[News Article] Engine blows up at 135mph on the Autobahn causing crash

[ellekz]

Not sure if this was posted yet, but I just found this news article from last week in a German M-forum:

On the road with 135mph: Engine blows while driving on the A9

My rough translation of the article:

As police stated, a man was slightly hurt during an accident on the A9. The 42 year old from the Heilsbronn area was going 135mph (220kph) on the A9 heading to Berlin on Thursday, when near Konradreuth the engine of his car blew up on the left lane. The car went out of control and crashed into the guard rail.

Due to airborne stones and ground soil, another car going in the opposite direction was badly affected as well, resulting in property damages of 5,000 EUR. The perpetrator's car was a total loss in height of about 15,000 EUR [this is obviously an incorrect number].

Considering the circumstances, it was a lucky coincidence the driver only suffered abrasions on his left arm, the police wrote in their report. Because the tarmac was contaminated with oil and ground soil, the highway patrol from Hof had to close two lanes. A squad of Autobahn maintenance authorities came for cleaning.

It obviously doesn't say anything about rod bearings, but I wouldn't be surprised if they caused it.

I also had the engine blow up while I was going 150mph on the Autobahn (Link to thread). Luckily I got off the road without causing an accident.

[WickedE93]

This could be the fuel needed to start that class action lawsuit everyone is talking about. Damn I really hope the driver is okay, that's so messed up!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Oh boy ... Wow !
The S65 blew , oil all over the place...probably BF !
Driver was very lucky with only abrasions !

[MFL]

He's probably out shopping for pants now.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MFL

He's probably out shopping for pants now.

Think he was very lucky...or it would have been his last pants !

[anom3]

This kind of stuff actually worries me.

Its one thing to lose control due to lack of skill or maybe even the enivornment (rain etc...) but if its a mechanical issue... Yikes!

[regular guy]

About three years ago, there was a story circulating in private emails about a guy who blew his engine, crashed into a wall, and was paralyzed. I believe it happened in Greece. The car was modified, and the rumor was that he filed a lawsuit against the US-based company that sold him the modifications -- blaming them for the engine failure. I tried looking this up a long time ago, and couldn't find anything. The incident was apparently known by multiple people in Greece, and even being told in private emails by some of the people who were witnesses (they are on this forum). Maybe some of you folks in Europe know more info about it, and look this guy up. I don't know who he is or how to find him. He might be a good candidate for the class action lawsuit.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by anom3

This kind of stuff actually worries me.

Its one thing to lose control due to lack of skill or maybe even the enivornment (rain etc...) but if its a mechanical issue... Yikes!

Exacty !
And that's why my BF database is stored on 2 laptops ..
In case if something happens with me... my family will kick A$$ with BMW and show my laptop in court .
In this situation they don't need to pay a new S65..."But a human life" !

[elim11]

It's definitely a dangerous and scary situation. Once the engine goes, everything locks up and better pray you can control it and nothing is around you.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by regular guy

About three years ago, there was a story circulating in private emails about a guy who blew his engine, crashed into a wall, and was paralyzed. I believe it happened in Greece. The car was modified, and the rumor was that he filed a lawsuit against the US-based company that sold him the modifications -- blaming them for the engine failure. I tried looking this up a long time ago, and couldn't find anything. The incident was apparently known by multiple people in Greece, and even being told in private emails by some of the people who were witnesses (they are on this forum). Maybe some of you folks in Europe know more info about it, and look this guy up. I don't know who he is or how to find him. He might be a good candidate for the class action lawsuit.

Do you have any kind of link to this ?
I never heard something of this incident...

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by anom3

This kind of stuff actually worries me.

Its one thing to lose control due to lack of skill or maybe even the enivornment (rain etc...) but if its a mechanical issue... Yikes!

yea, this kinda stuff makes you think..

[anom3]

Yeah my first thought when I read this was that this individual did nothing wrong, yes was traveling fast as hell but within legal bounds in a vehicle that was designed for such speeds on great roads (assuming the autobahns are well taken care of) in nice dry conditions (judging by the photo above)... Yet still...

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

yea, this kinda stuff makes you think..

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by anom3

Yeah my first thought when I read this was that this individual did nothing wrong, yes was traveling fast as hell but within legal bounds in a vehicle that was designed for such speeds on great roads (assuming the autobahns are well taken care of) in nice dry conditions (judging by the photo above)... Yet still...

Did you saw the tire profile from his front tires ?

