Category Archives: Maintenance

6 Long-Term Maintenance Practices All BMW Owners Should Know

BMWs look incredible rolling off the lot, so how can you keep your vehicle in shape for a long time? It all comes down to how you maintain it over time. 

Long-term care preserves BMWs by detecting problems early and limiting wear and tear. Here are six long-term maintenance practices all BMW owners should know.

Get a BMW Checkup

Regular checkups help you maintain your physical health, so give your bimmer the same treatment by bringing it in for inspections. Find a BMW-certified mechanic in your area to let an experienced professional handle your machine in the best way. If your car is under warranty, the terms may require a certified technician to work on it— otherwise, you risk voiding the contract.

When at the shop, the mechanic will perform a complete inspection by reviewing the engine, brake system and other integral parts. Stop by every 5,000 miles to keep your vehicle in the best condition possible.

Find BMW-Friendly Products

While a mechanic performs many maintenance tasks, you can take some things into your own hands. For example, oil changes are a popular job to do by yourself on your days off. However, you should proceed with caution when gathering the supplies for fluid changes because BMWs need specific products.

For example, the manufacturer recommends using synthetic oil over regular in most of its vehicles, so check the owner’s manual to ensure you’re putting the right stuff in your car. Synthetic oil is preferable in BMWs because it has better viscosity and protects your engine for the long haul.

Learn Electric Maintenance

Exciting times are ahead as BMW introduces fully electric vehicles (EVs) to its yearly lineups. These machines have a battery range of over 300 miles, depending on the model and trim you get. This transition emphasizes the need for BMW owners to learn electric maintenance.

EVs typically require less work, but your electric BMW will need love and care to last as long as possible. Here are a few tips for long-term EV maintenance:

  • Battery charging: You might fully charge your electronics, but don’t use this approach with EVs. Limiting its time at 100% or 0% charge extends your machine’s life by optimizing battery health.    
  • AC unit: When the air conditioner breaks, driving in the summer gets uncomfortable quickly. Ensure your BMW mechanic inspects the air conditioning, especially before the hot weather arrives.
  • Software updates: Modern vehicles rely on software updates to ensure smooth rides. Update your EV as soon as possible to verify your BMW has the tools it needs to run well.

Monitor Your Garage Temperature

Some of the best maintenance practices you can implement don’t pertain to a specific BMW part. For long-term care, you should be mindful of where you store your BMW. Bringing the vehicle inside is best to protect it from the weather when it’s hot, cold, dry or wet. However, indoor conditions can still negatively affect your vehicle.

For instance, suppose you keep your BMW in your home garage. Nighttime can bring cold temperatures inside, even if you lock up for the evening. If this sounds familiar, add insulation to the garage door because it regulates temperatures and prevents moisture buildup.

Additionally, add insulation to the garage walls to keep cold air outside and away from your bimmer. When freezing temperatures arrive, your vehicle’s fluids thicken and become less effective, making climate control even more important.

Check Your Tire Pressure

When considering BMW care, you may imagine oil changes and engine tune-ups. These tasks are critical, but it’s important to remember your tires as part of your tasks.

The first step in tire maintenance should be to check the pressures regularly. Review your BMW owner’s manual for the recommended psi. Most suggest keeping the tires between 32 and 35 psi for safe driving.

Additionally, checking your tread levels is wise for long-term care. Driving your BMW to work or on fun road trips will wear the tread over time, so test it to ensure the depth is safe. The penny test is a solid home method, requiring you to stick an upside-down coin inside the tread. If you can see Abraham Lincoln’s entire head, it’s time to get new tires for your bimmer.

Drive Carefully

The best way to put long-term maintenance into your hands is to drive carefully. Follow the speed limits everywhere, and don’t accelerate or brake too rapidly. Overusing the gas and brake pedals makes your BMW work harder than necessary. Caring for your car now will pay dividends with fewer trips to the mechanic later.

