs...
I was in the left lane on a 3 lane freeway, passing a semi pulling half a mobile home (WIDE LOAD). He's in the right/middle lane. When I'm about half way up the side of him he decides to move fully into the middle lane pushing me onto the shoulder. The only problem was at the very same place the Jersey skirt was pushed over for some construction, so the shoulder was not full width. I stood on the brakes and I swear the back corner of the house passed over the hood of the car. I was convinced the driver was purposely trying to kill me.
The other time I stood on the brakes in that car was in traffic was avoiding a guy stopped at a green light. I managed to not rear-end him... but the guy in the pick up behind me was not so fortunate. I got creamed and it pushed me into the vehicle in front of me.
I've also been on the other end, in cars with terrible brakes... My '65 mustang had 4 wheel drums with no power assist. That thing was death in the rain. I love classic Mustangs, and I'll get another one some day, but it will definitely have modern 4 wheel disks.
Be safe out there!

[NikosX]

My brakes have hauled me down to safe speeds on more than one occasion.

I can say that I know what full ABS feels like 140.

[BavarianFanatic]

Of course the moral of the story is don't try to pass in the center lane. You never know what might be looming ahead that the folks in the other lanes might need to have to try to avoid. Worst case you plead your case with the idiot clogging the left lane, THEN pass on the right. At least that way he'll know you're there...

[Goat128]

I had my own little run in with some debris on the freeway today. It must have been something like fiberboard, all in peices scattered on the road. I heard it hit the car ahead of me with a loud thunk and then I started dodging, left and right, but never leaving the lane. H&R springs and 235/45/17 providing linear feedback and grip the whole time. Not as scary as almost getting hit by a truck, but I have had one of those try to run me off the road once while I was merging.

[Grush]

Hmmm.

Never had a bad experience with my e34 yet.

Actualy, just once, when I was crusing at Castelo Branco Highway. As the track merged from 5 to 4 lanes because of the paying toll park in the oposite direction, there was this sudden stop in my lane.
I pushed the pedal hard, and then I saw it couldn't be enough cause the car in my front already stoped, so I braked even harder - full brake power actualy. The M5 managed to fully stop, then I looked behind preparing to fell the crash in my rear.
There was a 1 sec of full silence inside the car and this hyundai safety-oriented-suv veracruz managed to brake as well, but he had to throw it to the left side, hugging the wall.
I still wonder how the car in my front managed to stop that hard, and what caused that stop as well. There was no accidents as we got back to cruise speed.