Help! Paranoid about Driving & my E30

[astondg]

Recently I have been getting paranoid about driving and about my E30 falling apart .

When I go driving now I concentrate 100% and I still feel like it isn't enough. I keep thinking "what if a person or animal ran out onto the road now?", "What if a car came out of that street?", etc., and I look for those things the whole time I am driving. I stay relaxed physically (no squeezing the steering wheel or anything) but mentally I am working at 100% and it still feels like I am going to miss something. Not just unexpected things either but just things like lights changing, merging with traffic, etc. I never used to be like this, it's only just started and I don't know why.

Now about the E30. Every time I drive it I keep thinking something is going to go wrong. I stop every 5 mins and get out to check that the wheels are still securely fastened, the tyres aren't flat, the suspension hasn't collapsed, etc., and there is never anything wrong but keep doing it. Sometimes I go around corners or over bumps and I think something feels wrong so I stop and check everything . I think it is mostly suspension type stuff for some reason. My 323i has never had a problem before (well once a wheel fell off but that was because it wasn't on properly) and I never used to be like this (even after the wheel fell off) it is only just recently. This car has been great, never let me down. I don't know why this is happening?

So anyone else have these problems? Any suggestions? Not only is my driving getting worse (another story) but I am going crazy too .

Aston

[HartgeH27]

Mmmmm seems like you have that Aussie Gold Coast disease which is often cured by a change of fashion:

http://www.thetrickery.com/ama/med/straightjacket.jpg



Take two anti-paranoia pills, lock your motor up and get out into the surf for a while to chill out !!!!!

Then think about us shivering in the cold poms with heaters turned up and fighting the rain over here !!!!

Once chilled recover the car from the garage, get out in the sunshine and relax and enjoy it for all its worth..........keep taking the anti-paranoia pills !!!!

[astondg]

It's winter here now, still warm enough to go to the beach though .

I'll see if I can get some of those pills, better not take them before I go in water though they might make me drowsy .

So I take it one else has these problems?

Aston

[Guest]

heh dont worry, i check under the bonnet every morning before i go to work, to make sure no petrol or water is leaking, i blame the cars - my first E30 used to randomly cut out in heavy traffic - that kept me on my toes (ecu relay) this current one has had no end of problems witht the fuel lines (fuel pump, fuel tank, rubber hoses (dumped a tanks worth of petrol in 1 mile) the inlet rubber hoses) - so yeah e30s make me paranoid too!

[astondg]

I can see how that would make you paranoid .

My E30 hasn't had any problems that have stopped me from driving it though and really nothing major at all. I'm not sure if I would be any better in a brand new car .

I just realised I can't go to the beach/surf I have exams to study for .

Aston

[Jesus325iTouring]

Recently I have been getting paranoid about driving and about my E30 falling apart .

When I go driving now I concentrate 100% and I still feel like it isn't enough. I keep thinking "what if a person or animal ran out onto the road now?", "What if a car came out of that street?", etc., and I look for those things the whole time I am driving. I stay relaxed physically (no squeezing the steering wheel or anything) but mentally I am working at 100% and it still feels like I am going to miss something. Not just unexpected things either but just things like lights changing, merging with traffic, etc. I never used to be like this, it's only just started and I don't know why.

I'm like this now,but I found myself gradually getting like it rather than all of a sudden,I think it's the realisation that so many bad things can happen on the road,the best things is to drive slowly when approaching any obstacle/lights/traffic whatever to give your self a chance to be prepared for any eventuality.
I pass a certain crossroads every morning which people have a habit of pulling out of without,I always drive past it on edge with my foot hovering the brake.come to think of it,I do it passing most junctions,there are some thick people out the who shouldn 't be driving and have a habit of just pulling out without a thought,the key is to be ready for it,I don't think its a bad thing to be a bit paranoid.
I've had situations over the years where deer,dogs,cats,badgers have just walked into my path whilst out driving,it's one of those things,you can't be prepared so well for wildlife and just have to except you might kill the odd bit of wild life.
Traffic merging,anywhere,is a nightmare,it's just ripe for road rage,again I hang back and take it easy,if some nutcase must get in front of you,let him/her,it's not worth the aggro of putting your footdown and trying to squeeze in front at the risk of road rage or a prang for the sake of one cars length.
I don't think your paranoid,thats the wrong word,I would say your just being sensible and realising,as I wish many people would,that it is dangerous out there in your car,and you can't take anything for granted.
I think it gets more obvious the older you get,I've been round bends at over 120,the sort of bends I wouldn't go round more than 50 now!

