[richiro]

Hey all,

as some of you have noticed, I have another thread going for FS items, the reasoning is that as of yesterday officially, the car is totaled. All sides of the vehicle were damaged, all airbags were deployed, more on that later.

I'll spare the details but long story short, there was good and bad being in a major accident.

The good, during the entire incident the car still felt very much in control, considering the impacts that the car took, I walked away from it, unscathed, with the exception of some being jostled around in the car. The seats (M Sport Pro pkg seats) kept me in place and planted in the cabin.

The bad: I can't say that I felt "unsafe" at any point during the crash EXCEPT for when the side air bags came down. Though I understand the point of this, I will say being in a major 8 car accident, it was scary af. You couldnt see ANYTHING happening around you except for the rear and partially the front.

The car became immobilized completely (BMW Safety protocol that immobilizes the vehicle) after the airbags deployed, to the point that they had to come tow the car.

iDrive9 immediately started malfunctioning and locked up, I could not access anything right after the crash.

Because of the extent of the damage to major component systems, I haven't been able to download the drive recorder files into a USB, but I was able to access some of the footage (albeit iDrive9 kept malfunctioning and rebooting from what im assuming is battery drain)

I have much more to share on the matter but not at this point in time, wanted to take a few days to decompress, reflect and get over the loss in a sense.

Luckily I managed to secure new wheels within 48 hours of it happening, but still was brutal to lose the car the way I did.

Just sharing this so that anyone out there knows the risks involved with this car during a major accident.

I tried posting a photo but its not allowing me, will try later.

[Hartside]

Sorry to hear about your accident must have been as scary as hell! The good thing is you walked away from it unhurt, metal can be replaced, people cannot!

[paulockenden]

It sounds like the car protected you well.

[Rayneman]

Wow, glad you're ok. That sounds like a terrifying experience.

[Lantirn]

Scary encounter but glad you are ok.

I remember a friend involved in an X3 (2nd gen) accident with many fatalities, 3-4 cars involved in highway, thankfully not any death in his car though. He was very impressed with the passive safety features of the car. He was describing it and comparing it like a steel beam would press on a piece of plasticine. Everything worked perfectly to save him and his family on board. He said he would never drive other than a BMW. Not a scratch anyone in the car.

Although not the same car in terms of mass and technology, one can relate to new tech passive safety features.

[J-RO]

The most important thing is that you did not get injured. BTW: If you are selling off the parts did you replace the X1 with something else?

[richiro]

hey all,

thanks for the well wishes.

to re-iterate what my message is (because the OP can come off as ungrateful or unappreciative), BMW's are probably the safest vehicle I have owned and because of this will continue to keep as the preference for an automobile. From what I can tell off the footage and recollection, I am indeed lucky to be here right now. This would have ended totally differently if I were in perhaps a Toyota Camry.

I am amazed and extremely grateful that I walked away from that unscathed and with not even a scratch. The interior safety features worked pretty on spot how I would have expected them too, even the knee air bags protecting my knees from hitting the bottom of the dash very well.

I would definitely not rely on the systems they advertise to be of any real good use when it comes to this kind of a scenario. Rely on a permanent source that you can access outside of it being destroyed in a crash. i.e. independent dashcam.

SOS response was immediate as soon as the bags deployed.

I would agree with your friends description as the passenger side looks identical to what he is describing. As if the doors are being injection molded onto the beam supports, thats what i can describe my car to look like post mortem.

I will say that in this search for a new vehicle, I've had to force myself to drive near and far relentlessly the last few days, and though I was glad I did that to get "back on the horse" immediately, I still am very paranoid now when facing similar traffic scenarios now. Hopefully that eventually passes.

I did secure a '23 X3 M40i just a couple of days ago, so i'll be over on that side of the boards.

All in all, I am happy about the vehicle, sad to see it go out that way, she deserved better, but I am grateful she took the hit for the team and allowed me to walk away unharmed. RIP

[kenrok1]

glad your're safe and I loved my last set of 2022 M40i's - the last of the best IMHO

[BabyX6]

Wow. Can I ask, how scared were you? Or did it all happen too fast to be scared? I'm so glad you're OK, it sounds like a miracle.

Congrats on securing a car, and a great replacement.
The X3 is primarily wider, would you say?

[fueledbycaffeine]

Originally Posted by BabyX6

Wow. Can I ask, how scared were you? Or did it all happen too fast to be scared? I'm so glad you're OK, it sounds like a miracle.

Congrats on securing a car, and a great replacement.
The X3 is primarily wider, would you say?

It’s like 2” wider and 8” longer IIRC.

[Fish Fingers]

Firstly, Glad your ok. Most important!

Secondly, I have never thought about the shock of air bags going off and lack of visibility in an accident.
At least now, it's something everyone on here will be aware of if it happens to them.

Lastly, do 'get on the horse' as the ptsd will start to pass fairly quickly once you get into routine driving again.
Similar noise may give you flashbacks though.

Had a biker (racing his mate/no leathers/no license/no insurance) crash into us many years ago. His estimated speed in excess of 120mph and we were doing 50mph. His mate then ran over him and his bike hit a wall and exploded.

Took a while to get over it, but we did - one day at a time.

Strangely if I hear a biker flying past me now, I just get really angry.

[fueledbycaffeine]

I am so very glad that you were able to walk away. I had never thought about side airbag deployment blocking the view out, but obviously it makes sense. Yikes. I wish you many years of happiness in your X3!

[richiro]

Hope this uploads

[richiro]

Again, thanks all.

I wasn’t at any point scared during the actual crash but it was also all happening very very fast.

The recorder clocked the entire incident from the time I got onto the freeway to the actual impact was within 30seconds.

The only time I curled into a ball and braced for potential impact was after it all ended, we were at the bottom of a mountain slope and I was certain I’d be hit by cars behind us. But thankfully highway patrol was already on the same highway not more than a 1/4 mile out from scene of accident, needless to say everyone coming down behind us was going the speed limit because he was there.

From what I was told everyone left the scene of the accident relatively fine. Thankfully no hospitalizations from what I overheard.

[J-RO]

Originally Posted by richiro

Hope this uploads

[rounderman]

Glad your okay. Safety is a big deal. We used to drive Saabs for that reason. Wife totaled one of ours with both kids in it, bought a new one as soon as the check cleared. Enjoy the X3

[John27]

No such thing as a good accident but anything you walk away from unscathed is about as good as it gets. Really sorry to hear about, and see, the damage to your car but delighted you are OK. As others have said, metal is easily replaced......

[RoyceMcCutcheon]

wow glad you’re ok! sorry about the car but it did what it’s designed to do and keep occupants safe. glad you were able to get another vehicle so quickly.