80 vs BMW (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

TomH

TomH

SILVER Star
Joined
May 14, 2003
Threads
43
Messages
1,465
Location
Seattle
My wife crashed the LC today. Nothing to bad - no injuries. My two boys (ages 3 and 3 months) rode it out just fine in their Britax car seats.

She decided to see how it would do against a older BMW 5 series sedan. She was following the BMW and the car in front of the BMW decided to stop to make a right hand turn. Apparently the guy in the BMW stopped quickly and my wife didn't have time to react.

I've been meaning to teach my wife how the ABS works but hadn't done that yet. I think that may have been a factor in that I think the brakes may have pushed back on her and she may have let up on the pedal. Not real clear exactly what happened.

Anyway, she swerved to the left to try to avoid the BMW and caught him right on the rear corner. Pretty much folded the rear quarter of the BMW into the rear tire. I think the rear of the LC slid a little to the left and my wife managed to get the BMW again on the front fender as she went past. The BMW is most likely totaled.

I suspect she was doing about 30 mph when she tagged him. She was pretty lucky that no one was in the lane next to her when she swerved.

As for the LC, looks like fender, bumper, inner fender well is tweaked a little, radiator support is bent a little, headlight, marker light, turn signal, lower piece below the grill, and the tire has a buldge in it. It looks like the hood came out untouched and the fender didn't make contact with the door or the pillar. I think there is also something tweaked underneath as the steering wheel is about 90 degrees out when driving straight.

I kind of want to do the repair myself but with the fender well and radiator support tweaked I'm not sure I'm up to it.

I suspect if I had an ARB, the damage would be negligible.

Here is a picture of the LC. Sorry, no pictures of the BMW
Wreck1.jpg
 
See now an ARB bumper would have resulted in 0 damage to the cruiser. I'd use the $$$ they will give you for the bumper and apply it against and ARB
 
That does it I'm getting an ARB.
 
bummer!
doesn't look bad, but if you took that into a body shop, you'd be looking at around $3k minimum.
 
TomH said:
. I think there is also something tweaked underneath as the steering wheel is about 90 degrees out when driving straight.
Click to expand...


check the splines coming out of the steering box above the pitman arm, they should straight up and down with no twist, I have seen 2 of these bent on 80 series that took loading on the front axle.

if that is not it check the steering linkages and arms on the knuckle
 
$5 bucks says that along with steering linkage issues you have some side sway in the front frame rails, I would definitely have a shop at the very least do a full measure of the frame. when you talk to the insurance a-hole (hey I can call them that im one of them) make sure they include this on their estimate.
the inner structure is tricky to work on not sure if you really want to tacke it, at the very least take the money from the oem bumper components (ie face bar, end caps and all mounting bracktes from the look of that picture) and put it towards a Slee or Arb or something similar.
I will disagree though, that much damage and force on the Front end will likely radiate damage to the frame rails regardless of arb or oem bumper components.
JMHI so feel free to disagree.
Dave
 
Tom,

Sorry to hear/see it! :frown:

If you haven't already, you better enter that essay contest of Cdan's. ;)

I'm really glad that no one was hurt though.

Good luck!!!

Mot
 
Really glad your family is ok!
 
Yikes...

Too close to home, since I almost did the same today.

I was driving with just my woman and myself in the car, and someone was sending a text message on my phone.

I pulled it out of my shirt pocket to take a peek at it for maybe 2 seconds. The instant I looked up I was 10 ft away from a stopped sedan (about to turn onto another street).

I knew I wouldn't stop so I yanked towards the right side of the road and luckily it was enough gravel to just miss and pass the car without ending up in a ditch.

Definately ARB time.
 
so much for safe following distances and not using mobile devices while driving.
 
replace quarter panel and add ARB bumper
 
CodyRx7 said:
Yikes...

I pulled it out of my shirt pocket to take a peek at it for maybe 2 seconds. The instant I looked up I was 10 ft away from a stopped sedan (about to turn onto another street).

...

Definately ARB time.
Click to expand...


Lemme get this straight- you want an ARB so you don't damage your Cruiser while you endanger others? How about "definitely stop-using-mobile-devices-while-driving-time"? Sounds like the other guy is the one who needs the ARB. :cheers:
 
Last edited:
Honestly...yes.

If it's selfish to want the protection I've seen from other pics of ARB clad Cruisers involved in front end crashes - so be it.

While I agree, I shouldn't have messed with the phone while driving, I WAS maintaining a safe distance - the vehicle in front of me did not signal, nor did the brake lights brighten when he stopped suddenly for that side road.

It was literally 2 seconds. 1 to grab the phone, 1 to glance at the screen, and then WTFFFFFFFFF......swerve.

That guy also DIDN'T turn. After we went around him, he continued going straight - so I have no idea if he even WAS turning, or what his plan was.

Now, stupid crap like that happens.

I could have been ticketed for failure to control vehicle if I crashed into the back of him. Maybe even a ticket for following too close depending on the cop's mood.

Now regardless of the entire scenario - why would I want to add extensive damage to my vehicle to the list?

I just bought my LX450 a few weeks ago, and to me, it's a brand new vehicle.

I see pictures of crashed 80's every few days as new posts to this forum.

It's not MY fault they don't have an anti-ARB protection device! :flipoff2:
 
alaskacruiser said:
Lemme get this straight- you want an ARB so you don't damage your Cruiser while you endanger others? How about "definitely stop-using-mobile-devices-while-driving-time"? Sounds like the other guy is the one who needs the ARB. :cheers:
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:
 
No, i agree, we all have our moments of distraction while driving, but installing an ARB so you can play with your ipod or check your email on your PDA or make a phone call is kinda rediculous.
 
fj803fe said:
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

A well-thought-out counterargument as usual, fj803fe. ;)
 
As fellow FZJ80 AND BMW 5 Series owner, sorry to see this happen X2.

Glad nobody was hurt, good luck on the fix.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
80 series vs other Toyota vs domestic, ease of maintenance
Replies
19
Views
1K
tmxmotorsports
tmxmotorsports
Herrett
Old vs new Marathons
Replies
2
Views
531
BILT4ME
BILT4ME
Z
LC80 Open vs Lock rear diff differences
Replies
7
Views
946
matzell
matzell
stvrn6
80 series Coolant temp, ScanGauge vs external gauge?
Replies
6
Views
2K
stvrn6
stvrn6

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom