My poor baby

[m3f_ACDM3_ced0d57879]

I haven't been on the forum for a couple weeks because my car has been in the body shop. Here is the stupid story. It was Chrismtas day and I was home in Eugene, OR. My dad hadn't seen my car, so we took it for a spin (1st time I have had it up to 115 mph). Anyway, my dad drives it last and when he parks, leaves it in gear. When it was time to drive home, my girlfriend asks me to warm it up before we go. I am 6'4", so it is a pain for me to get in and out of my car. So instead I just lean in to turn the ignition, and press down the clutch with my left hand. I always leave it in neutral and have done this before when I'm working on it. As you can guess, as soon as I let off the clutch, my car jumps forward with me hanging halfway out. My driver's side door hits a boat trailer, gets completely dented, window breaks. Passenger side not too bad, just a scrape from a car bumber. My car stopped when it hit my mom's house. Not too bad, cracked the wall a little (where my old bedroom was) and scraped up the front bumber. Anyway, I made it out with only a few bumps and bruises. Both my girlfriend and I had to run training seminars for work the next morning in the Seattle area, so we taped some plastic over the window and drove her home. I am writing this because she will be done tomorrow. I can't wait to get the M power back and install my intake that has been waiting all week. I hope everybody had a safe holiday season.



Avram

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

damn man... im sorry to hear that.. my dad does the same dumb ass thing.. one day i let him drive the porsche.. he parked it in the driveway away from the garage and left it in gear.. i never look at it.. so i hopped in and started her up (don't need to push the clutch in it).. thank god i had the parking brake on still.. she jumped hardcore into the yard.. and might i add thas the last time he will ever leave it in gear.. hopefully u get her back in better than new condition.. get the intake in.. and have some good safe fun :thumbsup:

[m3f_JB///M3]

that is sucky... but.. i would have to agree with your dads on their parking technique... i always park in 1st...i will never trust a E-brake...

[m3f_04M3blur_1ceee0bbd5]

Wow, that must have scared the crap out of you. It sounds like it went pretty far before being stopped by the house. Since I always leave my car in reverse when parked, along with the parking brake on, hopefully that won't happen to me (because I always expect it to be in gear). Bet you can't wait to get it back, at least the damage is only superficial.

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

well yeah.. if ur on a hill.. but i was on a flat surface.. no reason for it then.. i always do it if im parking it in an unsafe area etc.. but in my driveway.. on a flat surface.. in the dead of summer.. its not goin nowhere!!!

[m3f_04M3blur_1ceee0bbd5]

Originally posted by Purple99M3

well yeah.. if ur on a hill.. but i was on a flat surface.. no reason for it then.. i always do it if im parking it in an unsafe area etc.. but in my driveway.. on a flat surface.. in the dead of summer.. its not goin nowhere!!!



Yeah, I know what you mean. I guess it's just habit for me to always put it in gear. I thought I read somewhere that it's best not to leave it in reverse, but I may be dreaming.

[m3f_BMW M Powe_4a2f6c10a0]

i always leave it in gear.



that is why in 97 i think they went to having to push the clutch in order to start the car.

[m3f_ACDM3_ced0d57879]

Exactly,



It was a flat driveway, the car went about 10-15 feet before hitting the house. The scary part was being stuck between the door and inside of the car. As it was moving I was trying to reach the gear shift to no avail. Can't wait to get her back.

[m3f_redheadfred]

i always left it in gear too....on the rare occasion that my dad drove it, he'd leave it in gear with no e-brake on...sooo, i dunno. leaving it in gear and with the e-brake on is what i do, just can't start it from outside the car very easily. not a problem for me tho since i'm not 6'4"

[m3f_Extrav.Dre_53c7fb859e]

Sounds like some scary stuff.



I too leave it in gear. I am actually more likely to forget the hand brake. One of my friends didnt leave it in gear and his e-brake failed. The car rolled down a hill about a quarter mile and got totalled. Thank God it was only a Mustang.



JB.. Finally got the wheels I see. :thumbsup:

[m3f_97BLKM3COU_0f375e15e2]

Wow, you are really lucky you didn't get hurt. I couldn't imagine starting the car that way, but then again I am not 6'4"

[m3f_ACDM3_ced0d57879]

Yeah, it's just easier if I am not getting in to drive. Obviously, from now on I will triple check that it is not in gear:banghead:

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

that's why I'm not allowed to have an autostart : ( a friend of ours left it in gear - it traveled about 3 houses down before it stopped : )

[m3f_Extrav.Dre_53c7fb859e]

shows how great the torque:weight ratio is for this car even at idle speed hehe

[m3f_M3AN_5f4dc0ba80]

It would seem a rather obvious pre-start check... that the car's in neutral... :roll:



I thought that's why they put the whole "depress clutch to start car" thing in US cars... to prevent idiot accidents like this?



I feel for you ACDM3 but that's a stupid way to start a car, irrespective of your height. But you know this now...



"That that does not kill you makes you stronger."