Author Topic: A warning to BMW owners (Read 6660 times)

Packard · « **on:** October 08, 2021, 02:14 PM »

A man in New Jersey fell 9 stories (about 125 feet) from a high-rise building. He landed on the roof of a BMW 330 and apparently was just badly bruised. The roof of the car completely collapsed.

Apparently, the roof of a BMW is a "crumble zone". I would want considerably more structure above me in a car. In a rollover that seems extremely risky. That car needs a rollbar. An amazing story regardless.

Interesting article: https://nypost.com/2021/10/07/new-jersey-man-survives-9-story-plunge-by-landing-on-a-bmw/

Cheese · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2021, 02:22 PM »

Well that's pretty wild...he was a jumper.

Packard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2021, 02:35 PM »

That was my first question. How did this happen.? And yes, it seems fairly amazing. The weakness of the BMW's roof is what saved him. But as a rule, we don't buy cars with weak roofs to save people who fall from above.

They don't say if he jumped, or if he was pushed, or if he simply stumbled and fell.

Right now they are just saying "he fell".

Using a bodyweight of 160 pounds (just a guess on my part) and 125-foot fall (the average storey is 14 feet) this calculator shows the impact force as equalling 65,616.8 foot/pounds.

https://keisan.casio.com/exec/system/1271595050

Cheese · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2021, 03:04 PM »

Inside the article "The man, who jumped from an open window on the ninth floor, was rushed to a hospital..." and also this "He kept saying, ‘Leave me alone, I want to die.’

SDWW2019 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2021, 03:35 PM »

Just happy to see he was practicing COVID safety protocols and wearing a mask when he jumped.

Alex · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2021, 03:39 PM »

Dude, if you think this reflects badly on BMW you really have no idea of the forces involved. It is a car, not a tank. No other brand of cars would have faired better here. Except maybe Humvee, which, for all purpose and intent, is arguably some sort of tank.

Packard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2021, 04:47 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 08, 2021, 03:04 PM

Inside the article "The man, who jumped from an open window on the ninth floor, was rushed to a hospital..." and also this "He kept saying, ‘Leave me alone, I want to die.’

I read the article in the Daily News while waiting for my breakfast at the local deli. In that article, they simply said “he fell”.

I picked this link because it had the best photo. I did not read this (apparently later) article. My error.

He pretty much screwed that a up. And now he has to pay for the BMW, which is almost certainly totaled.

A warm day. Why the Parka?

Cheese · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2021, 05:10 PM »

Quote from: Packard on October 08, 2021, 04:47 PM

I picked this link because it had the best photo.

He pretty much screwed that a up. And now he has to pay for the BMW, which is almost certainly totaled.

A warm day. Why the Parker?

Ya, it's a great photo...

The photographer's take on this would be about being in the right place at the right time.

The jumper's take on this would be about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This is a day he'll never forget.

Paul_HKI · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2021, 05:46 PM »

It's only a car.

I hope that man gets the necessary help and not just unnecessary punishment.

mattgam · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2021, 10:02 PM »

There's actually video of the guy online after he hit, which of course I was dumb enough to watch. Let's just say the bones in his arm were an excellent crumple zone and from the video there wasn't much solid left in the arm. So it was a bit more than bruises but it is utterly amazing he was alive and speaking.

Cheese · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2021, 10:32 PM »

Quote from: Paul_HKI on October 08, 2021, 05:46 PM

It's only a car.
I hope that man gets the necessary help and not just unnecessary punishment.

At this juncture, I'm sure he will get his due of both.

Probably, a ton more than what he originally signed up for...as life always exposes, a simple, quick, painless solution is not necessarily a simple, quick painless solution.

mrB · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2021, 06:47 AM »

No convertible car relies on its roof for roll overs. . That’s mental concept. It’s the windscreen frame and auto deploy bars behind the rear headrest that do that job.

Packard · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2021, 07:45 AM »

How did you determine that this was a convertible? I just took a second look and I don’t see it.

I finally read the article I posted (I was relying in an earlier Daily News version). I see they refer to the sunroof.

mrB · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2021, 07:52 AM »

lol. I don’t even look close enough.

Packard · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2021, 09:09 AM »

Quote from: mrB on October 09, 2021, 07:52 AM

lol. I don’t even look close enough.

In 1965 I rolled over a 1963 Saab 96. Saab bragged they built in a roll bar and it did have shoulder harnesses. I walked away with one small cut despite rolling th car 3 rotations and ending up belly-up. The basic shape of the roof was still intact. The roll bar did its job. I am not certain the BMW would have faired as well, or even would have let me tell about it 56 years later.

squall_line · « **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2021, 10:59 AM »

Even in a non-convertible, significant rigidity comes from the A, B, and C pillars as well as the windshield and frame. To compare this to a rollover, one would need to roll without hitting the sides of the car and somehow get the car to land flat on a boulder in the center of the roof. Most rollovers don't happen that way and the pillars dissipate the energy while maintaining as much structural integrity as they can to help the passengers survive.

