Teach me how not to obsess over my car...

[z335is]

Looking for some advice here guys. So I recently traded in my M3 for an M3cs and as with all of my other cars, did the requisite clear bra, etc. However without fail, despite whatever protection I have on the car, I always find the smallest imperfection to obsess over. In this case, a few microscopic chips on the inner part of the rear wheel well fenders (I kid you not).

All of that said, as I get older, it's honestly getting tiring having to go through this same cycle with every car, as it's impacting my enjoyment factor of you know, the car itself.

So, 1) Am I crazy? 2) is anyone else similarly as crazy? 3) what are some good coping mechanisms?

[Eric S]

PPF/coat the whole thing and drive it!

at a certain point, it makes no sense nitpicking every little imperfection...you could get rear ended and have it totaled 2 weeks after you get it (recent client told me about his experience with that....I cringed)

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by z335is

Looking for some advice here guys. So I recently traded in my M3 for an M3cs and as with all of my other cars, did the requisite clear bra, etc. However without fail, despite whatever protection I have on the car, I always find the smallest imperfection to obsess over. In this case, a few microscopic chips on the inner part of the rear wheel well fenders (I kid you not).

All of that said, as I get older, it's honestly getting tiring having to go through this same cycle with every car, as it's impacting my enjoyment factor of you know, the car itself.

So, 1) Am I crazy? 2) is anyone else similarly as crazy? 3) what are some good coping mechanisms?

Originally Posted by z335is

Looking for some advice here guys. So I recently traded in my M3 for an M3cs and as with all of my other cars, did the requisite clear bra, etc. However without fail, despite whatever protection I have on the car, I always find the smallest imperfection to obsess over. In this case, a few microscopic chips on the inner part of the rear wheel well fenders (I kid you not).

All of that said, as I get older, it's honestly getting tiring having to go through this same cycle with every car, as it's impacting my enjoyment factor of you know, the car itself.

So, 1) Am I crazy? 2) is anyone else similarly as crazy? 3) what are some good coping mechanisms?

No not crazy, just look at cars differently from the average owner. I am like you and struggled with similar issues my whole life on every car I've owned! There is no such thing as perfection, from what I've found. The harder you try and protect your car the more inevitable that things will happen to it. This is the reason I opted to buy a used m3 from the original owner who took great care of it but there are still some scratches chips it etc... I just tell myself at least I got a good deal and to just enjoy the car!

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

im really bad at this....

I got super pissed after my rear-end and everyone on here was like "good grief" give it a rest...at least you didn't die...

and i'm like duh I didn't die; it was a tap....

which kind of opened my eyes to the bigger picture.

someone COULD have rear ended me in a tractor trailer and I could have been paralyzed. or dead.

Same thing goes with everything in life....you can prepare all you want and get your car coated in liquid diamond...but shit happens and its not just you...just gotta take your punches and move on.

I empathize with you tho because...it still drives me crazy daily; but it will make me stronger learning to get over it; then continuing poor coping

[Clark_Kent]

You've gotta let go. I found a few scratches on my rear bumper when washing it this past weekend. Some loser probably brushed up against it in a parking lot. I was annoyed for 5 mins and then let it go. I'm not ppf'ing my whole car that I'll be turning in in 33 months. At the end of the day, it's a vehicle that is driven outdoors in the elements. You have to expect some wear and tear.

[Frozen]

Are you the same way with women?

[gatorfast]

I have learned not to care about minor imperfections. As others have said, it's a car you drive in the elements so it will be impossible to keep it perfect. Simply keeping it freshly washed and clean is good enough for me.

[Suds]

I buy used cars, they come with flaws.
A rub here a chip there, shit happens.

[blinkme323]

I used to be the same exact way bud, to the point where I had my e92 M3 completely wrapped from front to back. Want to know what happened though? I was rear-ended by someone at 55 mph...

So now I just protect my cars as best I can with a partial PPF and just live with every other minor imperfection.

Think of it this way - your car is probably in better shape than 99.8% of the cars on the road. Drive it, enjoy it.

