[//M]

Originally Posted by kd0t

According to my SA, there's a button under the gear shifter surround that'll put the car in N. This is assuming there is power

^this. On the E chassis Vehicles there was a metal tab with red paint on it underneath the gear shift trim. It's now electronic on the F series so a small button would make a lot of sense.

[//M]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

I would call it a "moderate" rear-end impact, given the visible damage. I compare this to a prior read-end collision in her previous Acura TSX, where the trunk was pretty much gone and the rear-window smashed, but the car was still drivable. OTOH, maybe the bimmer just held up better structurally.

Would the air bags deploy on any read end collision? (Assuming no secondary collisions). I don't know if the other driver's air bags deployed.

Damn that's a solid hit if the trunk made it to the back glass. I hope your wife isn't feeling any side effects.

Depends on the G-forces. In a large enough hit, yes, But airbags are very expensive and the fumes aren't great for you, so every manufacturer avoids them firing unless it's actually necessary.

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by xG35c

Certain impacts can trigger a fuel pump shut off switch that needs a dealer reset.

+1

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by xG35c

Certain impacts can trigger a fuel pump shut off switch that needs a dealer reset.

That wouldn't keep the starter from turning over, would it?

So far, the evidence seems to point to the BST (Battery Safety Terminal).

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by tifosielia

Yes you're right about that but it should only go off in a severe accident, airbags are pretty much a requirement for that.

If there was airbag deployment that does seem like the likely cause.

OP unless this was a big big rear end accident, the battery charge should not have tripped.

The SOS system did trigger automatically, even though the air bags did not fire. I suspect that whatever impact sensor caused that also triggered the battery safety terminal. Also, she says her seat belt locked up so tight.

(I am surprised that the car manual does not have a "what to expect in a collision" section to explain all of this.)

[smithf80]

[COKen]

Now that makes a lot of since when you are stopped in the middle of a road.

[bacampbe]

Wow. I'd be amazed to find a single tow truck driver willing to go to that much trouble when pulling a car out of a traffic lane on a busy freeway.

It seem like, between the BST and the transmission lockout, BMW has really screwed this up. My wife and I love both of our cars, but this gives us concerns about sticking with BMW next time around. (Which might be sooner than later depending on the repair estimate.)

Do other manufacturers do similar things on current new cars?

[ajob]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

It seem like, between the BST and the transmission lockout, BMW has really screwed this up.

Do other manufacturers do similar things on current new cars?

This looks beyond serious!

Suppose I have a similar accident with my X5, say on a rainy night and a sloping road.
No more electrical handbrake but the car is stopped by the transmission in P.
I need to move the car, it's blocking the road.
Assume I (or anybody else) have the tools, remember how-to, creep under the car, remove the cover below and mechanically unblock the transmission from P to N as shown in the video - hoping I did not forget to chock a wheel or two.
What happens then? The free rolling, no power, no handbrake car still needs to get on the flatbed... maybe the unassisted brakes still work enough, but would you remove the chock and hope?

Makes no sense.

What do we know about other car models?

I would really like to learn much more about what to do in such a situation.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

Sitting with your car stalled in a busy traffic lane is probably not the time to be searching through the manual.

It's safer than being outside your car standing at the side of the busy road.

[bacampbe]

We got the initial insurance adjuster estimate back. It basically covered the things one could see in 10 seconds (replace bumper cover, repair trunk lid) and included a new positive battery cable since the car wouldn't start.

No mention of things like checking frame measurements, checking wheel alignment, etc. Would you expect those sort of things for a moderate rear-end collision? (to recap: Hard enough to cause the BST and SOS systems to activate, but not so hard to do visible damage beyond the bumper cover and lower part of trunk lid. )

He did say they would work with the body shop if the shop uncovered additional damage.

[x986]

Update?

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by x986

Update?

The car is still in the body shop. The shop advised us that their estimate is substantially higher than that of the adjuster. We are waiting for a detailed estimate from the shop.