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DIY

How to Put a Bike Rack on Your BMW

Riding a bicycle can be a great way to get some low-impact exercise, which is perfect if you want to get active but your knees or ankles just won’t let you start running. Unfortunately, if you don’t live in an area that is surrounded by trails, you might find yourself leaving the bike in the garage if it doesn’t fit into your car. The best solution is to put a bike rack on your vehicle — a task you can do yourself, even if you drive something like a BMW. 

If you want to get more out of your bike, here are a few tips and tricks to help you install a bike rack on your car.

Types of Bike Racks

The first thing you need to decide is what style of bike rack you want. This will depend on a lot of different variables, from the type of bicycle you own to the kind of BMW you drive. 

You may find more specific options depending on the make and model of your BMW, but in general, you’re going to have four options to choose from: 

  • Roof-mount racks that attach to crossbars on top of your vehicle
  • Hitch-mount racks that attach to an existing trailer hitch
  • Trunk-mount racks that don’t need a lot of extra equipment to install
  • Interior or truckbed-mounted racks that allow you to transport your bike securely inside your vehicle or in the bed of your truck

Now that you know what types of racks are out there, let’s look at how to install each of them. 

Installing a Roof Rack

If your BMW already has a roof rack or crossbar, you won’t have to do a lot of work. Most bike racks that attach to the roof are designed to work with existing equipment. 

If you drive a sedan or another BMW that doesn’t come equipped with a roof rack, you can opt to have one installed by the dealership or you can attach one yourself. The only difference between the two is that factory-installed bike racks are screwed into the car’s frame, while aftermarket ones tend to just be pinched down. Both are capable of safely transporting your bike. The only time a factory-installed rack might be more convenient is if you’re purchasing a new BMW and you’ve got the option to add it on.

Installing a Hitch Rack

If you want the easiest installation possible and you have a BMW with a trailer hitch, then look no further than a hitch rack. The hardest part of installing this type of bike rack is figuring out which model will fit your bicycles. Once you bring it home, all you have to do is assemble it and hook it into your trailer hitch.  

Installing an Interior Rack

If you drive a larger vehicle, like an SUV or a minivan, you might want to opt for an interior rack. These versions bolt to the cargo area of your car or in the bed of a pickup. These racks work by securing the bicycle via a bolt through the front fork. This means you have to take the front tire off to attach the bike to these racks.  

If you drive an older BMW X3, it comes with an interior bike rack as standard equipment. BMW premiered this in 2003, and it’s just as handy today as it was then.

Installing a Strap-on Trunk Rack

If you don’t want to drill holes into your BMW, you can still hook a bike rack up to your car. These attach by wrapping straps around the top and sides of your trunk. Once you tighten these down, they support the bike rack and any bicycles you hook to it.  

If you’re looking for something a little more secure, opt for a model that uses straps that all meet together inside your trunk. They’re harder to remove, but that means it’s less likely that someone is going to walk off with your bike. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help

If you don’t trust your mechanical skills or are worried you might mess something up, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Getting a bike rack installed is an inexpensive and easy way to take your bicycle with you everywhere, no matter what you’re driving.

Car Care, DIY

How to Repaint Your BMW

Whether you’ve purchased a used BMW that needs a little TLC or you just want to change up your color aesthetic a little bit, getting your BMW repainted can be an expensive proposition. If you’ve got some patience, some skill and a bit of elbow grease, you can opt to tackle the project yourself. What do you need to do to repaint your BMW?

Decide On Your Color Scheme

If you’re painting your ride, your first step is going to be deciding on a new color scheme.  If you’re not terribly artistic, it’s generally a good idea to stick to a single solid color to ensure that you’re going to end up with a finished product that you’re proud to drive. If you’re handy with an airbrush, you can add colored trim, decorate, or design your ride to your heart’s content. 

Gather Your Tools

Before you start laying down some paint, you need to make sure you’ve got all your tools on hand.  No one wants to have to take a trip to the hardware store mid-project, especially since that gives dust a chance to settle down on your wet paint, ruining all your hard work. 

You may need extra tools for your particular project, but in general, you’re going to need, at a minimum: 

  • Wet and dry sandpaper
  • An electric sander
  • Masking tape and newspapers or plastic for masking
  • An air compressor
  • A spray gun
  • Paint thinners
  • Personal Protective equipment such as face masks and safety glasses. 

