Crashed Today

With great sadness, I am bringing pics of the aftermath of my crash.
It's raining pretty hard right now in SLC. I did a lane change merging on to the freeway, and spun out after hitting a puddle and being unable to power out of the slide. My tail end was parallel with the wall and I ended up sliding back first into it.

DSC worked against me today.




The car's still very drivable, I drove it home after the accident, no highway patrol or other drivers were involved. Just a matter of me being an idiot.

Any tips on repairs?
Will a body shop be able to fix the dent here below the tail light?



I'm going to definitely need a new bumper plus whatever inner components got messed up. The rear bumper is pushed in about 3 inches from where it should be

Good you're OK. If the bumper is pushed in 3", there might be some frame damage. I would go to a specialized shop to asses the damage first. Also, if the frame is damaged, check if it's repairable.

GL

Originally Posted by senser

With great sadness, I am bringing pics of the aftermath of my crash.
It's raining pretty hard right now in SLC. I did a lane change merging on to the freeway, and spun out after hitting a puddle and being unable to power out of the slide. My tail end was parallel with the wall and I ended up sliding back first into it.

DSC worked against me today.

So, did you have DSC on or off? And when you say, "power out of the slide," do you mean you tried to correct with the throttle? Just curious how DSC is responded to your inputs.

Good you're okay!!
How are the tires condition? DSC is only as good as the tires.

Originally Posted by tcbDE

So, did you have DSC on or off? And when you say, "power out of the slide," do you mean you tried to correct with the throttle? Just curious how DSC is responded to your inputs.

DSC was ON.

Yes, I tried to correct with the throttle.

Originally Posted by boramkiv

Good you're okay!!
How are the tires condition? DSC is only as good as the tires.

I have Hankook Ventus V12 EVO K110's with about 6/32nds left on the rear.

Glad your OK and the car looks repairable. I don't think you can correct over steer with more throttle.

Originally Posted by kmorgan_260

Glad your OK and the car looks repairable. I don't think you can correct over steer with more throttle.

+1. Letting off the throttle and going into opposite lock would've been your best chance. But even that has unpredictable results when DSC is involved. Glad you're okay. It could've been much worse.

Definitely repairable. That's similar to the damage compared to when I got rear ended. However, check for frame damage after removing the bumper.
Time for the m5 rear end.

I was about to get the Hankook Ventus v12. I've never had a problem with dead Michelin tires in the wet though.

Originally Posted by carlova78

Definitely repairable. That's similar to the damage compared to when I got rear ended. However, check for frame damage after removing the bumper.
Time for the m5 rear end.

I was about to get the Hankook Ventus v12. I've never had a problem with dead Michelin tires in the wet though.

I'm praying that there's no frame damage
When it's dry, they're AMAZING, but any sort of serious weather and it's scary to drive.

Another question for everyone. I have full coverage on insurance. Is it worth the $500 deductible to go through insurance? Or should I not even report it?

I drove our BMW on some wet roads the day I bought it used,, and have since bought some new tires... NEXEN tires. I have not yet tried them in any serious rain yet. We don't get much rain... I am more worried about the really bad road-ragers around me.. and in my rear view mirror.... San Diego has some rotten drivers... not as bad as L.A. but still bad..

The 530i is aheavy car so that should help in the rain... but our roads build up with layers of oil, then comes some water and it's an oil slick...

I also had to put some new windsheild washer nozzles on, and hoses, the old ones were broken when I bought the car.. the pump is good,, I took out the washer motor and cleaned it up and checked it..

Doing a survey on accidents of this type so please don't be offended, but just answer truthfully if you will. Your age? Thank you for your time and expected honesty.

Bill (old man river)

Here's a good question. Did you happen to notice the DSC light flashing at all?
Probably hard to see as you were paying attention to what was happening. The reason I ask is that (no offense to you in any way shape or form)
I had to correct someone before who thought that the DSC system was activated or "on" and standing by ready for issues when the light on the dash was on.
Quite the contrary.

I see from OPs Bio that he is likely at least 40, but something really does not add up. Just driving within the speed limit and make a simple lane change an hit a puddle which happens to us all a zillion times, yet most don't try to "power out of it" and just let the car continue to go in the direction it wants to continue to go- which is straight. You don't brake or accelerate at attempt a Power drift-type move. Trust me that you did not encounter anything that people drive through every day-difference is we let the car do what it was designed to do and not "power anything".

