Category Archives: Car Care

How Does Humidity Affect Your BMW’s Performance?

Living in a coastal area is pleasant because of the warm weather and proximity to the beach. What sounds more fun than taking your BMW on a cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway? 

Unfortunately, these areas can adversely affect your car’s performance. One of the biggest hindrances is humidity. This guide will show you how humidity affects your vehicle and what you can do to protect it all year long.

How Does Humidity Affect Your BMW’s Performance?

Depending on where you live, humidity can significantly impact your car’s performance, and not positively. Start with the heart of the vehicle: the engine. Humidity affects your engine’s burn rate. Higher humidity leads to a slower burn rate and increases its combustion duration. Therefore, your machine isn’t as thermally efficient as it should be in normal conditions.

Another problem humidity can cause is misfiring. The humid air increases the moisture that can get stuck inside your distributor cap. Thus, the engine has trouble firing as it would in dryer conditions. Higher humidity levels lead to higher nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and heat transfers. Additionally, they can cause knocking. Humidity puts stress on your engine and can shorten its life span.

Besides the engine, cars feel the effects of humidity through their sensors. Humidity can cause lights on your dashboard to appear even when no problems occur. The increased moisture triggers false alarms that typically go away when the parts dry. If they don’t, check for issues and reset the warning signs.

The summer months can bring sweltering heat, requiring an air conditioner for comfort. But the humidity also takes a toll on this system. When you need it most, your car’s AC unit has to remove the moisture from the air before it pushes cool air through the vents. Constant humid conditions can lead to a dysfunctional AC that blows warm air instead of cool, making summer even more unbearable in some places.

Where Should You Store Your BMW?

Even if you drive your car a lot, you still need a place to store it. In some locations, the heat can last all day and the humidity lasts through the night. Where should you keep it?

The best option is to store your car in a climate-controlled garage. These storage units protect your vehicles from humidity and other weather conditions, so you’ll never have to worry about such damage. They also protect your car from theft because these facilities have security cameras.

Another place you can store your BMW is your home garage. Though it’s more convenient, be careful about the humidity. In the summertime, humidity levels can increase to as much as 90% inside your garage. High-humidity garages can quickly damage your car if you don’t take the proper measures.

One solid investment is a dehumidifier. This machine keeps your garage dry and reduces the risk of mold and mildew on your essential items.

If you can’t find a garage or don’t have one at home, you can take some measures into your own hands. First, find a shady spot to reduce the temperature as much as possible. Some people, especially those who have collector cars, use baking soda in their vehicles to absorb moisture. This substance absorbs moisture in the air and mitigates the humidity’s adverse effects on your vehicle.

How Can You Protect Your BMW From Humidity?

Some people like high humidity levels because they’re good for the skin and better for their sinuses. However, their cars might not appreciate it as much. If you live in a humid climate, there’s not much you can do to avoid humidity besides moving. But here are three preventive measures you can take to protect your BMW.

  1. Routine Maintenance

The best defense against humidity is routine maintenance. You should regularly monitor your engine and fluid levels for your windshield wipers, power steering, transmission, and brakes. Engines must work harder, so wear and tear increases in humid climates.

  1. Wax

One of the worst effects of humidity is the risk of rusting. The moisture makes your BMW’s metal corrode much faster because it reacts with oxygen and electrons on the surfaces. One way to prevent rust from forming is to wax your car. A good rule of thumb is to wax your vehicle twice a year. The extra layer of protection goes a long way in extending the life of your precious BMW.

  1. Tires

Another part of your maintenance should be to check the tires. Heat typically causes objects to expand, and that logic holds for tires. Over-inflated tires raise your risk of blowouts. Keep your tires between 32 and 35 PSI when cold so they stay at a proper level while on the road.

Protecting Your BMW From Humidity

Picture living in Miami Beach or anywhere along the Atlantic Coast. The sun shines brightly during the summer, but the dewpoint is chronically high. Some people embrace the humidity, but your car may say otherwise. Moist air affects engine performance and can cause overheating. Over time, it can also be the culprit of rusting.

Protecting Your BMW During the Winter: 5 Tips

Your BMW was built to perform in all kinds of weather, but that doesn’t mean you can overlook maintenance. If you want your Bimmer to last as long as possible, you’ll have to take care of it. As the weather gets colder, that entails specific steps to keep it safe.

Winter preparation should start before the weather reaches its worst. However, even if you’re starting late, these five tips will help keep your BMW in top condition, no matter what it looks like outside.

Change Your Tires

Slippery roads from snow and ice are some of the biggest hazards you’ll face in winter. Your best bet against slipping in cold weather is switching to winter tires. These deeper-grooved, grippier alternatives can stop from 60 miles per hour in less than half the distance of summer tires on snowy ground.

If you already have winter tires in storage, it’s best to test them before putting them on your BMW. You can do this by placing a penny in the tire’s groove with the picture of President Lincoln facing you. Turn it until it’s upside down. If the tread covers the top of Lincoln’s head, the tires are good to go, and if not, you may need new ones.

Check Your Battery

Another important part of protecting your Bimmer in the winter is ensuring the battery has enough juice. Your battery’s ability to hold a charge will decrease over time, requiring a replacement every three to five years. It’s also less efficient in cold weather, so changing the battery is a good idea if you’re getting close to the end of that timeframe by winter.

Batteries can be expensive, so check yours before buying a new one. Your go-to garage will have the tools necessary to gauge how much life your battery has left in it. You don’t have to worry about a replacement if it still has a year or more left. However, if it has less than that, it’s best to err on the side of caution and replace it.