[AreOut]

Originally Posted by elim11

It's definitely a dangerous and scary situation. Once the engine goes, everything locks up and better pray you can control it and nothing is around you.

just press clutch and put it into neutral(and brake of course)...unless you drive a DCT

[Stainless 45]

Originally Posted by AreOut

just press clutch and put it into neutral(and brake of course)...unless you drive a DCT

Good point- what happens in a DCT car when the engine blows at speed? Does it go into 'park'? lol

[regular guy]

Originally Posted by AreOut

just press clutch and put it into neutral(and brake of course)...unless you drive a DCT

I don't think it's that easy.

It sounds like the scenario you are playing is where the engine locks and drags the tranny with it. Let's say you've got superman quick reflexes and immediately push in the clutch. I'm guessing 0.75 to 1.0 seconds is the fastest you can do this. If you're in a turn, it's too late...you're already toast.

But there's a second scenario where the engine doesn't lock, but instead the immediately loss of power causes a torque shift in the engine compartment and car suspension. I don't know how large it would be, but I think it could be pretty big. Lightning fast reflexes or not on the clutch, it's already too late if that torque shift put you into a spin...you're toast here too.

Then of course there's the scenario where the engine blows and dump oil all over the road and under your tires. You're toast.

Something like that happened to a local guy when his engine let go. The car caught fire from the oil dumped by the engine. He was safe.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by regular guy

I don't think it's that easy.

It sounds like the scenario you are playing is where the engine locks and drags the tranny with it. Let's say you've got superman quick reflexes and immediately push in the clutch. I'm guessing 0.75 to 1.0 seconds is the fastest you can do this. If you're in a turn, it's too late...you're already toast.

But there's a second scenario where the engine doesn't lock, but instead the immediately loss of power causes a torque shift in the engine compartment and car suspension. I don't know how large it would be, but I think it could be pretty big. Lightning fast reflexes or not on the clutch, it's already too late if that torque shift put you into a spin...you're toast here too.

Then of course there's the scenario where the engine blows and dump oil all over the road and under your tires. You're toast.

Something like that happened to a local guy when his engine let go. The car caught fire from the oil dumped by the engine. He was safe.

Lol you guys think way too much. I have had a few motors lock up while driving. It's not that life threatening. Neutral right away helps too.

[nthretourNAFTW]

Long ago i used to have a nissan maxima issue where the engine would very suddently loose almost all its power which resulted in the car decelerating very suddently on the highway (instantly). It happened 3-5 times on the highway and the car behind almost rear ended me and then honked mad because he thought i had slammed the brakes which of course i had not. One day the engine turned itself off fortunately i was driving only ~30mph on a road. steering lost hydraulic pressure in a matter of couple seconds and the wheel anti theft LOCKED itself with the car still going. I was able to restart the car with the car moving to regain steering control. Car was not going too fast at that point, and i would have jumped out the door if i was on a canyon drive.
Nissan maxima 1992. It was a known problem but apparently never explained and only affected a small percentage of cars. There were never any class action lawsuit against nissan as far as i know. My car also had a transmission problem.

[elim11]

Originally Posted by regular guy

I don't think it's that easy.

It sounds like the scenario you are playing is where the engine locks and drags the tranny with it. Let's say you've got superman quick reflexes and immediately push in the clutch. I'm guessing 0.75 to 1.0 seconds is the fastest you can do this. If you're in a turn, it's too late...you're already toast.

But there's a second scenario where the engine doesn't lock, but instead the immediately loss of power causes a torque shift in the engine compartment and car suspension. I don't know how large it would be, but I think it could be pretty big. Lightning fast reflexes or not on the clutch, it's already too late if that torque shift put you into a spin...you're toast here too.

Then of course there's the scenario where the engine blows and dump oil all over the road and under your tires. You're toast.

Something like that happened to a local guy when his engine let go. The car caught fire from the oil dumped by the engine. He was safe.

Spot on.

[elim11]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Lol you guys think way too much. I have had a few motors lock up while driving. It's not that life threatening. Neutral right away helps too.

Maybe that's the case when you're driving at regular city speeds, but it's quite different when you're in the middle of high speed turns at the track....

[SenorFunkyPants]

ISTR that there is a system in place that would pull the clutch, should the rear wheels lock up in a DCT car. I think it's to account for icy road conditions where a high degree of engine braking might cause the rear wheels to slip. A sort of reverse traction control. There is also the anti-stall software routine that pulls the clutch when the revs drop to below tickover.

[Shredicus]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Lol you guys think way too much. I have had a few motors lock up while driving. It's not that life threatening. Neutral right away helps too.

Lol tell that to gm's lawyers bud