Imagine this view out your side window whilst being pushed 70mph for 1/4 mile by an unknowing rig.

More: http://forums.bimmerforums.com...44798

 

Definitely an occasion to change my mood lighting.

 

And change my underwear...

 

Ok, so the truck driver didn't hear a crunch or any tire sqeeling right away? He must have eventually because he stoped in 1/4 a mile.

 

i have first hand experience. at least his window didn't blow up in his face...

 

Wow. I feel even better about the integrity of our MINIs. I'm actually surprised how well both cars held up.

 

Most cars have the same integrity as a Mini. They just have more space for "crush zone", which is the designed-in way a car's front squashes into an accordion in an accident. The idea is that the front of the car crumpling up will help smooth out the deceleration before the occupants "feel" it. Yes, we're talking milliseconds here, but it really does matter, and helps.

Because it's designed to give way, an accident these days generally looks far worse than it is.

Side impacts are a different story. There is no crush zone available, so those doors and frame in that area have to be ultra rigid. In this area the Mini actually is amongst the best. I think the very low center of gravity and wide stance of the car helped prevent it from toppling and having that truck roll over it.

 

i will be so heartborken if this happen to my MINI

 

I believe I'd just be grateful to have walked away unscathed.

 

Man that must have been a scary ride. Did you notice the airbags didn't deploy? Must have been a relatively light hit considering it was a truck pushing them. Glad the driver & his wife walked away.

 

yeah i've seen a couple side impacts on the forums before and most of the time the side air bags did not deploy. it didn't deploy in my accident, but I walked away without a scratch... just a lot of glass in my hair. however there is always whiplash effects...

 

I don't see the side airbags.. did they deploy?

glad to hear you are ok though.

 

The airbags will only deploy if a certain threshold is reached in a crash. Not sure what that is though. These didn't blow,that's why I commented on it must have being a relatively light impact.

 

FYI, this wasn't me. But I'm guessing the MINI driver is a NAM member.

 

I was thinking they weren't a NAM members, since it wasn't posted here. Maybe they're one of those Mini owners that feels it's a BMW first, and a Mini second.

 

I am a nam member

the truck driver never saw us, and kept driving, other drivers behind us went around and told him to pull over, he had a 30,000 pound pipe on that truck and never felt a thing

we are both ok, the mini is not hurt bad, all the drivers side panels need replacing, 10-12k in repairs I think

thank god for window tint, it saved me from pulling glass out of my face

I'm not sure if I will keep the car once repaired or trade it in on a 135i

 

Scary stuff. I'm glad you and your wife are OK, mega.

 

Brings back memories for me. Glad you guys are okay.

Gromit is healed and still running like a champ. We still have the door with all the autographs. BTW, I still occasionally find a piece of window glass in the car.

 

That's a bummer. Glad you guys are alright.

 

What did the tires/wheels look like on the right side of the car after that long dragging?

 

bald spots I'm sure, it looked like the tires were being peeled off the rims, but they held on, I have stock runflats on it

the rear passenger rim was destroyed though