Make sure your brakes are in good working order, get them checked!
August isn’t just the last full month of summer, it’s also Brake Safety Awareness Month. If you’re planning on taking one last summer vacation before the season is over and before school starts, be sure to have your brakes checked out to keep you and your family safe on the road.
Brake Safety Awareness Month aims to encourage motorists to learn and be aware of the importance of having a safe brake system in their BMW.
We all know brakes wear and tear over time, so it’s important to stop into your independent BMW repair shop and have your brakes routinely checked for maintenance. Your qualified BMW mechanic will check the brake lining wear, fluid level, rotor thickness, condition of the hoses and brake lines, the brake dash and warning lights and perform other checks to correctly diagnose if there is a problem with your brake system.
Common warning signs that your BMW is needing brake service include:
Grinding
Squealing
Hard pedal feel
Pedal hops or vibrates
Soft or low brake pedal feel
BMW pulls to the left or right
If you experience any of these warning signs or you see your brake warning light on, it’s time to head into your local BMW service shop immediately for brake repair.
Worst culprits: Male BMW drivers are the most angry drivers, who often succumb to road rage
According to this study, the most aggressive drivers are men, ages 35-50, who drive blue BMWs. The study also found that the most aggressive times on the roads are at 5:45pm on Fridays and the Monday morning commute. Imagine that!
In the study of 2,837 motorists, Land Rovers, Audis, Subarus and Vauxhalls were also on the “most aggressive” list, and the colors of black, silver, green and red followed the angry blue.
Drivers most often expressed road rage by shouting and swearing, followed by erratic driving and obscene gestures. Motorists were asked the pick the make and colour of car from which they have experienced the most incidents of road rage – and blue BMWs came out on top.
George Charles of VoucherCodesPro said: ‘During peak periods of traffic, whether it be the Monday morning school run or the hectic rush hour on a Friday evening, it is all too easy to allow the common manifestations of road rage to get the better of us as motorists.
‘This research, although slightly humorous in some of its findings, does indicate an important point.
‘Road rage is not something to be taken lightly and these results show that many motorists need to remind themselves that sometimes losing your temper whilst driving can result in serious altercations, assaults, and collisions that cause injuries or worse.’
So you’ve found your dream BMW. It’s used, and looks like it’s had a few wear and tear repairs over the years, which is normal. Should you purchase it? Not before you obtain a pre-purchase inspection.
Used Car For Sale! Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection First!
It’s necessary to get a pre-purchase inspection done before buying a used BMW because you don’t want to end up with a vehicle full of expensive to remedy mechanical and safety issues that are not evident to the casual eye.
What Is A Pre-Purchase Inspection, Anyway?
A pre-purchase inspection is a detailed report about the cosmetic, mechanical and safety condition of the BMW you are interested in purchasing.
To avoid purchasing a poorly maintained car or succumbing to other buying pitfalls, we always recommends a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified BMW mechanic before purchasing a used BMW vehicle. We have saved many buyers from getting into a situation where they have been taken advantage of, and I have made sure their dream vehicle does not turn into a nightmare.
Take your car to a qualified BMW mechanic before buying.
At Eurobahn Motorsports we do Pre Purchase Inspections on used Vehicles every day!
Buying a Used BMW Long Distance or Without a Warranty
If you plan on buying a used BMW long distance (located in another city/state) or without a warranty, it is definitely a MUST that you get a pre-purchase inspection. Major risk is at stake if not.
In fact, we that found that so many clients are buying vehicles long distance these days, so she do a thorough inspection to help buyers make sure they are getting what they’re paying for.
The most common mistake buyers make is not having inspection reports and the title work on the car they are looking to buy reviewed by an expert before they purchase the vehicle. Buyers need someone who knows what to ask on behalf of them, and that’s what we help to do.
Sure anyone can do their homework before they buy a vehicle, which is good and part of the process, but there is so much more to make sure the buyer is protected when spending thousands of dollars on a used vehicle.
The seller should be willing to let you have a pre-purchase inspection done prior to buying it, if not, then that is a red flag and they’re likely hiding something from you about the BMW.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist and Price
Once your potential used BMW is being inspected by a BMW service provider, it’s common for a few minor flaws to show up on the pre-purchase inspection. Finding these minor flaws can actually help in the overall price negotiation process if you do buy the used vehicle.
