Hey,
Last night I dropped my car off at a local BMW specialist to get what i suspected to be balljoints sorted (on their way out, play in the steering and knocking on bumps), and picked up their little runaround courtesy car (an N reg e36 316i Compact), which while rather rubbish is definitely still better than busing it or a corsa to say the least!
On the way into work on the motorway this morning, doing around 65-70 in the outside lane with the inside lane slowing down almost to a queue for a junction (2 lane motorway) when a Ford Ka pulled out doing about 30-35mph infront of the car infront of me (a vauxhall insignia)
The insignia went into the back of the Ka, and I went into the back of the Insignia fairly damn hard, airbags deployed (damn they hurt). To top it off, the BMW Mini behind me joined in the party too and re-arranged the back of the car hard enough that the boot lid is about 3-4" further protruding than the boot floor.
That's how the e36 suffered! The mini actually looks remarkably ok in that photo in the distance, but the bonnet wont shut (a few inches difference between the front of the car's normal position and where it is now) and it wouldnt start etc.
Despite having managed to get out of the car with adrenaline and phone the emergency services, a few minutes later the pain really set in. I was taken to hospital on a stretcher with a neck brace with a fair amount of pain in the neck and in various places down my back.
The insignia driver had to be cut out of the car as he had severe back and neck pain and couldnt feel his right hand side. The mini driver seemed fine but shook up emotionally, but one thing we all agreed on was that we all saw the Ka pull out.
One thing that was really remarkable, and I can only assume the worst as to why they will have done it, is the Ford Ka that initiated the whole accident left the scene in a fair haste before anyone managed to get its registration (before id even got out of the car, the Ka was far enough away "doing one" as such that i couldnt read it).
The police have said there is no CCTV camera coverage where the accident actually happened (A627M towards oldham from the m62) but they will see if there were any vehicles matching the description that we all verified on the footage from the cameras about a mile previous, and do some leg work to see if there is any damage to that car etc, but they're not confident.
I was discharged from the hospital a few hours ago with no fractures, but lots of soft tissue bruising around my neck and spine and a bit on my stomach where the seatbelt crossed it, given a boat load of pain killers and warned it's going to get far worse over the next few days before it gets better. That's not a good thing as I'm already sore as hell, limited range of movement in my neck and cant lean over.
The guy who was in the insignia was just going into x-ray as i left, and seemed in MUCH more pain.
Now, I'm in two minds as to whether or not im glad i was in a courtesy car: on one hand, i wouldve stopped a lot quicker in my car (i just locked up with the uber skinny tyres etc), but that wouldve only meant that I would've been rear ended even harder, so at least I don't really have to worry about the insurance side of things bar claiming back loss of earnings now! Still going to be a messy battle especially if the Ka can't be found. It's amazing how much quicker cars infront can stop when they hit something going a lot slower than them though, even with a decent stopping distance it just disappeared in no time whatsoever, **** brembos, slow down using a Ford Ka for the ultimate stopping power.
Anyway, thought id share the full story given the support a few of you lads who are on my facebook have given me today
Thanks for looking,
Tom.
PS the garage have phoned me too, you can't replace the ball joints on their own you have to replace the whole arm
more good news 
Last night I dropped my car off at a local BMW specialist to get what i suspected to be balljoints sorted (on their way out, play in the steering and knocking on bumps), and picked up their little runaround courtesy car (an N reg e36 316i Compact), which while rather rubbish is definitely still better than busing it or a corsa to say the least!
On the way into work on the motorway this morning, doing around 65-70 in the outside lane with the inside lane slowing down almost to a queue for a junction (2 lane motorway) when a Ford Ka pulled out doing about 30-35mph infront of the car infront of me (a vauxhall insignia)
The insignia went into the back of the Ka, and I went into the back of the Insignia fairly damn hard, airbags deployed (damn they hurt). To top it off, the BMW Mini behind me joined in the party too and re-arranged the back of the car hard enough that the boot lid is about 3-4" further protruding than the boot floor.
That's how the e36 suffered! The mini actually looks remarkably ok in that photo in the distance, but the bonnet wont shut (a few inches difference between the front of the car's normal position and where it is now) and it wouldnt start etc.
Despite having managed to get out of the car with adrenaline and phone the emergency services, a few minutes later the pain really set in. I was taken to hospital on a stretcher with a neck brace with a fair amount of pain in the neck and in various places down my back.
The insignia driver had to be cut out of the car as he had severe back and neck pain and couldnt feel his right hand side. The mini driver seemed fine but shook up emotionally, but one thing we all agreed on was that we all saw the Ka pull out.
One thing that was really remarkable, and I can only assume the worst as to why they will have done it, is the Ford Ka that initiated the whole accident left the scene in a fair haste before anyone managed to get its registration (before id even got out of the car, the Ka was far enough away "doing one" as such that i couldnt read it).
The police have said there is no CCTV camera coverage where the accident actually happened (A627M towards oldham from the m62) but they will see if there were any vehicles matching the description that we all verified on the footage from the cameras about a mile previous, and do some leg work to see if there is any damage to that car etc, but they're not confident.
I was discharged from the hospital a few hours ago with no fractures, but lots of soft tissue bruising around my neck and spine and a bit on my stomach where the seatbelt crossed it, given a boat load of pain killers and warned it's going to get far worse over the next few days before it gets better. That's not a good thing as I'm already sore as hell, limited range of movement in my neck and cant lean over.
The guy who was in the insignia was just going into x-ray as i left, and seemed in MUCH more pain.
Now, I'm in two minds as to whether or not im glad i was in a courtesy car: on one hand, i wouldve stopped a lot quicker in my car (i just locked up with the uber skinny tyres etc), but that wouldve only meant that I would've been rear ended even harder, so at least I don't really have to worry about the insurance side of things bar claiming back loss of earnings now! Still going to be a messy battle especially if the Ka can't be found. It's amazing how much quicker cars infront can stop when they hit something going a lot slower than them though, even with a decent stopping distance it just disappeared in no time whatsoever, **** brembos, slow down using a Ford Ka for the ultimate stopping power.
Anyway, thought id share the full story given the support a few of you lads who are on my facebook have given me today
Thanks for looking,
Tom.
PS the garage have phoned me too, you can't replace the ball joints on their own you have to replace the whole arm
more good news
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