Aquaplaning, if steering still heavy, then probably rear tyres riding over the water. Too fast in the rain I am afraid. I have done it with worse results than you.

 

Quite a warning to us all if aquaplanning can do that at 75mph. I am no expert but if on a steep hill as mentioned there should not have been any standing water so do you still feel it may be aquaplanning that caused this ?

 

Don't need standing water to aquaplane.
What happens with constant driving on these roads is that channels form which the water follows,when driving in the channels with the water aquaplaning results.The steering feels heavy because you get pulled in and can't turn out of the channels.Could also be a couple of other things-Driving too fast for conditions and crap tyres only help to aggravate these symptoms.

 

we have all experienced a aquaplaning most of us not with such adverse outcome and in my opinion i will not rule aqua planing out due to slope coz it depends how heavy the rain was, but having said that i havent heard or experienced heavy steering as a result

 

logically i would have thought the steering would be the same if not lighter?

 

Blown tyre? Cheap tyres?
Sorry to hear about that just glad you managed to stay clear of anyone else especially at 3pm. Hope it gets sorted quick for you mate.

Class--

 

The only thing with heavy steering I can think would be a sticking caliper or something seriously wrong with the steering pump.

 

could be worse, a lad from round here with an xr3i managed to leave his battery connected poorly, it popped off when he was driving, thus everything died, and thus the steering lock came on, resulting in a fairly horrific crash!

 

rain coming down a steep hill can be just as bad if not worse to aquaplain on, as it ripples and has currents of its own, and would make the steering feel heavy and pull you off to one side. it could also very easily be sunken road. i drive over 70k a year for my job, and i have had close shaves that sound just like yer mans there. i guess thats what we have insurace for.

shame dude

 

Thanks for all your input. The tyres are good and OE. The steering almost felt jammed until after the second impact - much worse than failed PAS, which i recon also rules out aquaplaning, especially as the car pulled left twice! Then regaining normal steering and control. I suspect a failed steering rod - hence the turned in wheel obsesved the following day.

 

The tyres are std 18". I had a couple of plastic bodied Lotus cars in the 80's (from new) and they were swines for aquplaning. Two E types and assorted high perfomance cars over 40 years, a mechanic to trade, many moons ago. I ran a truck dealership until retiring. Now 62 i still love driving and cover 20k p.a. I only mention this boring c*** to advise you that i'm not some power crazed nerd who doesn't know what driving a quick car is about.

In the origional thread i said 'after hitting the barrier for the second time, the car veered left'. Sorry, it went right of course.

 

Jimmy, the reason I mentioned aquaplaning was as a process of elimination.

I too had a perfectly maintained BMW, OE tyres, perfectly aware of the effect road surfaces can have and yet I was caught out as all other cars sailed on through, big bills, lot of barrier taken out. There is little rhyme nor reason, when they go, they go.

Let us know what any inspection says.....

 

Hmm.
Needs a professional inspection I think.
To see if a part failed due to fatigue or if the damage was from the impact.

Weird one for sure!

 

Really appreciate the help, advice and interest. Re 'tramlining' , i know that twichy, wobble in a rut feeling. It was not that and my experiences has been been in inside lanes, generally caused by trucks etc.

The vehicle will hopefully be in the uk in the next 10 days. I have an independant engineer poised to inspect. I,ll keep you kind guys posted. Thanks, jimmy