bmw repair calgary - Motorwerkes

Brake Noise: Common Types and What They Mean for Your BMW

1 March 2018

The sounds that a vehicle makes can tell you a lot about its condition. Cold temperatures make mechanical noise even more common than usual, especially when it comes to your brakes. There are a few different things to listen for, and it’s important to know what they could mean.

Screeching and Scraping

Out of all the forms of brake noise you’re likely to experience, these are probably the most common. They tend to be characterized by either high-pitched squealing or long, dragging scratches. Screeching and squealing can be caused by a wide range of culprits, from accumulation of residue to a worn brake pad. Scraping could be the sound of a chunk of debris obstructing the space between the pad and the drum or rotor. However, you could be hearing the wear indicator, a piece of metal which grinds against the rotor to warn you when your pads have reached their demise. In this case a replacement is necessary as soon as possible.

Thumping

This can sometimes be a tricky one to figure out. It’s not nearly as common as screeching and scraping, but it’s still very much worth your attention. It’s characterized by a more rhythmic vibration or thud rather than a long, piercing squeal. It often comes from the rear, but this can vary depending on your vehicle. More likely than not, it’s due to a warped rotor or drum. When this part becomes misshapen over time due to excessive braking and accumulation of heat, its surface becomes more irregular, preventing it from rotating smoothly. When you hear that thumping, you should have your brakes checked out right away.

Grinding

Grinding is perhaps the most worthy of concern. As opposed to the thumping and high-pitched sounds mentioned above, it’s more of a slow, low-pitched growl. If you hear this, you need to stop driving and take your vehicle to a BMW-certified technician immediately. Your brake pads aren’t simply worn down to the end of their life span—there’s no pad left at all. If this isn’t addressed quickly, highly expensive damage to the drum or rotor could result, not to mention an accident. Ideally, no driver should have to hear this sound, as it means that the health of their brakes has gone totally neglected. Always have them serviced on time!

Need someone to take a look at your BMW’s brakes? We’re now proud to offer a price match guarantee on this and any of our services. Bring us an estimate from a local competitor within 30 days and we’ll beat that price by 10%. Call us at (403) 453-0269 to find out more!

Switching Your MINI to Winter Tires

22 November 2017

MINIs are known for the excellent level of control they offer drivers, thanks to their compact size and “wheel-at-each-corner” approach to suspension design. Still, no vehicle can compensate for unsafe driving habits, and failing to switch your MINI to winter tires is a pretty good example.

What’s the Difference?

One of the first things to bear in mind about winter tires is the material that they’re made from. Their compound has a higher percentage of rubber and is therefore softer, which means that they grip the road better than their warm-weather counterparts. The tread and siping, meanwhile, are carefully designed to avoid buildup of slush and manage the movement of water across their surface in order to maintain a solid grip. The low temperatures and unstable surfaces of winter driving conditions can wreak havoc on tires that are not built for them.

Choosing the Right Ones

Winter tires all express varying levels of quality and different approaches to design in their siping, tread, and overall shape. The first thing to remember when choosing a set for your MINI is that you quite often get what you pay for. If you want a durable tire that can offer you optimized performance and safety, you should invest accordingly. Secondly, remember that some MINI models do not come with a spare tire, so it may be a good idea to choose run flat winter tires if this applies to you. Michelin’s X-Ice Xi3 run flat is a good example.

Driving in Winter

Regardless of how well you invest in your winter tires, never forget the importance of smart winter driving. It may be easy to get carried away when you’re driving a vehicle that can corner as well as a MINI, but you should nonetheless be careful on turns and keep your stopping distances as safe as you can. Even in a car so compact, keeping an eye on how close you follow the vehicles ahead of you is especially necessary in icy conditions. With a good set of winter tires and even better driving technique, you and your MINI will be ready for winter!

If there’s one season when driving can be the least pleasant, it’s probably winter. However, if you stay safe and get your maintenance from the right technician, you’ll run into far fewer problems! To give your MINI the best service, give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 453-0269 today.

Does Your BMW’s Heater Core Need Service?

15 November 2017

The fall and winter seasons bring colder temperatures, and that means that the cabin of your BMW will need to be heated in order to give you the most pleasant driving experience. However, like any part of a vehicle, the heater core will at some point need service. How do you tell when?

What Is the Heater Core?

The cabin of your BMW is heated through the carefully engineered redirection of the heat that is produced in your engine. Your cooling system pumps a combination of water and coolant through the engine and radiator in order to emit heat to the outside of the vehicle. As the cooling system does this, it also directs the hot fluid mixture to the heater core in your dashboard when your heating system is engaged. You can think of the heater core as a second radiator which, instead of emitting heat to the front exterior of the vehicle, emits that heat to the inside of your cabin through a controlled mechanism.

