[RicheyBMW]

I know many of you people are just as OCD as me when it comes to you cars. My question is are scratches on the underside of your bumper always going to happen? I literally got on the floor this morning and took a flashlight just to check underneath the bumper and I have 2 very small line scratches. Although this pisses me off. I believe its normal because going up ramps, potholes, bumps, and even tiny rocks on the highway is always going to ding up something. How do many of you guys deal with this? Just let it go?

[dryicerx]

They are avoidable if you look out for steep ramps and parking lot stoppers... but more than likely it will happen to you one time or another. Realize it's just a car, and it's fixable. I've gotten a few here and there. Plus those are not visible 95% of the time.

On the same note: I was actually wondering why there are no clear bra like things for just the underside of the front bumper (which are much much thicker).

[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

I know many of you people are just as OCD as me when it comes to you cars. My question is are scratches on the underside of your bumper always going to happen?

While avoidable for the most part, stuff happens. If I don't back out of my driveway just right, it scrapes. The other day I pulled into a spot with a concrete bumper at the end of it, and even though I knew it was there, the spot was a weird angle and I thought I wasn't close and bam! drove right onto it - lucky there was nothing visible. As long as I can't see it, I don't really care.

[RicheyBMW]

It seems like it's not only ramps etc. But also those pebbles/tiny rocks on the road and highway thats literally unavoidable at times.

[JRJ1970]

These scratches are easy to conceal fortunately. I've read posts here and there from others saying they usually *back up* into spaces to avoid hitting curb stops. This could work for those of you who are OCD about it.

[Drivaar]

I agree with the OP... it's really not a battle that's worth fighting coz it is very hard to see, especially if you have a darker colored car. But then again some of the same people who are fighting this stare closely at their cars to spot problems that no one else would see. Talk about ways to create one's own suffering when one is already lucky enough to have a $50K car!

[Bobby Pynes]

I just got my e90 a week ago, was pulling into a corner spot ( i always park in the farthest corner spot, and right along the curb) was gliding in slowly, and bam, out of nowhere i hit the curb, that scraping sound is the absolute worst....

Nothing I can do, save getting a new bumper.. sigh.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by dryicerx

On the same note: I was actually wondering why there are no clear bra like things for just the underside of the front bumper (which are much much thicker).

I once saw an NSX that had a custom cut piece of aluminum sheet metal lining the underside of his front lip. So if he scraped, it would just slide on the aluminum sheet and not scratch up the bumper. Pretty good idea, and it wasn't really noticeable unless you got down low.

[Luke.S]

If you think 2 scratches are bad you should see the bottom of the bumper on my dad's 325d. Basically no paint left, good job its plastic

[Edward]

You can control it but a slight lapse in judgement will throw out a perfect record. I've gone over 15,000 miles now and the entire bottom of my front bumper is arguably as clean as my hood and door panels, but it may not always be the case. I do back into spots all the time and when I have to pull up to a curb or block, I stop a foot clear of it so the front doesn't have a chance of riding up on it. I guess bumper scratches are a big pet peeve of mine as are curb rashes on the wheels.

[AW335OME]

I learned the hard way that if i dont come out of my driveway (which i thought was relatively flat for the most part) at an angle, the bottom of bumper will indeed scratch like a mofo...

[mds54]

Originally Posted by Edward

.....I do back into spots all the time and when I have to pull up to a curb or block, I stop a foot clear of it so the front doesn't have a chance of riding up on it.

I've trained myself to do the same thing, and been very lucky so far.
I just assume that the PDC will not catch parking lot blocks?

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by dryicerx

On the same note: I was actually wondering why there are no clear bra like things for just the underside of the front bumper (which are much much thicker).

I'd love one for my front aero lip. Even though no one would ever see the bottom of the lip, having a bit of protection there will really put a ease on my mind, especially after I lower it soon.

[ChipB]

Originally Posted by mds54

I just assume that the PDC will not catch parking lot blocks?

Correct. It's too bad that it doesn't pick the curb up. I always take care to not pull the car in so close as to scrape the bumper on the curb. But sometimes you can't avoid the little scrapes. When I had my E36 convertible our garage was in the back of the house and you got to it via an alley. The transition between the alley and the street it butted into was so bad that the car would always scrape bottom - no matter how slow or at what I angle I went.

[3s4u2]

6 days after getting the 325i bumper cover repainted, the wife scraped it again! It's going to stay that way, it's a driver not a show car.

[RicheyBMW]

Quick question, does anyone know the best way to go over a speed bump? Should I go at angle? They seem to be everywhere, in shopping malls, parking garages etc.

[cwn23]

Just get a touch up paint from the dealer and when it happens just cover it up. It will help you ease your OCD if there is color back!! Lol

[Thumperx]

Today I had my first underneath front lip scratch from a steep ramp. The lip has been recently painted (couple weeks old). Dude, it's unavoidable.

[mds54]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

Quick question, does anyone know the best way to go over a speed bump? Should I go at angle?

That's what I do......
very slowly, and at an angle.

[SpaceGrayE90]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

I know many of you people are just as OCD as me when it comes to you cars. My question is are scratches on the underside of your bumper always going to happen? I literally got on the floor this morning and took a flashlight just to check underneath the bumper and I have 2 very small line scratches. Although this pisses me off. I believe its normal because going up ramps, potholes, bumps, and even tiny rocks on the highway is always going to ding up something. How do many of you guys deal with this? Just let it go?

I know how you feel, I'm totally OCD myself. I've learned to let it go, it's hard but theres nothing you can really do, except to be especially careful. However, no matter how hard you try you'll still creep too far and hear that awful noise.

The good thing?... you don't usually see those scratches because they're under the car

[BMWrules7]

Remember, to prevent OCD, it is not about maintaining perfection with your car. It is about maintaining the illusion of perfection. There is a big distinction that makes the difference between always freaking out and enjoying your car for what it is.

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

I know many of you people are just as OCD as me when it comes to you cars. My question is are scratches on the underside of your bumper always going to happen? I literally got on the floor this morning and took a flashlight just to check underneath the bumper and I have 2 very small line scratches. Although this pisses me off. I believe its normal because going up ramps, potholes, bumps, and even tiny rocks on the highway is always going to ding up something. How do many of you guys deal with this? Just let it go?

[Rogue916]

For those spots with concrete blocks or high sidewalk curbs, I like to park next to a darker colored car and use the reflection of my car on the other car's side to make sure I'm not hitting anything LOL