Blog - Motorwerkes

Understanding and Taking Care of Spark Plugs

8 October 2017

When it comes to automotive components, size certainly does not determine importance. Spark plugs may be a small part, but they play a big role in the ability of your BMW to function. Let’s get acquainted with them so that you can spot problems and deal with them properly!

What Do Spark Plugs Do?

For how small they are, spark plugs are pretty tireless workers in the complex system of chemical and electromechanical reactions that keep your BMW running. Essentially, they provide the bursts of electricity that lead to combustion of the air-fuel mixer in your cylinders. The cylinders in a reciprocating engine need this combustion to happen thousands of times per minute to keep that crankshaft going. As a matter of necessity, spark plugs are powerful components designed to hold up to extreme heat and pressure while they receive electricity from their respective coils. However, like any part, they don’t last forever.

What Do They Affect?

The tiny explosions that take place during each combustion cycle may seem like a small element in the overall system of an engine, but the role of a spark plug is so fundamental that its performance affects many larger factors. Timing and precision are everything in the engine of a vehicle. The spark plug needs to cover a highly precise distance in order to zap the air-fuel mixture, and this also needs to happen at a highly precise moment. If the spark plug isn’t functioning as it should, then early ignition, misfires, and other issues can contribute to poor fuel economy, accelerated wear and tear to engine components, and other pesky problems.

Replacement Time

As always, everything boils down to a matter of attentiveness and maintenance. The longer you allow a spark plug to go without being replaced, the harder you’re pushing the limits of your engine. So how do you know when it’s time? Sound and feel are two big factors. Rattling, knocking, and difficult starts or acceleration are things to watch out for. Buildup of deposits on the plugs over time means that you should stay informed as to the quality and longevity of the brand you’ve chosen. Follow the recommendations of a certified BMW technician, and when you notice something’s off, don’t hesitate to take it in!

Do your spark plugs need replacing? No matter what your BMW needs, whether it’s a small part of a big concern, the Motorwerkes team is here to help. Give Calgary’s most dedicated BMW specialists a call at (403) 453-0269 to make an appointment or ask a question today!

How Rain Affects Your BMW

1 October 2017

Rain is generally easier to ignore than snow, so we may not think that it has a notable effect on the condition and function of our vehicles. However, just like any form of weather, it can lead to a number of issues if you don’t keep up with with proper care. Here are a few key considerations.

On Your Exterior

Of course, damage inflicted on your exterior by rain isn’t instantaneous or severe in an immediate way, but wear over time and lack of good maintenance can cause problems down the line. First off, many drivers assume that some rainfall can rinse off your vehicle and save you a trip to the car wash. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Rain isn’t just made of water; it contains a number of minerals and pollutants that are either abrasive or corrosive to many different surfaces on your car. Avoid water marks, rust, and other unpleasant issues by getting a professional wash!

Mechanical Aspects

The outside of your BMW isn’t the only place where rain can take a toll over time. Your battery, for instance, can be vulnerable depending on how your vehicle is structured. If engine compartments aren’t sealed properly, any moisture introduced to the top surface of the battery can lead to power drain issues. This is why it’s important to make sure those connections are dry and free of corrosion. Meanwhile, the ABS functions in your brakes depend on proper function of its sensors. If a crack allows water to leak in and compromise the sensor, the anti-lock mechanism won’t work properly. This goes to show you how important routine checkups can be.

Caring for the Interior

Rain comes with plenty of cleanliness issues as far as your interior is concerned. Tracking water, mud, plant debris, and other materials inside can add up to a pretty unpleasant driving experience if it goes unaddressed. This is cause for particular concern if you have great leather upholstery that you want to keep in good condition, as moisture and leather tend not to get along very well. Proper upholstery care with the right products, as well as visits to a professional for some top-notch detailing, will ensure that the rain doesn’t get the best of your BMW!

If you use the right products and seek out the best professional care, a car will hold up great no matter what the seasons bring. From repairs to routine checkups and powerful upgrades, call Motorwerkes at (403) 453-0269 and we’ll take care of your BMW as if it were one of our own!

The Many Futures of MINI

22 September 2017

There’s a lot to love about BMW’s approach to concept design, but the MINI brand has displayed its own knack for exploring high-tech ideas and showing off a futuristic design philosophy. Let’s run through some of their most ambitious forays into concept developments.

ACV30

Back when MINI was still owned by Rover Group, there was still plenty of innovative spirit behind the brand, and in 1997 there was more need than ever for a truly modern incarnation of the classic vehicle. Thirty years prior, MINI had secured a win at the Monte Carlo Rally, and an anniversary celebration was in order. Thus they unveiled the MINI ACV30 (standing for Anniversary Concept Vehicle), whose design foreshadowed the transfer of the MINI brand to BMW in many ways. Its black A-pillars, white roof, and wheel arch design would find their way onto the relaunched MINI in 2001, and the ACV30 was even conceived by two BMW designers.

