Maintaining Your BMW During Winter

Maintaining Your BMW During Winter - Motorwerkes - Expert BMW Maintenance Calgary

Here in Calgary we’re accustomed to the safety considerations that come up when driving in winter weather. Many of these are common sense, but don’t forget that how you take care of your vehicle will change as well. So what should you keep in mind about maintaining your BMW when the temperature drops?

Internals

Lower temperatures have a pretty significant effect on the fluids involved in keeping your BMW running. You may remember this from our previous blog on operating temperature. Make sure your antifreeze levels and the viscosity of your BMW-approved oil are appropriate. Don’t forget to have a look at the condition of potentially vulnerable components such as belts and hoses. Checking your battery for corrosion or low fluid levels is also essential. When in doubt, you can always take your vehicle in to get an expert assessment of how things are running. Even an oil change in preparation for winter will make a significant difference in strain on your engine.

On the Outside

Things can also get pretty rough on the outside if thorough winter maintenance isn’t carried out. In addition to getting fixed up with winter tires to optimize traction, check the condition of your windshield wipers. Depending on their age, they may need to be replaced before heavy snowfall kicks in. When you consider road salt as well as ice, it becomes clear that general surface hygiene is very important. Keep your windows, rims, headlamps and tail lamps in good shape by cleaning frequently. All that salt can lead to paint corrosion so don’t loose track of washing and waxing.

Staying Prepared

Last but certainly not least is to stay prepared and geared up at all times. This is key in the context of both vehicle maintenance and safety. Keep your pressure gauge handy to check tire pressure, for instance. As well as the other standards — such as spare fluids, jumper cables, a flashlight, and batteries — stock up on winter-specific emergency supplies like blankets, an ice scraper, and even food items in case of long waits for assistance. Perhaps most critical of all is a first aid kit. Having what you need will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your winter with as little vehicle trouble as possible!

This season, take care of your BMW by seeking top-of-the-line winter maintenance from Calgary’s most experienced experts. Give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 768-3163 today to schedule an inspection!

Managing an Effective Maintenance Schedule for Your BMW

Managing an Effective Maintenance Schedule for Your BMW - BMW Experts - Calgary

Ensuring a long life and stable operation for your BMW means knowing what components to service and how often. How you should approach your maintenance schedule in detail will depend on your particular model, but we’ve put together a few guidelines to make sure you’re on the right track.

Oil Service

There’s a lot of heat and friction going on when you use your vehicle and nothing can stop your oil from losing its efficiency as a lubricant over time. Some dealers will recommend intervals that save money in the short term, but we recommend a change every 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers. This type of frequency will work wonders for the longevity of your vehicle, not to mention saving you money and stress in the long run, offering your engine and all of its potentially pricey components a much longer life.

Transmission

In the same way that your oil is critical for curbing the friction that happens between all your engine components, your transmission won’t operate properly without adequate lubrication and cooling. Regular and professional transmission service will get the dirty fluid out and the new fluid in, preventing transmission failure, problems accelerating or shifting, and long-term damage. Our general recommendation for maintaining a robust transmission is by having it serviced every 70,000 kilometers. Depending on your vehicle and the overall condition of its transmission, this could mean a fluid change, flush, filter replacement, or combination thereof.

Other Components

Like anything else, your spark plugs will also give in to age over time, which means they’ll produce a less adequate charge than when when they were new. For these we recommend an inspection and potential replacement every 100,000 kilometers. The same interval can be applied to your front and rear differential fluid, as well as your transfer case fluid if your car has all-wheel drive. Never underestimate the power of staying on schedule and trusting your vehicle with the most skilled technicians. It’s for the sake of your vehicle itself as well as the safety of its driver and passengers!

At Motorwerkes, our team of dedicated BMW experts is here to provide your vehicle with the treatment it needs. For a customer experience of the highest standard, give us a call at (403) 768-3167 and ask about available repair, collision, and paint services, as well as our performance centre!