[marcm]

Travelling on the M62 today from Manchester -> Yorkshire and it was really windy. I was behind a 4x4 pickup with some metal stripping in the back of the pickup tied to the roof. I could see the metal stips wobbling and decided to get past the pickup. I got just behind it in the outside lane and the rope snapped that was holing the metal stips in place so instant reaction floor it and hang on

In the moment I just kept going and in the rear view saw the metal stripping flying all over the place. I couldnt see any accident so didnt stop but I was thankful for the little red box thats plugged in that gave me the additional power.

[M3-FAST]

Sounds like a close call

[KadeSdad]

Sounds like the "Final Destination" moment back when I had a Celica GT, on the M6 just before Thelwall viaductt something similar happened to me but I couldn't get out the way, a scaff pole broke free and was heading straight for me, luckily it hit the front bumper, mashed the radiator and went under the car.........brown pant moment I can tell you.

Moments like that certainly give you a wake up call!

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

Sounds like the "Final Destination" moment back when I had a Celica GT, on the M6 just before Thelwall viaductt something similar happened to me but I couldn't get out the way, a scaff pole broke free and was heading straight for me, luckily it hit the front bumper, mashed the radiator and went under the car.........brown pant moment I can tell you.

Moments like that certainly give you a wake up call!

I remember my next door neighbour pulling up in the driveway one evening when a scaffold pole had come off a lorry travelling the other way. It went through the bottom of the windscreen, into the top of the dash and then exited through the middle of the fasica by the radio and hit the floor between the gearstick and handbrake. So lucky it landed between him and his wife - 8" either way and it would have been unthinkable.

[creepy coupe]

"Power can save you"

I used to tell my Mum that, when trying to convince her I needed a more powerful motorbike.

[Em135eye]

It didn't save Peter Mandelsson - he sold his soul to the devil years ago.

Do you ever get treehugging muppets saying you "don't need that much power on a public road" or "fast cars are more dangerous?

IMO that's bo77ocks - faster cars usually have better brakes, better handling and are MUCH safer for overtaking with and for similar situations to the above.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

IMO that's bo77ocks - faster cars usually have better brakes, better handling and are MUCH safer for overtaking with and for similar situations to the above.

Execpt BMW's which have the same shite brakes on most models, except the 135i.

[Em135eye]

My brakes work okay - they seem to slow down then stop the car.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

My brakes work okay - they seem to slow down then stop the car.

Good to hear, but they're the almost same as the 318d and most of the BMW range, say your point of a fast car having better brakes isn't strictly correct.

Agree, for most everyday driving BMW brakes are ok, if slightly over assisted, but don't rely on them for any serious hard braking.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Good to hear, but they're the almost same as the 318d and most of the BMW range, say your point of a fast car having better brakes isn't strictly correct.

Agree, for most everyday driving BMW brakes are ok, if slightly over assisted, but don't rely on them for any serious hard braking.

The 335d brakes are HUGE!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by willhollin

The 335d brakes are HUGE!

But still single piston sliding calipers Will, same as a 318d, just bigger

[Ham09]

I've been pretty lucky in this respect, not really had a very close call. If anything the closest I have had is when I had to slam on the brakes on the motorway when you get phantom queues occuring in the fast lane. The beemer stops no problem but twice I have seen smoking tyres from the cars behind. It's one of those wait for the crunch moments and you can't do anything.

At my last place a work mate came in looking white as a ghost. I asked what was wrong and he had a near miss on the way in. A car on the other side of the motorway flipped over the central reservation and over his car, missing his windscreen (other car upside down) by about 3 feet. If he'd been going a couple of mph more he'd of been a gonna. Power is useful, but sometimes plain luck helps

[willhollin]

If your time is up, you're fooked.

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Good to hear, but they're the almost same as the 318d and most of the BMW range, say your point of a fast car having better brakes isn't strictly correct.

Agree, for most everyday driving BMW brakes are ok, if slightly over assisted, but don't rely on them for any serious hard braking.

Well they are a lot better than my only other "pretty quick" car the Golf R32. Never thought they needed to be better (don't do trackdays). In fact had they not been good, I would have splatted a badger two weeks ago. This was 40 to 0 in a very very short distance.

Okay they aren't 911 Turbo brakes but they haul the car to a stop plenty quick enough for me, single pot or not.

[zltm089]

I found my brakes on the 335i quite good.... saved me a few times ;-)

[SiKkBaSs]

So you're saying:

"If in doubt, speed."

[ibanezking]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

But still single piston sliding calipers Will, same as a 318d, just bigger

so they're NOT the same - they're substantially bigger - and work great!

had the 330d for 4 years and now the 335d for 5 months and not once have i thought i need better brakes...............

Now my V220DCi people carrier............... everytime i go out i wish they were ALOT better!

Max

[Em135eye]

My first car was a 1973 Morris Marina. TBH dragging my foot outside the door on the tarmac would have been more effective than the "brakes" it had.

Luckily it didn't really go above 70 so I was never going very fast.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by ibanezking

so they're NOT the same - they're substantially bigger - and work great!

had the 330d for 4 years and now the 335d for 5 months and not once have i thought i need better brakes...............

Now my V220DCi people carrier............... everytime i go out i wish they were ALOT better!

Max

318 front brakes =300mm single sliding piston

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...89&hg=34&fg=05

335i = 348mm Single sliding piston

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...44&hg=34&fg=05

135i 348mm 6 pot fixed

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...07&hg=34&fg=05

Try a 135i and then see how good your 335 is

[- Paul -]

Try a few "fast" laps around the ring and then see how good the brakes are!!

OP - scary!!

[Captain Chaos]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

My first car was a 1973 Morris Marina. TBH dragging my foot outside the door on the tarmac would have been more effective than the "brakes" it had.

Luckily it didn't really go above 70 so I was never going very fast.

Haha awesome, mine was a 74, horrible brown thing but the old man gave it to me so I put up with it! Couldn't save for a new one quickly enough though, thing was a death trap!

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

"Power can save you"

I used to tell my Mum that, when trying to convince her I needed a more powerful motorbike.

And double haha, right there with you!! She never entertained it but it provided me with a reason to argue at least! Thing is, it's true, you get options in an emergency, not just brake-and-pray.

Worked for Marc anyway - and glad it did too..

[beemerbird]

Oooh defo close call. Sure gets the adrenalin going!

Worst I had was years ago on a motorbike, but that was bit spooky tbh.

Cars, nothing to write home about as such except summer 2008 in the Cayman S on route to Milau Bridge and this bend with a sheer drop on the other side, but the bend just carried on and on and on and yes, I'd approached it too fast. The tyres were squealing and one of those moments where you react as opposed to think. If the rear tyres had let go I would have seriously struggled to contain the car and we'd have gone over the edge. I concentrated on feathering the power to get around the bend knowing that grip would return in full as it were. Had I braked, it would have been goodnight imo.

Hand on heart I'm convinced if I had been driving any of the cars we all drive now, I would have lost it. Once back on track as it were I pulled over, had a cig and Steve simply said 'that was interesting wasn't it luv........think you pushed it a bit too far that time'. Indeed, would have been my own fault.

Power saves you and gets you out of awkward situations..........totally and completely agree but some pillocks will never understand the concept as long as they have a hole in their arse.