1997 BMW 318TI problems

Filed Apr 23, 2006 · Acceleration · 149,000 miles · MN

My 1997 bmw 318ti suffered from unintended acceleration. Here's how it happened: I pulled out onto the street after getting my car washed. I pushed the accelerator down hard as I pulled out. The car lunged forward and the wet tires spun on the pavement. I let off on the accelerator but the car raced forward on its own. I applied both feet to the brakes. The engine continued to rev at its maximum possible revolutions and the wheels were screeching forward. The ABS system was kicking in continually in an effort to stop the vehicle but it would not stop and I could barely contain it. The odometer kicked up to 130 MPH even though I was not going more than 25 MPH. I tried to pull the shift lever into neutral but the engine just revved faster and would not stop lunging forward. While standing on the brakes with both feet, I shut the ignition off. The acceleration immediately stopped and the car shut down. My hazard lights were turned on at the time because the car wash people told me to turn them on (apparently to alert the staff people that I had paid extra for a clear coat finish...). After I got the car shut off and turned the hazard lights off, the car restarted normally. I am aware of a very famous unintended acceleration case also involving hazard lights called the "holidazzle accident" in minneapolis, minnesota on december 5, 1998. The behavior of my vehicle was the same as that reported by the minneapolis police during this parade accident that killed two people. The ultimate finding in the case was that the use of hazard blinkers caused the ford van to suffer unintended acceleration. I am not an engineer, but I think the hazard lights might have had something to do with the fact that my vehicle would not stop. There was also nothing obstructing the gas pedal such as floor mats or anything else. There does appear to be a stickiness to the gas pedal switch itself that will be examined by the dealer. By peter f. Barry (612) 379-8800.