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Are you looking to give your ride a fresh start this Spring? Well to do that, you have to make sure you’re up on your routine maintenance! Changing your vehicle's oil is an important part of regular maintenance that keeps your engine running smoothly. If you're new to car maintenance, changing your oil may seem daunting, but it's a simple process that anyone can do. So, here's a beginner's guide to changing your vehicle's oil: Flemington BMW’s Guide To Changing Your Oil: Gather the necessary materials: You'll need oil, an oil filter, a drain pan, a wrench, a funnel, and a rag. Locate the oil filter and drain plug: The oil filter and drain plug are usually located under the engine, but the exact location may vary depending on your vehicle. Consult your owner's manual for specific instructions. Drain the oil: Place the drain pan under the drain plug and remove the plug with a wrench. Allow the oil to drain into the pan. Replace the oil filter: Use the wrench to remove the old oil filter and replace it with a new one. Add new oil: Using a funnel, pour the new oil into the engine. Check the dipstick to ensure you have added enough oil. Clean up: Wipe up any spills with a rag and dispose of the used oil and filter at a recycling center. Congratulations, you've successfully changed your vehicle's oil! Remember to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or as recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.

Brake checking is a dangerous behavior that can result in serious accidents on the road and lead to serious legal repercussions. It occurs when a driver suddenly slams on their brakes in front of another driver as an act of aggression. While it may seem like a satisfying way to retaliate against a driver who is tailgating you or displaying bad road etiquette, brake checking can have real consequences. One of the primary dangers of brake checking is the risk of causing a rear-end collision. When a driver suddenly slams on their brakes, the driver behind them may not have enough time to react and stop in time, causing a crash. Additionally, brake checking can escalate road rage incidents, leading to more aggressive and dangerous driving behavior. If you find yourself in a situation where you are tempted to brake check another driver, it is important to resist the urge. Instead, try the following alternative coping mechanisms: Take a deep breath and count to 10 before reacting. Move into a different lane or pull over to allow the other driver to pass. Focus on safe driving practices and follow traffic laws to ensure your own safety. Remind yourself that this incident is just one minute out of your day and insignificant to the big picture of your life. Remember, brake checking is illegal and not worth the risk of causing an accident or putting yourself and others in danger.

If you’re anything like the team here at Flemington BMW, you can’t wait to hit the road this spring! But, with the skyrocketing price of fuel you may be struggling with getting the most out of your vehicle’s mileage. This April, we’d like to help you with that! Below, you will find 10 fuel saving tips that will help you steer clear of the pump and enjoy more time behind the wheel on the open road! Need a helping hand to really get your ride performing at it’s peak? Schedule your service appointment with our team of Service Technicians online today! We can’t wait to get your BMW ready for all the road trips ahead! 10 Fuel Saving Tips: Keep your tires at proper PSI levels, ensure your tires are not worn, ad properly aligned Remove excess weight from your vehicle to reduce drag Slow down, moderate your driving to save on fuel Don’t let your vehicle idle for more than one minute Park in the shade, especially in the summer, to reduce gas evaporation Use cruise control when possible and maintain constant speeds Avoid stowing heavy cargo on your vehicle’s roof, this increases drag Ease onto your brakes, extreme braking causes you to use more gas Don’t use premium gas unless your vehicle requires it Replace old spark plugs, old/ dirty filters, and replace your vehicle’s oxygen sensor

Can you guess two of the most important safety features of your vehicle? If you guessed your windshield wipers then you’re a real winner! Windshield wipers are often an underrated and forgotten piece of equipment that is a necessity for your everyday drive! That’s why you need to make sure that your wipers are in good shape by checking them out at least once a month. Do you know the warning signs that indicate your wipers are on their way out? Do you know what the factors are that go into your wipers’ lifespans? Take a look below, and if your vehicle is in need of some maintenance, don’t hesitate to schedule your service appointment with the Flemington BMW team today! When you’re checking out your wiper blades, look for these things: Broken frame: detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points. Metal Corrosion: especially at joints and claws. Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge. Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks. Check squeegee wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the windshield and reduces wipe quality. Tug to ensure the wiper blade has been securely installed on the wiper arm. Check that squeegee is secure in the wiper frame. Your wipers can break down due to several factors that are kind of unavoidable if you use your car at all (and some, even if you don’t use your car): Sun: Ultraviolet light and ozone deterioration Oil: Car waxes and exhaust hold rubber-deteriorating oil Airborne debris: Sand, mud and dust carried in the wind Moisture: Acid rain and salt water (in moist air both near the shore and inland)

