[snakedoc]

Not idling the car is normal BMW thing. As far as I'm aware, it's been like that since the E30. All the BMWs I've owned have been treated the same way. They've also had all the same idiosyncrasies: erratic idle from time to time, especially when cold; crappy e-brake (except for the Z4); crappy rubber bits that are prone to drying out; crappy leather on the bolsters and the stitching to go with it; crappy window regulators.

It's amazing that BMW has managed to consistently do the good things well, while ignoring the small annoyances that owners have put up with for years. Interestingly, my 03 M3 feels a LOT more solidly put together, with zero rattles of any kind, than my 04 330Ci which was rattling quite a bit by the 2-year mark.

I do almost all the things that the OP posted, except for the engine idling thing and the extremes with the sunshades. I will also add:

1. Never going to automated car washes.
2. Treating all rubber bits with Gummi Pfledge.
3. Parking far away from other cars when possible.
4. Passing up parking spots that might risk door dings.
5. Telling friends I'm not feeling well and going home if I haven't found a suitable parking spot (ok I only did this once and it was years ago.)
6. Treating black trim pieces with Mother's Back to Black (mostly applicable to my old M6)

I've done this for every BMW I've owned.

[BlackOnBlack]

other than washing it once a week:
1. park at the END (either top or bottom) of a parking structure
2. detail every few months
3. never take it to automatic car washes... i do it myself....

everything has been mentioned...
its a car, drive it, enjoy it.
DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!