Re: Runaway Car - BMW Emulates Audi?

[Michiel van Wessem <jmvw@xxxxxxxxx>]

I saw a couple on:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/compmmy5.cfm

These are customer complaints. Apparently several people have complained
about unintended acceleration. Throttle linkages are mentioned, but I
suspect stomping the wrong pedal is the major cause of these complaints.
Too bad blame is put on the car.

Step on the brakes. Brakes have more force then the engine. Step on the
clutch too if you have a stick shift. 

Michiel

At 08:55 AM 12/14/98 PST, you wrote:
>OK, let me start by saying that I am fully aware that the Audi "unintended
>acceleration" scare was found to be drivers just planting their feet on the
>wrong pedal.  But I just wondered if anyone ever heard of this in a BMW
>before, or if this particular situation was unique to this individual?
>
>>From a Question and Answer column by Bob Hagin of the Pacheco
>Automotive News Service in my local newspaper:
>
>----------
>"Q:  I have a 1989 BMW 325i with 30K original miles.  A couple of months
>ago, I had it inspected at a local BMW dealership.  After the inspection, I
>shifted into Drive.  The car took off and accelerated quickly and out of
>control.  The anti-skid brake system failed.
>
>Instead of entering the highway, I steered the car within the dealership
>lot but could not avoid hitting three new BMWs in the process.  After
>careening into the third car, I finally gained control of my vehicle and
>stopped it.  However, my car was totalled.
>
>I would like to write the automaker and let him know what happened. 
>Would you be kind enough to provide me with the name and address of a
>BMW representative who would be willing to listen?
>
>      T.D., Virginia Beach, VA
>
>A:  I assume by the tone of your letter that you've already talked to a
>factory person and got an unsatisfactory response.  I don't know any
>BMW factory reps personally, but the address of BMW is Box 1227,
>Westwood, NJ, 07675.  If the problem was caused by a factory defect,
>you should contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at
>800-424-9393 and/or search the Internet for BMW recalls or class-action
>suits.  If the problem was caused by faulty workmanship at the dealer's
>shop, I can't give you advice since I'm a mechanic and not a lawyer."
>----------
>
>Well, first of all, I'm pretty sure that T.D of Virginia Beach, VA is NOT a
>member of this list!  Anyway, I'm just curious if anyone who IS on this list
>knows of a condition where the throttle could have stuck open?  One
>also wonders why T.D. didn't shift back out of gear, turn off the ignition,
>use the parking brake, or any number of the other things that might have
>gotten the car stopped before wiping out his/her own car and doing
>damage to three others?  Then again, I've never been in that situation
>myself.  Oh, and the ABS failure?  Presumably, with foot planted on the
>brake pedal, the car would have left skid marks all over the place, right? 
>Or would that have been TOTAL brake system failure?  Boy, it sure
>sounds like the Audi problem all over again to me, but what do I know?
>
>Comments?
>
>Scott Miller
>Golden Gate Chapter
>BMW CCA #44977
>1990 325i/is hybrid that has never had unintended acceleration, but could
>probably benefit from more INTENDED acceleration...
>
>

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