318i Accelerator Jams and Brakes Fail... goes 135mph for 60 miles - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 03-16-2006, 11:38 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4796264.stm

Quote:

Accelerator jam car hits 135mph

A motorist drove for 60 miles at speeds of 135mph after the accelerator on his BMW car jammed and his brakes failed.

Kevin Nicolle, 26, was on the A1 near Thirsk in North Yorkshire when the car started to accelerate.
"I was in tears most of the time on the phone to the police - I really could see myself dying," he told the BBC.
He had to drive on the hard shoulder to avoid crashing but eventually lost control and hit a roundabout near Blyth, Notts, but escaped unhurt.

Speaking to BBC Five Live about the incident on 5 March Mr Nicolle said: "I was travelling down the motorway and I came to traffic in front of me.
"I took my foot off the accelerator because it's automatic - but I wasn't slowing down at all.
"I hit the brakes. They were braking ok, they were keeping me at about 70mph.
"So I phoned up the police after I called the AA and they said straight away 'stick your hazard lights on and headlights on - we've got a helicopter en route to you'."
Police patrol cars were also sent but struggled to catch up with the BMW 318.

'Survived accident'

Mr Nicolle said: "Then the brakes started burning out - I could see smoke coming from the brakes."
He tried to put the car into neutral but the gears were jammed.
Mr Nicolle was in constant contact with the police on a hands-free phone.
As he approached Blyth he saw a sign for a roundabout.
"There was a load of cars parked waiting to go onto the roundabout, so I went on the inside on the hard shoulder to try to get around it.

"But doing that sort of speed there was no chance and I hit the roundabout head on.
"I remember the 999 lady saying 'he's crashed'.
"I survived the accident but I thought I was going to die in the fire."
But miraculously he walked away completely unhurt - and said he is now considering giving up driving for good.
Mr Nicolle said the police took the car away for tests and BMW said they would carry out a full investigation.
BMW's UK media relations manager, Duncan Forrester, said: "I would certainly like to reassure anybody driving any BMW that we see this as really nothing more than a freak accident.
"We have absolutely no record of anything such as this happening in the past, hence the reason why we want to take a close look at it."
The R reg car had 107,000 miles on the clock and had three months remaining on the MOT.

I think my favorite part of that article was "Police patrol cars were also sent but struggled to catch up with the BMW 318".

witeshark · 03-16-2006, 12:28 PM

That is so amazing. Wonder why he didn't turn off the key?

**Hoppy** · 03-16-2006, 12:35 PM

so why didnt he just turn it off? sorry i have very little practice with automatics. does it not let you or sumthing?

**01Mike330i** · 03-16-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witeshark

That is so amazing. Wonder why he didn't turn off the key?

Good point. He could have also pulled the E-brake that should have stopped it as well.

Sounds a little fishy to me...he should have had a couple options.

I love this:

Quote:

So I phoned up the police after I called the AA

Um...shouldn't he have called the police before called the Automobile Association???

I think all the cheap dye he uses on his head soaked through to his brain...

**c1apton** · 03-16-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witeshark

That is so amazing. Wonder why he didn't turn off the key?

Just look at that "door knob" - he was to busy crying while talking to police. IDIOT. God created ricers to keep morons like you from driving BMWs

**Hoppy** · 03-16-2006, 01:31 PM

ha your kidding me? your ebrake over powers your car?! damn i gotta get mine fixed or somehting

**xsperf** · 03-16-2006, 06:02 PM

yea guys, if the normal breaks smoked, theres no way the ebrake will stop it

**Longhairedhippy** · 03-16-2006, 10:49 PM

he could have turned it off. i just tested this. i started my car, put it in drive, and turned the key. the car shut off. i couldn't remove the kay, but the car ceased to run.

**94bmw325i** · 03-17-2006, 01:02 AM

if your doing 70 or so, I sure wouldn't use the e-brake.

**Hoppy** · 03-17-2006, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94bmw325i

if your doing 70 or so, I sure wouldn't use the e-brake.

it would be a fun 3 seconds before you die though!

**Numark318i** · 03-17-2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppy

it would be a fun 3 seconds before you die though!

have u ever tried to pull ur ebrake at that speed? It doesnt do shit unless its really tight and u pulll very fucking hard. Assuming his ebrake wasnt tight enough it wouldnt have done anything.

M42 ftw...or M44...or the newer I4?

**Hoppy** · 03-17-2006, 10:54 AM

i donno my ebrake actualy doesnt work at all. haha i have no idea how i keep passing inspections.

Storamin · 03-17-2006, 01:35 PM

no 318 can hit 135mph.

**Rooz** · 03-17-2006, 09:02 PM

"Puss!" I've been down to 135... it had me with a big smile on my face... that whuss was crying... F him!