Sorry for your accident, but think you need to really move from tires and physical faults with the car and examine your driving technique which I am sure you will defend. Puddles reach out and grab these cars all the time and smash them up as they are inherently unsafe at any speed, even in the hands of a master driver. I hate when it does that.

DSC won't let you power out of it. You can throttle all you want, but if its working during that time the car remains at idle.
It is difficult to understand what happened. I'm trying to figure it out myself just to learn more and try to commit it to memory
driving in bad weather.

I got ya, so DSC "caused" him to be whipped up on by that (how deep) puddle and probably caused him to end up sideways and in the middle barrier in the back. Makes perfect sense. Sounds like he has a legitimate law suit. Thanks Clear as mud to me now that you pointed that out.

I can't remember the last time I ever saw anyone take credit for a maneuver that caused them to wreck. Always crap tires, car that would not power drift out of danger, cars that the driver saw a piece of wood in the road and the next thing you know they were upside down and against a tree. Audi needs to pick up on this defect and exploit it to sell more Audis-whatcha think?

Originally Posted by carlova78

Definitely repairable. That's similar to the damage compared to when I got rear ended. However, check for frame damage after removing the bumper.
Time for the m5 rear end.

I was about to get the Hankook Ventus v12. I've never had a problem with dead Michelin tires in the wet though.

+1, there is likely some minor frame damage...regardless, it should be put on a frame bench and checked, that was a pretty good hit. Find a reputable shop...there is a ton of fraud in the industry these days, due to insurance companies being so cheap on what they will pay on labor, so stuff you may not see, they will skip...seriously! check on the internet, it is getting really bad out there.

glad your alright but if everything is fine sounds like a perfect time to get a m5 rear bumper

Glad you're alright and the damage probably could've been much worse. Sorry to hear about it. Looks like a gorgeous 540i

540iman: I'm indeed a young'n. I wonder what made ya think that I'm in my 40's by reading my bio. I'm 21 years old. I'm by no means an "experienced" driver, perhaps it's my Asian genes that made me a bad driver... just kidding lol I'm slightly confused by the wording in your post and cannot tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

A slight walk-through of what happened:
I know for a fact that my lane change was far too aggressive for the conditions. The accelerator was down a little bit to pass on a curving overpass that merges with the freeway. The DSC kicked in trying to correct the spinning tires as I hit the puddle which I wasn't expecting either to happen. Normally this would just send my tail end sliding out, which could be correctable with opposite lock, BUT I was taken by surprise and fought the DSC, by fluttering the throttle, where then I was going backwards on the freeway, threw it into reverse and kept spinning until I was perpendicular to the wall. The car stalled out and I rolled back into it at about 20 ish MPH.

Ugh re-living it just stresses me out. I also don't see any reason at all to have a lawsuit, seeing as I was the only party involved, and did not stop to phone highway patrol.

boramkiv: I saw that thread as well, and I typically keep my traction control ON(not pressing the button and having the light be on/DSC unactivated).
In this situation it was in fact "ON," not the light being on indicating your DSC is OFF.


IF I did NOT apply the throttle mid spin, two things would have happened:
1. Front end collision at +50 MPH into a concrete barrier.
2. T-Boned on the drivers side.

Although many accidents are avoidable, sometimes things just don't go as planned, due to any reason ie inexperience, faulty equipment, driver error, etc.


Thanks to everyone else for your support.

Originally Posted by senser

A slight walk-through of what happened:
I know for a fact that my lane change was far too aggressive for the conditions. The accelerator was down a little bit to pass on a curving overpass that merges with the freeway. The DSC kicked in trying to correct the spinning tires as I hit the puddle which I wasn't expecting either to happen. Normally this would just send my tail end sliding out, which could be correctable with opposite lock, BUT I was taken by surprise and fought the DSC, by fluttering the throttle, where then I was going backwards on the freeway, threw it into reverse and kept spinning until I was perpendicular to the wall. The car stalled out and I rolled back into it at about 20 ish MPH.

