Blog - Motorwerkes

Thanks to Your Feedback: Detailing Services

6 March 2016

Thanks to Your Feedback: Detailing and Shuttle Services - Motorwerkes - BMW Car Detailing Service Calgary

At Motorwerkes, we pride ourselves in providing the best possible attention to our customers at all times. This not only means providing our standard services in a timely, communicative, and helpful manner, but also listening to requests for new services. Our latest additions are the subjects of this week’s blog.

Detailing Your BMW

While we never miss an opportunity to recommend that you take care of the internal works of your vehicle, let’s not forget that cleanliness and cosmetic condition are highly important as well. Keeping the various surfaces of your interior and exterior clean goes a long way toward protecting your investment and optimizing comfort for both driver and passenger. It was clear to us here at Motorwerkes that this is important to you, as we’ve gotten plenty of feedback requesting a quality detailing service. Ask and you shall receive! We now offer a wash and chamois of your BMW’s exterior, a shampoo and steam-clean of the interior, and even an engine bay shampoo.

Evolving as a Business

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for businesses to stick too closely to their time-tested routines without regarding feedback with as much respect as it deserves. In order to be the BMW experts you can always count on, we know that it’s of paramount importance to stay flexible. Evolving as a business and reshaping our practices in accordance to the wishes of our loyal clients is one of our highest priorities. If you have any ideas as to how we can improve our variety and quality of service, never hesitate to let us know!

Need an interior or exterior detailing? Give us a call at (403) 768-3162 today for pricing information. We’re here to keep your BMW looking and working great, both inside and out!

The 8 Series: Making a Comeback in 2020

4 March 2016

Since its unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989, the 8 Series has been one of BMW’s most distinctive high-performance coupes. While it’s easy to get nostalgic about that sleek, early ‘90s look, this classic is no longer just a relic of the past!

The Original 8

Some may look at those pop-up headlights and chuckle, but the 8 Series was undeniably impressive for its time. With functional perks like its 0.29 drag coefficient and stability and traction control, not to mention electronic novelties including a hard-wired cell phone and a memory function for its adjustable steering column, it was every bit the “future car” it aspired to be. Powertrain options varied, but the 8 Series reached a peak in 1993 with the 6-speed manual 850CSi. Designed as a truly high-performance powerhouse, its 5.6-litre V12 with 381bhp could get you to 62 in under 6 seconds. Not too bad, considering that 4,354lb curb weight.

Room For Improvement

Despite being one of BMW’s key flagship vehicles during the ‘90s, the 8 Series eventually declined in popularity due to a number of technical and circumstantial snags. For one thing, its high price tag didn’t fare well among those hit by the early ‘90s recession. The rising popularity of SUVs over large coupes, a poorly reviewed driving experience, and the sheer difficulty of home repair and maintenance added up to a cease in American sales in ‘97 and in Europe in ‘99. By the end of the decade, the numbers for the 8 weren’t stellar, so a sequel never came.

The Next Generation

The potential for a modern overhaul of the 8 Series has been the subject of speculation and rumour for quite some time. In light of new information from BMW’s R&D centre in Munich, it looks like BMW is finally planning to unveil a new 8 Series concept vehicle by 2018, going into production in 2020. Many are expecting either a four-door hard-top coupe, a two-door with a cabriolet variant, or perhaps even both. In any case, an impressive and well-priced comeback for the 8 Series might serve as a formidable stake in the full-size luxury coupe market for BMW, competing with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in ways that the 7 Series can’t.

Are you a fan of the full-size coupe? Whether it’s an 8 Series or not, you’ll need to keep it in the best condition possible. Give Motorwerkes a call today at (403) 768-3162 to find out what we can do for your BMW!

Spring Is Around the Corner: The Seasons and Your Tires

1 March 2016

Back in January, we offered a brief guide to winter tires and their importance in the icy conditions that we’re used to here in Calgary. Now that winter is coming to a close, it’s a good idea to get a grip on the differences between seasonal tire designs in general and why you should switch to a summer set when the ice melts.

All-Season vs. All-Weather

In locations that experience mild and uniform climate, all-season tires can be a safe bet year-round. However, it goes without saying that this doesn’t really fly during an Alberta winter. So what about all-weather tires? Are they the same as all-season? Definitely not. All-weather tires are marked by the mountain-shaped symbol designated by Transport Canada to certify as having passed winter condition tests. The rubber compounds they employ, as well as the design of their treads and siping, make them a generally good choice for winter while their versatility also allows drivers to leave them on year-round. That just leaves one question…

Why Summer Tires?

Firstly, during summer, winter tires have unfavorable stopping distances and are far more likely to fail in the heat. While all-weather tires can be a practical compromise, there are ways in which they can’t quite compete with the summer design. There’s a reason you may have heard these being referred to as “performance tires.” The warmer seasons give BMW lovers like us the opportunity to really enjoy the experience of our performance vehicle again. The compound, siping, and treads of a well-engineered summer tire are beautifully optimized for significantly improved traction and stopping distance. Being able to make safer corners during a family road trip or even in a summer thunderstorm will give you both peace of mind and more bang for your buck.

Things to Keep in Mind

Given the nuances that go into engineering tires for different seasons (not to mention our local climate), the central takeaway is to avoid mismatching your tires with the season and consider both the safety and performance benefits of each design. However, no matter how optimized for the season a tire might be, don’t neglect to keep an eye on their condition and pressure as always. Higher temperatures can lead to inaccurate pressure readings, so check in the morning before things get too hot!

Are you ready for spring and summer? Better plan ahead! To get the best and safest performance, book an appointment for summer tire installation by calling Motorwerkes at (403) 768-3162 today!

Tire Inflation: Why You Shouldn’t Go Too Far

22 February 2016

There are a few reasons why a driver might choose to over-inflate their tires. Unfortunately, almost all of them are myths, and doing this comes with its own problems. Try to keep these points in mind if you find yourself wanting to inflate too far.

Myths and Misunderstandings

Tire inflation in general is cause for a significant amount of misunderstanding among drivers. Perhaps one of the most common reasons for over-inflation is an effort to improve fuel economy. The idea is that with higher-than-recommended pressure, you have as smaller contact patch on the road and therefore less rolling resistance. Firstly, this has been roundly debunked as an ineffective way to boost mileage. Secondly, even if it did make some small difference, you’d be paying the price in the safety department.

The Consequences

It’s important to appreciate the fact that a great deal of testing and research went into determining the recommended pressure range for your tires. It is the optimal level of inflation for your traction and braking, the comfort of your ride, and the durability of the tires themselves. Deviating from it will compromise these aspects of the drive. It can also be cause for confusion. It’s all too common for us to see customers bring their BMWs in with the tire pressure light on assuming that it’s indicating low pressure when the tires are actually over-inflated!

Is it Ever a Good Idea?

Generally, the bottom line is that you need to stick with the tire pressure recommendation on the sticker of your doorjam or in your owner’s manual. But is there any occasion when over-inflation is justified? If you’re storing your BMW, inflating to the maximum psi indicated on the sidewall will help to avoid developing flat spots, which are particularly prone to happen during winter storage due to the effects of lower ambient temperature on rubber compounds. Max inflation is a much better option than removing your tires and placing the vehicle on blocks, as leaving the suspension hanging for a while is not advisable. Other than this, always follow the indicated pressure recommendations so that you can stay safe and make those tires last!

When it comes to complex machinery, sometimes even the smallest thing can make all the difference in the health of your BMW and your driving experience. Still have questions? Give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 768-3166, we’d be happy to help!