A thorough inspection should cover over 125 items in the following areas (not limited to):
Overall condition of the BMW
Visual problems with the body and frame
Leaks and broken components
Engine analysis and problems
Road test
The following past problems can be identified by a qualified BMW mechanic while inspecting the vehicle:
Frame damage
Poor repair work
Car previously owned by a smoker
Flood damage
Prices vary from BMW shop to BMW shop and are dependent on how thorough of a pre-purchase inspection you choose for your potential BMW. The more detailed and extensive an inspection, the more it will cost you – but the more it could save you in the long run.
In the end, it is worth the money purchasing a pre-purchase inspection, in the long-run, to avoid costly repair bills that can add up in the future. So buy your used dream BMW with confidence, knowing you’ve taken the appropriate measures and gotten a pre-purchase inspection.
Is that Satan in your hood causing a fire and smoke? No, you're vehicle is probably overheating.
Is that Satan in your hood causing a fire and smoke? No, you’re vehicle is probably overheating.
Your BMW can tell you all sorts of things from when it needs gas, to when it needs to go into the shop. Being proactive about the latter can help you save mucho de dolares down the road.
Here are some scary signs your car may be telling you…in which case you ought to run to your BMW service shop like you’re being chased by brain-eating zombies in a horror flick.
Tires:
Some hair-raising signs your tires are in trouble and you could be in danger include a tread depth below 1/16th of an inch, the appearance of a tread wear indicator bar, presence of cracks and weathered sidewalls and bulges and blisters on tires. Also, if you notice your BMW is vibrating, this too, can be a sign that you need to replace your tires.
If left unattended, bad tires can lead to poor car handling/steering, which can contribute to serious auto accidents and tire blow outs that can leave you on the side of the road. Also, you may be at risk of hydroplaning on wet days due to tread wear-down and your fuel economy will be lowered.
Seized Engine:
Something’s a-brewing in your BMW when you witness light tapping noises or a knocking sound. This can be a sign of a possible seized engine. This sound should spook you enough to head to your mechanic ASAP and have it tested (that is, if you can drive there). The repair for this problem is dependent on what is causing the seize. If you can have the entire engine replaced with all its components, it can be very costly. Avoid this frightful mess by getting your BMW serviced routinely by a qualified BMW mechanic.
Overheated Engine:
Think your engine is possessed by the Devil? Not likely. Some warning signs of an overheated engine includes a temperature gauge in the “red,” putrid smells of burning oil or metal from the radiator, abnormal power and leaks underneath your car.
To remedy this, have your BMW mechanic check for leaky/clogged/collapsed hoses, loose clamps and for a faulty temperature gauge and water pumps, etc. Frequent overheating can cause serious engine damage, but if caught early it’s not too costly of a repair.
Transmission Problems/Failure:
Transmission problems and possible failure may be lurking around the corner in your BMW with certain evil signs. To avoid digging a grave for your transmission, these signs include refusal to go into gear, strange burning smells, clunking/buzzing/humming sounds, gear slippage, dragging clutch, transmission fluid leak, check engine light appearance, shimmying into gear, vehicle jerking in park or neutral, and delay of response when shifting into gear.
If your transmission starts acting up then you are in for a whirlwind of trouble and possible costly repairs. Keep your BMW up-to-date with its routine maintenance to avoid this, and take it to your local BMW shop immediately.
Broken Timing Belt:
Don’t be shocked to the core when your timing belt breaks in your BMW if you avoid the warning signs. These potentially hazardous signs include a shaking vehicle, a hard start, expelling more exhaust than normal, high-pitched noises and vehicle shut off while driving.
A broken timing belt that sidelines you along the freeway can also cause damage to other engine components, which you definitely don’t want.
Change the timing belt in your BMW at the recommended service interval. When you take your BMW to your local BMW service center, your qualified BMW mechanic will inspect the timing belt to make sure there are no cracks, chips or spots, and look at the teeth of the belt.
The way your BMW sounds and smells, to how it performs on the road can be telltale signs that it needs maintenance…but don’t be alarmed about all things that go bump in the night, because not every bone rattling shake or blood curdling squeal means your BMW is about to go belly-up and you need a new plot in the cemetery. It’s just a best practice to be aware of these things and have your BMW routinely serviced to avoid them.
The next far forward-looking view of BMW’s design themes and luxury concepts will come at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, in the form of the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept, previously shown at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show.
