The thought of colliding with a concrete barrier at a staggering 170 miles per hour in a road car is chilling to consider. It’s almost unimaginable that anyone could survive such a high-impact crash, let alone walk away right after. Thankfully, a BMW enthusiast known as 1StockF30 on YouTube experienced just that; his modified G42-generation M240i crashed into the wall during a quarter-mile race at the track.
First, it’s worth recognizing this driver for taking his M240i to a drag strip to properly test its capabilities, rather than attempting to reach 170 mph on public roads. His M240i is one of the fastest G42 2 Series cars ever recorded. While he hasn’t shared the exact power specifications, the car features an upgraded intake manifold, a custom tune, and a turbocharger that appears larger than one’s head. Regardless of the final power output, the M240i certainly impressed—a video showed it achieving a Dragy-rated quarter-mile time of 8.56 seconds at 167.66 mph before ultimately losing control at 172 mph.
What exactly went wrong during the run? The video doesn’t clearly illustrate what caused the loss of control, as the camera angles do not show any abrupt movements from the driver at high speed. However, it captures a moment when he takes one hand off the steering wheel, quickly shifting the gear lever instead of using the paddle shifters. The rear of the car appears to lose traction and slide out as the vehicle exceeds 170 mph, leaving no time to regain control before crashing into the barrier.
Miraculously, the driver not only emerged from the wreck unscathed but was also seen crawling around the car in search of a way out before finally climbing out on his own. Much of this can be attributed to the car’s safety features. Video footage shows the airbag deploying and then quickly deflating, allowing the driver to see and steer while the curtain and side airbags remained inflated to protect against potential further impacts. The footage from inside the cabin reveals a substantial crash, but the M240i managed to endure it well. From the outside, the car was left severely damaged, showcasing a typical result of such a crash. Nevertheless, BMW inadvertently gained a significant promotional boost for its safety features.
While 1StockF30 did walk away from the incident, he was later hospitalized due to back and chest pain. Given that he collided with a concrete wall at such high speeds, the outcome could be considered remarkably fortunate..
