7 Ways to Winterproof Your BMW

Cold, winter weather doesn’t have to stop you from driving your BMW, but you should take certain steps to get it ready for winter. With a few preparations, such as the following, your BMW will be ready to face the cold.

Checks and Maintenance

Winter can be tough on certain aspects of your vehicle, so before the winter weather arrives, do some basic maintenance and check that everything is in optimal condition. Check the following things:

  • Check your brakes: Checking your brakes should be a top concern. In wet weather, bad brakes are more likely to slide and squeak. Many dealerships offer brake checks for free.
  • Check your battery: Cold weather reduces battery capacity. Have your battery life, cables and fluid checked.
  • Check your tires: Have your tires checked and rotated. Replace them if they’re too worn down because worn tires offer little traction. If you live somewhere snowy, you should get snow tires.
  • Check your wiper blades: If your wiper blades are dull, replace them before the first snow arrives.

Protect Your Interior

You may also want to protect your interior from any mud or snow that could get tracked inside. Putting in some rubber floor mats can help. While it might not look especially slick, you’ll be happy when you take them out at winter’s end, and your floor is pristine. You may also want to get a bag for your trunk to put ice scrapers and other winter tools to prevent them from getting the inside of your trunk wet and muddy.

Top Off or Change Fluids

You should also take the time to check your car fluids and top them off or change them for a winter fluid if necessary. Check your oil, brake fluid, window washer fluid and coolant.

Make sure you use the right mixture of antifreeze and water for your coolant so that fluid does not freeze in your radiator. You should also use a wiper fluid formulated for winter use so that it does not freeze. Right before winter is also an ideal time to change your oil. You might also opt for a lighter oil, which works better for winter.

Cover It Up

The best way to prevent damage from snow, ice and road salt is to stow your car away during and after storms. The ideal way to do this is to park it in your garage. You may want to make some upgrades to your garage, such as improving insulation to help protect your car from cold temperatures as well as snow. Garage door improvements are also cost-effective and have an average of an 85 percent return on investment.

If you don’t have a garage you can use, consider getting a winter car cover made for your car’s make and model so that it fits snugly and protects the car fully.

Protect Your Paint

To protect your paint, consider doing some detailing right before winter so that you have a fresh coat of sealant. You can use a wax or polymer to help protect your car’s finish. If you might have to drive on snow or salted roads, consider investing in mud flaps for your front and rear tires to prevent salts from eroding your paint.

Pack an Emergency Kit

Create an emergency kit and keep in your trunk in case you get stuck during a winter storm. In your emergency kit, place some road salt, a first aid kit, snacks, a change of clothes, a blanket, an extra coat, a flashlight and anything else you might need. You should also have jumper cables, car jacks and other tools as well as an ice scraper and a shovel.

Protect your car and help ensure that you can get around safely by preparing your BMW for winter. When you follow the above tips, you’ll be able to drive your BMW during the winter months worry-free!

The First-Ever 2019 BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle

Today, BMW launches the first-ever BMW X7, the pinnacle of BMW’s X Sport Activity Vehicle lineup. The BMW X7 builds on the class-leading comfort, handling, safety and technology of all the previous BMW X Sport Activity Vehicle model lines that have been produced at Plant Spartanburg since 1999.

The 2019 BMW X7 offers standard three-row seating for 7 with optional Second-row Captain’s Chairs offering a more exclusive seating arrangement for 6. Standard two-axle air suspension, 21-inch alloy wheels and advanced driver assistance systems ensure that the new BMW X7 lives up to expectations of style, driver engagement, passenger comfort and all-weather and all-terrain capability.

The expansive exterior dimensions of the BMW X7 take luxury to a new level. At 203.3 inches in length, 78.7 inches wide and 71.1 inches tall, and with a wheelbase of 122.2 inches, the X7 displays harmonious proportions and establishes itself as the new head of the BMW X model family. A new use of forms, dominated by clearly structured surfaces and precise lines, lends the BMW X7 its modern aura. The largest kidney grill ever designed for a BMW model features very prominently at the front of the new BMW X7. Together with the slim twin headlights extending up to the grill, it emphasizes the width of the car and creates a presence. When viewed from the side, the large windows and long, flowing roofline of the new BMW X7 hint at a spacious interior bathed in light. The rear doors are longer than the front doors, emphasizing the spaciousness of the SAV’s rear compartment and easing entry and exit for second and third-row seat occupants. Clearly structured surfaces and the eye-catching character line rising up to the rear are hallmarks of the brand’s new design language. The versatile functionality of the new BMW X7 is highlighted by its 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The new 2019 BMW X7 launches with a choice of two updated gasoline engines. Heading up the range is the BMW X7 xDrive50i, with an extensively updated 4.4-liter V8 engine.  A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, found under the hood of the new BMW X7 xDrive40i rounds out the model line-up. All engines channel their power through an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, while BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive is on hand to ensure that power is transferred into secure progress – on or off road.