Insulate Your Garage

How you store your BMW in the winter matters just as much as how you drive it. You probably already know to keep your Bimmer in a garage away from the elements, but you can go further than that. Any garage will help keep your car warm, but these rooms don’t carry the same insulation standards as the rest of your house, so they can still get cold.

You don’t necessarily have to heat your garage, but you should insulate it to keep colder temperatures out. Sealing any cracks around windows with caulk is also a good idea. These steps will keep your BMW’s fluids warm, extend its battery life and prevent ice damage.

Change Your Fluids

You may let your BMW run for a bit before getting in when it’s cold out. The idea is that car parts function better when warm, especially because fluids can thicken in the cold. If you have a newer Bimmer, driving with a cold engine won’t actually do any damage, but you should still pay attention to your fluids.

You may not have to warm your oil up, but you should check its levels and viscosity. If it’s been a while since you’ve had an oil change, it may thicken more than usual in the cold, so it’s best to change it. Similarly, you should ensure you have enough antifreeze and windshield fluid. You may have to change them more regularly in the winter than in warm weather.

Keep Your Car Clean

Another easily overlooked way to protect your BMW in the winter is to keep it clean. Transportation authorities often salt the roads in colder weather to prevent ice buildup, but this can collect on your car’s undercarriage and exterior. If you don’t wash it off, it could corrode the paint and metal, damaging the vehicle.

Go through the car wash or wash your Bimmer yourself at least weekly. If you drive through salted areas regularly, you may want to wash it a few times a week. Be sure to clean the undercarriage, too, as this is easy to miss but one of the areas most susceptible to salt damage. You can also wax your car every few weeks to provide a protective layer between the salt and paint.

Preparation Keeps Your BMW Safe

Winter is full of hazards, but you don’t have to worry about them if you prepare accordingly. Follow these five steps to ensure your Bimmer works as it should in all seasons.

The best way forward is to prepare for winter before the weather turns icy. However, late is better than never when it comes to protecting your BMW.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Maintaining Your BMW’s Wheels

Your BMW is a significant investment, so you want to ensure you take care of it correctly and effectively. Maintaining your car takes skill and an understanding of its materials or you might accidentally damage it.

People can make some of the biggest mistakes by not knowing better. Here are some mistakes you should avoid when taking care of your BMW wheels.

1. Washing Them Incorrectly

Your wheels are a focal point of your vehicle, but you want your BMW to shine from every angle. Take time to clean each wheel individually so they shine their best. Doing one wheel at a time ensures you clean each one thoroughly rather than rushing to get the job done before the soap and water dry.

Consider using the right tools for your car. Skip using old or cheap toothbrushes for detail cleaning, as they may be ineffective and time-consuming. A wheel brush can do the same detail work of cleaning you want without all the effort you’re putting in with a much smaller brush.

After you’ve finished washing your tires, dry them with a microfiber cloth. These cloths are made with synthetic materials that can be great at wiping away dirt and grime and are more absorbent and less scratchy than a regular towel. It can also be washed and reused more than its cotton counterparts, making it a worthwhile investment.

2. Not Using Seasonal Rims

Not every BMW needs to have seasonal rims, but if you do a lot of driving and have the budget to take better care of your car, you may want to invest in them. Rotating your rims out seasonally ensures you’re constantly putting the best on your vehicle.

Lean toward shinier, flashier rims in the summertime, then swap them out for rims that will resist inclement weather during the colder months. While it might be costly to change them out seasonally, it can help you get the benefits you want for your BMW when it needs them most.

3. Never Checking the Tire Pressure

How often do you check your tire pressure? You should do so at least once a month, if not more frequently. You may not think it’s something you need to keep an eye on, but it’s more important than you might think and can save you and your BMW on the road. 

Knowing your tire pressure can help you avoid issues with flat tires, especially when you’re on the road or in the middle of a trip. Cars with lower tire pressure may also use more gas to get to the same place as vehicles with higher tire pressure. Additionally, when your tire pressure is down, you risk a blowout due to the heat built up within the tire. Keep yourself and your car safe by checking your tire pressure regularly.

4. Using Silicone-Based Tire Dressings

Some tire-dressing brands you might lean towards could have a silicone base, which isn’t great for your BMW. These dressings might make your wheels look nice and shiny, but over time, they start to turn brown and can actually attract more dirt and grime to your tires. Opt for another dressing if you want to avoid having to clean your car after every few days of driving.

You’ll find plenty of affordable dressings online that can give your tires the shine you’re searching for. The proper one will make your tires pop while keeping them neat and glossy. Each brand may promote something different, whether it’s more shine or longer-lasting cleanliness. When you avoid silicone-based dressings, you can be sure your car will stay clean and have the same kind of gloss.

5. Washing With Detergents From Your Home

You should always opt for cleaners specifically for cars. Harsher soaps might strip your vehicle of wax and paint — they could even leave behind stains that will be difficult or impossible to remove. Your BMW deserves better during its cleanings.

Make sure to use appropriate car cleaners, as they’re designed to care for your car rather than damage it. Just because you have soap on hand doesn’t mean it’ll work for your BMW’s wheels. Regardless of what type of detergent you use, you should wash your car on the lawn where the soil can filter out the unnecessary minerals rather than letting everything seep into a storm drain.

Look After Your BMW

What seems right for your car could actually be dangerous. Your BMW deserves proper treatment, which means you might need to buy things specially made for it rather than using what you have on hand. Once you know how to take care of your car’s tires safely, you can feel better about taking your BMW out on the road.