Hey there, neighbor! Warm weather is here and that means it’s time to get out and show off your BMW to everyone on the street. Why wouldn’t you? It looks great! However, over time your paint job can start looking dull and a little worse for the wear. Sure, you wash it regularly and take good care of your car, but we’ve got some tips to make sure your paint both shines like a diamond AND is protected from future damage. Seriously, it can be done. Check it out! First, make sure that you’re washing your car properly. Whenever you wash your vehicle, make sure you’re using an automotive soap or shampoo in conjunction with a microfiber cloth or wash mitt. There are a lot of great YouTube videos out there about washing your car properly - take a look! Just make sure that you’re washing your vehicle regularly and not damaging the paint when you do it. Waxing your vehicle is the next important step. The wax (or protectant spray) not only makes sure that your paint looks great after you’ve washed it, but it can protect from dust and dirt and damage and preserve your paint for longer than it would normally last without any kind of protection. Try a clay bar! These can be bought at pretty much any auto parts store, or online, and are very effective in removing stuck-on or embedded contaminants from your paint and restoring the shine. Always lubricate the surface before using your clay bar, and follow the directions (or a video) to make sure you’re treating your paint well. If you find that your vehicle is susceptible to rust, or you’ve had problems with rust on your past vehicles, consider getting your vehicle undercoated to make sure that the undercarriage stays strong and free of rust, regardless of the weather. The final thing to do is to spot-check and spot-fix if needed. If you notice a scratch on your vehicle, take care of it with touch up paint and a polish to keep rust from developing. If the scratch is deep, bring it to us as soon as possible so that we can take care of it for you. Always keep a weather eye out! Remember that you can always give us a call and have our pros take care of the things you can’t manage at home - and even give you a great detail! Check Out The Services We Provide

Do you know how to change your battery? This is one of the most essential tasks that you can master when it comes to vehicle maintenance. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, or how often you get your vehicle serviced, there is always the chance that you’ll need to change your battery at least once in your life. Learn how to do it now so that you have it down when the time comes to do the ol’ switcheroo! First of all, the location of your battery is going to be in your owner’s manual. If you drive anything other than a regular old gasoline vehicle (i.e. a hybrid) you should 100% be checking your owner’s manual for instructions on how to change the battery. When you’ve located the battery, make sure you know which post is the positive one and which is the negative, and which color the cables are that are attached to them. The positive post will probably have a red plastic cover, a red cable, and a plus sign (+) stamped on the battery next to the positive post. If the cables are not color coded, put some tape on them and label the cables. With a wrench, loosen the nut or bolt that keeps the negative terminal and cable attached to the battery. Remove them from the battery, and then move on to the positive terminal. ALWAYS DO NEGATIVE FIRST! Check your battery to see if it is being held down by clamps or tiedowns or similar and remove them if they are there. Set all of your loose parts aside where they will not be misplaced while you switch out the battery. Now, lift out the battery without jostling it or tipping it. It is heavy, so be careful! Next, it’s time to install the new battery! Place it into the same spot the old battery was in and make sure it is oriented the same exact way the old one was. Take the plastic caps off of the battery posts, and if there are anti-corrosion washers included then slide those on. A good idea is to smear a thin layer of Vaseline onto the posts before attaching the terminals to the battery to prevent corrosion and make sure your vehicle is always getting as much power as it needs. Attach the terminals back on, positive first, and fasten it back down with the clamps/tiedowns that you removed before. Give the battery a little wiggle and make sure it doesn’t move. If it does, tighten the clamps holding it down. And… you’re done! Great job! Make sure you recycle your old battery - a quick Google search will let you know the best place to do that. Save On Service For Your BMW

