On Saturday I got to play BMW mechanic. The morning was spent putting a new thermostat housing on the wagon. The old thermostat was leaking and stuck in the open position. The afternoon and evening was spent putting my new UUC sway bars on the 330i. I set them for full stiff up front and soft in the rear, just to be on the safe side. I went to bed with a sense of accomplishment.
On Sunday I took the 330i out to run some errands. I, of course, took some twisty back roads to check out the handling. I also turned off the DSC to make sure it did not mask what I was feeling. The car felt O.K., body lean was reduced substantially and the car felt very responsive. Then I entered a right hand turn, the road was still wet from the morning rain. Right after I entered the turn, the rear began to slide out. I corrected for the slide, but then the front wheels found some traction and whipped the car back the other way. The rear was much looser than I have ever experienced, even on snow or on the skid pad. The understeer that I am used to was replaced with oversteer, big time oversteer.
I was starting to win the battle, when the right rear tire dropped of the side of the road. Physics then took over and the car rotated to the left as the tire slid down the side of the road into the ditch. The car rotated about 90 degrees, and just before coming to a stop slide backwards into the woods. The car ended up neatly parked between 2 trees, perpendicular to the road. Only by a miracle, or sheer dumb luck, none of the body panels sustained any damage.
The car was stuck. It would not move backwards or forwards.
I called my wife, she called the tow truck. While I was waiting for the tow truck, two of Prince William County’s finest happened on the scene. They asked a few questions, and verified that no one was injured and no one else was involved. I told them what happened. They surveyed the scene. Then they asked for my license and registration and went back to the squad car to wait for the tow truck.
The tow truck finally arrived, the cops did their traffic duty, and we winched the car out of the ditch using the tow point on the front bumper. An inspection of the car revealed a missing plastic jack point pad, damage to the front bumper and the plastic shroud in the left wheel well. I paid the tow truck driver and then Prince William’s finest presented me with a reckless driving ticket. Ouch, talk about insult on top of injury. They explained that the ticket was “routine†in these matters. They gave me some compliments on my car and went back to their squad car. They also stuck around to make sure the car would move O.K. on its own.
I was able to drive the car home with no issues detected. I hosed down the undercarriage (it was covered in mud) and jacked it up, I could not find any mechanical damage.
I plan to take it to a professional to get it looked at, replace the damaged pieces, and get a 4 wheel alignment.
I also plan to remove the UUC sways, and put the stock bars back on.
Thanks for hearing my tale of woe.
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