How You Can Maintain the Brake System in BMW

Posted on | 27 Dec 2017 By Anita Gaal

BMWs are quality vehicles that offer drivers security and stability; however, the maintained quality of a BMW is highly dependent upon how well we take care of them. Routine maintenance is critical in order to extend the life of your vehicle, but it is also important for safety reasons. For instance, your BMW’s brakes won’t last forever, and will certainly need to be replaced or serviced every now and then. Of course, the rate at which your brakes wear out is also heavily impacted by the overall quality of parts you use to maintain them. Furthermore, driving habits can greatly affect the condition of your brakes—and believe us, we know how easy it is to drive like a race car driver when behind the wheel of a BMW. Here are some tips on how you can best maintain the brake system in your BMW.

Be Good to Your Brakes

Treating your BMW’s brakes well falls under a wide range of categories of care. What we mean by “be good to your brakes” is that it’s especially important to become aware of your driving habits. Driving fast in a BMW seems to come naturally; however, when you drive fast you often have to brake fast—especially if you live in a populated city with many traffic lights. Refrain from standing on the gas pedal until you’re out of the danger zones in which you may have to brake quickly. Disregarding your driving habits can erode your brakes a lot quicker than under normal conditions.

Replace Brake Pads

There are several parts of your BMW’s brake system that may need service or repair if you don’t take good care of your brake pads. Unfortunately, brake pads do wear out eventually, and its important to replace them with good quality brake pads in order to reduce the amount of time between replacements. Be sure to check with your BMW automotive specialist on what the best type of brake pads are for your particular vehicle—choosing the right brake pads can save you expensive trips to the mechanic.

Keep Brake Fluid Full and Clean

BMWs have advanced systems that can tell you when problems are arising, but it’s best to stay one step ahead at all times to avoid costly visits to the automotive shop. Be proactive about your brake fluid as often as possible. Checking your brake fluid’s level and clarity can preemptively stop internal corrosion and/or brake failure. In other words, your brake fluid is essential to the overall health of your brakes, but it’s also important in order to ensure your safety and that of your passengers.

Remain Aware of Symptoms and Troubling Noises

Once there are noticeable symptoms associated with deterioration or failure of your BMW’s brake system, it has gone past the point of preventive care and turned into a damage control situation. Screeching or grinding sounds are concerning when it comes to your brake health; it typically means that repair work is in the near future for your BMW. Staying on top of routine inspections is the best way to prevent brake issues. Brake inspections are easiest to perform when the tires on your vehicle are off—so, you might want to ask that your brakes are inspected every time you have a tire rotation. However, you can check the brake fluid year-round, as this is one important way to prevent damage and troubling symptoms from occurring. Consult with your BMW automotive specialist on how to best care for your brakes in such a way that will be convenient for you.

How We Can Help

Here at Euro Automotive, we specialize in luxury European repair and maintenance services for BMW owners in the areas of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, Texas. Our certified and highly skilled technicians focus on preventive care and maintenance in order to save our clients money on costly repairs, whereas many other shops and dealerships tend to ignore preventive care all together and make their money off of the more expensive repair work. We believe that fundamental automotive knowledge can help our clients best care for their vehicles and save money in the process, so it is our mission to help our clients understand the basics. If your BMW is in need of brake service or repair, or you have any other automotive concerns, contact us directly—we look forward to helping your BMW get back to its old self again.

Featured image credit goes to: kurmyshov.

Maintenance That Increases Your Car’s Worth

Posted on | 13 Dec 2017 By Anita Gaal

Cars aren’t great investments—or so we’re told. Of course, if you own a vehicle, chances are that it’s not going to be worth the same amount as it was when you first purchased it, and this is simply the nature of the automotive industry. Similar to cell phones, automotive technology is continually advancing daily, and what was once the most up-to-date model can quickly become outdated. Decreasing car value is typical for most cars, so the question now becomes: what can we do to increase our cars’ worth? Here are some helpful automotive tips that can greatly improve the rate at which your car’s value decreases:

Engine Maintenance and Repair

Undoubtedly the most important part of your vehicle, the engine is the heart of all of your car’s functioning. Routine maintenance such as oil changes and fluid flushes are critical for your engine’s health and can greatly reduce the chances of parts failing. Unfortunately, engine damage can still occur due to other issues such as accidents and a given drivers’ typical driving habits. If engine damage does occur, it is imperative to have the engine repaired immediately and appropriately.

Regular Tune-ups

Highly overlooked by vehicle owners, regular tune-ups are a great way to involve your automotive specialist in the ongoing, overall health of your vehicle. Tune-ups are an opportunity for automotive professionals to intervene in potentially problematic issues before they become costly and spread to other areas that will require expensive repair. Regular tune-ups may involve different procedures at different shops, and will vary even further depending on the type of vehicle you drive, so it’s important to contact your local, trusted automotive shop for more details about the services that are included in their typical “tune-up” process.

Tire Rotations and Wheel Alignments

Now, you may be thinking: “wait a minute, I thought that tires don’t bear any weight in the value of a vehicle…” While tires are usually held separately from a vehicle’s value, the condition of the tires and the alignment of the wheels play a large role in the functioning of other aspects of your car. For instance, the suspension is directly connected to the wheels, and if a tire becomes damaged or goes flat, it can damage your suspension parts. When you take good care of your tires by having them rotated, and inspect them regularly for irregular wear patterns to assess the condition of the wheel alignment, you can preserve the integrity of other parts of the vehicle.

Body and Interior Work

Ask yourself: what is the first thing you notice about a car when you see it? The answer is probably the same for everyone—the paint. The exterior of a car maintains the re-sale value greatly because curb appeal is important to us all. If your car has suffered dents and scratches, you can have them repaired and re-finished in order to preserve the paint job. Now, a second question: what aspect of a vehicle contributes to your comfort and convenience the most? The answer is: the interior. Leather and fabric seats are comfortable, but when they are ripped and torn or damaged, it can greatly deter buyers from investing. It’s important to repair scratches and gouges quickly, before they become out of hand. Routine polishing and vacuuming as well as car washes and waxes are a great way to keep your car’s value competitive.

How We Can Help

The professionals here at Euro Automotive are trained and certified technicians for European-engineered vehicles such as Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, and BMW. In the areas of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, Texas, we have seen and serviced vehicles in every imaginable condition, and we pride ourselves greatly on our ability to improve the value of our clients’ vehicles in just a single visit. Offering prices that are up to 25% lower than the nearby dealerships, with expertise that is unrivaled, we always aim to save our clients money on current services in addition to putting money in your pocket with increased car value. We would be honored to be given the responsibility of caring for your vehicle with ongoing engine maintenance, repair, and regular tune-ups. For more information on how we can extend the life of your vehicle and increase its overall value, contact us to schedule a consultation or to speak with a friendly professional over the phone. You can also email us with any questions you have. We look forward to hearing from you!