Regarding my post yesterday: To make it a little bit easier to find one of the most pertinent, ironic statements in the CARB regulation, see page 8, paragraph 1 of the ISOR . CARB is completely disregarding the science! They refused to do their own emission testing to prove that this regulation is needed! The line about “it was too expensive, etc.” is a kicker, considering what they want to force on the taxpayers of our great state.

We run tests and show proof to our customers for our recommendations, all day long. It looks like CARB doesn’t have to be bothered. Go figure!

I know everyone is pretty busy these days, but you may want to pay attention to what is happening in our great State of California regarding the California Air Resources Board, aka CARB, and their regulations. As of last week, the Federal efforts to increase the gas mileage standards are being rebuffed by California, and now it’s looking like a power play amongst the politicians, EPA and CARB.



CARB has a budget of about $313 million this year alone, and it’s going to be even higher next year. This gives them plenty of resources to expand their “powers” and regulations. The potential impact on you, the consumer, could be very noticeable and perhaps in ways you did not expect.



If your car needs a Smog Test, if you receive or use any goods and services that are transported via a diesel vehicle, or if you are buying a new motorcycle or a new car, you will probably see increased costs that are a direct result from CARB. It’s not reasonable to add new regulations and think that it’s not going to affect costs or livelihoods. Even CARB will need to add employees to manage these new regulations.



Take a minute, (sorry, it will be longer than a minute), and read the CARB ISOR 2006-12-7 (Initial Statement of Reasons), for the planned Extension of Emission Warranty Parts. There are a lot of ideas (which is appropriate), but not a lot of science, (inappropriate), and a lot of contradictions.



Then, read The Rand Report, “The Impact of Extended Vehicle Emission Warranties on California Independent Repair Shops.” This report was sponsored by CARB. It’s estimated that, only 3% of the independent shop’s revenue will be lost! (But, CARB will need 2 new positions and an additional increase of $200k per year!) You as a consumer may have less options when it comes to where to take your vehicle for repair. The summary of the report is a warning to consumers and fairly insulting to most in the automotive field. The full report is even more interesting. It explains the report involved a survey of about 366 people in our state in year 2001 and their automotive repair habits, as well as a about 48 shop owners and 26 dealerships. The old vehicles, (some circa 1986), involved in the study don’t have much relevance when it come to the PZEV’s, or the car repairs being done in 2007 and the future.



CARB would love for all of us to be driving brand new vehicles, (with 0 emissions), which sounds great. However, it is not realistic for most of the households in our beautiful state.



I guess there is no pollution that is created when manufacturing a new car? or crushing the old one? or hey, driving 2 places to get your car “smogged”. For example; you have been directed by the State to a “test only” station and then you have to drive again, to a smog/repair station, (if does need repairs to pass the smog test). Is that about cleaner air? Where is the common sense?



Not trying to sound preachy here, but when it comes to “green”, be informed and try to make some responsible choices on a day to day basis, (while you still have a choice).

OK, I hope I did not sound too harsh relaying the experiences with some window regulators. But, an independent shop that specializes only in BMW will see weaknesses in certain model / years that the manufacturer does not. It is only because we see the cars at a different time in their life, if you will. So, if you are looking to pick up a pre-owned BMW (even their Certified Pre-Owned BMW’s), we can help. In most cases, we can tell you what our experiences have been with a specific year / model. What the strong points have been and common issues (if we have any), that are out there.

We still believe that a good maintenance history (ask for records), is one of the better ways to help you when it comes time to making that decision on buying a pre-owned BMW. We know that purchasing a well maintained BMW will give you more peace of mind than one that has not been taken care of properly. A thorough pre-purchase check out by a BMW independent specialty shop is also a very good idea. It should give you a baseline on the condition of the BMW and at least help you make an informed decision.

The above advice is for people who have not succumbed readily to “BMW fever”. BMW fever seems to be a condition where someone knows they want a BMW and they want it NOW! They are unusually excited and just have got to have a BMW because of the BMW mystique, reputation, driving experience, colour, or style, the guy who cuts my hair has one, everyone in my neighborhood has one, and hey, my doctor has one (and we know he’s a smart guy!), my girlfriend or boy friend will love me more, etc.,..so I must have one too, NOW. Hand me those keys! Take my wallet!

Slow down, take a deep breath, and make sure you are looking out for your best interests and the best BMW for you. You are gonna love it!

Ahhhhh the infamous BMW window regulator! The window regulators on certain BMW models/years are notorious for failing unexpectedly. It’s a plastic wheel component with a wire cable running over a channel (held taut). The cable snaps or more commonly, the plastic wheel breaks. You may be driving along and hear a very loud noise inside the vehicle. Your kid starts crying because, all he/she did “was try to roll down the window” and the sound obviously scared the heck out of everyone!

We have seen clients who have had all replaced, some replaced, none replaced and some replaced more than once by the local dealer! It does not seem to make a difference whether the window is used often, less often, or in use when it fails. It’s just hit or miss. Some of the plastics in your vehicle are subject to extreme heat (like sandwiched between a door panel!), and unfortunately they can fail and some will fail. The good news is that parts are readily available and it can be fixed, aside from the fact it is not happening on all models. It’s a minor inconvenience when you consider the awesome driving experience that only your BMW can deliver! Happy Motoring.

We are so glad that the majority of our customers take good care of their beautiful BMW’s! The Car Care Council recently released their findings that showed out of 851 cars that were being inspected in April and October ’06, (in 16 states), 88% of them failed! The most common failures being fluids; engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and washer fluid. All routine items, but, doesn’t that make you wonder (what percentage) of safety related items are not being fixed? These cars are on the road with us, next to us, or in front of us or behind us! (Ouch!)

We love our weather here in the Bay Area. Most of us think of it as “mild”. However, did you ever stop to think that those 40-50 degrees temperature swings (that we experience daily), are considered “extreme” driving conditions when it comes to your BMW?

Make sure your BMW’s fluids are at the correct levels. Check your tires for proper inflation. This helps with proper wear and more efficient gas mileage. (You know what is coming next) Take care of that BMW and it will take care of you.

(Not!) We have noticed that BMW in 2007 is recommending the transmission service that they had previously deleted the last few years. We just had a customer remark to us, that his shifting gears has never been so smooth since we did the service and he was the original owner! Stop by, and we will show you examples of fluids that will demonstrate the reasons for our recommendations.

Your BMW battery is specific to your vehicle and must be installed properly. This requires items shut down and then powered up in a specific sequence. It is not a quick swap out/in as it was in the old days! (not that we would know about those old days!) You can experience serious, costly electrical problems if not installed properly.

The harsh truth is that there are some mechanical shops and body shops working on these cars that should not. We have seen Nav systems ruined by incorrect battery install. We have seen windshields installed and the subsequent failure of the rain sensors.

It takes a substantial investment in time and money to stay current with technology on your BMW. Just because a shop has someone who “knows” BMW, does not mean they have the tools and equipment to do it right!

Fault codes are exactly that. They indicate problems that could become serious if not diagnosed and repaired. When a car comes in that has had the codes cleared, it now becomes a diagnosis situation that takes longer. This does not save you time or money in the long run. Also, do not think that by just resetting a check engine light you will pass your smog test!

It has been our experience that BMW brakes are the best for your BMW. We feel very strongly about this issue. We have experienced warpage, excessive brake noise and other issues when using aftermarket brakes on the BMW. If you are thinking you are saving time and money by installing cheaper aftermarket brakes, think again. When you are in the neighborhood, stop by for free brake check.