Tag Archives: BMW

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7 Things to Do If get into a wreck in your bmw

No one wants to think about getting crashing your BMW, but statistically, you’re likely to file an insurance claim for an accident once every 17.9 years. That might not sound like much but when you multiply that by the sheer number of drivers and cars on the road, there is the potential for hundreds or thousands of accidents every year. What do you need to do after you get into an accident?

1. Stay At The Scene

The first and most important rule you never leave the scene of an accident that you’re involved in. Leaving the scene, especially if someone is injured, changes the occurrence from a fender bender to a hit and run, which could have some very serious consequences. Stay at the scene and move on to the next step. 

2. Contact Law Enforcement

The next thing you have to do is contact law enforcement. This is especially important if it was a hit and run or there are injuries. Even if you feel like it isn’t something serious enough to require the intervention of police or medical professionals, give them a call anyway to find out whether they need to send someone to address the accident. 

3. Follow Social Distancing Rules

This is a new step for 2020, but with the COVID-19 pandemic running rampant, social distancing rules apply even after a car accident. If the other driver isn’t following social distancing guidelines or is making you feel uncomfortable, stay in your car until law enforcement arrives and can assist. Don’t fight with anyone over masks or social distancing — just remove yourself from the situation until it’s safe. 

4. Don’t Talk to Anyone

It’s tempting to strike up a conversation while you wait for the police or a tow truck but it’s a good idea to avoid talking to the other driver unless absolutely necessary. Don’t admit fault and don’t talk to anyone until you’ve had a chance to talk to law enforcement officers. 

5. Call Your Insurance Company

The next step is to put in a call to your insurance company. You’ll need to contact them again after you receive the police report but it’s a good idea to put them on the alert that you’ve been in an accident so they can be ready to act as soon as you are. 

6. Get Medical Attention

Next, once you’ve gotten permission from law enforcement to leave the scene of the accident, you need to make an appointment with your family doctor. Soft tissue injuries from accidents like whiplash can take days or weeks to manifest, so you could find yourself feeling symptoms long after you’ve put the whole accident behind you. 

7. File Your Claim

Finally, once you have the police report in hand, call your insurance company again and file your claim. The details of this will depend on who is at fault and the amount of damage done to both vehicles, but the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner you can complete the process and move on with your life. 

Be Careful Out There

Hundreds of accidents of various severity happen every single day. While no one wants to get involved in one, it’s important to know what to do if they occur can make it easier to deal with. 

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How to Buy an Antique BMW

BMW may not be one of the oldest companies in the world, but it has more than 100 years of experience in automotive engineering. That means that if you want to add an antique BMW to your collection, you’ve got decades of models to choose from. Here’s how to find one you can enjoy for years to come.

Set Your Budget

This is the first thing you should do before you buy a car — whether you’re bringing home a new BMW or looking for the perfect antique to add to your collection. Set a budget and stick to it. When you’re looking for a new-to-you car, it’s easy to spend an arm and a leg — and a couple of nonessential organs — trying to bring home the perfect one. Establishing a budget will keep you from breaking the bank. 

Choose Your Seller

When you’re looking for an antique car, you’ve got three potential seller types to choose from, each with its pros and cons. Auctions can be more affordable, but won’t give you the option to inspect or test-drive the vehicle before buying it. Dealerships might have a better selection, but they’ll be more expensive because of dealer fees. Private sellers can be hit-or-miss — you might find a treasure from a widow who just wants to get rid of her late husband’s collection, or you might find someone trying to scam you out of your antique car fund. Choose carefully. 

Have a Safe Place to Park 

Don’t bring home a piece of automotive history unless you have a safe place to store it. Parking an antique BMW in your driveway or on the street is like asking a car thief to take it off your hands. In addition to protecting your vehicle from unsavory elements, parking in an insulated garage can protect your new addition from anything Mother Nature might throw at it. Antique cars tend to not do as well in extreme temperatures, so the more you can do to make your garage climate-controlled, the better.

Learn Its History

Now that you have your new BMW safely stored in your garage, we can move on to the fun part. Take some time to learn about your car’s history. It might be something simple — maybe you purchased it from a private seller who bought it new and has maintained it carefully throughout its lifetime. It could be something exotic — maybe it belonged to a gangster in Chicago during Prohibition or showed up in the background of a classic black-and-white movie. Perhaps it’s just your favorite BMW model of all time. 

Any way you look at it, you’re bringing home a piece of BMW history, and it might have an incredible story to tell. 

Restore and Enjoy

You may find your favorite BMW, but unless its previous owner kept it in the garage, it will likely need some TLC to bring it back to its former glory. Take the time to restore it so you can enjoy it fully and show it off around town. If you care for it properly, it will serve you well for years to come. 

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How to Take Your BMW on a Road Trip

The warm months are here, and that means it’s time to start planning your summer road trip with your BMW. What do you need to know before you get behind the wheel for this year’s trip?

Tune Up

Before you leave your hometown in the rearview, make sure your BMW is road-trip-worthy. The last thing you want is to ruin your journey by getting stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. It’ll derail your trip, but you’ll also find yourself on the receiving end of a pricy towing bill. Take your car to the shop and make sure it’s in good enough shape to carry you through your travels. 

Pack Smart

You’ll need to ensure everything you take for your trip fits comfortably in your BMW without crowding you out — and that it’s all easily accessible. There’s nothing worse on a road trip than needing something and realizing it’s packed in the bottom of your trunk. Stock up on snacks and drinks for the time you’ll spend between gas stations, so you’re not tempted to stop at every fast food joint you come across.

Rest Often

It might not seem like you’re doing much, but driving can be exhausting. It’s a good idea to take a 15-minute break every two hours while you’re on the road and to limit your driving to eight hours every day. Big truck stops will be some of the best places to stop during your trip, especially if you’re not planning on staying in a hotel. They’ve got food, showers, entertainment and a safe place for you to park for the night if you’re sleeping in your car. 

Rock Out

What is a road trip without a rocking playlist? Put that high-end BMW sound system to good use and create a playlist to keep you entertained and singing at the top of your lungs while driving. Just make sure you like the songs you choose — you definitely don’t want to spend too much time finding with your phone while you’re driving. 

That distraction can be downright dangerous, and the last thing you want to do is ruin your trip by getting into an accident because you just had to find the perfect song.

Plan Well

We love the idea of taking off without a care or a plan and just seeing where the road takes you, but that can come back to bite you. There are stretches of highway, especially in the Midwest, where you can easily go hundreds of miles without seeing another human soul — or a gas station. 

Calling AAA for rescue when you’re in the middle of nowhere could end up being expensive, even if all you need is a can of gas. Take the time to plan your road trip before you leave your driveway. 

Have Fun

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that the whole point of taking your BMW on a road trip is to have fun. Enjoy seeing your home country from the open road instead of the air. It’s a fantastic way to change your perspective and gives you something exciting to do during the warm summer months.