Tips to not crash again

[futiman56]

Hey everyone, I recently got a F82 ZCP and I used to drive a E92 328i. BASICALLY, my dumb butt turned MDM on (or whatever the one button press is for traction) it was wet road, and I was passing someone and I fishtailed out changing lanes, slid, and I think over corrected and my driver side rear slammed into the curb and then the front and I messed up both axles and wheels. I was only about 30 MPH revving up at 3-4k before I slid. I know my mistake and I won’t turn off Nannie’s, but I’m afraid of sliding out again. I been trying to drive the car how it’s supposed to like “shifting at 3-5k rpm” on freeway or city roads. I don’t track either. Any suggestions to drive better and not f up would be great.

[McIntoshMotorSports]

Check to see if there are some local auto cross events in your area coming up. Cheaper and less commitment than a full track day, and you can progressively work on testing your skills with traction on as well as mdm and full traction off driving styles without the risk of going 120mph+ into a wall; worst you can do is run over a bunch of cones and mess up possibly a front lip.

You need to push your car to the limit, at the track that is, to then be able to understand how to correct for understeer or oversteer in a street setting and be able to properly recover.

I personally can’t stand MDM mode as it’s unpredictable and has left me in situations that are harder to recover from then traction fully off as it allows for some slip but then will abruptly cut power and not allow you to power through the oversteer for example.

[SYT_Shadow]

To drive better, you must attend car control clinics, autocross events and potentially track events. The first two on the list are low commitment and can easily be done completely stock for very little money.

There is no way to 'drive a car how it's supposed to be driven' when it has 440hp on a wet road. Even on a dry road. To drive powerful cars 'how they're supposed to be driven' we have racetracks. Even a 328i is much too powerful in an inexperienced driver's hands.

I've been instructing in PCA/BMWCCA/FCA/Chin since 2017, you know how many times I use MDM on the street? Zero. If I'm street driving in a way that upsets the car then I'm being a jackass.

[noemon]

Echoing what others said.

Trackdays with tuition is your answer mate.

[M3SQRD]

SYT_Shadow has clearly stated what should be done to develop the skills to handle a car with > 400 hp & torque. I used the stock engine tuning for the first four years on track because it took me that long to be able to extract 100% of the power and torque in any type of corner and do it repeatedly. This was on race tracks, not the street. You cannot safely learn how to get the most out of a f8x on the street. SYT_Shadow’s statement about not using MDM on the street, well I also have never used MDM or DSC off while driving on public roads. I’ve been tracking and instructing for > 30 years and I have no problem admitting I don’t use MDM or DSC off. There are proper places to drive with DSC off and that’s at an autox and a race track.

[b_w.]

Full nannies on the street and all off on track.mdm is useless.

[futiman56]

Wow thank you everyone. I found some local auto cross events I’m gonna register in. Just gotta wait until my car is fixed haha and it’s a huge fight with the insurance cuz they aren’t willing to pay for everything. I appreciate the tips and advice!!

[Suds]

On a side note. If you crash your car during a driving event, normal car insurance dosen’t cover the damage.

Originally Posted by futiman56

Wow thank you everyone. I found some local auto cross events I’m gonna register in. Just gotta wait until my car is fixed haha and it’s a huge fight with the insurance cuz they aren’t willing to pay for everything. I appreciate the tips and advice!!

[Jbrown7403]

Back in the 80s, I used to autocross my RX-7 and 260Z. I had a really good instructor and I’m thankful to this day for the lessons I learned. I’m with the orders in saying full nanny modes on the roads, wet or dry. I value and respect the 450+ hp too much not to.

[futiman56]

Oh yeah I know insurance doesn’t cover track stuff.
Actually, what would be the chances I flip my car? Or would that be if I do something extreme such as sharp turn at high speeds?

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by futiman56

Oh yeah I know insurance doesn’t cover track stuff.
Actually, what would be the chances I flip my car? Or would that be if I do something extreme such as sharp turn at high speeds?

Roll overs happen but fortunately not frequently. It tends to occur more when you go off track where there’s no runoff area and the terrain has dips/raises. Sometimes if the apex curbing is really tall, running up the curb can cause both inside wheels to raise off the ground.

As a beginner, you’d have an instructor with you to help you learn the track, where corner workers are stationed, etc. It’s a far safer place than the streets but things still can happen. Go in with a mindset to learn, not shoot for track times. The speed will come with more practice/experience and learning to be smooth with your inputs. Start off with MDM/DSC on but work to turn them off sooner rather than later because you’ll develop bad driving habits and expect it, not your skills, to save the car.

[AnthonyChastain]

It sounds like you've had a scary experience with oversteer due to a combination of wet roads and aggressive driving. To avoid similar incidents in the future, it's crucial to respect road conditions and drive within your limits. Keeping traction control engaged can help maintain stability, especially in slippery conditions. Additionally, consider practicing defensive driving techniques, such as maintaining a safe following distance, anticipating potential hazards, and being mindful of your speed, particularly when changing lanes or accelerating. Remember, it's better to arrive safely than to push the limits and risk losing control of your vehicle.

[DocL]

Even with the nannies on, you still would have lost it on a wet road. Gotta have a light right foot with these cars when it's wet. I used to have a Lotus Esprit V8TT which had zero nannies. That cdar would get sideways no matter what on wet roads. Never been more scared in my life driving in the rain with that car.

[dth656]

Since you are in the bay area, try https://www.ggcbmwcca.org/events

they have car control clinics, well organized autocross events (you can ask for an instructor at the auto-x) and even 1 and 2 day HPDE/track events. Super helpful organizers and you will learn a lot. I think they still have slots open for their Sonoma HPDE next week (but might not be a great track for beginners), and they'll be doing Laguna in September.