With the advent of warmer weather, we’re exiting winter (aka pothole season) and entering spring (aka construction season). When workers are on the road, you need to be extra careful when you’re driving along. Not only is it important because you need to keep those workers safe, but also because in most places it’s illegal to speed in work zones and you can get fined much more for doing so. Lanes are also tighter and traffic patterns are much harder to follow. Here are our tips for staying safe in construction zones this spring! Stay Alert - don’t get distracted by your radio, your passengers, your coffee, your phone, or anything else, especially when you’re driving in a construction zone. Give the road your full, undivided attention. Keep your headlights on - even during the day, it’s a good idea to switch on your headlights if you don’t have DRL’s. Did we say pay attention? - Watch for road signs, brake lights, and other vehicles to see if people are slowing down, what the speed limit should be, and other important information about the traffic pattern. Merge in time - don’t wait until the very last second to merge into the correct lane. If you see a sign that says “Lane Closed Ahead,” then get into the lane that’s going to be open and just stay there. You can zoom past that old lady in a Buick after you pass the construction area. Patience is a virtue! Don’t tailgate - that being said, don’t be right up that old lady’s tailpipe the entire time you’re stuck behind her. That’s not only rude, it’s illegal. Obey the speed limit - Sure, you can go fast in some places, but if the work zone speed limit is 45 then slow the heck down and obey the speed limit! There are probably workers on the road working mere feet from where cars are, and you don’t want to get into a really serious accident. Also, ticket fines are doubled for speeding in work zones. So, there’s that as well. Change lanes safely - don’t drive like a maniac! When you’re still in a construction area, change lanes like you are that old lady in the Buick and be safe about it. Watch for flaggers and follow their instructions - don’t ignore those people with flags. They have a job to do and you can get ticketed for ignoring flaggers. Expect the unexpected - work zones are one of the places on this earth where chaos has a tendency to reign, and you should not expect driving in one to be smooth sailing. Trucks, other vehicles, and machinery can enter your lane at any time and you need to be prepared. PATIENCE IS KEY. This is in caps because it’s important. Be patient. It’ll be good. Stay Safer Than Ever In A New BMW

We have all encountered a horrible pothole in our lives. It’s just a fact of driving - one minute it’s smooth going, and then BOOM, you are driving over what feels like a crater the size of whatever killed the dinosaurs. Potholes are not only inconvenient, though - they’re also dangerous, if they’re big enough and deep enough. Keep reading to find out more about how potholes are formed, what they can do to your vehicle, how to avoid them, and how to fix the situation! First of all, the way potholes are formed is through water seeping into cracks in the pavement, freezing in the winter (i.e. why potholes are worse in the winter and spring) and expanding due to the power of chemistry or physics or whatever science it is that says that water expands when it freezes, and then that expansion weakening the pavement and causing holes to form under the repeated stress of thousand-pound vehicles driving over the weak spots daily. But how do you avoid a pothole? Simple, don’t drive over one! Just kidding. I mean, if that was your strategy then I’d be all for it, but of course, there are sometimes we have to use our judgment and sometimes where we can’t just drive past the potholes. In order to avoid a bad scrape, avoid puddles on the road. Unless you can see with your eyes from a moving vehicle that the water is just resting in a thin layer on the surface of the road (most likely when it’s just begun to rain), try to drive around the puddle. Water is very effective at hiding the true breadth and depth of a pothole and you could be in for a very nasty surprise. If hitting the pothole is unavoidable, well, we’re all praying for you. Other than our thoughts and prayers, the thing that can actually help you in this dangerous situation is slowing down (not a sudden slam-on-the-brakes stop, a rapid yet somewhat gradual stop) and going over the pothole slower than you would have otherwise. If you really feel that it was a deep and disastrous encounter, then you might be well served by pulling over immediately afterward and making sure that your tires are all good and your vehicle is not broken or cracked anywhere. If after this encounter your steering wheel wants to go one direction or another and you have to actively counteract that as you drive, then your alignment probably got messed up. We can fix that! The final step is to be proactive - if you come across a terrible pothole, call your local Department of Transportation or Department of Public Works and report the pothole. Never assume someone else has already done it. The more calls, the more likely it is that the problem will be fixed. Don’t succumb to the bystander effect! Conquer Anything In A New BMW

