[LuxemburgBMV]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

I went into a touch free car wash. A wash bar drops from the ceiling to do the grill and then goes up and over the car. With the nose on the m3 it must be different enough that the bar hit it. Put two holes in my PPF, scrapes in the PPF and, on top, two small marks that have not gone away. The place that did the PPF said only way to fix the holes is to pull and replace entire bumper piece. The PPF was done by the dealer who subbed it out. With hood it was 1800. The guy will replace the bumper PPF for five hundred. Car wash of course does not want to pay. Question: am I being too picky? Is this so minor I should ignore it? My wife thinks I am insane for even noticing it. My car is only a few months old. With all the options it cost twice what my first house cost - not making that up. This car will likely be around for at least ten years. And yes I know to avoid car washes but honestly if you live in Minnesota manual washes in the winter are not a real option.

[Flying05]

I'm in your camp. I would be upset as well. The question is can you prove it and that's what the car wash owner might say. I agree with you 100%, but might be a lost cause. I'd still pursue big time though and see how it plays out it from there. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Rux]

100% not picky. touch free is what was advertised and you got touched. Plain and simple. Car wash needs to fix that. Probably cost you more to fight them then getting it fixed.

[wtwo3]

As long as you don't blame BMW for not covering it under warranty...

[zambarossa]

Originally Posted by Rux

Probably cost you more to fight them then getting it fixed.

^ This + the aggravation of going thought that. Just ask yourself if your time and mental health is worth $500. Only you can answer that.

[Forzanerazzurri]

That sucks. I'd probably just eat it and get it done on my own dime as arguing with idiots over this stuff is draining. And never use any of those car washes again.

[vj123]

With this issue, I would be pissed but wouldnt sweat about it.

I used to get annoyed at every small imperfection on my vehicles. I am trying to come in terms with myself that its just a vehicle and not worthy enough to worry about every other small issue.

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

As long as you don't blame BMW for not covering it under warranty...

It happens…

Now it's official

Car is not perfect anymore i can drive worry free

Got my first scratch other day lower rear valence

When the light shines just right and you get real close and squint you should see it…

[omaralt]

nobody can tell you that you're being overly picky

i will tell you that when my bought my first new bmw i was like this. drove me insane. took away from enjoyment from the car because i was so anal about every. little. thing.

now i truly DGAF. its a car. i enjoy it. small rock chips here and there. no big deal. i'm so much happier and more carefree and feel like i enjoy my car more. only you can decide if its a big deal

[barryc365]

If you did the damage yourself would you replace the PPF? I would guess not for such a minor
Imperfection but still annoying

I had a valet scratch my PPF badly (twice!) two weeks after getting it done. They refused to pay. Drove me nuts but now I don't notice it and am happier that I care less about every little imperfection

I'm focussing on Less worrying and more driving!

[GixY2K]

Not picky. Get it resolved with the carwash company.
And, you did get lucky it did not damage the actual paint.

My boss had a similar thing happen to him and his new Stang. Scraped the roof after going through an automated carwash. He tried to fight it w/out attorney and lost.

[secretariat]

Fuel is approaching $5 a gallon, inflation is taxing everyone especially the poor, we have an out of control spending problem in this country, it's quite possible that we will experience another terrorist action in the near future, people are getting shot everyday, a bunch of children 5,6 and 7 years old were just slaughtered in Uvalde Texas.

I'm sorry what was your problem again?

[mzwerner]

Originally Posted by secretariat

Fuel is approaching $5 a gallon, inflation is taxing everyone especially the poor, we have an out of control spending problem in this country, it's quite possible that we will experience another terrorist action in the near future, people are getting shot everyday, a bunch of children 5,6 and 7 years old were just slaughtered in Uvalde Texas.

I'm sorry what was your problem again?

Yeah dude there's bigger problems in the world and you can say the above 👆🏼 for most things that happen to someone's car. This is a car forum and the appropriate place to vent about something like this. The OP isn't screaming bloody murder or claiming this a catastrophic life changing event.