Beachcomber

The focus of MINI’s design and engineering philosophy has always been about combining tight control and compact size with a signature, classy sense of style. However, there are always ideas that push the boundaries of routine to keep things fresh. The MINI Beachcomber concept, revealed in 2010, may not have looked like most MINIs, but its open top, utility-oriented design actually harkened back to 1964’s MINI Moke. With all-wheel-drive and a super-durable structure, it served as a preview to MINI’s first crossover, the Countryman.

Vision Next 100

Remember the BMW Vision Next 100 we mentioned in last week’s blog? The ideas behind its MINI counterpart may be presented in a smaller package, but they’re big in their own right! Autonomous driving once again plays a key role, as the Vision MINI is programmed to drive itself to cleaning and recharge stations when you aren’t driving it. However, the key concept behind this classic-yet-futuristic vehicle is that it’s shared between drivers, rather than owned by a single one. It enables you to set and reload personalized preferences to ensure that each time you use one, it feels like your very own. Bold ideas indeed.

Which MINI concept car do you find most inspiring? There’s a lot to admire about the spirit that they represent, and your MINI was born out of that same ingenuity. It’s only right to give it the best service in Calgary! Call (403) 453-0269 to find out what Motorwerkes can do for yours.

A Few of BMW’s Best Concept Cars

15 September 2017

Last week we looked at the history of the X5 to get excited about the new model. However, BMW has a rich history of thinking big even when it hasn’t resulted in a mass-production vehicle. As a result, there are plenty of BMW concepts to admire, both new and old.

E25 Turbo

When the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich came around, BMW was eager to showcase some new technologies and futuristic design motifs. With the unveiling of the E25 Turbo concept car, they did exactly that. Complete with gullwing doors and built from a modified New Class 2002 chassis, Paul Bracq’s design really turned heads. It boasted a high-tech radar system for close-range collision prevention and went from zero to 62 MPH in 6.6 seconds. After building only two, BMW carried over numerous design elements from the Turbo into the famous M1 Supercar, 8 Series grand tourer, and Z1 roadster.

328 Hommage

Any true BMW history buff will feel like a kid on Christmas when looking at the 328 Hommage concept car. Between 1936 and 1940, BMW produced what would go down as one of the greatest and most handsome sports cars of all time, the 328. After a long and rich history of class wins and and stellar average speeds, the 328 was paid tribute by the instantly popular 328 Hommage concept car in 2011. Its 3.0 litre straight six engine and lightweight body of carbon fibre reinforced plastic were accompanied by a high-tech interior and beautiful overall design, combining classic motifs with modern flare.

Vision Next 100

Much of the time, concept car design is a means to showcase and try out design strategies and technologies that soon find their way into mass-production models. Sometimes, however, it’s about going all in and dreaming big. BMW’s efforts under the Vision Next 100 banner allows them to express visions for the coming century of vehicle design. Their Vision Next 100 concept car proposes an entirely self-driving AI automobile with an “Alive Geometry” that reshapes the contours of the vehicle dynamically in response to driving motion. A high-concept car indeed!

It’s hard not to be swept away by forward-thinking speculative designs and futuristic ingenuity, but when it comes down to it, priority one is to take care of your own BMW. The Motorwerkes team can offer you Calgary’s best BMW certified service, so call us at (403) 453-0269 today!

Smart BMW Maintenance: Getting the Facts Straight

8 September 2017

Even if you’re a responsible driver and care deeply about the condition and performance of your BMW, things aren’t always what they seem. You could be making car care decisions that appear to be the right ones, but are actually misinformed and even harmful. Here are some examples.

Relying on Your Own Diagnostics

Today’s BMWs are outfitted with plenty of high-tech systems that allow drivers to keep the condition of their vehicle in check. This is one of the best things about owning one today, but it comes with a catch or two. Onboard diagnostics aren’t bottom-line indications of everything that’s going on with your vehicle. They are helpful in keeping you on schedule with your maintenance and alerting you when something needs attention, but that’s only half the battle. Detailed diagnostics carried out by a BMW certified technician should be the final word on how things are doing and what work is necessary.

Going With the Wrong Recommendations

The maintenance recommendations you get from a BMW dealer, an independent BMW certified technician, and word-of-mouth sources don’t always line up. This means it can be hard to tell which advice to trust and which advice to be skeptical of. With an independent BMW certified technician, you get recommendations that avoid the high costs you’re likely to get at the dealership, but without cutting corners and compromising on thoroughness just to save a few bucks. This is the kind of balance a good team of technicians should strive for, and one that you should seek out.

Waiting Just a Bit Longer to Take it In

We all know how it feels to be aware of a problem and put it off until later. Whether it’s rattling in your engine, the smell of smoke from your AC, your alignment leaning to one side, or a cracked windshield, anything can go ignored if you’re busy enough. Even routine maintenance like oil changes and brake checks are easy to set to the side because of how inconsequential they seem. Make no mistake, however. That one extra day you wait could mean that damage takes a turn for the worse and the cost of repair gets bumped up higher than it needed to be!

Proper maintenance of your BMW requires more than just the skill and experience of a local certified technician. It requires that you as a driver take all the necessary steps to stay diligent and well-informed about the state of your vehicle. Call Motorwerkes at (403) 453-0269 today!