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Is Your BMW Ready for Winter?

9 December 2016

Preparedness is one of the most important qualities for any responsible driver. When the weather starts to get a bit more extreme, this is especially true. Everything from the condition of your BMW to the safety of you and your passengers depends on how you get ready for winter!

Gearing Up

The state of your vehicle itself is important, but some drivers might underestimate the importance of having the right supplies and equipment ready throughout the season. If you’re planning a road trip to visit family for the holidays, it will be critical to have the right things at hand in case you find yourself in a sticky situation. In addition to the usual scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, and batteries, you should also have a blanket, lighter, sand (or kitty litter) and handheld shovel for getting unstuck, and road flares. Of course, you should never forget that first aid kit!

Preparative Maintenance

The sooner you can take care of essential winter maintenance, the better. Switch out your tires for a high quality winter set if you haven’t already. A comprehensive check-up from a trusted technician is always a good idea. Attention should be paid to everything from the levels and condition of fluids to belts, hoses, electrical components, brakes, and more. You’ll want to keep a particularly close watch on your tire pressure, as this tends to sink a bit in low temperatures. Pay attention to the details and don’t delay if you think something needs work.

Mindful Driving

Winter preparedness isn’t just about what tools you have at the ready or the shape that your BMW is in. It’s also about knowing how you should adjust your driving habits. Staying safe and in control is key no matter what time of year it is, but with all those slick surfaces, lack of traction, and decreased visibility, this time of year has a way of presenting a few complications into what would typically be an uneventful drive. Be smart and moderate about your input, bear in mind increased stopping distances, and be sure not to accelerate when cornering. It’s good for you and everyone else you share the road with!

If you haven’t covered your bases for winter, now is a great time to have a certified technician get your BMW ready for the months ahead. From fluid changes to full inspections and maintenance recommendations, call Motorwerkes at (403) 768-3168, and we’ll take care of it!

Road Salt and Your BMW

5 December 2016

Dealing with harsh Canadian winters involves all kinds of important measures and habits to optimize safety, maintenance, and more. One that we take for granted is road salt. It helps to mitigate the possibility of dangerous frozen surfaces, but how does it affect your BMW?

What Exactly Is It?

We see road salt every day during winter, but what is it made of? The material that is spread across roads during winter is typically a mix of halite (the unrefined mineral form of sodium), sand, and additives designed to provide consistency and traction that is favourable for application on roadways. In particularly low temperatures, additional chemicals are used to ensure that the salt can effectively do its job. The chemical makeup of halite allows it to melt snow and lower the freezing temperature of water it comes in contact with.

The Good and the Bad

Road salt and similar materials are necessary for winter safety, whether it’s on the road or on pedestrian surfaces. That being said, there are many reasons why it’s smart to stay aware of its effects and address them efficiently. Salt has a way of promoting corrosion in metals, particularly in the form of iron oxidation (in other words, rust) that can take a toll on many parts of your BMW. Driving kicks up a lot of this material into the exposed underside of your vehicle, leading to plenty of unpleasant cosmetic and mechanical consequences, such as exterior staining and damage to your paint, damage to your exhaust, subframe, coil springs, and more.

What You Can Do

These issues are certainly no picnic if they get out of hand, but if you’re diligent about maintenance then it should be a piece of cake to protect your vehicle from the worst of salt damage. Have your BMW washed and detailed professionally during winter so that you can ensure that the best care is taken to optimize its condition. You should look for not only a basic exterior cleaning, but also a check-up on the condition of the parts that are most vulnerable to corrosion caused by road salt. Be sure to talk with a local BMW expert to get tips for your specific vehicle!

Does your BMW show signs of staining or corrosion due to road salt? The Motorwerkes team would be more than happy to get your vehicle looking and working as great as ever. Give us a call at (403) 768-3168 to make it happen!

Storing Your BMW This Winter? Consider These Tips

24 October 2016

Depending on what model you have and your own personal preferences, you may be planning to store your BMW for an extended period of time this winter. If this is the case, here are a number of tasks you should be sure to take care of.

Reasons for Winter Storage

If you own a BMW that is truly a cut above the rest, you probably enjoy the summer quite a bit. There’s really nothing quite like taking your favourite ride out for a spin and clear, sunny days make for excellent driving weather. However, once the end of driving season draws near, you may be one of many luxury or sports model owners who store theirs for the winter. It’s a good move if you want to maximize cosmetic and operating conditions for as long as you can, particularly if you also own another vehicle for commuting or day-to-day transportation.

Taking Care of the Outside

After all that summer driving, residue from various sources has probably ended up on your exterior. The last thing you want is for this stuff to eat away at your paint or leave other forms of damage when left there for an extended storage period. A professional washing and detailing before storage is definitely a wise choice. Combine this with a good-quality cover and your vehicle will stay clean and comfy for the whole season. Considering the weight of your vehicle and how long it will be immobile, inflating your tires to the maximum PSI as written on their sidewalls is your best bet against the pressure loss that leads to flat spots.