It sucks that it got damaged and I'd be annoyed as hell too. But I'd prob swallow it, pay the $500 to have it replaced and move on.

[secretariat]

Originally Posted by mzwerner

Yeah dude there's bigger problems in the world and you can say the above 👆🏼 for most things that happen to someone's car. This is a car forum and the appropriate place to vent about something like this. The OP isn't screaming bloody murder or claiming this a catastrophic life changing event.

It sucks that it got damaged and I'd be annoyed as hell too. But I'd prob swallow it, pay the $500 to have it replaced and move on.

OK DUDE

[kjx]

I'm such a stickler for perfection having got full body PPF and all that jazz. But recently, my garage door timed-closed on the nose of my car as it was set just wrong enough that it didn't block the close-sensor.

It was just after I carefully washed and cleaned the car, and quickly swapped cars to then go wash my wife's car. So it was doubly painful when I received a notification on my phone from the garage door saying it had met with unexpected resistance when closing (or something similar) and just opened back up again.

Because of the location of the damage and how light reflects off the car, no one could "see" the damage even when it was staring them right in the face. Seems impossible given the photo below but that was what was happening.

But I could see it and I wanted to see how well I could restore it in a first pass - and it came out pretty well. Details of what I did are in the image. I'll put some more TLC to make it even better with finer polishing and coatings, but it's good enough as it is right now (for me).

I shared this so that you don't waste too much time on the little damage you have on the PPF and figure out how to make it close to perfection efficiently.

[Purekoryo]

Just write a well written letter to the establishment with some language that you may go as far as taking some legal action if issue doesn't get resolved. In my experience some react and pay up and some don't. If they don't just move on and think of it as road rash and lesson learned to wash the car on your own.

[mzwerner]

Originally Posted by secretariat

OK DUDE

My thoughts exactly about your comment. Lighten up.


This is a car forum and he's asking about damage to his car. He acknowledges that it's minor and is asking peoples advice.


Why belittle him?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by kjx

But recently, my garage door timed-closed on the nose of my car as it was set just wrong enough that it didn't block the close-sensor.

Ugh this is one of my biggest fears when my wife takes out either of the cars. She's not the most careful driver and I feel like one day she's going to park it just far back enough in the garage to have the garage door leave a nice long scratch along the trunk.

[vj123]

Originally Posted by mzwerner

Yeah dude there's bigger problems in the world and you can say the above 👆🏼 for most things that happen to someone's car. This is a car forum and the appropriate place to vent about something like this. The OP isn't screaming bloody murder or claiming this a catastrophic life changing event.

Totally agreed.

Why waste time in a car forum instead of finding ways to resolve all world issues.

[Purekoryo]

Ops if it makes you feel better I recently took my brand new M3C on a camping trip to reach break in miles and on the way picked up a couple of tiny paint chips on the hood (no PPF). For me it was just a process of "breaking her in" and a milestone to get past the perfection. And now that I have some small defects I'm not overly anxious about it getting damaged by smaller things and just more free to drive it and enjoy it.

[Delmoney335]

If everyone is that concerned about a very minor imperfection just keep the car in the garage. Even with ppf, something is bound to happen sooner or later. I don't have ppf , have some rock chips but so be it.

In the end , it's up to you how minor the imperfection is and if it bothers you that much. I wouldn't spend $500 on that but that's just me.

[SimsimmaM3]

Originally Posted by omaralt

nobody can tell you that you're being overly picky

i will tell you that when my bought my first new bmw i was like this. drove me insane. took away from enjoyment from the car because i was so anal about every. little. thing.

now i truly DGAF. its a car. i enjoy it. small rock chips here and there. no big deal. i'm so much happier and more carefree and feel like i enjoy my car more. only you can decide if its a big deal

This is the way I was with my M340 and driving it was stressful because I was worried about every little chip. I would tell my wife that I loved driving her SUV because I felt so much more carefree. I'm going to try my best not to stress so much when driving my M3 and just enjoy the ride.