BMW Maintenance Tips for Safe Traveling

Posted on | 31 May 2017 By Anita Gaal

Owning a luxury car usually comes at a cost—and we don’t mean just money. Time and effort must be put into your car if you are to invest in such a purchase, and respecting the integrity of the vehicle you choose is of the utmost importance if you hope the car will live for any extended period of time. German engineering in particular is known for it’s incredible performance and impeccable designs; and BMWs are no exception. When you own a BMW, it is likely that you know how magnificent these machines can be. With the proper maintenance, BMWs can out-perform most vehicles on the road. Respecting the engineering and design that BMWs entail is part of the benefit of owning one, especially because they so rarely encounter issues. There are general maintenance suggestions that one should follow with any car, but especially with BMWs because they are particularly deserving of proper care. BMWs are rated as one of the safest vehicles out there, and this is partly due to the customer following that invests in them. If you own a BMW, or any other German vehicle such as a Mini, or a Volkswagen, here are some maintenance tips for safe traveling.

Scheduled service & maintenance is the key

Your BMW comes with a service and maintenance schedule that should be followed routinely, but there are general procedures that you should be sure to stay on top of regularly. Especially for safety purposes, there are numerous ways you can be sure to stay safely on the road, and not on the side of it. Firstly, before you take your BMW on any lengthy drive you should bring it to your favorite, trusted auto mechanic for a lookover. They can top off any of your fluids that you may be lower on such as motor oil, windshield wiper fluid, radiator fluid, and brake fluid. These are all critical to be sure are full and clean before you embark on any trip, and are generally important for daily usage of your vehicle. Keeping fluids full and clean (with the exception of windshield fluid) is critical to keep your car running smoothly and without any hiccups. For instance, if your brake fluid is low, it can cause severe issues if you are driving in an area with a lot of declines—in these areas in particular you use your brakes more often and for longer periods of time.

Be vigilant to tire pressure and wear

Another important BMW safety tip is to be vigilant of your tire pressure and wear. You can do this by checking the pressure with a pressure gauge regularly. The desired pressure level for your particular vehicle can be found either in the owner’s manual or on the inside of the driver’s side door. Be careful not to overfill your tires, because this can cause distortion and bubbling rendering your tire unusable and unsafe to drive on. If you are not familiar with how to fill your tire with air or don’t trust yourself to do it properly, then do not hesitate to bring it to a professional—they can also inspect your tires while you are there. However, if you want to check your tire wear yourself, the most important thing to look for is evenness amongst all four of the tires. If you notice any areas that are particularly worn on any one tire, then it might be time for an inspection. Tires can tell you a lot about your BMW and indicate any issues there might be.

Look for a qualified mechanic

Before you bring your BMW to any auto mechanic, it is imperative that you think about their qualifications and credentials. General automotive shops may do an adequate job on repairs and maintenance, however, if you are serious about the health of your BMW and want to preserve the integrity of the engineering, then you should consider going to a European automotive specialist; they are especially well-versed in German engineering and will be more thorough than any average mechanic shop. Furthermore, they are skilled in performing repairs on these vehicles because they have the proper training to do so. Having regular maintenance performed on your BMW is essential to keeping your car running for many decades to come, and will allow you to forever enjoy your beloved Bimmer.

Signs of a Porsche Intermediate Shaft Bearing Failure

Posted on | 15 May 2017 By Anita Gaal

Porsche is one of the most highly sought-after manufacturers in luxury brands worldwide. It should come as no surprise that these vehicles are well known for their engineering, design, and expert performance. Like any vehicle, however, Porsche must be serviced regularly and properly maintained in order to function at their best. When you own a Porsche, why would you settle for any less than perfection? Also like all other vehicles, Porsches come with their own set of unique challenges. For instance, it is not uncommon for slightly older models to undergo issues with the intermediate shaft bearings. Intermediate shaft bearings are an integral part of the vehicle that is critical to its overall function.

Find a Porsche expert

For the average car owner, this term may sound dauntingly complicated. All you need to know is the basic function of the part and signs and symptoms to look for when there is a suspected issue. Staying on top of these maintenance and repair issues is what will keep the integrity of your Porsche intact for many years to come. However, just as important is finding the right mechanic to service your Porsche. In order to uphold the time and money you spent on your Porsche in the first place, it is crucial to find experts that will help you keep your Porsche running at its finest, and when it comes to shaft bearing failure, you shouldn’t trust anyone but an auto specialist to address the issue.

Fix the issue fast

If you own a Porsche Boxster or 911 years 97-05, you may want to look into what kind of shape your intermediate shaft bearing is in; these are the models that typically have higher rates of issues with this particular part. Luckily, Porsche automotive experts are trained to be aware of the common issues that are associated with various manufacturers. Do not worry—this is no indication that your Porsche is defective or worth less, it simply means that there is something to look out for. If the problem is left to advance without being addressed, it can lead to significant engine damage that will end up becoming very costly, very quickly. So it is important to look for any of the common signs and symptoms of this part becoming damaged or malfunctioning.

Routine maintenance is highly needed

First and foremost, when you stay on top of the routine maintenance for your Porsche and have it inspected regularly, there are more opportunities for issues to be found that can prevent further issues along the road, literally. Routine oil changes, believe it or not, are one way to detect an issue with the intermediate shaft bearing. Usually when there is debris found in your oil after an oil change, this is a sign that something is off—usually with the shaft bearing. This could likely involve a problem with the bearing seal or flange seal. Even though oil changes are not recommended as frequently on Porsche and other luxury cars, it should be noted that the more frequently the oil is checked, the more you increase the chance of catching a problem with the shaft bearing early. You probably have heard a million times over that oil changes are one of the number one preventive maintenance services—and when you catch a problem such as this early on, it will emphasize exactly why that is.

Final words

If you think the intermediate shaft bearing could potentially be failing on your Porsche, it is critical that it not be driven anywhere, for any reason, at any time. Your best bet is to get a loaner car and have your Porsche towed to the nearest trusted Porsche service center. Because the shaft bearing is such an integral part of the vehicle, and not as well known as say a motor mount, the symptoms tend to go overlooked and eventually cause irreparable damage to your Porsche. Anyone who owns a Porsche knows just how devastating it can be to see your car incapacitated, so take the necessary steps to continue your regular preventive maintenance with only the most qualified professionals. Luckily, Porsche has addressed the issue of the intermediate shaft bearing failure in some of their models, and may offer compensation for the part to be replaced. You should look into the specifics on this if you suspect an issue with this part.

Porsche Carerra 2002 image credit goes to: contrastaddict