Thursday, February 22, 2018

BMW Service Laguna Niguel: Tips And Tricks


If you’re in the market for BMW service Laguna Niguel, you’ll want to know the tips and tricks that professionals know for keeping your car running like a dream for as long as possible.  Here’s our best recommendations.

  1. Your Car Will Tell You When It Needs Service

One of the great things about a BMW is that your dashboard indicators will tell you when the vehicle needs an oil service or an inspection.  This is very convenient, taking the guesswork out of trying to decide when to bring the car in for service.  It prevents both waste (from changing oil that was still serviceable) and the damage that can come from running your vehicle with dirty oil.  Our tip around this fact?  Don’t ignore the indicator!  With highly-engineered cars like a BMW, it’s vital to respect the cues that the vehicle gives you.

  1. Pay Attention To The Filters

Much like the oil service indicator, your vehicle will generally also tell you when an air filter needs to be changed.  Again, our tip is simple: pay attention to the indicator light on your dashboard.  With a dirty air filter, your car’s performance will suffer and you can even cause engine damage.

  1.  Maintain The Tires

People tend to forget about their tires, but this is the portion of your car that contacts the road, and it’s vital both for the health of your steering and suspension system and for the comfort and safety of your ride that your tires be properly inflated and balanced.  You’ve heard this advice before, so what’s our tip?  Also make sure that your tires are not worn down.  Check the tire tread regularly, and make sure that it’s not growing thin or wearing unevenly.  Worn-out tires don’t have as much traction on the road and can make it more difficult to steer on slippery or wet surfaces, and they increase the risk of a flat.

  1. Pay Attention To The TPS

TPS, or “tire pressure warning system”, is the part of your BMW that alerts you if you have a loss of tire pressure.  When it turns on, this most often means there’s a puncture.  While it can be tempting to drive for a while with this light on if you don’t notice an immediate flat, our tip is to get to either our shop or a tire repair center as quickly as possible when you see a TPS light.  Driving on a puncture can make what would have been a repairable tire need to be replaced, but even worse, it can increase your risk of a tire shredding and causing very unsafe driving conditions.

Your BMW is meticulously engineered to provide you with an enormous amount of feedback and data, enabling you to take the best possible care of your car.  If you respect the information that your vehicle provides you and take common-sense steps to preserve it, you’ll be rewarded by having a car that performs well for years to come.  And if you’re not quite sure how to evaluate these things, give us a call.  We’d love to service your vehicle and help you understand your car better.

Sources:
BMW Maintenance Tips –  www.newcountrybmw.com
6 Tips To Help You Maintain And Service Your BMW –  www.newswire.com

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Keeping Your Mercedes Healthy



Every Mercedes owner wants to avoid costly repair bills, but many don’t know how to do this.  The secret lies in the Mercedes’ heritage as a highly-engineered German vehicle: meticulous maintenance.  If you don’t want to pay for Mercedes repair Laguna Niguel service professionals are your best allies.  Here’s what you can do to keep your car running at its best for the longest amount of time.

  1. Keep Up Your Regular Maintenance Intervals

A Mercedes is designed to require service at regular intervals, and the type of service needed will alternate.  So, beginning at about 10,000 miles, your car will require first service A, and then (after about 10,000 more miles), service B.  These two services include oil changes, tire rotation, brake inspection, and filter replacements to keep your motor humming and your suspension smooth.

  1. Keep Your Vehicle Clean

It might seem like mostly an aesthetics issue, but keeping your car clean is good for more than just your ego.  Keeping dirt and road grime off your car can preserve the life of your paint, prevent scratches, and prevent road chemicals like salt solutions from causing rust and other damage.  Wash the outside of your car regularly, and be sure to hose around the wheels and undercarriage of the vehicle to remove any salt.  When cleaning the interior, remember that vacuuming regularly can preserve the life of the carpets, and application of leather conditioner or a protectant like Armorall to the seats can help to prevent UV damage.

