Baited by M badged non M car. How do you respond?
Discussion
Minding my own business in fast lane of dual carriageway (fortunate enough to drive an F10 M5). Travelling "around" the speed limit, traffic well spaced and flowing freely, slowly passing the traffic in slow lane.
Notice silver E60 5 series approaching from behind at speed, M badge on the front grille, immediately recognize its not an M5 from its mirrors and front fog lights, comes right up my rear, far too close for comfort, literally 3-4 yrds maximum, wants me to move over I presume even though I am still passing cars in slow lane myself and to move over would then slow me down.
Do I pull over and let it go safe in the knowledge that we both know who's got the M car or should I rise to the challange and floor it?
I finally let him pass; another M badge on rear, looked like a 530d. He shot past me with a cloud of oil burning smoke and a look of utter contempt in my general direction.
How would anyone else respond in this situation? I think I did well to keep the boy racing tendencies of my youth at bay.
Notice silver E60 5 series approaching from behind at speed, M badge on the front grille, immediately recognize its not an M5 from its mirrors and front fog lights, comes right up my rear, far too close for comfort, literally 3-4 yrds maximum, wants me to move over I presume even though I am still passing cars in slow lane myself and to move over would then slow me down.
Do I pull over and let it go safe in the knowledge that we both know who's got the M car or should I rise to the challange and floor it?
I finally let him pass; another M badge on rear, looked like a 530d. He shot past me with a cloud of oil burning smoke and a look of utter contempt in my general direction.
How would anyone else respond in this situation? I think I did well to keep the boy racing tendencies of my youth at bay.
Well there's the response that everyone wants to do, and the one that would be wiser, especially if you don't know if its the BIB baiting people (although I think they always travel in pairs?). The tipping point would be how 'around' the speed limit you are and what speed it would take for said muppet to eat humble pie
Fezzaman said:
Well there's the response that everyone wants to do, and the one that would be wiser, especially if you don't know if its the BIB baiting people (although I think they always travel in pairs?). The tipping point would be how 'around' the speed limit you are and what speed it would take for said muppet to eat humble pie
I did look to see if I could see some lights behind the grill (he was that close) or any extra ariels sticking out the roof, was fairly sure he wasn't unmarked car, just a complete ######. I think I would have needed to achieve immediate licence loosing speed to put any meaningful daylight between us to make a point so ultimately the sensible middle aged side of me took over.
I would use the power of my car to pull away from the imposter. He would not keep up with the acceleration of the M5. I would then safely slow down, pull in to the slow lane and wait for him to catch up ,smile at him.... well snigger actually and let him pass by. Tail gating is really the sign of very poor driving .
Well done op.
Your response was responsible, calm and of a much higher class then trying to prove an obvious point to an idiot in the 530d.
Everyone knows the M5 would fly away! So why bother, he was in a rush, you weren't, you have the better/faster car and he cant drive and is giving all us BMW owners a bad name driving like that.
You would have been viewed very badly by other drivers and by the law if you simply decided to put your foot down. Doing so would just have added to the stereotype of outside lane BMW drivers. I think you showed a lot of class.
(it is very tempting to just pull away and then laugh at him though. On a quieter road, that would have been the more satisfying conclusion)
Your response was responsible, calm and of a much higher class then trying to prove an obvious point to an idiot in the 530d.
Everyone knows the M5 would fly away! So why bother, he was in a rush, you weren't, you have the better/faster car and he cant drive and is giving all us BMW owners a bad name driving like that.
You would have been viewed very badly by other drivers and by the law if you simply decided to put your foot down. Doing so would just have added to the stereotype of outside lane BMW drivers. I think you showed a lot of class.
(it is very tempting to just pull away and then laugh at him though. On a quieter road, that would have been the more satisfying conclusion)
msdes123 said:
Do I pull over and let it go safe in the knowledge that we both know who's got the M car or should I rise to the challange and floor it?
I finally let him pass; another M badge on rear, looked like a 530d. He shot past me with a cloud of oil burning smoke and a look of utter contempt in my general direction.
How would anyone else respond in this situation? I think I did well to keep the boy racing tendencies of my youth at bay.
I'd usually respond the same way as you - I generally don't waste my time rising to the "challenge" thrown down by frustrated DERV drivers - what's the point of proving the obvious?I finally let him pass; another M badge on rear, looked like a 530d. He shot past me with a cloud of oil burning smoke and a look of utter contempt in my general direction.
How would anyone else respond in this situation? I think I did well to keep the boy racing tendencies of my youth at bay.
Being tailgated by another M, a Porsche or Audi RS, for example, generally elicits a different reaction however (road conditions safely permitting).
A couple of years ago i drove from Bournemouth to Taunton for a new years eve break. On the way down the Dorchester bypass an M-sport E60 5 series raced up behind me. In the mirrors i could see it was not only sporting an M badge on the grille, but also an M5 plate (something like M5 DAN). Once he'd clocked i was in a real life E61 M5 he backed off a mile. I kept slowing from 70 down to 50 to see if he'd overtake but his embarrassment and inferiority caused him to slow also, so i couldnt see his shamed face. Why do it to the car if youre not going to be proud of it?
On a similar note, today i did also see a white Merc C200 saloon sporting a set of C63 tailpipes, but only on one side of the rear bumper. Had an AMG badge too. My bright red C63 PP+ passing him was a shock i'd imagine.
On a similar note, today i did also see a white Merc C200 saloon sporting a set of C63 tailpipes, but only on one side of the rear bumper. Had an AMG badge too. My bright red C63 PP+ passing him was a shock i'd imagine.
Just out of interest, what made you think he was 'baiting' you? From what you have written, that sounds like more of an assumption. He may have just been 'in a hurry' (don't get me wrong, there's no excusing tailgating and heaven forbid M badging of a non M car) and you just happened to be another car in his way. In which case, if you had have responded in some way, you would have looked a fool. I think you made the right choice!
It happened to me last week when I was in my M3.
I saw an E46 touring come tearing up behind me when I was in the outside lane of a DC. I pulled over and let him pass as I was curious about it.
The driver then floored it, and as it was debadged, but cokey smokey, I assumed it was a 330D. It was also pretty quick, so I then assumed it was a remapped 330D (yes, I know). I had to keep the revs above 4k to gain on it again, if you know what I mean.
I pulled up next to it at the next junction and tried to give the driver the thumbs up as I like a good sleeper, but he wouldn't acknowledge.
I saw an E46 touring come tearing up behind me when I was in the outside lane of a DC. I pulled over and let him pass as I was curious about it.
The driver then floored it, and as it was debadged, but cokey smokey, I assumed it was a 330D. It was also pretty quick, so I then assumed it was a remapped 330D (yes, I know). I had to keep the revs above 4k to gain on it again, if you know what I mean.
I pulled up next to it at the next junction and tried to give the driver the thumbs up as I like a good sleeper, but he wouldn't acknowledge.
Edited by Baz Tench on Monday 20th May 06:10
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