Problems and Symptoms

Any issues with regulation of heat in your car should be paid close attention, such as a lack of heat in the cabin despite engaging the heater, rapid consumption of coolant, or even overheating. This is because your heater core and coolant system are closely intertwined. While some of these issues can be attributed to things like a broken blower motor or faulty radiator, you shouldn’t rule out a broken heater core. One of the most common signs to watch out for, however, is an unpleasant, “sweet” smell. This is the smell of your coolant, and that’s never a good sign.

Necessary Servicing

While you may think of your heating system as being primarily focused on comfort and therefore not essential, it unfortunately isn’t so simple. Differences in temperature between the interior and exterior of your vehicle can lead to fogging of the windows and windshield. A faulty heater core that goes unserviced runs the risk of leaking hot coolant vapour into the cabin, therefore introducing fog and compromising your visibility, which can be especially dangerous during winter. Besides, who would ever want to drive an unheated car during winter in Calgary?

Have you noticed any issues with the heating system in your BMW? Whether or not they match up with the above examples, it’s important to consult a BMW-certified technician as soon as possible. Give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 453-0269 for help with this and much more!

Maintaining the Value of Your BMW

8 November 2017

A high-performance luxury car is not an investment one should take lightly. When you own a vehicle as sophisticated as a BMW, keeping its condition and value as high as possible is important if you’re looking to sell and upgrade to a new model. Here are a few tips to consider.

Know Your Habits

The first step of optimizing the value of your BMW lies in being as aware as possible of how you treat your vehicle on a day-to-day basis. In other words, it’s not just about the obvious forms of damage. Try to keep the mileage down by avoiding excessive back-and-forth trips. Park in a sheltered structure whenever it’s possible. Have your BMW professionally washed and detailed when necessary, and always keep an eye on your interior. Don’t let trash, dirt, dust, or plant debris build up. You should also, of course, drive responsibly. The better you are at avoiding accidents, the less damage you’ll rack up.

Don’t Fall Behind on Maintenance

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of routine maintenance when it comes to resale value. Whether it’s fluid changes, oil changes, filter changes, or basic repairs, all of the little things need to be accounted for. Don’t just meet the bare minimum, go a step further and get personalized tips from a BMW-certified technician based on the model and age of your vehicle. No one wants to purchase a used vehicle that has suffered excessive wear and tear thanks to negligent maintenance habits. Thankfully, this dilemma is highly preventable!

Keep Records

If you’ve been on top of every essential maintenance concern and have even made some improvements or upgrades, it won’t do you much good if you don’t have the paperwork to show for it. Equally as important as taking care of your BMW is maintaining thorough and organized records of all the work that has been done on it, receipts and beyond. This is something that anyone purchasing a used vehicle is highly likely to request, and the more detailed a paper trail you can offer, the more confident they will be in their purchase.

Even if you’re madly in love with your BMW, it’s wise to plan for a change of heart, especially with so many exciting new models on the horizon. Having a trusted BMW-certified technician is essential, so call Motorwerkes at (403) 453-0269 to get the most bang for your buck!

A History of MINI’s Signature Design

22 October 2017

A lot of cars look alike, but the ones that hold a place in popular consciousness have a certain spark of design genius that makes them unmistakable. MINI is the perfect example of a brand whose vehicles have a truly iconic look. So where exactly did it start and how did it develop?

Early Days

In late 1950s England, gas prices had skyrocketed thanks to the effects of an invasion of Egypt known as the Suez Crisis. Engineers at Morris Motors took it upon themselves to come up with a four-seater vehicle that was compact, fuel efficient, and affordable while maintaining excellent functionality. In order to achieve their goals, they designed a body which held its wheels as far out to the corners as possible and seated the engine sideways. First revealed to the public in 1959, these unprecedented traits are what gave the MINI its most important core design philosophy, allowing for precise handling and stability even on the tightest turns.

Branching Out

As the years went on and the MINI became a widespread sensation, variations on the basic design followed. The ‘60s saw the introduction of longer bodies and barn-style rear doors on the Traveller and Countryman, increased utility with the Pickup and the Jeep-like Moke, as well as a squarer frontal design for the Clubman at the end of the decade. These models managed to widen appeal and application while still maintaining that compact and affordable philosophy. A playful spirit of customization behind the MINI also contributed to its appeal, allowing drivers to express themselves through the unique character of their models.

A New Millennium

The acquisition and relaunch of the MINI name by BMW led to further design evolution. The first model under new ownership, the MINI Hardtop, answered increasing demand for compact hatchbacks and established a new look that inherited BMW’s sporty influence while maintaining loyalty to the original 2-door MINI. The distinctive exhaust we see today was actually the result of a last-minute improvised addition to the clay mockup using a discarded beer can. After further expansion into convertibles, coupés, vans, and crossovers, MINI represents a diverse range of vehicle types that all harken back to that original compact design.

When it comes to well-engineered vehicles like BMWs and MINIs, beauty is just as much on the outside as it is on the inside. You can’t maintain any of that beauty without a skilled, experienced team of technicians by your side. Call (403) 453-0269 and Motorwerkes will have you covered!