[Mr Friese]

If you drive it, things will happen. /thread

[z335is]

Thanks for all of the input guys, you definitely made me feel a little bit better. Every day is a new day I suppose

[blinkme323]

Originally Posted by Mr Friese

If you drive it, things will happen. /thread

Lol. Well said.

[jdgamble]

Just a thought, because I'm pretty anal with my car. This wouldn't necessarily help with rock chips in the wheel well, but it certainly helps with many imperfections. Get some good products... cleaning and protecting. Maybe even a DA polisher with some compound / polishes. Being able to fix things makes life a lot easier. In my opinion, swirled out or scuffed paint is way worse than a chip or two. The holistic condition makes the most difference. So consider getting some tools so you can take care of your car.

[CachacoF80]

Quite frankly, think about real problems in life: health, family, job issues, etc.

If you are experiencing something in those fronts and still worry about the car, then you need to reshuffle priorities...And if you don't have any major issues, then think that by stressing so much about your car, then (1) you are adding stress and anxiety to your health, (2) likely taking time away from family and kids, (3) spending hard earned money in ways that may not be conducive to a tranquil future and that may affect the top priorities.

And buy a fun car that you can drive without concerns. My Mini Cooper S is a blast. It's plasticky inside, etc. but I can park anywhere, throw around corners, and humble most cars in corners. For $11k used.

Finally, think that unless you have a major accident or so, the resale value of it will be within 2-5k of one that someone didn't worry about so much. Those 5k are nothing in comparison to good health, happy family, etc.

[M3Fahrer]

I obsessed over my 2015 M3 that I financed. I'm two months in with my M3 CS and I leased it for the main reason that I didn't want to obsess about it. Already have a rock chip or three, but oh well, I only see it if I'm looking for it.

[hellokitty]

Give it some time and it will pass. I used to be super OCD about it but not as much anymore after 2 years of ownership.

[FreeDarko]

Originally Posted by M3Fahrer

I obsessed over my 2015 M3 that I financed. I'm two months in with my M3 CS and I leased it for the main reason that I didn't want to obsess about it. Already have a rock chip or three, but oh well, I only see it if I'm looking for it.

I miss the stress free leased life.

[damageprone]

Anything new to me, regardless if it is new or used I tend to obsess over too.

It takes a few scratches, dents or scrapes that I can't fix on my own (via OCD detailing) is when I start to not obsess too much.

As everyone says, drive the car, earn those badges, and it'll go away.

[shay2nak]

All I will say is no matter how much you obsess over the car and try to protect it, there are things that will always be out of your control or unavoidable that will happen. Was the case for my Exige 3 times. One was my fault (backing into a wall with a new stiff clutch with shit help from the shop owner trying to guide me. Chipping the rear clam and then calling a paint guy who used the wrong code to paint so you see a small slightly lighter patch. I wish I had gotten out of the car to see how much room I had left or used touchup paint instead.), one was a visiting family member’s fault (accidentally dropping a socket on the front of the car tearing my newly installed XPEL and chipping the paint when I didn’t ask for help. This one really pissed me the fuck off and still does.) and one was from a Merc SUV turning into the car coming to a stop at an intersection. Luckily it was extremely minor.

Nothing has happened to the M3 yet and that’s because I hardly drive it. I am even more paranoid and protective considering what happened to me beloved Lotus.

The only way it will stay pristine is if you don’t drive it.

[325iExecutive]

I am in the same boat ..... perhaps was after reading this. Or will try to be

Good read on this thread. Very helpful - thank you all for your contributions !!

[gezed32]

I just tell myself to treat paint imperfections as any other sort of wear and tear item(which it is), to respray a panel is a few hundred bucks, most people spend 2-3x that on a diffuser. Plan for it like you'd plan for a brake job, let imperfections accumulate with the plan for a respray in mind. That really helped me put off thinking about every little imperfection on my car

[Alpine_F82]

Learn to accept it Your supposed to drive it like crazy and push it to its limits and don’t worry about it. I prefer to xpel the whole car and do whatever.