ABS questions

[bxnut]

Dear Sifu's, I'm driving an E46 328 2001 for the past 4 months. I use the car for return journeys from KL to Seremban. Previous cars I've owned : Citroen bx 19gt( Still own), Alfetta sedan 2.0 ( still own) , wira 1.5, waja 1.6 manual. The BMW is an exceptional car. Comfort-wise, the Citroen would win by quite a margin. As for drama, the Alfetta would win hands down. However, the sheer power of the 328 is breathtaking and exhilarating. Most of the time, I'll be holding on for dear life within a twenty seconds of acceleration. With time I've gained confidence to throw it around corners, though I haven't tried it up to Camerons, where I grew up, or up to Fraser's hill and back from KKB and down through Bentong. I still miss the feel of the manual. Is it possible to change to a manual gearbox. Also, having used and abused non ABS cars all this while, I'm of the opinion that ABS is not really useful in the tropics. As long as you drive below 80 kmph in the rain. And I've seen many a Merc in the ditch during rain as well. having ABS is not good enough, you need to know how to handle the car when the wheels start locking. ABS was developed for the continously icy and wet roads of the nothern hemisphere. Do we realy need it here? :stupid:

 

[mizhan]

i dove a brand-spanking new red Alfetta to school for a month when in Form 4. you brought back memories of that awesome car, and the great times i had with it. thanks bro..

sorry for digretion of your topic.

p/s - any Alfettas in roadworthy condition for sale? pm me.

 

[jarance]

ABS does help to prevent your wheel from locking when you hit the emergency brake.

When your wheel locks, you loose control and will most likely to skid.

 

[bxnut]

Dear Mirzhan,

I'm not letting go of my alfetta , I'm sure you know why. But good ones are going for 5k only.Will let you know.

Jarrance, I'm sure you agree that these acromyms do impress, but the average Malaysian user does not realize that the ABS system probably would never be used in the average car's lifetime. It would be different in icy roads, or wet roads. How useful is ABS in Asia? Do we speed in wet roads? Only the most foolhardy among us do that.

Anyway, I suppose tis interesting to debate this. Car companies love to line these acronyms behind their models. I guess that is the mindset of Malaysians. To take whatever shit is dished out, and pay more for it.

Coming back to the manual issue. Do you know of anyone who has converted to from auto to manual.

Thanks sifu's.

 

[bimmerholic]

Dear Mirzhan,

I'm not letting go of my alfetta , I'm sure you know why. But good ones are going for 5k only.Will let you know.

Jarrance, I'm sure you agree that these acromyms do impress, but the average Malaysian user does not realize that the ABS system probably would never be used in the average car's lifetime. It would be different in icy roads, or wet roads. How useful is ABS in Asia? Do we speed in wet roads? Only the most foolhardy among us do that.

Anyway, I suppose tis interesting to debate this. Car companies love to line these acronyms behind their models. I guess that is the mindset of Malaysians. To take whatever shit is dished out, and pay more for it.

Coming back to the manual issue. Do you know of anyone who has converted to from auto to manual.

Thanks sifu's.

Beg to differ... I know i'm not using the ABS to keep me out of a ditch, that's cuz i seldom or hardly do E-braking. So long it's not E-braking, the ABS wouldn't kick in. So what i do is, on a randomly given day or the thought of doing it comes to mind, i'd go for a long run on a clear empty stretch, and jam the brakes while turning the wheels. There's 2 reasons why i do so. To know that i still do have the ABS working when the time comes & to give a jolk to the ABS system so that it doesn't forget what it's been designed for. Yes i agree with you, only the foolhardy would speed in rain.

 

[Guna]

Beg to differ... I know i'm not using the ABS to keep me out of a ditch, that's cuz i seldom or hardly do E-braking. So long it's not E-braking, the ABS wouldn't kick in. So what i do is, on a randomly given day or the thought of doing it comes to mind, i'd go for a long run on a clear empty stretch, and jam the brakes while turning the wheels. There's 2 reasons why i do so. To know that i still do have the ABS working when the time comes & to give a jolk to the ABS system so that it doesn't forget what it's been designed for. Yes i agree with you, only the foolhardy would speed in rain.

Gentlemen,
The ABS is a tried and very proven safety system.It has also came a long way since it was first developed.It is one of the best safety feature your car has.I for one will vouch for it.Atleast twice a life was spared thanks to this wonderful system.Infact the first thing I look for when I drive a car is whether it has ABS.
IMHO,the only place I find ABS is not neccesary is probably on a race track where you'd rather have the feel.For a car as fast as the 328,it's a blessing that it comes with it.Just my few cents worth.

 

[mizhan]

i am quicker around sepang without abs

 

[alxy]

Most of the safety equipment in the car you would not use maybe 99% of the time. BUT, when you really use it for that 1%, you would be glad you had it

 

[RCBL]

ABS definately saved my life many times from colliding with mindless drivers, dangerous/slippery roads (not that I was driving fast but the weather was really bad) and COWS on the road!!!

"Most of the safety equipment in the car you would not use maybe 99% of the time. BUT, when you really use it for that 1%, you would be glad you had it" by alxy

Jst like condoms, its better to have it and not use it than to need it and dont have it!!!

 

[buzzlie]

Beg to differ... I know i'm not using the ABS to keep me out of a ditch, that's cuz i seldom or hardly do E-braking. So long it's not E-braking, the ABS wouldn't kick in. So what i do is, on a randomly given day or the thought of doing it comes to mind, i'd go for a long run on a clear empty stretch, and jam the brakes while turning the wheels. There's 2 reasons why i do so. To know that i still do have the ABS working when the time comes & to give a jolk to the ABS system so that it doesn't forget what it's been designed for. Yes i agree with you, only the foolhardy would speed in rain.

Hmmm wonder whether there's better way to test your ABS. Any feedback?

 

[bxnut]

Well, as bimmerholic has quoted, ABS only comes into play when you EB, i.e., when you slam down on the brakes while doing a reasonable clip. Now, if you manage to stop in time, that DOES NOT mean that your ABS is working. When your ABS works is when you brake, resulting in a skid , AND still manage to steer away from the obstacle or the car ahead of you, as your wheels are still rotating.

Now , You still need to have your balls intact for you to do that, because its split seconds usually when you're driving fast. The best way of testing I think, is to do slaloms with road cones on a wet drift pad. Thats how BMW Malaysia trained drivers many years ago when ABS was introduced.

 

[azeL_Inc]

ABS s not only designed for icy road..even in normal road conditions, it does reduce the braking distance and that s fairly good enough for me. every inch counts!

 

[banliang8]

i dove a brand-spanking new red Alfetta to school for a month when in Form 4. you brought back memories of that awesome car, and the great times i had with it. thanks bro..

sorry for digretion of your topic.

p/s - any Alfettas in roadworthy condition for sale? pm me.

http://www.mudah.my/Alfa-romeo-alfetta-2.0-3587158.htm