“We use visionary concept vehicles like the BMW Vision Future Luxury to show where we may be going with these themes in the future, and to give us new inspiration and motivation,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group Design senior vice president in a statement. “The BMW Vision Future Luxury—with its innovative technologies and with meticulous precision and quality in every detail—takes our thinking on modern luxury a logical stage further.”
One of BMW’s previous forward-looking design and inspiration concepts was 2008’s GINA Light Visionary concept. The new Vision Future Luxury concept pushes forward the boundaries of design in a similar fashion, but in entirely new directions.
With lightweight engineering and user interface concerns at the forefront, the Vision Future Luxury concept aims to provide exactly that: a vision of luxury in the mid-term future, as viewed through BMW’s characteristic lens.
Carbon fiber, predictably, plays a large role, much as it has already in the BMW i3 and i8. In the Vision Future Luxury concept, the material can be found not only in the structure, but in the interior, where load-bearing aluminum aspects create contrast, and wood surfaces add warmth. A minimalist, seamless design theme predominates.
Other future-looking aspects include a pared-down B-pillar, seat frames integrated into the vehicle’s core structure, and connections with the door sills and center console for greater structural rigidity while allowing for a more open design.
BMW’s Connected Drive telematics and remote access system is also made future-oriented, with a wrap-around display of instruments in 3D. A Vision Head Up Display adds to this with overlaid information about traffic, road hazards, and navigation data, as well as directing the driver’s attention to potential areas of concern, highlighting speed limit signs, or providing information about traffic light phasing, for instance.
Check out local BMW Greensboro, NC
The rear seat gets some upgrades, too, with a special Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet offering communication with the front displays and access to the ConnectedDrive services. The rear seats are large and deeply contoured for what BMW calls a “luxurious haven of personal space.” Aniline leather, Silk nubuk leather, and layered lime wood predominate, offering a warm, rich look and feel.
The exterior of the Vision Future Luxury concept also points toward some of the BMW design themes to come, including a long wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, and a low, rear-biased cabin. Surface styling, including a long front-to-rear arc, as well as Liquid Platinum Bronze paint accentuate the futuristic take on traditional BMW design themes.
BMW’s Vision Future Luxury concept will be on display at the Concept Lawn outside The Lodge at Pebble Beach after a preview launch at BMW’s Villa on Thursday, August 14.
You don’t have to take your BMW to the dealer to maintain your warranty.
Let’s face it, BMW repairs can be expensive and when you buy that new or used BMW from the dealership, you want to make sure your BMW is covered with a vehicle warranty if anything should go wrong and need repairs.
It’s common to hear that once you purchase your BMW with a warranty, scheduled maintenance and repairs need to be completed by the dealership or else it voids the warranty. This is quite the myth and unfortunately, many people believe it to be true.
Your Rights Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, vehicle manufacturers can’t tell you, the consumer, where to have your scheduled maintenance and repair work done that is under warranty.
You have the right to have your BMW serviced according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule at any qualified shop, including your local independent BMW repair shop.
Taking your vehicle to your local BMW service center for routine service does NOT void the warranty. You will still be receiving the same top-notch BMW repair service, if not better, than what the dealership provides. You also will still be receiving the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts that the dealership uses, installed by highly specialized BMW technicians. And who knows, you may even save yourself a little bit of money.
Take your BMW to and independent BMW repair shop today!
So it’s time to take your BMW into the shop. You don’t really want to haggle with the dealership’s service department over prices and what actually needs to be serviced today.
Why not turn to an independent BMW repair shop that specializes in BMW service? Whether it’s for a simple oil change or a more complex matter, your neighborhood BMW service center has the skills and tools to keep the life of your BMW running longer.
Here are some tips to help you locate an expert BMW technician at a local BMW repair shop.
North Carolina is home to many qualified local, independent BMW repair shopswith dealer-level expertise. Use the search box and type in your zip code or city/state.
When you go into a BMW repair center look to see if they have BMWs in the parking lot/bays and if they have specialized BMW diagnostic tools.
Check out the shop’s BMW certifications in-shop or online. Also, check for automotive professional associations and any community awards they hold.
Listen to what others are saying about nearby BMW service shops. Ask fellow BMW enthusiasts where they have their BMW repaired.
Friendly and knowledgeable BMW service consultants and technicians that help answer your questions and make arrangements to bring your BMW in for service is a good indicator of a quality shop.
Search for a local, independent BMW Greensboro repair shop with BMW mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.
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