Some people believe that spring is the season of flowers, warmer weather, shorter sleeves, and school vacations. Others believe that it’s the time for cleaning - and this blog is firmly with the latter party! This week, we’ll be talking about how to clean and refresh your garage from top to bottom, making sure there’s enough space for your vehicle and helping you get all the junk that accumulated over the winter out and gone for good. Keep reading for our tips, and make sure to share your results with us on Facebook! The very first thing you want to do is to take EVERYTHING out of your garage. Literally everything. Car, junk, trash, stuff you need… get it all outside into the driveway or onto your lawn and leave your garage totally empty. Then you should start to sort everything you’ve just taken out into two piles, one for things that you want to keep and one for things that you’ve been meaning to throw away or just forgot about. Throw those things away right now. Dispose of chemicals like paint safely, but just get it out of there forever. With your garage empty, you should sweep and vacuum the floor and dust the corners. If it’s a nice day, you could even hose down the floor! If you’re feeling super adventurous, consider applying an epoxy garage floor kit. It’s a lot of work and a lot of waiting, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a really serious makeover. With the space clean, it’s time to take a critical look at your current storage solutions. If you don’t have shelves or wall storage, consider getting some! It’s a great space-saving hack to store things vertically. You can even store bikes on wall racks, which saves a TON of space. Finally, get everything back into your garage, organizing as you go. You’ll probably spot some things that you thought you wanted to keep but are really junk that you can just go ahead and throw away. You don’t need that in your life. When everything’s back in place (or has found a new home), park your car back inside! Service Your BMW Faster Than Ever!

If you’re like me, you were once a person who just let the pros handle every aspect of vehicle maintenance, and never thought about looking under the hood… like, ever. Well, for me those days are over. I have decided that it’s important to know about what’s happening in my vehicle’s engine, because it is, and the first step that I’ve taken is to learn about all of the fluids in my engine. It’s really fascinating! Of course, when I first popped the hood to start my self-education, everything seemed like a weird mechanical spaghetti, but it’s starting to make sense to me. Take a look at my list of the fluids that are essential to your vehicle’s operation, and where they are located and what exactly they do! Oil Your oil cools your engine, lubricates moving parts, and keeps the moving parts clean. You should change it regularly based on dealer recommendation and check it monthly! Coolant Coolant regulates your vehicle’s temperature. It is located in a reservoir near the radiator. If the level is low (level is indicated on the reservoir) take the vehicle to the shop to get your coolant topped up. Power Steering Fluid This helps you steer the vehicle. It’s located in a reservoir at the base of your windshield. Do the same as above, if the level is low take your vehicle to the shop to get the fluid topped up. Brake Fluid Brake fluid helps braking mechanisms work properly. If the level is chronically low, your brakes could be wearing out. Windshield Washer Fluid As you probably know, this helps clean your windshield of dust, debris, bug guts, etc. If you run out, get more at your local gas station and just refill the clearly labeled tank. Schedule Your Service Online

Winter’s still here, unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean you (and your vehicle) shouldn’t be prepared for whatever’s still left to come at us. Check out our tips on how to make sure you’re ready for any cold weather that’s headed our way - that is, in terms of making sure your vehicle is in the right shape to handle it! Get your coat, scarf, hat, gloves, and go out to check these things. Make sure your radiator and coolant are in good shape - i.e. the level of your coolant is where it should be and your radiator is in working order. Use your garage! Clean it out if it’s full and start parking your car in it. If you don’t have a garage, use a car cover! Check your defrosters and make sure they work properly. Fill your windshield washer fluid, preferably with fluid that contains nontoxic antifreeze. Check your windshield wipers and consider replacing them with wipers specifically meant for winter use. Check your battery, which means checking the connections and the electrical system as well. Replace your battery if it is dying. Get Your Vehicle Serviced While You’re At It

Traveling with a human’s best friend - a dog! - is one of the greatest joys in life. However, you need to make sure that they are comfortable and having a good time! Here’s how! If your dog is sick, they should not be traveling. Hire a dog sitter or find a good place to board them if you’re going to be away for a while. A trip to the vet is also strongly encouraged if your dog is feeling ill and it’s not a result of a health condition. Make sure you have plenty of water for your dog to drink on the trip. The best water to bring is either filtered/distilled water or the water you typically give your dog at home, which might be water from your tap. Dogs have sensitive GI tracts and can react badly to the minerals and particulates in “new” water. If you travel with your dog in a crate, make sure that their crate is large enough for them to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down in. Put some soft blankets or towels in the bottom and give your dog their favorite toy for the ride. If your dog doesn’t travel in a crate, get a harness tie-down so that your dog can’t wander and injure themselves in the car. Letting your dog stick their head out of the window is not a good idea. There’s a lot of dirt and debris on the road (and bugs in the summer) that can get into your dog’s eyes and ears and cause injury. Finally, stop often for potty, water, and exercise breaks. Feeding your dog while traveling is a bad idea, so stick to water and exercise. You might need a stretch as well if you’re taking a long trip! Keep Your BMW Healthy Too!