Ever see those pictures of a pickup stacked on top of a Smart car? The roof itself isn't holding the weight...

demographic · « **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2021, 11:13 AM »

Quote from: Paul_HKI on October 08, 2021, 05:46 PM

It's only a car.

I hope that man gets the necessary help and not just unnecessary punishment.

That^.

Mini Me · « **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2021, 09:05 PM »

Roll overs are in general a fairly safe accident to have. I have been in four of them and no one was injured in all four except the car. The first on was back in the 1960's when cars and safety were not even distant relations.

Holzhacker · « **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2021, 09:38 AM »

My BMW doesn't have a roof. I don't think the tank bag would provide enough cushion

squall_line · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2021, 01:13 PM »

Quote from: Holzhacker on October 10, 2021, 09:38 AM

My BMW doesn't have a roof. I don't think the tank bag would provide enough cushion

I almost posted something similar. I can't seem to find a roof on my BMW, and the windscreen has no frame around it.

'99 R1100S here, how about you?

Packard · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2021, 02:41 PM »

If he landed on a '99 R1100S his wish would have come true. He would have died.

While driving home on Friday on the Taconic State Parkway (New York) a kid on a hot bike passed me--I was going 75--and he did it while on a wheelie which he maintained until he was out of sight. I estimate he was doing 80 mph +. On one wheel--is that the equivalent of doing 160 on two?

squall_line · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2021, 03:16 PM »

That's not far off from mine, just missing the saddlebags, bar risers, and passenger backrest.

What I love the most about my 11S is that it's just as comfy to tour with as it is to carve up canyons, and it certainly doesn't look like a 23 year old bike. Not as comfy as the GS, but still plenty capable.

And yes, if anyone landed on that from any height, it would be unpleasant, for sure.

Packard · « **Reply #22 on:** October 11, 2021, 03:29 PM »

With saddlebags and what looks like about a 2" handlebar rise.

I had an early Ducati 750--probably a 1992. It had Weber carbs and it did not like to be ignored. If I rode it every day it would start up easily. If I left it for a week, I better have a battery charger. Impossible to start. I finally stopped using the "choke" which they called an "enrichening" setting. I started it like race car drivers do. I cranked open the carb about 12 or 15 times and then with a medium setting I would hit the starter. I usually would start right up.

Handling-wise a big step up from my Kawasaki "chopper". (But the Kawasaki always started up easily.)

Holzhacker · « **Reply #23 on:** October 11, 2021, 07:08 PM »

Currently 08 K12 gt, 72 R60/5 toaster,
74 cb360
always looking for another cb, cbx - should have never sold it
got an itch for an old Guzzi lately, would love to find a 900 Eliminator that isn't beat to junk

Peter Kelly · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2021, 02:51 PM »

Quote from: Packard on October 11, 2021, 02:41 PM

While driving home on Friday on the Taconic State Parkway (New York) a kid on a hot bike passed me--I was going 75--and he did it while on a wheelie which he maintained until he was out of sight. I estimate he was doing 80 mph +. On one wheel--is that the equivalent of doing 160 on two?

80 or 160, it won't matter all that much when he packs into a deer of which there are many grazing along the edges of the Taconic. Plenty of them doing unpredictable things this time of year.

Packard · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2021, 03:08 PM »

One of our employees crashed his car when a wild turkey flew into his windshield. I would imagine that would work as well as a deer for that cyclist.

I've also been seeing some coyotes further north (Putnam and Dutchess county). Plenty of opportunities to get killed.

Peter Kelly · « **Reply #26 on:** October 12, 2021, 11:06 PM »

I've actually seen them as far south as 20th & Ave C in Manhattan. There was also a wild turkey named Zelda that lived in Battery Park.

Cheese · « **Reply #27 on:** October 12, 2021, 11:34 PM »

Quote from: Holzhacker on October 11, 2021, 07:08 PM

...got an itch for an old Guzzi lately, would love to find a 900 Eliminator that isn't beat to junk

Interestingly enough, I was working with my neighbor today trying to find an oil leak on his 850 Le Mans III...what a sweet old school bike.

I'm not familiar with the 900 Eliminator...is that old or current? Am famliar with the El Dorado.

squall_line · « **Reply #28 on:** October 13, 2021, 12:18 AM »

Now that I have access to the files...

Holzhacker · « **Reply #29 on:** October 13, 2021, 09:33 AM »

900 Eliminator is a Kawasaki from 85 & 86. If I remember right they only made the 900 for two years. They made a 1000 and 600 after that. Think they even made a 250. The 1000 just didn't have the look. The 600 was underpowered. It was a quick response from Kaw to get a fast street cruiser in the market as response to what Honda had put out. Pretty sure it was supposed to be a response to the Honda Magna's. Those were quick bikes. Never owned one but rode a couple.
Its a cruiser, basic cool Friday night cruise the strip kind of bike. The fame for this bike though is that Kaw bascially took their Ninja 900 engine at the time and stuck it in a cruiser. Between the style and brutal speed its pretty bad ass. Always wanted one since taking one for a ride. Has that neck snapping kind of appeal like an old Chevelle.