[-=Hot|Ice=-]

My brakes saved my life today. A old lady swerves in front of me and I was going about 45 on Darnstown road this evening. Tires squeeled but I stopped.


Thank You BMW for your A+ safety.

[E90Brian]

Why did your tires squeal? Didn't the ABS lick in?

[jdink]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

Why did your tires squeal? Didn't the ABS lick in?

who cares? he is alive and his car is in once piece!

[aut0sh0cker]

Originally Posted by jdink

who cares? he is alive and his car is in once piece!

+1 amen, but yeah ABS helps a lot but still cant prevent physics...

[arabbmw]

Originally Posted by jdink

who cares? he is alive and his car is in once piece!

haha dont forget the old lady man.

[GAM3OVR85]

Originally Posted by arabbmw

haha dont forget the old lady man.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

Why did your tires squeal? Didn't the ABS lick in?

In my experience (and depending on your tires, remember I have a 328i non sport which has the smallest brakes available on the 3 series, in America at least) if you're threshold braking (meaning right at the limit, if you brake any harder you would lock your tires/ABS will kick in) there will be a minimal amount of tire squeal as the ABS system realizes the car will stop quicker on its own. If the tires begin to lock, then ABS kicks in and saves your life.

I had my windows down 2 days ago and some white Lexus in my lane signals a right turn and begins slowing down, he's way ahead and anyone but this fool could have made the turn at the speed she was going so I didn't bother slowing down. She, on the other hand, did continue slowing down and came to an almost complete stop right in front of me so I got on my brakes firmly and experienced what I described above, I was more or less on the threshold and ABS didn't have to intervene at all but my runflats made the usual noise they make on heavy deceleration (a loudish hum) plus a little squealing.

For 3,304 pounds unladen with brakes that look so unassuming from the outside my car stops in a big hurry, I'm always impressed.

[ModMyVi]

BMW brakes are the best i have ever felt. very progressive and not sudden unpredictable. squel is from the tire at the limit of its grip.

[typeszh]

Originally Posted by aut0sh0cker

+1 amen, but yeah ABS helps a lot but still cant prevent physics...

ABS increases stopping distances, just an FYI

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by typeszh

ABS increases stopping distances, just an FYI

Depending on the road conditions.

[Klepper1]

I thought the value of ABS is that is allows you to keep steering while you brake (since the wheels are still spinning), but that it increases stopping distance. The shortest stopping distance I was always told was a 4 wheel lock (but of course you are out of control).

[rrosen]

Originally Posted by Klepper1

The shortest stopping distance I was always told was a 4 wheel lock (but of course you are out of control).

Absolutely incorrect. Sliding friction is lower. Shortest stopping distance is when the tires are just short of sliding--it's called threshold braking because you are on the threshold of sliding. While you can do threshold braking on the track, it is hard to do on the road with the varying conditions and perhaps the fright of someone pulling out in front of you. ABS comes close to threshold braking (newer versions get closer) and is probably the best safety feature most drivers can have (if they use it right).

There are conditions where ABS doesn't work well, e.g., snow, sand, where locked wheels stop quicker because the loose stuff piles up in front of the tire. But for general conditions, ABS is a life saver.

And in my case one time, a deer life saver.