Ugh re-living it just stresses me out. I also don't see any reason at all to have a lawsuit, seeing as I was the only party involved, and did not stop to phone highway patrol.

boramkiv: I saw that thread as well, and I typically keep my traction control ON(not pressing the button and having the light be on/DSC unactivated).
In this situation it was in fact "ON," not the light being on indicating your DSC is OFF.


IF I did NOT apply the throttle mid spin, two things would have happened:
1. Front end collision at +50 MPH into a concrete barrier.
2. T-Boned on the drivers side.

Although many accidents are avoidable, sometimes things just don't go as planned, due to any reason ie inexperience, faulty equipment, driver error, etc.

Thank you for this response. I'm trying to learn so that I can commit to memory. I learn from peoples' mistakes, and that's part of the reason I've been accident free all my life.
I have no issues with how you handle it, just trying to learn.

There may be other people on this forum whos coffee was soiled with contaminants unbeknownst to them.

You're obviously good because you're here talking about it, so reliving it shouldn't stress you out.
Hydroplaning is obviously scary, and the wife tells me about it all the time. (when it rains)
I've never experienced it, but I've taken courses and drifted to simulate those events.
Not the same as the real thing with your eyes and mouth wide open, but hopefully it prepares me for such.

Thank you for the detailed response.

Nevermind. You made my point to a "T". I would not report it as this will not be your last accident and you might need it worse later.

That'll buff out...

I kid... Sorry to hear about that.. Looks like my car's twin brother..

Originally Posted by senser

540iman: I'm indeed a young'n. I wonder what made ya think that I'm in my 40's by reading my bio. I'm 21 years old. I'm by no means an "experienced" driver, perhaps it's my Asian genes that made me a bad driver... just kidding lol I'm slightly confused by the wording in your post and cannot tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

A slight walk-through of what happened:
I know for a fact that my lane change was far too aggressive for the conditions. The accelerator was down a little bit to pass on a curving overpass that merges with the freeway. The DSC kicked in trying to correct the spinning tires as I hit the puddle which I wasn't expecting either to happen. Normally this would just send my tail end sliding out, which could be correctable with opposite lock, BUT I was taken by surprise and fought the DSC, by fluttering the throttle, where then I was going backwards on the freeway, threw it into reverse and kept spinning until I was perpendicular to the wall. The car stalled out and I rolled back into it at about 20 ish MPH.

Ugh re-living it just stresses me out. I also don't see any reason at all to have a lawsuit, seeing as I was the only party involved, and did not stop to phone highway patrol.

boramkiv: I saw that thread as well, and I typically keep my traction control ON(not pressing the button and having the light be on/DSC unactivated).
In this situation it was in fact "ON," not the light being on indicating your DSC is OFF.


IF I did NOT apply the throttle mid spin, two things would have happened:
1. Front end collision at +50 MPH into a concrete barrier.
2. T-Boned on the drivers side.

Although many accidents are avoidable, sometimes things just don't go as planned, due to any reason ie inexperience, faulty equipment, driver error, etc.


Thanks to everyone else for your support.

Hm, I'm asian and about your age too. If you're Chinese I got something for you.
So would you not recommend the Hankook Ventus v12s? I'm about to pull the trigger.
How much tread was left on your tires? Just had a friend recommend Nexon N3000s

Sorry if this has been covered, didn't bother reading the entire thread.

I had similar damage when I got rear ended. About 5-10mph. And had very slight frame damage.

I almost got side swiped twice going to work yesterday. Taxi and lady putting on make up on a cellphone in a convertible beetle with a bouquet of flowers in the patented beetle flower holder.

Oh gosh, glad everyone's ok! As other's noted, there's definitely a chance of frame damage...if it were my car, it'd get a trusted indy shop to give it a quick look and quote, in order to feel out whether filing on insurance (and taking that black mark on file) is worth it. Tentatively, I'd estimate 1-2g depending how much of the crush structure (ok, whatever that beam under the bumper is called) is damaged. You have some side pictures to show how deep the damage is.

On a side note, the bumper might be salvageable? If there isn't extensive damage to the bumper itself, a bumper man could probably iron it out for a couple hundred, and let a good repairman fix the internal structure. Could end up being cheap enough to do on your own instead of dealing with insurance...

Hope you get things sorted out, that really stinks man!