  1. Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated

Whether out of carelessness or in an attempt to improve their mileage, many people either under- or over-inflate their tires.  This can not only be dangers (since over-inflated tires don’t grip the road as well as tires with the proper pressure).  Tires that a properly inflated, balanced, and rotated will improve your mileage as well as the handling of your vehicle, and they place less stress on other components of your car.
When trying to avoid repair bills and ensure the longevity of your Mercedes, common sense turns out to be the best way to go.  Keeping up with your maintenance schedule, keeping your vehicle clean, and being precise about your tires might seem like small things, but they can make a big difference in how your car functions.  If you need advice on how to do any of these, we have many years of experience caring for Mercedes and other elite European vehicles, and we’d be happy to help.


Sources:
5 Tips For Mercedes Owners – www.mercedesbenznaples.com
What Is Mercedes Benz Service A And B? –  www.fjmercedes.com

Monday, February 19, 2018

Do You Need New Brakes?


Brakes are one of the most vital systems in your car, and for your safety and the safety of your passengers, it’s vital that your brakes are working perfectly.  But searching for great brake repair Laguna Niguel options can seem overwhelming.  How do you know if you need new brakes?  And if you do, what does that entail?

  1. Worn Brake Symptoms

If you notice any of the following symptoms, bring your vehicle in for brake service right away:
  • “Soft” or “squishy” feel when you depress the brake pedal.  This means that you likely have a brake fluid leak, and is an emergency. The vehicle should not be driven until the brakes can be inspected.
  • A “squealing” or “screaming” sound when you use the brakes.  This is an indication that your brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced.
  • Longer braking time.  This can be caused by a number of problems, from overheating your brakes to allowing the brake pads to get too thin.

  1. What To Expect From Your Brake Service


When you bring in your vehicle to have your brakes checked out, the first thing your service professional will do is inspect your brakes to locate the problem.  The correct repair will depend on the cause of any symptoms that you’ve been noticing.  Repairs can involve:
  • New brake pads
  • New brake rotors
  • Replacing or repairing brake fluid lines
  • Repairs to other parts of the hydraulic system, such as seals

Most often, brakes will simply have been worn out.  How quickly brakes wear down depends mostly on your driving habits and environment.  If you drive in heavy city traffic with frequent stops, or if you drive downhill much of the time and have to use the brakes frequently, you’ll wear down your brake pads and rotors more quickly than if you do mostly highway driving.  Typically, brake pads and rotors are replaced at the same time, since their surfaces interact.

Monday, February 12, 2018

Is Your Car In Need Of TLC?


If you own a BMW, odds are that you already know the importance of keeping up with your maintenance schedule. But if your car is showing any of the symptoms below, odds are that you need to find a local BMW repair Laguna Niguel professional. Here’s what to watch out for:

1. Warning Lights

Like many high-performance German cars, your BMW is designed to be strictly maintained. If you notice a warning light on your dashboard, don’t ignore it! Here are a few of the common warning lights:
“Oil service” – this light appears when your oil service is due or past due. Bring the vehicle in for an oil change and service.
“Inspection” – this light appears when your car is due for an inspection service.
“Check Engine” – the most ominous of warning lights, this means you should bring your vehicle in for service immediately.
Thankfully, a warning light lets you know without a doubt that your car needs to be serviced. It’s the easiest symptom to diagnose, as long as you don’t make the mistake of trying to “get by” with the light for a while.

2. Noisy Brakes

Your brakes shouldn’t squeal, squeak, or make other odd noises. If they do, you may need your brakes serviced, or the brakes may be worn out and need to be replaced. Keep in mind that if your brake pedal feels soft or spongy when you press it, this is a dangerous emergency and the vehicle shouldn’t be driven until the brakes can be inspected by a qualified service professional. Instead, call a tow truck to bring the car to the service center. Your safety is more important than the price of the tow!