OCD about other peoples car good?!?

**joyriide1113** · 06-14-2006, 03:22 PM

Everyone knows that being around my vehicle, is like being around the president. So everyone pretty much respects my decision and doesn`t touch the paint, windows, ect.

Girlfriend got a brand new BMW 325i. I`m soo happy for her. We went to the dealer today and got her into it.

Now I feel like I have 2 cars to stress over about. I feel like I`m putting too much emphasis on silly things that "normal" people don`t care about. Another thing I`m emphasizing a lot is to wait the proper break in period.

Neither her nor her family have ever heard of anything like that, and really don`t care.

Should I stress about another car that isn`t mine?

Should I even care.

Would you?

**gandblah** · 06-14-2006, 03:43 PM

Should I stress about another car that isn`t mine?

It`s not a question of should I - don`t think it`s something you can conciously do or not do - it`s a question of a persons nature - you care about a cars appearence and that goes for any car not necessarily just your own car.

If you see bird poop on a car - you`re going to cringe. Doesn`t matter that it`s not your car. You would most likely be physically restraining yourself from grabbing a QD and MF to clean it off.

What I`ve noticed is that in a similar manner - some people (by nature) are just not bothered about their cars experience. It does not bother them if the cars dirty or has bird poop splattered all over it.

So the answer is - would I care. Yes I would. But if the other person does not appreciate this a couple of time I bring it up - I would - I guess - shutup and just utter a silent prayer for the poor car.

**GregCavi** · 06-14-2006, 04:30 PM

If my girlfriend had a BMW I sure would set some rules of etiquite for driving and appearence. I think the proper break in period should definatly be followed and also your not crazy for wanting the car to be taken good care of. It willd definatly pay off in the long run.

Greg

**G35stilez** · 06-14-2006, 05:27 PM

You can try, but it will never be like your car.

Not sure who picked up the tab on the car, but if it was the rents, tready lightly. It`s not worth fighting the purchaser over anything (been there, done that). I`m talking, even break in periods, repairs, maintenance...Focus that energy on your vehicle...It could go sour quickly.

On my end, I keep Liz`s car better than about 95% of the vehicles out there. Wash every 2 weeks (all I have time for), full detail-3 times per years, always protected. It always looks good, but there is always light marring. It`s doable to keep it in nice shape, actually very nice shape, without obsessing too much.

My car on the other hand, well, let`s not go there

.

**GregCavi** · 06-14-2006, 08:10 PM

My girlfreind has an older vehicle and It has plenty of rust and brake dust. I wash it once a month lol, but I intend to take a little better shape of it now that I might (strong on the might) have more time.

Greg

**Mikeyc** · 06-14-2006, 08:33 PM

My girlfriend drives a 5 or 6 year old Volvo. It`s been completely neglected never waxed and maybe washed a total of 3 times. I couldn`t even hazard a guess at how few times the oil has been changed and it`s riddle with dings.

Anyway, she`s been out of town the last couple of weeks. So, I "stole" her car and have been detailing it over the last few days. When I started I wanted it to be perfect when done. Since then, I`ve made SEVERAL compromises to that goal. It`s just too far gone to bother with and I know she won`t keep it up after I`m done.

Basically, my point is that you really don`t have any control since it`s not your car. I`m sure she`ll appreciate it if you clean it on occasion, but who`s to say what she`ll do to the car when not in your presence. BTW, I pulled a styrofoam cup with a little bit of water and a moldy lemon out of the backseat of my girlfriend`s car.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 06-14-2006, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mikeyc

My girlfriend drives a 5 or 6 year old Volvo. It`s been completely neglected never waxed and maybe washed a total of 3 times. I couldn`t even hazard a guess at how few times the oil has been changed and it`s riddle with dings.

Anyway, she`s been out of town the last couple of weeks. So, I "stole" her car and have been detailing it over the last few days. When I started I wanted it to be perfect when done. Since then, I`ve made SEVERAL compromises to that goal. It`s just too far gone to bother with and I know she won`t keep it up after I`m done.

Basically, my point is that you really don`t have any control since it`s not your car. I`m sure she`ll appreciate it if you clean it on occasion, but who`s to say what she`ll do to the car when not in your presence. BTW, I pulled a styrofoam cup with a little bit of water and a moldy lemon out of the backseat of my girlfriend`s car.

See, if I had a girlfriend with a car like that, I wouldn`t even be doing the detailing FOR her; I`d be making her help me so she can see just how much work goes into making a car clean again after it`s that far gone. After a while she`d start to learn that it`s worth it to keep up with it at least to some degree, if for no other reason than that it`s so much easier to do maintenance work than it is to restore a trashed mess.

**CalgaryDetail** · 06-15-2006, 12:18 AM

i would be as concerned as your relationship will allow. If you can push all that stuff go for it, she will thank you in the end if not dont. I dont know how strong your relationship is so i cant say you have to judge but dont end it over a car (not that im saying you will)

**01WJLimited** · 06-15-2006, 08:46 AM

The lady here has a 1997 Jeep Wrangler. I told her when she got it (2 weeks ago) that she needs to take good care of it, i`ll polish/wax/dress it if need be. I get to her house yesterday and the entire thing is caked with mud.

-Her parents did tell her to wash it. I guess in her head that meant hose the heavy mud off... She didn`t even put the roof up or the windows on. I shook my head and took off before I became open with my car care anger. Her dad just paid me to do a Big arse `05 F-150 and an `03 Honda Accord; I`m not about to do this Wrangler out of my good will. Haha. Whe she got it, the guy had the whole underneath clean. That went to hell in a handbasket.