Driving Your BMW for the Long Haul

Modern cars are more durable than ever, thanks to technology and improved manufacturing processes. However, the life of a vehicle is still up to you, the owner and how you treat it. Use these six long-term maintenance tips to get the most out of your BMW.

Tips to Protect Your BMW From A Flood

Depending on where you live, floods might be common or they might not be. One of the worst feelings if you’ve never experienced one is the preparation for before, during and after the storm. 

Although they are not always predictable for events like flash floods, it is good to know how to prepare or what to do after a floor. An in-depth guide will offer suggestions based on location and many types of disasters. 

Here is a list of tips to protect yourself from a flood in the future.

Preparing For a Flood

As mentioned, floods are not always predictable, but you should know how to prepare if they can be. This list of ways to prepare may vary based on the BMW and vehicles you own but is a general guideline.

  • Get the car to a higher location. Depending on where you live, try parking on a hill or at the top of the above-ground parking garage. The lower you are on the ground, the more area it has to lay around before draining. If you live in your own home with a garage and do not have an option such as these, try lifting it in the air with jacks or cinder blocks to keep it away from potential standing water. 
  • Stay away from trees, poles, etc. If you live in an area where there might be trees and powerlines that you can park under, a suggestion is to stay clear of them. Tips may vary based on location. 
  • Remember to seal it! If your BMW has a top, make sure it is on and sealed by the windows. If it has a sunroof, make sure it is closed and shut tight. 
  • Shut it down. Some vehicles, especially BMW’s have systems that periodically run while the car is not in operation. To prevent potential damage during the flood, make sure they are off and do not attempt to drive. 
  • Disconnect the battery. Another option to prevent damage to electronics or internal parts is to disconnect the battery entirely. This method is effective in allowing no electricity to pass through the system while water could ruin it. 
  • Other preparations. Depending on evacuation and emergency protocols, it may be good practice to keep necessary emergency supplies and a full tank of gas in the vehicle. In addition, check the insurance for flood coverage

What to Do During a Flood

If you happen to get caught during flood situations, there are necessary safety precautions and practices to stay safe. Any suggestions for during a flood or storm vary up severity and a few ways to prevent further damage.

  • Use Caution. Cautious driving is one of the safest options when stumbling upon flooding situations. If the conditions progressively worsen, consider parking somewhere high or away from standing water with the car sealed. 
  • Steer clear from puddles. If you must continue driving during the storm, steer away from puddles as they might be deceiving you. A puddle can be challenging to identify the depth and cause more damage outside of splashing water all over. If you must drive through, go slow and steady. 
  • Power loss. If the car is caught in severe flooding and loses power, either immediately attempt to restart it or do not attempt to. Water will work its way into the motor if trying to start it repeatedly and cause severe damage. 

Recovering After a Flood

Recovering from a flood can be difficult depending on what happened and how you prepared. Vehicles involved in floods are unsafe to drive and may appear to be in fine working condition. Here are a few tips on recovering from a flood.  

  • Begin by drying. Open all windows, doors and remove carpets outside, allowing sunlight to dry the moisture. Use vacuums to suck up large amounts of water if necessary to speed up the drying process.
  • Turn on fans and heating. This will help reduce moisture and inhibit mold from growing in places you do not want it. 
  • Do not attempt to restart the car. If you reinstall a battery or try to start your BMW after being flooded, it can destroy the electronics. Before trying to start it or anything related to electronics, ensure all water and moisture are gone.
  • Change fluids. After storms, a good practice is to change the fluids of the car to expel and lose any added water that may have gotten into the systems. Water that has gotten into the coolant or oil can cause catastrophic damage if not replaced. 
  • Replace air filters. Replace all of the air filters in the vehicle, so the motor does not take in any of the water. Also, replace interior air filters that mold and mildew do not build up in the cabin and cause other issues later down the road. 
  • See a mechanic. The safest option after a flood, once the car is dry, is to see a mechanic. A mechanic will tell you everything that might potentially be wrong and if it is possible to fix it. If you do not feel comfortable driving to a mechanic to get it checked out, call for a tow to be safe. 