If you can afford it, consider buying or renting a dust extractor.  You won’t need to purchase one if you’re only planning to paint one car, but if you’re going to make this a habit or paint cars for your friends, a dust extractor is worth the investment. 

Be Ready for Prep Work

You’ve got plenty of prep work ahead of you before you start spraying paint. Start by clearing out your area and removing as much dust as possible. If you’re not using a dust extractor, you’ll want to clean a workspace as humanly possible. Second, you’ll want to mask off anything that you don’t want to paint.  This will likely include door handles, window glass, headlights, and everything in between.  if you’re going to paint different colors, mask off the areas that aren’t going to be your base color. 

Finally, before you’re ready to paint, you’ll need to remove the old clear coat and paint. If you try to paint over the existing clear coat, the new paint won’t adhere properly.  This is where your sandpaper and electric sander will come in handy.  You can sand by hand, but it will take you significantly longer. You don’t need super-coarse sandpaper to remove paint.  Automotive paint comes off easily with around a 320-grit sandpaper while leaving the surface smooth and ready for a new primer coat.  

Lay Down Some Color

Now you’re ready to lay down some color. Use your spray gun to lay down a smooth even color, one thin coat at a time. Make sure you’re wearing a mask and eye protection and work in a ventilated area. Ideally, you’ll want to wear a protective suit to keep paint off your skin and clothing, but if you don’t have one available, wear some clothes that you’re not afraid to destroy. 

You’ll need to add a new clear coat as well on top of your paint once it drys.  Make sure you’re waiting for the appropriate amount of time between coats to prevent the paint from sagging or dripping.  The exact amount of time will be indicated on the paint you choose. 

Once it drys, removes the masking and let your painting area air out to get rid of any additional paint fumes. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take 2-3 months for automotive paint to cure.  Just don’t wax your car or add any UV protectants that could prevent the paint from curing. 

Enjoy Your New Ride

Now that your paint is dry and protected, all that’s left for you to do is to enjoy your new ride. Having plenty of preparation and the right tools for the job will make all the difference. 

Car Care

How to Keep Your BMW Running Smoothly

Smooth is a word that comes out quite frequently when referencing BMW’s heralded luxury vehicles. Another buzzword for BMWphiles is “maintenance.” It’ll cost you a few shillings to keep that famously smooth driving experience happy and reliable.

Owning a car like a BMW takes a certain mindset. You’ve got to enjoy the ritual of maintaining it. Otherwise, you’ll lament the discomfort of repairing it. Neither one is cheap, but the former is much cheaper than the latter. Here are some suggestions to BMW owners new and old on how to keep a bimmer purring proudly.

Use BMW Parts

Yes, they cost more than the ones from China — but for good reason. There are people out there with enough knowledge of individual tolerances and running conditions to select where a given part might not need to be OEM. They’re called engineers. If you don’t know, don’t push it. BMW cars are known for being highly complex, and saving a few dollars on a part could lead to a larger spend down the road when something breaks. Just go for the OEM parts — it’ll help your resale value too!

Perform Regular Maintenance

Here’s a tip that’s just as valid no matter what marque your running. Some brands have reputations for going longer than others when they’re neglected. However, neglecting a BMW is just a good way to put a big dent in your wallet. You could save some money by performing accessible maintenance tasks at home. Put together a checklist to ensure that necessary maintenance tasks are completed on time. For advanced jobs, have a knowledgeable German car specialist on speed-dial.

Avoid Modifications

Whether it’s a car you’re buying used or you’re debating whether to make tweaks to your personal BMW, modifications can become precarious quickly. Particularly in the modern age of turbocharging when it’s so easy to extract major power increases with a few tweaks of your engine software, it can be tempting. But consider the additional load that extra power puts on the rest of your car’s running gear. Do you think the car was designed to handle that from the factory? Probably not.

The best way to get a faster car, the cheapest way to get a faster car is nearly always to buy a faster car. If you’re looking at overboosting your 335i to a power level that’s going to break the transmission, consider the cost of a new transmission and how well the car might drive after going through that surgery. Would that money buy an M3? Chances are, it might. And you’d be much happier.

Drive Responsibly

You and all the people around you on the road will be better off when you drive without making use of your BMW’s full capabilities at all times. But to speak to the topic at hand, the car will be happier too. It will run longer and smoother, and you’ll have to spend less on repairs. Again, this is where you protect that resell value. It’s alright to have some fun from time to time, but don’t be that guy. You know, the one who drives a BMW.