Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Has the tragedy in Japan affected our ability to get parts for your BMW and MINI? No. Fortunately for us, our BMW and MINI parts are German made and we are not experiencing any slow down or shortage of parts for repair. The tragedy in Japan has had widespread consequences for “just in time” inventory for many auto makers. It is expected to also have an impact to the availability of auto repair parts for both US makes and Asian automakers. It was announced that a few US auto manufacturing plants have shut down due to shortages. It…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Feel a cool breeze in your BMW, or feel that warm air? This is the time of year when you may need your Air Conditioning checked. Is the air blowing out as cool as it should be? Is your A/C blower working? What should be done when checking my BMW or MINI Air Conditioning System or getting it serviced. Let’s look at the A/C service and what is done at our work shop to insure that you are getting a great checkout. You can also understand exactly what you are paying for. The procedures described below are…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Having a tow driver “fix” your BMW is like asking the person driving you to the hospital to diagnose your appendicitis attack! Think about it. Your BMW or MINI won’t start and the battery seems like it has died. Now what? It is time to check your battery for state of charge, and state of health. Age of the battery is also a consideration and should be recorded at your shop. If your battery is OK, it is now time for a complete charging system check which includes: Checking belts, tensioners, pulleys, test of the starter (initial and cranking) and the…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Why do I need Brake Fluid Flush? And how do you know my fluid needs to be changed? Let’s take a look at your Brake Fluid. The First step is to access the BMW or MINI Brake Fluid reservoir (on some models you will remove the microfilter to get to the reservoir). The level of your Brake Fluid will be checked, and also a visual check for clarity. Next step is the test strip. This chemical reaction indicator will measure copper content of a sample of the fluid, (BTW, not everyone does that extra step). If the copper…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: You’re with group of co-workers, friends or family and lamenting that your BMW or MINI failed the smog test, when someone pipes up, (pun intended) “I know someone who can pass it for you”. OK. We know those people are out there. It sucks for all of us, especially the techs who are following the rules and regs of the program and doing the checks perfectly, (even if you don’t like the outcome). California is revising the Smog Check program and the new law has a provision for a fine to the car owner of $5000.00 for falsifying…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: During these times of higher gas prices, do not be tempted to put some “stuff” into your BMW that you read about on-line or picked up at your local DIY auto parts store. Most probably it will not do what you are hoping to increase your gas mileage. You do not want to fool around entering any fluid in your BMW or MINI that is not spec’d for your particular Beemer. This is a good way to waste your money and possibly gunk up your engine, injectors or lines. Nope. No cans or bottles of “stuff” in…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Wow. That one hour can really make a difference. The working day here seemed to be over so quickly due to the time change. I heard some medical sleep specialist this morning reminding us that we could be a little cranky today due to our body clocks being out of whack. Well, no cranky people here today! We had lots of clients stopping in and taking advantage of the green treats that we will have all week. We are getting a jump on St. Paddy’s and also national Car Care Month, which begins in April 1. There…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: Well, if you think that it is only certain catalytic converters cannot be sold in CA for your BMW, think again! Would you believe that window washer fluid with anti-freezing agents cannot be sold here in Santa Clara County? That is correct. We can try to order this for our clients, (as we are helping to prepare their BMW for driving to Tahoe). As soon as we give our Zip Code, it is a “no-no”. That is right! Cannot ship to Santa Clara County due to the CARB laws. So, if we get freezing rain and…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: We have a very sad story to relay in the hopes that other people will heed the message. The catalytic converter on your BMW, your VW, Mercedes, MINI or just about any other car is very specific to your particular vehicle. They are in most cases very reliable until they reach a certain age/mileage or if they have been abused by poor maintenance, such as the failure to replace oxygen sensors, or a severe overheat condition. If you are quoted a price that seems too good to be true for a catalytic converter, it most probably is. We have…

Archived; click post to view.
Excerpt: The variants on electric cars keeps growing, as BMW leaks a few more details about it’s ActiveE car to be leased, (only about 1000) in the U.S. next fall. It is based on the 1 Series and actually seats passengers in the rear vs. batteries in that space. It will have a lithium ion battery that will travel 100 miles on a charge and we are hearing that top speed will be about 90 miles per hour. This will give BMW another another contender in the electric vehicle arena, besides the MINI E and the MCV, (aka the Mega…