The eight-cylinder engine in the BMW X7 xDrive50i serves up an intoxicating blend of power delivery and signature V8 soundtrack. The two turbochargers’ positioning in the “V” between the banks of cylinders is just one of the standout features of the 4.4-liter unit. Newly designed heat plates ensure very effective thermal shielding for the crankcase and cylinder head. A new ignition system allows the engine to be restarted even more smoothly and swiftly when the Auto Start Stop function is activated. The new engine’s peak torque of 479 lb-ft is available over a broad rev range from 1,500 to 4,750 rpm, while its maximum output of 456 hp is on tap between 5,250 and 6,000 rpm. This formidable pulling power is available early and doesn’t let up, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds.

The power unit fitted in the new BMW X7 xDrive40i boasts the free-revving ability inherent in all inline six-cylinder engines from BMW, plus a wonderfully eager response. The 3.0-liter engine employs a single twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection technology whose maximum pressure of 5,076 psi ensures the fuel is delivered in extremely precise doses. The straight-six generates its maximum output of 335 hp between 5,500 and 6,500 rpm, while the peak torque 330 lb-ft is available from 1,500 – 5,200 rpm. The new BMW X7 xDrive40i accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

Both engine variants of the new BMW X7 are linked to an improved version of the eight-speed Steptronic transmission, whose wider ratio spread and new control electronics help to increase the powertrain’s overall efficiency. New torsion dampers reduce rotational forces and converter slip for improved shift comfort.

The list of optional equipment available for the new 2019 BMW X7 is designed to further tailor BMW’s latest premium Sports Activity Vehicle to reflect the personality and requirements of the owner.

  • Remote Engine Start, 22 inch alloy wheels and a factory installed tow hitch, rated for 7,500 lbs. are just some of the notable individual options available for the BMW X7.
  • 5-Zone Automatic Climate Control is available as part of the Cold Weather Package, which also includes Front and Rear Heated Seats and Heated Front Seat Armrests and Steering Wheel.
  • The Premium Package includes Remote Engine Start, Soft-Close automatic doors, rear electric side window shades, Heated and Cooled Cup Holders, Heads-Up Display, Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio (standard on the X7 xDrive50i) and Gesture Control.
  • The Executive Package for the X7 xDrive50i includes the Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof. Glass Controls and BMW Laserlight headlights.
  • The Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof, generates a very special and exclusive aura when darkness falls, with LED light spreading evenly across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky. The color scheme of this atmospheric light show can be adapted as desired.

Both X7 models come with Adaptive Full LED lights with Automatic High Beams as standard equipment. BMW Laserlights are available on the X7 xDrive50i with the optional Executive Package, which also includes Panoramic Sly Lounge LED Roof and Glass Controls.


The Proper Way to Store Your BMW

There may come a time when you need to store your BMW for an extended period. Perhaps you’re planning to drive a different vehicle during the winter months. Maybe you’ll be away for a while whether it’s for a work assignment, military deployment, a long vacation or another reason.

Whatever the reason for storing your car, you don’t want the storage period to be tough on your car, and you want to make sure your car’s still in prime condition when it’s time to drive it again. Following tips such as these will help you to ensure your car is stored properly.

Find a Safe Location

Where you store your car is crucial to keeping it in good condition. The ideal place is in a garage where it will be protected from the element. If you have a garage on your property, this will be the most convenient option. You could also rent a storage space and leave your car there. If storing your car over the winter, the garage you choose should be well-insulated to protect it from cold temperatures.

If you do have to store your car outside, invest in a cover that fully covers your vehicle. It’s best to get one designed for your make and model to ensure that it fits right. Even if you store your car inside, you should cover it to provide further protection.

Last-Minute Maintenance

Don’t just put your car into storage as is. You need to take steps to prepare it, including topping off its fluids. Change the oil and filter since old oil can cause damage, top off the engine coolant with the proper antifreeze to water ratio, fill the gas tank and add some fuel stabilizer to prevent it from separating. Then drive the car for a few miles to circulate the new fluids before putting it away.

If storing your car for a long period, remove the battery, store it in a relatively warm place and connect it to a battery tender or trickle charger. These devices provide just enough power to your battery to prevent it from losing charge. A battery tender will cost you about $50.

Also, be sure you fill your tires to the recommended pressure. It might seem counterintuitive, but you should wash your car thoroughly and consider applying a coat of wax before you put it away. Dirt, debris and stains left on a car for long periods can damage the paint. You can apply a rubberized undercoating to any unpainted metal to prevent it from rusting.

How to Park the Car

Once all your cleaning and maintenance is done, you can park your car. The way you do will make a difference in how well it stores. Don’t, for instance, use the parking brake. If left engaged for too long, the brake pads and rotors could fuse. Instead, use a tire chock to keep your car from moving.

Leaving a car parked for an extended period can cause flat spots to develop on the tires. Less severe spots will go away after you drive on them, but spots that have been there for a long time may become permanent. If you’re going to store your BMW for more than 30 days, take the wheels off and put it on jack stands to prevent damage to your tires.

If openings such as the exhaust pipe are exposed, plug them with steel wool, a rag or another object to prevent rodents from getting inside them.
When storing your BMW for long periods, taking the proper steps to prepare it will help protect it during its storage period. If you follow these storage tips, your bimmer will be ready to go when it’s time to hit the road again!