As it turns out the dent i was whining about a week ago was nothing to what happened last night. My friend and I are making a video about my car. Since he lives in Eatonville we decided to do some of the shooting up there. There are some spectacular spots to take photos and video. Well last night we went out looking for spots to shoot at and it turned out to be a mistake.

As i was rounding a corner in La Grande, doing between 25-30MPH a deer ran into the road and stopped about a foot and a half from the center line in my lane. I swerved to miss him but the back end lost control and started sliding. My front left wheel went off the road and into the dirt and after that the car was on it's own. I tried my hardest to recover but she did what she wanted. I had traction control on but lately it hasn't been always working. I read the manual and I think that due to the odd size wheels it is messing with the ASC sensor. At times i can spin the wheels in the wet through 3rd gear and traction control won't intervene at all.

I think had I had my stock wheels on it may have turned out better, but I'm not going to dwell on that. Tomorrow I will be calling the tow truck company and am having the car towed to Paramount Centre where BMW Northwest has their collision repair done.

Luckily with the BMW engineering we were able to get the car out. The people who lived near where the deer jumped out heard the wreck and called the cops and came out to make sure we were alright. The Eatonville cop showed up and called the Stater. He left and we attempted to pull the car out. After digging the rear bumper out enough to put the tow hook in (Thank god my car had one otherwise i would have not of gotten out without ruining more) My friend's dad pulled the car out back end first with his truck, the same way we originally went in sideways.

It seems to be all cosmetic damage. The bumper and front lip are done for, as well as all the brake ducting and the managerary of other plastic panels under the front end. I made sure nothing was leaking and we had to remove what was left of the inner fender well pieces, but the car drove. Nothing seems wrong, but I am not taking any chances. I got the car home and it is staying in the garage until it is ready to be flat-bedded to the repair center.

Well it was my first wreck and it sucks but what can you do. It is just one of those things that you have to deal with. I don't think i could have done anything differently so the anger has kind of subsided. I am just glad it wasn't worse, with another car, and the fact that no one was hurt. The cop said if he had a nickel for every call he came to that involved a deer and someone going into the ditch, he could retire. Somehow that wasn't real comforting, but he was very helpful and understood this was my first time anything like this has happened. I normally have bad things to say about cops, and I was disappointed in the Eatonville Police, but I was glad the Stater came.

Well here are some pics. Most of them are after i got home. but i will post the one of my car in the ditch. I am planning on going back and taking some pics of the ditch during the day. But it has been a long 24hours so i didn't have time to go up there today.. After arriving home at 11p.m. and making it to bed by 12a.m. i had to get up at 3a.m. to go to work.And there wasn't much sleep involved in those short 3 hours. Ill try to get some pics of the area up soon. Please everyone take it easy out there. Be safe, and keep enjoying the BMW pride, passion, and elegance. SHe will be back on the road soon!
-Matt

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4594.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4593.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4592.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4591.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4590.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/enzof355f430/Wreck/DSCN4589.jpg

holy shit man hope you are alright

Wow, good to hear you're ok! And "great" news that it looks all cosmetic, considering what could have happened.

Yeah I am fine. I was really saddened last night but I just want to drive her again now!
-Matt

wow, not much damage at all. You faired well. Thats an easy fixer.

Hey you're running no mesh for me until it gets fixed. :D

Hopefully the car gods will leave alpine cars alone soon. :(

Hopefully the car gods will leave alpine cars alone soon. :(
Man Im praying for you , me, and every other Alpine car out there. What the hell did we ever do to them?
-Matt

Well the car just got picked up and is on its way to Paramount Centre in Fife. Cant wait to have her back!
-Matt

I've done work with Paramount Centre before, Russ is a nice guy.

Before
http://www.mitchelrl.com/paramount/before.jpg

After
http://www.mitchelrl.com/paramount/after.jpg

Now are you SURE you didn't make up the deer story? It honestly sounds like you were trying to drift and overcorrected, but I wasn't there.

And yes, your wheels/tires having a different diameter than stock will affect ASC. Allthough by the looks of it, I don't think it would have helped you in this situation, once your hit the dirt, you were at the mercy of your own inertia.

