I was riding up the 405 freeway yesterday when I heard a loud “BANG!” Someone had hit my brand new (to me), mint condition, Galvanic Gold, hyper-rare 2021 BMW i3S. I turned to see a motorcyclist splitting lanes ahead, wobbling from the impact. He continued riding; it was a hit and run. I drove to work, stepped out of the car, and surveyed the damage. “SON OF A BITCH!”
It was a scratch. Not a huge scratch, but a scratch. A white line on my mirror, and I was livid! Mostly because this biker had hit my car (possibly on purpose, since he was splitting lanes, and possibly punishing those who were maybe a bit off to the left) and just rode off with not a care in the world. That’s just unacceptable! It’s also possible it was an accident; either way, just stop if you hit someone else’s car — not cool.
Anyway, here’s the baby scratch on my mirror:
The impact had been loud, so I was surprised the damage was so minor. Luckily, though, it wasn’t on the mirror housing’s gloss black section, which is painted, but instead on that coarse black plastic section, which appears to be injection molded and black all the way through.
This is actually a great design choice by BMW, because it means you can bang that mirror on a parking garage entry-ticket machine and, while you’ll sustain a scratch, you won’t be able to tell because that scratch’s valley will be the same color as the rest of that part of the mirror. I know this because look at how my mirror looks now:
Looks pretty much all fixed! If you look closely, you can see some roughness from the motorcycle incident on the right half of this image:
But for the most part, it’s repaired, and I’m happy with how the car looks overall. But it got me thinking: First, if a little scratch like this has me all concerned, I need to get XPEL PPF as soon as possible. And second, when is this “phase” going to go away? Like, surely not every scratch is going to bum me out forever, right?
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My brother just bought a yellow Audi S3 recently, and he’s going through the same issue. He got a rock chip the other week, and it bummed him out. I used to have the same worry with my brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang and my 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee “Holy Grail.” They were all just so nice that adding even a scratch to them could ruin your afternoon. Surely you, dear readers, can relate? When will I be released from this prison?
Anyway, my partner, Elise (that’s not her real name), suggests that I keep my 2014 i3 and use that as my errands car. I won’t care if someone hits its mirror or if a rock chips its hood — it’s older, it has higher mileage, and it’s not in mint condition. But does it make sense to have two i3s? Does it matter if it makes sense?
Maybe it doesn’t matter if it makes sense, and I should just own the cars I like, and when I get tired of one, I get rid of it. Maybe I’ll get tired of having two i3s, or maybe I’ll remain in this drunken-love state in which I see the i3 as an engineering masterpiece the likes of which we may never see again. Who knows? All I know is: I may be holding onto that gray i3 for my daily commuting — at least for a while.
I have a bunch of reasonably good cars. I do the PPF/ceramic stuff when they were new..
The sports cars get tracked.
At the Nürburgring and Spa among other places. There will be track rash. For me ,worrying about scratches would prevent me from enjoying the moment. I once crashed at the Ring in a brand new V10 BMW M6.
So., a learning experience. This is nothing to do with having money either.
I have driven every car I ever owned without worrying and they all had the odd chip but I put it down to experience .
Was doing this when I didn’t have a dime.
I will track my 992 GT3RS at the Ring in the Fall. It will have some marks.
Of course I could keep it safely parked and in new condition.
My advice is to drive the darn thing. I have had a million adventures on the road.
I have a bunch of reasonably good cars. I do the PPF/ceramic stuff when they were new..
The sports cars get tracked.
At the Nürburgring and Spa among other places. There will be track rash. For me ,worrying about scratches would prevent me from enjoying the moment. I once crashed at the Ring in a brand new V10 BMW M6.
So., a learning experience. This is nothing to do with having money either.
I have driven every car I ever owned without worrying and they all had the odd chip but I put it down to experience .
Was doing this when I didn’t have a dime.
I will track my 992 GT3RS at the Ring in the Fall. It will have some marks.
Of course I could keep it safely parked and in new condition.
My advice is to drive the darn thing. I have had a million adventures on the road.
An i3? That’s like an $8k car…(ducks)
It’s the holy grail of 8K cars… (runs)
It’s the Cadillac of BMWs!
It’s the nicest car DT has ever owned!
An i3? That’s like an $8k car…(ducks)
It’s the holy grail of 8K cars… (runs)
It’s the Cadillac of BMWs!
It’s the nicest car DT has ever owned!
“But does it make sense to have two i3s?”
Yes. Designate one as a parts car.
Wait, I’ve seen this episode before! No spoilers, but it doesn’t go quite exactly according to plan.
“But does it make sense to have two i3s?”
Yes. Designate one as a parts car.
