BMW’s are amongst the most luxurious and quality cars on the market. They offer a combination of luxury, performance, and reliability that is hard to beat. However, as with all automobiles, your BMW may run into problems and when it does you may face expensive mechanical fees. To avoid accruing these types of costs and keeping your BMW in prime driving condition, there are a number of preventative steps you can take. Regular maintenance will increase the longevity of your BMW and keep you behind the wheel of this amazing car.
Common BWM Problems
The problems your BMW is prone to will vary according to the model and some models are, naturally, more reliable than others. For instance, the BMW 3 series has been ranked by consumer reports as the all around most reliable while the 7 series is considered the lowest amongst BMW models. In general, however, BMWs tend to run into issues with electrical components such as the navigation system, window/wiper motors, central computer module, the anti-lock brake system and so on. As for non-electrical issues the most common ones are things like faulty fuel and power steering pumps or leaking engine seals. Whether the BMW is new or used when you acquired it will also play a part in the reliability. Fortunately, many of these problems can be bypassed with regular maintenance and check-ups for the car.
Know Your Warranty
If you buy a new BMW, or within the terms of the warranty, your car is automatically covered for the first four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. For any issues your car may have in these years, you can make an appointment with an authorized BMW center and a specialized technician will fix your car using only original BMW parts. When you become the owner of a BMW you should take the time to choose a reliable shop. Residents of British Columbia need look no further than Collins Automotive which has years of experience and expertise when it comes to BMW services and maintenance.
Keep Your Car Clean
It sounds obvious, but the first step in maintaining anything you buy is to keep it clean. That means not just vacuuming the interiors and throwing your trash out, but keeping the engine area clean. Engines run cooler when they are clean meaning other parts are less likely to fail prematurely.
Replacing Basic Parts
Bigger issues require a technician who knows how to get under the hood of the car, but you BMWs performance can be boosted by regularly replacing some basic parts. What this means is having routine check-ups and replacements of things like filters, lubricants, coolants, and basic ignition parts. Many of these things you may be able to do yourself like changing the oil or replacing spark plugs. That being said, only do the things you specifically know how to do. If you don’t understand your BMW’s system and requirements then you should take it into a service shop where they do so you don’t cause any damage.
Components to Consider During Maintenance
If you aren’t sure exactly where to get started when doing your regular maintenance a BMW technician can help you. Some of the car components you may want to consider include the spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, any of the filters (oil, air, PCV Breather, Transmission, Fuel), Oxygen Sensor, Lubricants, Coolant and Vacuum Hoses, and Belts.
Sources:
Collins Automotive
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