No i didn't make up the deer story. It is the first time i have ever had an animal run into the road, so i was a little overcome (obviously). Many things i can say i would do differently, but im not going to dwell on it. I am very confident on what i saw at Paramount. Russ took us through and talked with us for 45mins-1hr showing us the Range Rover, 8 Series, X3, and E90 3 series telling us what was going on with them. He was very knowledgeable and I feel my car will be no problem for him and his crew.

So what would you guys do as far as wheels go? I love my wheels, but I would like my traction control to work correctly. Would something less extreme, say 18x8.5s be better, or is it a work correctly with stock wheels or not work at all times with anything else? Should i (attempt to) sell the 19s? Thoughts/Opinions?
-Matt

I just hit a racoon at 60mph, looks like it missed the bumper, somehow..

Get rid of the wheels, TSW's don't belong on bmw's and those look tacky.

Get some Ultraleggera's or some SSR's and you'll be much happier and substantially lighter.

Get rid of the wheels, TSW's don't belong on bmw's and those look tacky.

Get some Ultraleggera's or some SSR's and you'll be much happier and substantially lighter.
Will they help with the traction control issue though?
-Matt

Don't focus on the wheel size so much as getting the rolling diameter to be the same or close to stock.

You're better off getting rid of ASC, imho. What kind of tires were you on, anyway?

I want to keep the ASC for my winter driving. I was on Kumho Ecstas in the rear Yokohama ES100s up front. Cheap tires at the time of purchase but it isnt proving so now. :(
-Matt

Jesus Christ ES100s are trash...which ecstas? Its about the time of year you should be switching your summer out for allseasons or snows.

I'd be willing to bet that you would be better off w/o traction control.

I dont remember what Ecstas. I heard from a friend of a friend about ES100s and they had a similar tread pattern to the Ecstas so that is why i went with them. I planned on buying another set of stock wheels and buying some snows for those to put on, but i still want to get my summer wheels all sorted out. If i dont plan on keeping them i might as well try to sell them now. Why would i be better off without TC?
-Matt

Matt, sorry to hear the bad news man, but your story sounds all TOO familiar to me! I feel for you, I'm glad yours didn't turn out to be as bad as mine was and happy to hear that everyone is okay.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=702055

Yes es100 blows chunks. I was told they were good. :rolleyes:

Falken azenis rt615 is where it's at. The original falken azenis were awesome too. Can't wait til spring is here so i can mount the rt615. :D

Oh and who needs asc anyways? Not like the e36 asc is that advance. It just cuts power so you lose even more control of your car. :dunno

So you think if i do the ASC delete i will be fine in the snow and ice. As harsh as it sounds the car is my daily driver, whether it be snow sleet hail rain ice or sunshine.
-Matt
P.S. Ill definitely look into the Falkens for whatever wheels i go with next.

RWD with no traction control in snow and ice does not sound like fun.

Traction control won't help you much in the snow/ice (you want BOTH wheels spinning, don't you?)

If you're in ice and you're going sideways, ASC isn't going to help you. It's only really worth a shit in the rain and dry.

I concur with the Falken Azenis RT615 statement. They are the best tires I've ever run on. they will run you like 120 a piece with a road hazard warranty from Vulcan Tires.

K thanks for the help guys. Really looking forward to getting my baby back. Ill keep you all posted.
-Matt

Just an add to the removal of your ASC... the manual actually tells you to turn it off when driving in snow and ice for the exact reasons Mitchel explained.

Matt, I'd remove it! I took it off mine and never looked back, just take it easy in the rain and you should be fine.

GL with everything buddy!

You 96+ m guys have both asc and clutch valve but you guys always remove them.

It's great having a 95 and not having to do all that. :D

You 96+ m guys have both asc and clutch valve but you guys always remove them.

It's great having a 95 and not having to do all that. :D

CDV took 20 mins to take out and throw a stainless clutch line in while I was at it :shrug:

My 96 is odd and doesn't have ACS, but I'm not complaining!

No worries man! You still got your ///M!

What did you do to my old car???!!! You were suppose to take care of it. At least it was only cosmetic damages and you're okay. BTW- CDV was done to this car already. Just remember to keep turning off your ASC each time you get in to drive your car. Get rid of those rims and slap the stockers on and enjoy the ride.