friggin' tire 'alligators'

[Voltigeur]

One of the problems driving a fairly low slung car - and not an F-150, say - in TX are the bloody semis' tire remnants that are thrown out onto the road.

I do drive a fair bit - 30k mi / yr - so I see and avoid many of them. But sometimes one can't - in this case I had cars to the left and right of me and a semi in front. Next thing I know I see the 'alligator', swerve as much as possible but it caught my front right splitter, also pulling down the wheel well lining behind it, ie in front of the front RHS wheel/tire

Can jury-rig a repair but will need ultimately to be replaced .

Last time this happened was 6 years ago in e39 M5 - at night - a semi threw the damn alligator right back at me (~$1k to fix).

Just ranting, but also wondering if this has happened to others or is it just my shitty luck?

[chris328i]

It definitely is not good to drive a low front spoiler on many U.S. roadways.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by chris328i

It definitely is not good to drive a low front spoiler on many U.S. roadways.

Yeah, and after being in Germany our infrastructure sucks (now ranks 23rd), see:

'America stuck in the slow lane', Economist, 4/28/11

I really miss the 'no trucks on Sunday' in Germany.

[bigjae1976]

I've nailed 3 road gators. I was in traffic with no where to go all 3 times. I know how you feel.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I've nailed 3 road gators. I was in traffic with no where to go all 3 times. I know how you feel.

3 - even worse! Any repairs?

I just picked up my M3 today from dealer, $477 - plus they did the brake fluids (service warning came on last week).

Man, after driving a plain 328i auto I was so glad to get my ///M back! My 335d + Sports kicks arse vs the base Bimmer too.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

3 - even worse! Any repairs?

I just picked up my M3 today from dealer, $477 - plus they did the brake fluids (service warning came on last week).

Man, after driving a plain 328i auto I was so glad to get my ///M back! My 335d + Sports kicks arse vs the base Bimmer too.

1 bumper, 2 temp sensors, 2 fender liners, numerous foglights, and some scratched wheels.

2 in TX, 1 in VA. And that doesn't include a brick which bent my VB3s in my 330. I do drive from Killeen to Austin a lot, 3x per week for ice hockey and stuff.

[m3_love]

I feel your pain man, it happened to me once back when I had my G35, ripped the undercarriage right out, was a huge one...and happened again around the end of last year, cracked the CF lip on my M3, but not as bad as with my old G35 though...

[Genro757]

Stuff like that is the reason why I dont wanna go back to America! Here in Germany...the roads are extremely well maintained and I guess has really spoiled me!

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

1 bumper, 2 temp sensors, 2 fender liners, numerous foglights, and some scratched wheels.

2 in TX, 1 in VA. And that doesn't include a brick which bent my VB3s in my 330. I do drive from Killeen to Austin a lot, 3x per week for ice hockey and stuff.

Quite the laundry list. I have done 3 temp sensors (e39); yep, wheel fender liners; the front lip of the splitter in the M - oh yeah, 2 foglights (other times).

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Genro757

Stuff like that is the reason why I dont wanna go back to America! Here in Germany...the roads are extremely well maintained and I guess has really spoiled me!

Yep! I love it when I am back in Bayern (sadly next time no M3 with me) and can hit the A-bahn early Sonntag

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by scott1026

cracked the CF lip on my M3, but not as bad as with my old G35 though...

I have been thinking of adding the CF lip to the splitter but it's exactly this shit that gives me pause.

[artifice]

Happened to me in my Supra... We were going down to Autorama back in early 2001 in houston from Dallas and we were about two hours out when the alligator flew off the truck hitting the first cars front lip and fender (civic with a brand new body kit) and that flung it in the air skipping two of the next cars nailing my supra on my passenger side (after swerving to miss it) and I almost ended up in a ditch. We were doing a good 90mph also and all of the cars were super low for car show. Anyways ripped off my veilside body kit on the right and damaged my fender and also hit my spoiler and nearly ripped it off. I was very angry. Oh and all my headlights went out on that side. Neadless to say, my car did not show that trip. I curse the road to Houston

[aznclickster]

i saw a lady just run over like it was nothing in her vehicle, while i attempted to dodge it today driving to work...

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

Quite the laundry list. I have done 3 temp sensors (e39); yep, wheel fender liners; the front lip of the splitter in the M - oh yeah, 2 foglights (other times).

I've found IH35 is pretty bad for road gators.

I would like to get a GTS style lip for my car. While fender liners and temp sensors aren't too financially painful to replace, a $1300 lip would be.

Someone should make a lip with a plow that protects the front...an M3 Bulldozer.

[artifice]

i would try to get a lower deductible on my insurance if i had a 1300 lip lol.... maybe like 250 bucks... so everytime it gets ripped off it won't cost me as much.

[SHADY1]

I feel you guys pain on the road gators it happen to me two times, both times could not be avoided. They took out my Hamann front lip spoiler twice The last time did the most damage it cracked my bumper, rip my front lip spoiler smooth off. The tire also rip the engine access covers under the car off, and it did some damage when it exit the rear of my car near the muffler . The amount it would have cost to replace everything was enough to get a ARKYM full replacement 1x1 weave bumper

[bigjae1976]

I'd tell everyone to drive with their eyes open but that would make me a hypocrite.