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BMW Car Care Essentials

12 June 2017

There are many different products that are carefully designed to keep your exterior in great shape. For instance, a quality car shampoo and plenty of microfibre towels are staples for cleanliness. A good water repellent can certainly come in handy during rainier times of year, whether you want to improve the visibility of your windshield or protect your soft-top. During summer, all kinds of stuff can accumulate on bumpers and other surfaces, including insects, sap, and tar. It’s wise to seek out specialized products that can remove this buildup without causing damage to your paint job, like BMW tree sap remover and tar remover.

Interior Care

Depending on your upholstery and other factors, selecting the right interior car care products involves plenty of variables. As demonstrated by a prior blog, leather requires the right soap, conditioner, and other materials to clean without leaving abrasions or other forms of wear and damage. BMW leather cleaning wipes and BMW interior cleaner are excellent items to consider. If you want to freshen up your interior air, a natural air starter kit can easily be installed on your air vents to provide a pleasant range of scents. After all, it’s not just about cleanliness, but about the overall feel and comfort.

Professional Maintenance

Of course, beyond the basic cleaning or detailing you can do at home, a solid relationship with a local BMW expert is one thing you simply can’t do without. Home care and professional care aren’t substitutes for one another, they’re most powerful when combined in all the right ways. You have a passion for taking care of and enjoying your BMW, and your certified technician should have a passion for getting into the deeper mechanical issues that are too time consuming for you to contend with on your own. If you can secure both of these, you’ll get the longevity from you vehicle that less attentive drivers don’t!

The teamwork between you and your trusted BMW technician is a powerful alliance that can keep your BMW running and looking great. If you need recommendations for official high-quality BMW car care products, call (403) 768-3169 and we’d be happy to help!

Summer and Your BMW’s Windshield

10 June 2017

The integrity of a windshield is critical if you want your drive to be a safe one. Whether it’s dirt and plant debris or cracks from pebbles, your windshield is subjected to a number of unfriendly conditions during summer. All the more reason to make sure you take care of it!

Keeping It Clean

Naturally, a big part of optimizing visibility during your drive, as well as the all-around condition of your windshield, is to clean it regularly and properly. When summer is in full effect, you should always be aware that the of accumulation of dust and abrasive particles can have an unfortunate effect on both the glass and the integrity of your wipers. This goes double for larger chunks of other seasonal material. Visually inspect your windshield often. Use a high-quality microfibre towel and glass cleaner to wipe it down as necessary. Don’t forget to lift your wipers when you do this, and finish up by buffing in a circular motion with a dry towel of the same material.

Mind the Heat

A simple wash isn’t the only thing necessary to keep a windshield in good condition. During summer, when the temperatures go up and the sun beats down on all the surfaces of your BMW, there are many things to bear in mind. If your windshield has been exposed to high temperatures and you suddenly douse it with cold water when washing your car, the ensuing rapid temperature change could land you with a crack or two. For the same reason, suddenly blasting your A/C at its coldest setting when you get in the car after it’s been parked in the sun isn’t a great idea either!

The Importance of Repairs

If your windshield has sustained some cracks, whatever the cause, it’s critical to have them addressed as soon as possible. In the heat of summer and in the process of scrubbing to maintain cleanliness, a crack is only bound to get worse. Whether it’s a small chip or a larger fracture, you’re better off taking your BMW to an expert to have it looked at, especially if you’re planning on going for a summer road trip. All that vibration during an extended drive will only make things worse and can potentially lead to a more costly repair.

Interior or exterior, a BMW deserves the best care from both its driver and a certified BMW technician. You’ve got that first thing covered, and you can count on us for the second! We have all the right software, hardware, and experience, so call Motorwerkes at (403) 768-3169 today.

Dealer Service vs. Independent BMW Specialists

22 May 2017

Whether you need exterior repairs, engine diagnostics, or a part replacement, the decision of who you go to will boil down to two major options: a BMW dealership or an independent BMW certified technician. To determine the wiser choice, we’ll look at some of the most important factors.

Cost

When it comes to the price paid, which option wins out? That depends on your situation. If you’ve run into an issue that is completely covered by warranty, some say you should get it done at the dealer. This is up to each driver to decide, but it’s important to consider what you’re getting with that service. The dealership might give you the bare minimum, while an independent service shop will go above and beyond to give your BMW the treatment it really needs. When it comes to things not covered by warranty, however, opting for an independent team of qualified technicians will consistently save you money and give you better value for the work performed.

Variety of Service

When it comes down to it, there’s only so much you can get out of dealer service when you compare it to what is offered by a good independent shop. Service and maintenance are a given, but don’t forget about upgrades and extensive knowledge of both OEM and approved aftermarket parts. If you’ve taken your BMW to get a pricey repair at the dealer and have been thinking about a powerful performance upgrade, you won’t get the kind of expertise on the subject that you will from a certified technician who has explored the possibilities of BMW ownership well beyond the standard offerings.

