Runaway BMW idiot driver

[Erin]

I actually know someone that this happened to, and it was also in a BMW but a 5-series. They were in France and coming to the end of a toll road and the car just wouldn't slow down. I can't remember exactly what happened but I think he had to drive off the road to stop it. I have a feeling that turning the ignition off didn't actually kill the engine. They aren't idiots either, the driver was early 50's. It was an automatic which probably makes a difference cos you can't just knock it out of gear.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Erin

I actually know someone that this happened to, and it was also in a BMW but a 5-series. They were in France and coming to the end of a toll road and the car just wouldn't slow down. I can't remember exactly what happened but I think he had to drive off the road to stop it. I have a feeling that turning the ignition off didn't actually kill the engine. They aren't idiots either, the driver was early 50's. It was an automatic which probably makes a difference cos you can't just knock it out of gear.

You can put it into neutral though. Or you can with a normal auto box - God knows what the modern ones will let you/not let you do!!!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Erin

I actually know someone that this happened to, and it was also in a BMW but a 5-series. They were in France and coming to the end of a toll road and the car just wouldn't slow down. I can't remember exactly what happened but I think he had to drive off the road to stop it. I have a feeling that turning the ignition off didn't actually kill the engine. They aren't idiots either, the driver was early 50's. It was an automatic which probably makes a difference cos you can't just knock it out of gear.

You can put my D3 from drive to neutral with out taking your foot off the gas!
It will just rev up to the limiter, tried it after I heard about a D3 that was stuck with the cures control on!

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

You can put my D3 from drive to neutral with out taking your foot off the gas!
It will just rev up to the limiter, tried it after I heard about a D3 that was stuck with the cures control on!

Yeah, but if the cruise control has 'jammed' on because of an electronic malfunction, and the gearbox is electrically linked by wire and not mechanical linkage/cable then there probably isn't much you can do if the car brain is saying accelerate accelerate and won't listen to the commands of the driver!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Erin

Yeah, but if the cruise control has 'jammed' on because of an electronic malfunction, and the gearbox is electrically linked by wire and not mechanical linkage/cable then there probably isn't much you can do if the car brain is saying accelerate accelerate and won't listen to the commands of the driver!

That is when you realise you should never have bought a BMW!!!