Blog

One of the most important things to think about when you’re driving is safety - this is something we all know, right? If we don’t, then that’s a whole different problem. Part of that focus on safety is making sure that you have enough fuel in your vehicle to keep it going. There are several negative consequences of driving without enough fuel… and while you may think that we’re being alarmist, well, we’re not. Take a look and see for yourself why you should never let your tank get below 1/4 full. First of all, running on empty (or close to empty) will make your fuel pump burn out and die long before it’s supposed to. Every part in your vehicle has a life expectancy, but you reduce that by driving on empty with your fuel pump. The gas that it pulls through acts as a coolant, and when there’s not enough gas to pump, it starts sucking in air. The air creates heat, which makes the pump burn out. It’s an expensive repair, too, so that’s one word of warning for you. Secondly, your fuel gauge isn’t completely accurate. How accurate can it be without offering you a precise digital readout? And when it’s moving around and expanding with heat? Don’t trust the “E” if only for the fact that you could have 50 or 0.5 miles left in your tank, and there’s only one way to find out which it is. Never let your tank get below a quarter full, especially in the winter. The last thing is just as important as the former two. Sediment collects at the bottom of every single gas tank, and when you’re low on gas, the only fuel your engine has to use is the stuff with all the gunk in it. That gunk gets stirred up and sent through your fuel lines and fuel injectors and clogs up the works very effectively. So, if you make a habit of driving on empty, then you’re not cleaning out your gas tank (I am the kind of person who would try to sugarcoat it that way), you’re necessitating a full engine flush way sooner than you’d normally need to get one… which is generally never. Fill up your tank when you’re down to a quarter tank of fuel left. You’ll thank me when your vehicle purrs like a kitten for the rest of its life. Service Costs Less With Us!

Two important safety features of your vehicle are your windshield wipers. Did you know that? Whether you knew it or not, it’s still true. 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 what the warning signs are that your wipers are on the way out? Do you know what the factors are that go into your wipers’ lifespans? Take a look! 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 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)* Finally, these are the warning signs that you should look out for to know when it’s time to replace those wipers: Streaking occurs when the rubber squeegee dries, hardens and cracks. It can also be caused by tree sap, road tar and other foreign substances collected on either the glass or the blade. Skipping occurs when the blade develops a curvature from lack of use (e.g. left in the ‘parked position’ for an extended length of time). Wearing occurs with extensive use and is when the rubber edges are rounded instead of squared. Splitting is caused when the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the rubber squeegee, causing it to breakdown and separate from the frame. Bent Refill Vertebra and Bent Frames cause inconsistent contact with the glass surface, creating streaking or skipping.* Some tips for making sure your wipers stay in great shape throughout their lives? Clean your windshield every time you fill your gas tank. Gently wipe the rubber squeegee with a damp paper towel to remove any loose dirt or oil. Never use your windshield wipers to de-ice your windshield. Instead, either use an ice scraper or use your defroster to melt snow and ice. Pull your wiper blades away from the windshield during winter months to prevent ice build up on the rubber squeegee and to prevent them from sticking to the windshield.* *Information from: https://www.rainx.com/tips-information/wiper-blade-maintenance-tips/ Talk To Us About Wipers!

We all love BMW - it’s much more than just a brand, it’s a lifestyle! But even hardcore BMW fans might not know all of these fun facts about the Bayerische Motoren Werke! BMW was originally known as BFW - try to pronounce Bayerische Flugzeugwerke! The company made airplane engines, hence the name. The engines they made set records and set a high standard for other engine makers. The BMW global headquarters is shaped like four cylinders stacked together as homage to the amazing four-cylinder engines BMW originally produced. The logo is NOT a spinning propeller. I know, I know, it’s a shock, but it’s a combination of a tribute to the logo of one of the companies that helped found BMW and the blue and white flag of Bavaria. Someone was just clever and spotted the propeller parallel once upon a time. In 1937, the fastest motorcycle in the world was a BMW. It could go about 174mph - in 1937. That’s crazy! BMW’s first electric car was made in 1972. It wasn’t a driveable car by any means (it used 12 batteries and could go a staggering 19 miles at one time and had less than 50hp) but it was still a great concept that was way ahead of its time. Check out what modern BMWs we have to offer today! Get Your Own BMW For Less!

Are you terrified of the check engine light coming on? It’s totally fine, I am too. One of the greatest things I learned recently, though, was that of the top five reasons that check engine light comes on, well. Only a couple are really bad. The others are totally reasonable and easy to fix. Check them out! Your gas cap. This should be the first thing you check, because if it’s off/loose/broken it can set your check engine light off due to fuel vapors leaking out. If it’s off or loose, just put it on tightly! If it’s broken or altogether missing, it can be replaced by your dealer for cheap. Your spark plugs need to be replaced about every 100,000 miles, so it could just mean it’s time for that to happen. It could be your Mass Airflow Sensor, which tells your vehicle’s computer how much fuel to use based on the amount of air coming into your engine. If this is broken, your emissions will increase, and your vehicle could stall out. Your oxygen sensors (aka O2 sensors) might need to be replaced. These monitor the amount of unburned oxygen in your exhaust, and then tell your vehicle’s computer how much fuel is actually being burned in your engine. Letting these go unfixed can burn out your catalytic converter. Finally, it could actually be your catalytic converter (aka cat). This part reduces exhaust gases, and when it is burned out your MPGs will go down and your acceleration won’t be what it needs to be. All in all, no matter what - if your check engine light goes on and it’s not the gas cap, get it into the shop ASAP. Good luck! Let Us Get You Back On The Road For Less