Quality of Service

This is one of the most important factors contributing to a superior experience at an independent shop. Let’s say you’ve chosen a team of technicians who are truly dedicated to a friendly and more than satisfactory, community-driven client experience. When you arrive for your service, no matter what you need, you’ll benefit from a personal touch and down-to-earth relatability that dealer service often lacks. You’re not just entrusting your prized BMW to a mechanic, you’re working with a fellow BMW lover to keep that vehicle in the best shape possible and enjoying the process!

There’s nothing quite like working with a team of certified BMW technicians who are dedicated to you and your vehicle. The best service is informed not only by technical expertise, but a solid customer service philosophy. Call us at (403) 768-3163 to find out what we’re all about!

BMW Design: The Hofmeister Kink

15 May 2017

We could all spot a BMW from a mile away, thanks to an iconic approach to design that has managed to innovate while still maintaining that signature look. This is a tricky balance to strike, but it all comes down to a number of key features. One of them is the Hofmeister kink.

What Is It?

The greenhouse of a car is structured and supported by a series of vertical pillars, each designated a letter. The A pillar is frontmost and frames the windshield, continuing rearward with the B, C, and, in touring vehicles and SUVs, D pillars. The angle and curvature of these pillars as they align with the horizontal base of the windows will vary between manufacturers and models, but in the vast majority of BMWs, you’ll see a distinctive frontward bend at the base of the C or D pillar (whichever is rearmost). It’s a subtle touch, but it has contributed to the look of nearly every BMW automobile since 1961.

Origins and History

From the mid-’50s until the end of the ‘60s, Wilhelm Hofmeister was head of BMW’s design department. During a difficult post-war period in which BMW had only narrowly been saved from bankruptcy, the company was preparing to release its New Class series. To debut this influential generation of sedans and coupes, they introduced the 1500 and 3200CS at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of 1961. As well as being the first two BMW vehicles to feature Hofmeister’s distinctive C-pillar design, they helped spark a comeback that would both solidify the iconic BMW look and bring the company back to life in a big way.

What Does It Mean?

The Hofmeister kink was no arbitrary act of flare. It was implemented not only to create a recognizable and aerodynamic look, but also to symbolize and emphasize an important aspect of BMW’s approach to vehicle engineering. Since its earliest years, the company has become well-known for favouring the implementation of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with a rear bias in order to provide optimal weight distribution and traction. The Hofmeister kink lends to a rear-leaning poise that pays tribute to that philosophy. A signature look inspired by a signature function!

No matter what stylistic feature stands out to you, taking good care of your BMW cosmetically and mechanically is of the utmost importance. Motorwerkes offers a comprehensive range of repair, maintenance, and upgrade services. Call us at (403) 768-3163 to schedule an appointment!

A Look at Some of BMW’s Greatest Engines

10 May 2017

Like all BMW lovers, it’s impossible for us to choose one aspect of BMW’s design and engineering that we love the most. One thing is for certain, however: A big part of what has made BMW the name it is today is its long history of groundbreaking engines. Here are three highlights.

M88

Many of the best BMWs have used a straight-six engine, making it something of a historic specialty for the company. The M88 is no exception. In its earliest form it powered the commercially unsuccessful but nonetheless iconic M1 supercar of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. It utilized Kugelfischer high-pressure mechanical fuel injection and a dry-sump lubrication system, with its most powerful iteration offering up to 900 hp (670 kW) for group 5 race models. Perhaps most famously, the M88 would later be modified for the very first (and very legendary) M5 in 1984, which went down as the fastest production sedan of its time.

S65

Despite the important role that the straight-six has played in BMW’s history, the company has, of course, excelled in the design of V8s as well. When it came time to introduce a 4th-generation M3 in 2007, it was also time to introduce a new engine along with it. The 4.0L S65 V8 debuted to provide the E90 and E92 M3 models with 414 hp (309 kW) at 8,300 rpm, featuring a double-VANOS VVT system and 12.0:1 compression ratio. It was light, powerful, and loved by many, even being named International Engine of the Year within the 3.0/4.0L category four years in a row.

S70/2

You probably can’t get more legendary than the S70/2. Ironically, this beast of an engine wasn’t implemented in a BMW vehicle, but instead designed for the McLaren F1 in 1992, which has a history of its own as quite possibly the best sports car (or, frankly, car of any kind) ever built. The F1’s designer, Gordon Murray, hired Paul Rosche at BMW’s motorsport division to create a naturally-aspirated 6.1L V12 engine. Weighting in a 586 lbs and providing 618 hp (461 kW), the S70/2 brought the F1 to 60mph in under three seconds, hitting a top speed of 240mph. BMW ingenuity delivers again!

Power, efficiency, and elegance are all at the heart of BMW’s approach to engineering, and this demands only the best repairs and maintenance. We believe that skillful service and a great customer experience should always go hand in hand, so call (403) 768-3163 to see for yourself!