Wait, I’ve seen this episode before! No spoilers, but it doesn’t go quite exactly according to plan.
Absolutely sell the backup. The cost of keeping a second car (including the money you’re not getting from selling it) is far greater than that of maintaining the nice one, and worst of all, you’d be robbing yourself of time in your good car.
It’s one thing to not daily a car because it’s impractical, thirsty, unreliable, unsafe and/or uncomfortable, but to buy the self-proclaimed perfect commuter and store it away in lieu of the less-perfect version is beyond silly.
Absolutely sell the backup. The cost of keeping a second car (including the money you’re not getting from selling it) is far greater than that of maintaining the nice one, and worst of all, you’d be robbing yourself of time in your good car.
It’s one thing to not daily a car because it’s impractical, thirsty, unreliable, unsafe and/or uncomfortable, but to buy the self-proclaimed perfect commuter and store it away in lieu of the less-perfect version is beyond silly.
Drive the damn car.
Drive the damn car.
The point of buying this car was to drive it, correct? Driving it carries the risk of something happening to it, including being totaled, forget just a scratch.
I say drive the shit out of it.
As for the other i3, determine if in the context of the above whether it is still worth keeping.
The point of buying this car was to drive it, correct? Driving it carries the risk of something happening to it, including being totaled, forget just a scratch.
I say drive the shit out of it.
As for the other i3, determine if in the context of the above whether it is still worth keeping.
Yes. No. 🙂
In past years you described yourself (IIRC) as a “certified cheap bastard”, but I think you’re beginning to appreciate the value in spending a bit more for something nicer, rather than settling for the least-cost option. This is good.
Some people will no doubt have negative opinions on the utility/practicality/efficacy/morality/etc. of having two similar cars, but frankly unless those other people are paying for your cars they can shove off. You do you.
Yes. No. 🙂
In past years you described yourself (IIRC) as a “certified cheap bastard”, but I think you’re beginning to appreciate the value in spending a bit more for something nicer, rather than settling for the least-cost option. This is good.
Some people will no doubt have negative opinions on the utility/practicality/efficacy/morality/etc. of having two similar cars, but frankly unless those other people are paying for your cars they can shove off. You do you.
What’s the point in having nice things, if you never use them. Get the PPF and drive the car. Live life. Life can be messy.
What’s the point in having nice things, if you never use them. Get the PPF and drive the car. Live life. Life can be messy.
Quit being a f—ing pansy and drive your car. The world is only lightly organized chaos. Owning anything at all means it will get seasoned with cosmetic flaws as it is used. This is why guitar player pay extra for a relic finish.
Quit being a f—ing pansy and drive your car. The world is only lightly organized chaos. Owning anything at all means it will get seasoned with cosmetic flaws as it is used. This is why guitar player pay extra for a relic finish.
Oh the Honeymoon phase. So sweet.
But seriously, it’s pretty funny to see the transformation from shrugging at dissolving Jeeps to freaking out over side mirror scratches. Though I get it, when I pay the big bucks for a non-shitbox, I tend to get a little precious about these things.
Jeeps and some Subarus and some trucks wear their damage like badges of honor. Purposeful looking damage that implies worthwhile experience. Seems like you’re in the process of recalibrating your brain to “expensive daily” mode.
I went the opposite way and bought a $4500 Toyota Sequoia that already has roached clear coat. I’ve scratched it a few times and I don’t care. It’s pretty freeing.
I’m not quite there yet with my van but the kids will eventually tip me over to the *shrugs* side I’m sure. We’ve just about hit this point with my wife’s Forester as it’s paid off and has taken a significant number of lumps at this point.
I just shoved three trees and a bunch of dirt in the back of my wife’s paid off Forester and didn’t even shrug at what all of that was doing to the interior. It made me question our plans to trade it in for something nicer LOL.
Oh the Honeymoon phase. So sweet.
But seriously, it’s pretty funny to see the transformation from shrugging at dissolving Jeeps to freaking out over side mirror scratches. Though I get it, when I pay the big bucks for a non-shitbox, I tend to get a little precious about these things.
Jeeps and some Subarus and some trucks wear their damage like badges of honor. Purposeful looking damage that implies worthwhile experience. Seems like you’re in the process of recalibrating your brain to “expensive daily” mode.
I went the opposite way and bought a $4500 Toyota Sequoia that already has roached clear coat. I’ve scratched it a few times and I don’t care. It’s pretty freeing.
I’m not quite there yet with my van but the kids will eventually tip me over to the *shrugs* side I’m sure. We’ve just about hit this point with my wife’s Forester as it’s paid off and has taken a significant number of lumps at this point.