The results of floods are unpredictable and can be costly. There are many methods to recovering and may vary depending on your scenario. It’s often best to seek help when recovering from a flood to ensure that everything’s taken care of. 

Seek Help

If you are afraid of permanent damage to your BMW, seek help or call your insurance agent to make a claim. If purchasing a vehicle after a flood, there are a few suggestions and problems you may run into

The BMW Owner’s Guide to Engine Oil

Whether you’re driving an old beater or the newest model to roll off the assembly line, there is one thing that every BMW has in common — the need for regular oil changes.

What do you need to know about getting engine oil for your car? Can the handy among us change their BMW’s oil at home? Let’s take a closer look at engine oil for the BMW and everything you need to know about it.

Conventional or Synthetic Oil?

When you drive to your local auto parts store, you have two types of oil to choose from — conventional and synthetic. Conventional oil is petroleum-based while synthetic is manufactured with a variety of chemicals and natural elements. Which one do you need for your BMW? That depends entirely on the year, make and model you’re driving.

The best answer to this question is going to be in your owner’s manual. That little booklet in your glove compartment offers a wealth of information on everything from recommended tire pressure to the type and weight of oil you should use for various seasons.

Does Brand Matter?

There are nearly as many brands of motor oil as there are cars. Does the brand of oil you choose matter, or can you just grab whatever is on sale at your local AutoZone?

Again, we recommend referring to your owner’s manual. You may find that it only suggests weight and type, but there are cases where the manufacturer recommends using only BMW branded oil. This is a bit pricier than what you might find on sale, but it is specifically designed to protect BMW engines. If your manual doesn’t recommend BMW branded oil, there will likely be a list of brands that the brand considers safe to use for their vehicles.

What Color Should Your Oil Be?

You should be checking your oil at least once every couple of weeks just to ensure that it’s maintaining levels. For older cars that aren’t equipped with oil level sensors, you may want to bump that up to once a week. When you do, make sure you’re checking the color of your oil as well as the level. Fresh oil should be transparent and amber in color. Over the course of regular use, it will slowly darken. This is entirely normal over the course of a few months, but if your oil is turning black quickly, it could be the sign of another problem.

The same goes for oil that turns milky or opaque. That is usually a sign that there is water in your oil, which could be from a blown head gasket. That is why checking your oil regularly is so important. If you don’t, it could be months before you spot that problem, leaving it to wreak habit inside your engine while you wait for your next oil change.

Can You Change Your BMW’s Oil?

Many DIY mechanics like to change their own oil and do their own maintenance at home, many only taking their car to the shop for major repairs that they don’t have the tools or experience to accomplish. Can you do the same with your BMW?

The short answer is yes, especially on older models. The long answer is more complex. Many modern BMWs built in the last 10 years or so come equipped with engine covers that make it nearly impossible to work on your own vehicle. In some cases, there isn’t even a dipstick for you to check your oil. That said, there are still ways that you can change your own oil so you can skip your trip to the shop. Just make sure you have everything you need on hand so you don’t have to make a mad dash to the parts store.

How Often Are Oil Changes Needed?

Twenty years ago, getting your oil changed every three months or 3,000 miles was the golden rule of automotive maintenance. Older engines and older oil formulations necessitated these frequent changes, but we’re living in the 21st century. The old rule is a thing of the past. Most BMW owner’s manuals recommend changing your oil every 15,000 miles.

If you don’t drive much, you can get away with this extended interval, but in most cases, you’re going to want to change your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. That way you’re getting the most out of your oil but you’re not pushing it to absolute extremes and potentially putting your engine at risk.

Don’t Skip Your Oil Changes

No matter how new or old your BMW is, it can benefit from regular oil changes. Don’t skip this essential maintenance step, no matter how inconvenient it is. Losing an afternoon to an oil change is still less hassle than dealing with a broken-down car.