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Driving a BMW is a great experience, but owning a BMW involves a lot of work. If you want that top-notch performance out of your BMW every time you start it up, you need to make sure you’re visiting a BMW auto repair shop regularly. Not only is it important to keep up with routine maintenance, you also need to have problems fixed as soon as you notice them. If you want to make sure your BMW is in pristine condition for as long as possible, here’s what you need to know about maintenance and repairs.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

When it comes to preventing problems, the best thing you can do is keep up with routine maintenance. Maintenance helps keep various parts of your vehicle in good shape so you don’t have to worry about any catastrophic problems in the near future. At the very least, you should visit an auto repair shop for maintenance at least once a year.

The tough part about maintenance is that everything needs to be done at such different intervals. While you need to have your oil changed every 5,000 miles or so, your transmission fluid doesn’t need to be changed nearly as often. The best thing you can do is work with a BMW auto repair expert to create a maintenance schedule so you never miss a beat.

It’s also important to properly prepare your vehicle for seasonal changes. When temperatures start to shoot up in the summer, you need to make sure your engine is staying cool, your brakes are working properly and you have a good set of tires on your vehicle. You might also want to carry an emergency kit in case you break down and need food, water or a way to contact emergency services.

DRIVING YOUR BMW RIGHT

If you want to avoid spending a fortune on BMW auto repair, one of the best things you can do is be careful about the way you drive your car. While keeping up with maintenance is the real key to preventing problems, you can keep your car in better shape overall and prevent premature wear and tear by driving the right way.

Driving your BMW right starts with making sure you warm up the engine properly before taking off. Warming up your engine before you drive helps thin out your oil a bit and ensures that all fluids are flowing properly through your vehicle. It also warms parts up so they fit and work the way they’re supposed to with thermal expansion taken into account.

After warming up your car, you should try to go easy for the first part of the drive. Overworking your car right after warming it up can cause things to wear down faster than they normally do. Simply slowing down and taking it easy on your car is a great way to save money on BMW auto repair costs.

COMMON BMW PROBLEMS

Taking care of your BMW means knowing what to look out for and what to do when you spot a problem. The sooner you take your vehicle to a BMW auto repair shop, the sooner the problem will get fixed and the less of an impact it will have. The tough part about this is the fact that BMW cars tend to have slightly different problems than most automobiles.

One common BMW problem is a steering wheel that vibrates when you apply the brakes. Most people love to speed around a bit in their BMW, but there can be problems when you try to slow yourself down. Replacing the wrap rotors may fix this problem, but it will continue to get worse if you don’t visit a BMW auto repair expert.

Electronic problems are another tough thing to deal with when it comes to owning a BMW. Most people (including old-school mechanics) don’t know how to work on complicated computer systems, and they may not even be able to diagnose the problem. A Grapevine, TX, BMW auto repair shop has the tools and expertise to diagnose your computer problem and get it fixed, even if it means replacing the computer in your car.

WHAT’S CAUSING THAT NOISE?

While there are a lot of warning signs that can signal a problem with your car, noises are often the first sign of a problem. As a driver, it’s important to understand which noises aren’t regular and what to do if you hear them coming from your car.

Squealing noises are generally a sign of a problem with a belt in your engine. The belt may be too tight, too loose or simply cracking due to its age.

A clunking noise that occurs when you drive over a bump is a sign that something is wrong with your suspension. Regardless of how severe this noise is, you should have a BMW auto repair expert check it out.

If you hear a rattling noise from the underside of your car, chances are a piece of your exhaust system is loose. The good news about this problem is that it can simply be reattached in most cases.

Listening to your BMW can tell you a lot about its health and what kind of problems it may have. If you suddenly notice a strange noise, make sure you have a professional check it out.

A LITTLE HELP

When you own a BMW, taking care of it is a big part of the process. Between taking your BMW in for routine maintenance and having major problems fixed when you notice them, you need the help of a good mechanic.

If you’re in the Grapevine, TX, area, Import Car Center is the best place to go for BMW auto repairs. We specialize in European car repair, including the legendary BMW lineup. If you have a problem with your BMW or simply need a tune up to keep it in pristine condition, call Import Car Center at (817) 481-5665 today.

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