I just shoved three trees and a bunch of dirt in the back of my wife’s paid off Forester and didn’t even shrug at what all of that was doing to the interior. It made me question our plans to trade it in for something nicer LOL.
Life is too short to buy garage queens.
Enjoy using what you bought. Minor damage is normal. I have several chips in the paint on the front of my cars, but it just makes me more relaxed about the next chip in the paint.
You have advantages: carbon fiber reinforced plastic resists dents, and panels can be replaced pretty easily.
Just like any other car, when it bothers you enough, you’ll pay to have it fixed.
Totally agree. I bought a 2005 Pontiac GTO fresh off the lot and rarely drove it. I didn’t want to rack up miles and wear and tear. Fast forward to 2018-ish and I still had it but wasn’t in love with it and so I sold it and bought a used C7 Corvette. I knew going in I was probably only going to keep it a couple of years so I drove it everywhere. It was awesome. I still took good care of it, but I didn’t stress out about it. I did enjoy that GTO, but I had way more fun in the Vette.
Unrelated – I know Corvette’s have a certain demographic (old, possibly racist white guy) that probably puts off a lot of people from ever being interested in one, but damn if it’s not a great performance vs price proposition.
Life is too short to buy garage queens.
Enjoy using what you bought. Minor damage is normal. I have several chips in the paint on the front of my cars, but it just makes me more relaxed about the next chip in the paint.
You have advantages: carbon fiber reinforced plastic resists dents, and panels can be replaced pretty easily.
Just like any other car, when it bothers you enough, you’ll pay to have it fixed.
Totally agree. I bought a 2005 Pontiac GTO fresh off the lot and rarely drove it. I didn’t want to rack up miles and wear and tear. Fast forward to 2018-ish and I still had it but wasn’t in love with it and so I sold it and bought a used C7 Corvette. I knew going in I was probably only going to keep it a couple of years so I drove it everywhere. It was awesome. I still took good care of it, but I didn’t stress out about it. I did enjoy that GTO, but I had way more fun in the Vette.
Unrelated – I know Corvette’s have a certain demographic (old, possibly racist white guy) that probably puts off a lot of people from ever being interested in one, but damn if it’s not a great performance vs price proposition.
I had just assumed from the get go that you were keeping both. But the more important question is: When are you buying and living out of an Aztec?!?!?!
I cannot find a decent one… Are Azteks becoming extinct?!
It’s Montezuma’s Revenge.
That makes sense, and yeah probably. They’re certainly not a collectors car and 20 year old GM products are not known for being in the best shape ever these days
Wrong side of the country, but shipping is a thing. http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2AAF78BC. This is the best autotrader had to offer
Nobody ever said you get to live in a decent one.
Michigan Dave would have pulled an Aztek out of a swamp if it was the last one available.
I’m sure he is worried about the price vs condition, not his own comfort
When we jumped at the chance to make you live in an Aztek, it was not because we thought they were decent. It’s because we thought they were terrible and this sounds funny.
I had just assumed from the get go that you were keeping both. But the more important question is: When are you buying and living out of an Aztec?!?!?!
I cannot find a decent one… Are Azteks becoming extinct?!
It’s Montezuma’s Revenge.
That makes sense, and yeah probably. They’re certainly not a collectors car and 20 year old GM products are not known for being in the best shape ever these days
Wrong side of the country, but shipping is a thing. http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2AAF78BC. This is the best autotrader had to offer
Nobody ever said you get to live in a decent one.
Michigan Dave would have pulled an Aztek out of a swamp if it was the last one available.
I’m sure he is worried about the price vs condition, not his own comfort
When we jumped at the chance to make you live in an Aztek, it was not because we thought they were decent. It’s because we thought they were terrible and this sounds funny.
Remember, you can always touch up a chip, many scratches will polish out, and painless dent removal will take care of any door dings you acquire. I’m very particular about my car, I’m the guy that parks in the back of the lot and walks rather than risk a door ding up close. But it’s also a car–its going to get some rock chips or dings or whatever. If they bother me, I’ll fix them or pay someone to fix them. I do what I can to prevent those things, for sure, but you can’t control everything.
My dad bought a 2021 911, brand new. He kept it until this year and only put about 6k miles on it the whole time. He had a paint protection film installed but was still worried about rock chips and dings. He wouldn’t even drive it to work because he didn’t want it to get damaged in the parking garage. He wouldn’t drive it anywhere the roads might be rough. Fortunately it was a 911 so the depreciation was relatively minor and he got a good price for it. But my point is that he rarely enjoyed the car. He spent all his time worrying about what could happen to it, rather than enjoying it. It drove my mom and I nuts, he had wanted a 911 for decades and when he finally got one, he was too paranoid to drive it.