[MoreCowbell]

i just took delivery of my new E90. Normally, when I purchase a car, I put "several" coats on wax on it for protection and do a myriad of things to protect the interior. However, because I am keeping this car in Manhattan, I leased it.

Do you do preventative care any differently on a leased car? Is it still worth it to out several coats of wax on it? What do you guys do?

[sdorn]

I guess it depends. If you are waxing so that the car will look good and have a nice finish, then don't do anything different. If you were waxing it to protect the paint so that it will last for 10 years, then you don't need to do that unless you think you might buy the car at the end of the lease. I leased my car, and I plan on using Zaino regularly just like on a car I bought. I am doing it so the car will look good, though. It isn't because I want to make sure the paint will last a long time.

[KL2DC]

Well...I'd assumed you'd still want the car to look its best during the lease period...a simple wax job and regular cleaning should do it. Are you adhering to the break-in in any extent?

[MoreCowbell]

When I do it, I do it for both reasons.

Any advice specific to titanium silver and black leather?

[fletcher969]

I'm not directing my comments at you directly...but I believe it's both morally and ethically more sound to care for anything in your possession as if it was your own, and you planned on keeping it as long as possible. I'm always miffed when I see and/or hear of people who treat something different when they know it will be passed on to another person at some point or another...some even laughing it off how some "schmuck" will inherit their mess. Treat it like your own, and when and if somebody else inherits it, they won't be bothered by another's irresponsible outlook on "pride of ownership." Possession is a form of ownership...one should take pride in that. Just my .02 worth...

Fletch!

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

I'm not directing my comments at you directly...but I believe it's both morally and ethically more sound to care for anything in your possession as if it was your own, and you planned on keeping it as long as possible. I'm always miffed when I see and/or hear of people who treat something different when they know it will be passed on to another person at some point or another...some even laughing it off how some "schmuck" will inherit their mess. Treat it like your own, and when and if somebody else inherits it, they won't be bothered by another's irresponsible outlook on "pride of ownership." Possession is a form of ownership...one should take pride in that. Just my .02 worth...

Fletch!

I suppose you wash and wax your rental cars as well?

I think there is a difference between not mistreating something, and spending a lot of money doing optional preventive maintenance on a car you are only going to have for a couple years. A good example of this is with oil changes. If I owned my car, I would probably change the oil at least every 5,000 miles just to give myself extra peace of mind. However, since my car is leased, I am only going to change the oil every 15,000 miles. I am not mistreating the car, but I am not wasting my own money doing things to increase the life of a car I am only going to have for a couple years.

[jflecha]

This is the second car I've leased, your biggest concern should be avoiding scratches and dings. Although there is some allowance for wear during the lease period they will look at the tires, if I remember correctly they expect at least a 1/4 inch of tread and any scratches dents and or dings. I'm not sure about interior, I kept mine spotless.

You dont have to keep the car looking like new, but it doesnt hurt.

[MoreCowbell]

SDORN could not have said it better. Of course I wouldn't "mistreat" the car in any way, and i'd probably care for the car better than 99.9 percent of the leasers out there, BUT there is a big difference in the amount of $$$ and hours I will put into a car that I am returning.