In summary,stay cool,stay back,and let everyone else do the fcuking up and crashing

[Wilson]

How old are you?? I believe it comes with age.. I'm not old (26) but as I got over about 22-23, I started getting more paranoid about things pulling/running out on me, or having a blowout etc... I drive more carefully now, and I believe its the same with alot of people, when I was younger I never gave a 2nd thought to other peoples driving always thought "nah not gonna crash etc I can handle this.. its easy blah blah"

I had a nasty accident couple years ago in which one of my mates ended up in hospital for approx 8 weeks and had a hip replacement.... the accident was insurance wise my fault, although I wasn't charged blamed etc as it wasn't down to me entirely.. it was a blind corner with know road markings, to me it looked like the road went straight, so I carried on, however the road actually had a 90 degree left, and straight on was a long drive/track to a farm. as I was going straight a car came round the corner turning right, straight into the passenger side of me pushing me straight into a tree at approx 45-50mph... not to fast, but it really hurt...

Incedently they then put road markings on the corner, but it really woke me up to the fact that you don't have to be driving like an arse to have an accident, it can happen anytime

all you can do is concentrate as best you can...!

[astondg]

I am 20. I used to have this same problem when I was 17 and got my licence, I didn't really drive for the first year and a bit after I got it. Then I started to feel ok about it and for the last year I was fine. Now I'm like this again.

Could just be like Jesus325iTouring said, lots of stupid things happen on the road. I do frequently have people pull out of streets right in front of me and stuff like that. It hasn't really bothered me until now, maybe I'm just starting to realise how dangerous it could be.

Wilson: I know exactly what you mean about that corner, when I was learning to drive my father used to come with me and show me a lot of backroads. We would go driving for hours all over the place, a lot of good driving roads too. There was one time when I came up to a corner like that and went straight ahead, luckily no other cars around. It was kind of on a crest and there was a road going straight ahead but it wasn't the road I was on. There weren't any signs or anything either. I was driving within the speed limit and everything it just looked like the road went straight ahead.

Having to stop all the time to check my car is probably the worst bit though. Hopefully after my exams I can take it to a mechanic and get it all checked out and then maybe I can stop worrying.

Aston

[elliot]

yeah, ive started to get like that but to be honest , its only after ive started tinkering around with it i find ive got one eye on the road and the other one on the temp guage, which incidently is ALWAYS higher than my fuel guage

[Stoney_god]

My engines gonna die pretty soon so I've given up being paranoid. Instead I went out and bought loads of breakdown cover !!! If it's gonna happen it will so no point worrying...

I'm driving to London on saturday morning so that should be interesting !!

[johnono]

the epidemic spreads

i'm just waiting now.. done all i can, but when she gives up then its all over.

[320Touring]

the epidemic spreads

i'm just waiting now.. done all i can, but when she gives up then its all over.

TSK TSK! I expected much more from you dude

95% of driving is anticipation-remain chilled and try to decide what the other motorist can do before they do it-means you'll have a response planned.

as Jesus says, chilling back and letting the psycho's get to the front of the queue is the way forward.

as for the cars-the e30 is easy to work on, the parts are fairly cheap and you have the 'zone to answer your every question!

[astondg]

I saw your post about the engine, I hope it keeps going for you. I think they are fairly strong though?

I have no problem with the engine, I think it is ok and even it isn't I can rebuild/replace it. I think it is more suspension and other stuff that worries me, it could cause more permanent damage. Even though I have checked it over many times I still seem to worry.

Aston

[Stoney_god]

The only good thing about it dying is it's getting faster and faster (well for a 318i), Noise levels have also increased.... i'm now a chav !!!!!

I better get one of the 'Council Estate Touring Car Stickers' for the BM !!!