Preparing the Inside

When was the last time you had an oil change? You should never leave a car in storage with oil that has been pushed beyond its limits. The rest of your fluids, from coolant to wiper fluid, should be filled. Some drivers add fuel stabilizer to their gas before storage to avoid the accumulation of harmful build-up, but this depends on the characteristics of your vehicle including its age. When you take your BMW in for a pre-storage oil service and inspection, ask your technician if it’s needed for your model!

Whether you’re storing your BMW this winter or not, an oil change and other pre-storage maintenance is always smart to consider. Call Motorwerkes at (403) 768-3167 before winter hits and our team will help you cover all the bases!

Why Use Synthetic Motor Oil?

3 October 2016

The oil you use for your BMW is one of the most significant factors in how well it operates and how long its engine will last. The common recommendation for most BMWs is to use synthetic oil, but what exactly does it mean and why is it an important decision?

Types of Motor Oil

In terms of their chemical makeup, oils generally come in four different types: conventional, synthetic, semi-synthetic (or synthetic blends), and high-mileage oil. The conventional stuff is unprocessed and suitable enough for the most basic engine types and driving requirements. Synthetics and synthetic blends have been chemically tailored to fulfill specific needs, particularly resistance to temperature extremes and rust. Lastly, if a vehicle is a bit older and has racked up more than about 75,000 miles, the seal conditioner and other additives found in high-mileage oil can help to prevent things like leakage and sludge build-up, therefore prolonging the life of the engine.

Synthetics and Your BMW

What many of us love about our BMWs is that they’ve been engineered with high-performance engines. This means that your engine will probably be doing a bit more work than the average one, offering you an above-average drive. In order for this to be possible, BMW has designed many of their engines to operate at their absolute best when using approved synthetic oils. The molecular structure of these oils has been specifically engineered to be as controlled and fine-tuned as possible, reducing overall friction and optimizing viscosity ratings. They also contain additives that reduce engine wear, build-up, oxidation, and other unpleasant engine conditions. This all adds up to better performance and a healthier BMW.

Making the Right Choice

One of the keys to a happy engine is choosing the oil that your particular model was designed and optimized for. Unless you’ve had yours for quite some time and might need to use high mileage oil, approved synthetics are strongly recommended for BMW engines. As usual, it’s very important to follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual or to get a personalized recommendation from a local BMW technician. You’ll be glad you chose the right oil when winter kicks in and your oil can stand up to those harsh temperatures!

How is the condition of your engine? Are you staying on top of scheduled maintenance and oil changes? The Motorwerkes team can help you keep your BMW running smoothly all year long, just give us a call at (403) 768-3167 today!

Protecting Your BMW from Autumn Leaves

19 September 2016

Summer presents its own challenges when you want to avoid maintenance problems and preserve the great look of your BMW’s exterior. When it comes to autumn, however, one form of debris stands out in particular: leaves.

On Your Exterior

Autumn is a beautiful time of year, but as those leaves fall off the trees, they bring plenty of other stuff with them. Sap and quercitannic acid, for example, aren’t particularly friendly to your exterior. Calgary doesn’t usually experience a lot of rain, but the leaves always seem to accumulate water and turn into dirty mush anyways, this can wreak havoc on surfaces by producing leaf stains. Driving away while there are dry leaves on your exterior isn’t the best idea either, as they can sometimes be covered in abrasive grit that is rough on your paint job. Always be quick to remove them from your windshield, and don’t let them block your headlights or tail lights!

Mechanical and Other Issues

Keep an eye on that plenum chamber at the base of your windshield so that rain can drain effectively as you drive, otherwise you could end up with a wet interior. You depend on your wipers for visibility and a safe drive, so be diligent about preventing blockage by clearing them of leaves regularly. Your ventilation system could fall victim to stray leaves as well, leading to odors, unusual sounds, or overall dysfunction of the air system due to clogged vents and filters. Even if the leaves in question aren’t on your car, they’re certainly all over the roads! Watch your speed, turning, and braking when large quantities of wet leaves are present.

What You Can Do

Avoid parking under trees and be sure to use your garage at home if you can. For complete peace of mind when parking for an extended period, consider getting a car cover. If you do find leaves resting on your exterior, your first move shouldn’t be to sweep or wipe them off, otherwise you’re asking for scratches as noted above. As long as there is a manageable amount, pick them off by hand. If you’ve found them building up at the base of your windshield or in other crevices, a vacuum will do the trick. It’s all about prevention and attentive care!

It’s important to be aware of seasonal maintenance issues if you want your BMW to stay in great shape. To make sure it gets the best service, give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 768-3169 to schedule a detailing or inspection!