Slip And Slide - BMW Forum

jiggs · 04-27-2005, 11:58 AM

So I'm relatively new to driving my bimmer and all. I've always heard that it will skid in rain and snow but I really didn't think it was the case in rain. Over the past week it's been raining here in Toronto and I've been driving the same as I always have without any problems .. until last nite. It was coming down pretty hard around 10:30 pm. I was coming off the highway doing about 100 (km/h) onto a 4 lane street. The off ramp connecting to the street was about 90 degree turn. So I go into the curve full speed and then baaaaaam. My back side totally loses control, I skid across three lanes (thank God there was noone behind me) while still pushing hard forward. It was pretty scary yet sick at the same time since it was like one of those movie moments when a car takes a sharp turn and slides across the street

. I've learned my lesson though .. in rain slow down on the sharp turns :P

4evrwyntr · 04-27-2005, 12:05 PM

In cases like this - don't blame the car! :P
I've heard a lot of people blame their cars, whether it be mustang or bimmer, and how rear wheel drive sucks blah blah blah. Like you said - you've learned to drive differently. An all wheel drive vehicle if driven incorrectly is MUCH MORE dangerous through a curve than a rear wheel drive (unless it's intelligent all wheel drive). Anyway, glad to hear you're okay - maybe get some all season tires? I mean, good ones? They make a world of difference - you probably know that though.
Sorry, this came out like a rant, but wasn't meant as one.

The Deuce · 04-27-2005, 12:15 PM

Any car would have done that in your sitation.

You were slowing down going into a sharp corner. With the weight transferred off the back tires, it will slide really easily.

Sounds to me like you think your BMW is some kind of "super" car that can defy the laws of physics.

Glad you didn't hurt anyone being so stupid.

whitey_E30 · 04-27-2005, 12:27 PM

O, but BMWs are super cars... and they do defy the laws of physics

The Deuce · 04-27-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by whitey_E30@Apr 27 2005, 01:27 PM
O, but BMWs are super cars... and they do defy the laws of physics

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Don't even get me started on your senior picture.

jiggs · 04-27-2005, 12:30 PM

used I wasn't blaming my bimmer. Just sharing a story of my ignorance I suppose. I do have a good set of all season tires but I guess going so fast in a sharp curve will do that to any car. The best way to learn is by experience

(i still think the actual skid was pretty cool

)

4evrwyntr · 04-27-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jiggs@Apr 27 2005, 12:30 PM
used I wasn't blaming my bimmer. Just sharing a story of my ignorance I suppose. I do have a good set of all season tires but I guess going so fast in a sharp curve will do that to any car. The best way to learn is by experience
(i still think the actual skid was pretty cool )

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You got it! Try as we might, we all make mistakes. The FIRST day after I got my m3, I overestimated my dunlop's winter traction - i.e. I estimated winter traction. In my 318i I was perfectly fine, with some all season kumho's on there which worked quite well through snow and slush.
Anyway, long story short - on ramp + way too much torque + .5' patch of snow = fishtail?!? Wow. Never expected that. I swung around about 4 times before I finally got control (I think part of the problem was also that I did not have experience with ASC... I was probably only exacerbating it - should have just shut it off) but in the process nicked my car. Yup. I is stupid too. But we learn yah.

Jrf786 · 04-27-2005, 09:14 PM

haha, did the same thing the first week I had my car, hadnt ever driven anything but front wheel japanese cars, and going up a freeway on ramp, the back end kicked out on me, good thing I had the stability control on though, it brought it back. I can drive with it off now and get some pretty good drifts going, but at first, pushing my car to it's limits was a little weird for me.

e30driver · 04-29-2005, 01:43 PM

dude i wish my car can do that
i allways try to make the rear of my car slide
i try it more in the rain then when its dry out!!!
some times when its dry out if i get lucky i can get my car to drift around right turns and left ones. its fun to try it, just be carefull.
and make sure cops are not around though

Torque · 04-29-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by e30driver@Apr 29 2005, 02:43 PM
dude i wish my car can do that
i allways try to make the rear of my car slide
i try it more in the rain then when its dry out!!!
some times when its dry out if i get lucky i can get my car to drift around right turns and left ones. its fun to try it, just be carefull.
and make sure cops are not around though

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all bmws are setup for understeer from the factory... which is why it's hard to get the back end out sometimes (in lower powered ones) unless you have less traction than normal.

speaking of understeer i almost ended up in someones lawn today.

4evrwyntr · 04-29-2005, 04:24 PM

Hit any gnomes?

e30driver · 04-29-2005, 04:29 PM

is understeer where your front end slides?
or is that when the rear end slides?

thanks

Jrf786 · 04-29-2005, 04:45 PM

Front end slides, and the car "pushes." It takes a lot more than a heavy right foot to drift correctly. You need to learn about the weight distribution and how to control it. My 528 understeers constantly in the twists, it's ANNOYING.