[Jesus325iTouring]

find ive got one eye on the road and the other one on the temp guage, which incidently is ALWAYS higher than my fuel guage

FPMSL Glad i'm not the only one who drives around on fumes!

[Richy325iTouring]

coraddos and kurbs make me paronoied

[orangecurry]

perhaps (as you've mentioned it twice) it's the exams that you are REALLY worrying about, but it comes to the surface when you are behind the wheel, when no-one's talking to you or whatever....

I STILL have the occasional dream, filled with dread, that I am about to take an exam and I have done NO revision whatsoever...... I wake up in a cold sweat

and my last exam was 20 years ago (gosh that makes me feel old)

so, as the good chaps/chapesses said; chill

[psychochild187]

i used to look at eveything i could wen i drive , allways have i wasnt a boy racer as such .i messed about ( and still do ) but theres a time and a place i knew this from moment go!
now ive had the ring experiance and ragged a car to the piont where if the slightest thing changed on this corner ...i would crash hard...i never had this chance on the roads . now iam a slower driver i add i can happyly sit in a line of traffic . and go slow
i consentrate on keeping moving as smooth as possible , and iam really good at seeing wat ppl are going to do ,iam to the point iam pretty safe.

iam always expecting the car from nowhere moment and the speed bump kid.

but you just sound like ur getting wise of the road !
try a track day too , but chill as the rest of us are saying ur safe coz u give a shit , u dont sound like one of those blinkered to the highway code drivers(witch are the worst)

[Jos]

I am a bit like this too Aston, always listening for little noises I didn't hear before, getting out and checking wheels are not flat/still there. Probably because I only bought the car a couple of weeks ago so still getting used to it.

Only other paranoia is Mercedes Vito vans... all seem to be driven by nutters at 2000mph..nearly have a major accident anytime one is near me: been cut up, lights jumped, lane changed on the MWay, all sorts of stuff. Get that from other cars/vans too but not every single one of one model.

Makes me paranoid...

[Chaos]

coraddos and kurbs make me paronoied

[Dominitry]

coraddos and kurbs make me paronoied

I think kurbs are scared of you too, took half of it with you! lol

[Richy325iTouring]

coraddos and kurbs make me paronoied

You dont know how sorry i am

[Chaos]

coraddos and kurbs make me paronoied

You dont know how sorry i am

i probably do m8.

[Martinaston]

astondg
If you feel that way and you live in OZ, get out more mate that's all there is to it.
People that tinker with car's in there spare time tend to be solitary caracters that stick to themselves, and people that spend a lot of time messing with computers normally have an introverted personality.
So i'm afraid to say you (and most of the people on here) have the worst of both worlds. (so your not alone).
I'm sure if i lived in OZ i'd feel a lot better about just about everything.

[johnono]

richy mate, what happn with the corrado and kerb?

[Richy325iTouring]

richy mate, what happn with the corrado and kerb?

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=10572

all here fella

[astondg]

Sorry about the corrado . Poor kerb.

I think you guys are probably right. I have had all my assignments due in the last week or two and now I am straight into exams. I really haven't been out of the house for the last couple of weeks except to go to university and hand in an assignment or do an exam . So I'll wait unil my exams are finished (next Thursday), go somewhere with my friends to "celebrate" (not sure how I'll go yet ), give my car a good clean and fix up, then go for a nice drive and hopefully everything will be back to normal .

psychochild187: I have been doing dirt dircuit racing for a bit over a year and I have been to a few track days and driver training courses so maybe I am starting to get a bit wiser like you said. I guess I just have to find a compromise now, keep alert and everything but stay relaxed and don't let it worry me so much.

Australia isn't the greatest country, about the only thing we could claim to have over the UK is maybe a bit more sun and good weather. I am happy here and don't plan moving anytime soon but I also wouldn't mind going to the UK and Europe for a bit.

Aston

[johnono]

richy mate, what happn with the corrado and kerb?

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=10572

all here fella

cheers fella, i saw it a mo ago.. gutted for u

[ZS]

If you're worried about rattles and clunks, try driving a Vauxhall for a few weeks. Then you'll know what noises in cars is all about.

[Martinaston]