bmw calgary service - Motorwerkes

What Makes Summer Tires Unique?

13 June 2016

It’s always important to change your tire type based on the season. Now that the roads are getting warmer, let’s take a look at what goes into designing a summer tire and why they’re a smart choice for this time of year.

The Material

Because their conditions demand different performance and behaviour, summer tires (sometimes called “performance” tires) differ from winter tires in rigidity and elasticity. The tread compound of a summer tire is comprised of less pure rubber than winter tires, giving them just the right balance of softness and hardness to handle well in a variety of conditions, just so long as it’s not ice or snow! The compound is also made to hold up in higher temperatures where the softer winter tire would be more likely to fail. Summer tires are made to operate best at temperatures above 7 degrees celsius, and once they go below that, they harden and lose traction.

The Design

Treads, siping, and other structural characteristics also play a critical role. Since they’re not meant for winter and don’t need to push through muck or slush, summer tires possess a more shallow tread depth. Their sidewalls are also generally stronger than those on winter tires and the tread pattern is carefully designed with large grooves and fuller blocks. Unlike winter tires, which are designed with finer and more intricate siping patterns, summer tires prioritize a dynamic shaping strategy without worrying about digging around in the snow. As a result, using a summer tire during winter is likely to fill up those larger grooves with too much icy material!

The Performance

While you might assume that summer tires don’t perform so well in wet conditions, the opposite is actually true. Thanks to the combination of the tread compound and tread pattern, summer tires are able to keep a good grip on the road and optimize turns and stopping distance in both dry and wet conditions. With high performance summer tires, you’ll get directional treads that do a particularly good job with hydroplaning resistance. The design of winter tires, on the other hand, puts first priority on dealing with ice and snow rather than fluids. Because of these differences, failing to switch tires as the roads heat up is a sure way to compromise both safety and performance!

Have you fitted your BMW with a pair of summer tires for optimized durability and safety? Give the Motorwerkes team a call at (403) 768-3161, we’re here to help you get only the best performance out of your vehicle!

Why You Should Never Wait to Get a Repair

20 April 2016

As much as you love your BMW, you may occasionally run into a mechanical problem that you wait a bit too long to address. It’s a common phenomenon and we witness it a lot with our clients. Unfortunately, it can land you into bigger trouble than you were to begin with, and there are a few key reasons why.

Common Examples

What kinds of maintenance are commonly avoided? Oil changes may be number one on this list. This could be because the issues that occur after skipping out on changes are accumulative and do not become particularly apparent until they reach an advanced state. Tire wear and pressure also frequently go neglected, as well as brakes and undiagnosed engine problems. Whether you feel and hear a difference in your drive or that engine light comes on, ignoring the signs means putting the safety of yourself and your passengers on the line!

The Time Efficiency Problem

One of the central reasons we see for delays in servicing is simply the amount of time in a day. It’s understandable that those who are frequently busy experience difficulty fitting a service appointment into their schedule. While it might seem as though you can afford to ignore that bothersome problem in favour of staying time-efficient throughout your day, the truth is that waiting too long for a repair is likely to steal more of your time in the end. This is particularly true if the problem causes a breakdown and your day comes to a standstill. Getting that repair sorted out as soon as possible is the best preventative measure you have for scenarios like these.

Considering the Cost

Just as you are liable to experience a significant cost in time, letting problems out of hand can lead to maintenance and repair costs that may not have been necessary at an earlier stage. This is one of the primary reasons we give for staying on top of both incidental repairs and scheduled maintenance. Scheduled visits are perhaps easiest to make the mistake of avoiding, as they do not carry the sense of immediacy that sudden issues do, but keeping on track with all your recommended intervals will save you significant amounts of money over time!

To learn more, give us a call at (403) 768-3163 today.

Assessing the Condition of Your BMW Before a Road Trip

7 March 2016

With warmer weather comes a great opportunity to take your BMW for a trip out on the open road. Whether you’re running solo or going with friends or family, it’s critical that you keep your vehicle in the proper condition for the journey. Here are a few things we like to look out for.

Oil and Fluid Levels

How long has it been since your last oil service? Do you follow the Motorwerkes recommendation of 5,000-8,000 km intervals? Road trips can add on a considerable amount of extended strain to your engine if everything isn’t running smoothly. Depending on the distance, you should also be prepared for the possibility of having to refill your oil in the middle of the trip, so taking some with you may be advisable. After considering the oil, your brake and wiper fluids as well as coolant levels should be next on your list.

Brakes and Tires

Even if your brake fluid has been checked, that still leaves the condition of the brakes themselves. The importance of this in terms of safety goes without saying, especially with all the braking you’ll need to do in certain environments. Similarly, knowing the condition of your tires is imperative. Have you switched to a summer set as recommended in our blog on seasonal tires? Be sure to get this done and to keep your pressure within manufacturer-recommended range. Don’t forget that checking pressure at a lower temperature will give you a more accurate reading!

Battery and Other Components

When it comes to your battery, cables should be firmly in place with connections in tact and there should be no signs of corrosion. If you spot that unsightly residue on the cable clamps and terminals, it can be dealt with using a toothbrush and baking soda or with a specialized terminal brush. However, depending on its age, having your battery tested may be a good idea. Continue to cover your bases by checking your wipers, all lamps, and other small components. Then you’ll be able to enjoy those long stretches of road with true peace of mind!

Keeping your BMW in the best condition always makes for a better road trip, keeping you and your passengers both safe and comfortable. To schedule an inspection and for further advice, give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 768-3162 today!

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!

Upgrades from Active Autowerke

1 February 2016

If our earlier blog on performance upgrades got you thinking about how you can amp up the power of your BMW, you might be wondering where your upgrades will be coming from when you get them done at Motorwerkes. For this week’s blog, we’d like to fill you in on how it all works.

An Authorized Active Autowerke Dealer

Motorwerkes is proud to be an authorized dealer for Active Autowerke, a BMW performance parts manufacturer with over three decades of experience. It means that we can provide you with some of the highest quality performance and tuning technology available, combining the sophistication of their manufacturing with the expertise of our certified team. Whether it’s a software tune or a custom build like the example M3s listed on our site, their the reliability of their engineering help us deliver the results you need.

What Do You Have in Mind?

You might already have a general sense of what kind of upgrade you’re looking at for your BMW. The trick is choosing the one that’s just right for you and your model. Browsing Active Autowerke’s site to familiarize yourself with the possibilities is a great way to do this. One aspect of upgrade work that they’ve really made a name for themselves in is software. ACTIVE-8, for instance, combines the convenience of the piggyback tuning approach with a highly competitive 64-bit processor that stands up to TUV testing standards like no other module out there. And with just one look at their shop, you’ll see that software isn’t the half of it!

Upgrade Policy

While Active is our go-to supplier for the parts and software that will amp up the power of your BMW, Motorwerkes understands that the world of upgrade manufacturing is a big one! If you have an upgrade or project in mind that requires parts not supplied by Active, we’d be happy to provide our signature quality of service and make that installation happen. However, our commitment to Active Autowerke means that you’ll need to source and bring in the parts yourself. In either case, your BMW will be in the right hands when it’s with us!

Looking for advice on how to get the power you need and where to get the necessary parts? We’re more than happy to advise you on this and many more services! Get in touch with us at (403) 768-3166 today and find out why we’re still Calgary’s favorite BMW specialists.