bmw motorcycles calgary

Why You Should Never Wait to Get a Repair

20 April 2016

As much as you love your BMW, you may occasionally run into a mechanical problem that you wait a bit too long to address. It’s a common phenomenon and we witness it a lot with our clients. Unfortunately, it can land you into bigger trouble than you were to begin with, and there are a few key reasons why.

Common Examples

What kinds of maintenance are commonly avoided? Oil changes may be number one on this list. This could be because the issues that occur after skipping out on changes are accumulative and do not become particularly apparent until they reach an advanced state. Tire wear and pressure also frequently go neglected, as well as brakes and undiagnosed engine problems. Whether you feel and hear a difference in your drive or that engine light comes on, ignoring the signs means putting the safety of yourself and your passengers on the line!

The Time Efficiency Problem

One of the central reasons we see for delays in servicing is simply the amount of time in a day. It’s understandable that those who are frequently busy experience difficulty fitting a service appointment into their schedule. While it might seem as though you can afford to ignore that bothersome problem in favour of staying time-efficient throughout your day, the truth is that waiting too long for a repair is likely to steal more of your time in the end. This is particularly true if the problem causes a breakdown and your day comes to a standstill. Getting that repair sorted out as soon as possible is the best preventative measure you have for scenarios like these.

Considering the Cost

Just as you are liable to experience a significant cost in time, letting problems out of hand can lead to maintenance and repair costs that may not have been necessary at an earlier stage. This is one of the primary reasons we give for staying on top of both incidental repairs and scheduled maintenance. Scheduled visits are perhaps easiest to make the mistake of avoiding, as they do not carry the sense of immediacy that sudden issues do, but keeping on track with all your recommended intervals will save you significant amounts of money over time!

To learn more, give us a call at (403) 768-3163 today.

Assessing the Condition of Your BMW Before a Road Trip

7 March 2016

With warmer weather comes a great opportunity to take your BMW for a trip out on the open road. Whether you’re running solo or going with friends or family, it’s critical that you keep your vehicle in the proper condition for the journey. Here are a few things we like to look out for.

Oil and Fluid Levels

How long has it been since your last oil service? Do you follow the Motorwerkes recommendation of 5,000-8,000 km intervals? Road trips can add on a considerable amount of extended strain to your engine if everything isn’t running smoothly. Depending on the distance, you should also be prepared for the possibility of having to refill your oil in the middle of the trip, so taking some with you may be advisable. After considering the oil, your brake and wiper fluids as well as coolant levels should be next on your list.

Brakes and Tires

Even if your brake fluid has been checked, that still leaves the condition of the brakes themselves. The importance of this in terms of safety goes without saying, especially with all the braking you’ll need to do in certain environments. Similarly, knowing the condition of your tires is imperative. Have you switched to a summer set as recommended in our blog on seasonal tires? Be sure to get this done and to keep your pressure within manufacturer-recommended range. Don’t forget that checking pressure at a lower temperature will give you a more accurate reading!

Battery and Other Components

When it comes to your battery, cables should be firmly in place with connections in tact and there should be no signs of corrosion. If you spot that unsightly residue on the cable clamps and terminals, it can be dealt with using a toothbrush and baking soda or with a specialized terminal brush. However, depending on its age, having your battery tested may be a good idea. Continue to cover your bases by checking your wipers, all lamps, and other small components. Then you’ll be able to enjoy those long stretches of road with true peace of mind!

Keeping your BMW in the best condition always makes for a better road trip, keeping you and your passengers both safe and comfortable. To schedule an inspection and for further advice, give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 768-3162 today!

Thanks to Your Feedback: Detailing Services

6 March 2016

Thanks to Your Feedback: Detailing and Shuttle Services - Motorwerkes - BMW Car Detailing Service Calgary

At Motorwerkes, we pride ourselves in providing the best possible attention to our customers at all times. This not only means providing our standard services in a timely, communicative, and helpful manner, but also listening to requests for new services. Our latest additions are the subjects of this week’s blog.

Detailing Your BMW

While we never miss an opportunity to recommend that you take care of the internal works of your vehicle, let’s not forget that cleanliness and cosmetic condition are highly important as well. Keeping the various surfaces of your interior and exterior clean goes a long way toward protecting your investment and optimizing comfort for both driver and passenger. It was clear to us here at Motorwerkes that this is important to you, as we’ve gotten plenty of feedback requesting a quality detailing service. Ask and you shall receive! We now offer a wash and chamois of your BMW’s exterior, a shampoo and steam-clean of the interior, and even an engine bay shampoo.

Evolving as a Business

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for businesses to stick too closely to their time-tested routines without regarding feedback with as much respect as it deserves. In order to be the BMW experts you can always count on, we know that it’s of paramount importance to stay flexible. Evolving as a business and reshaping our practices in accordance to the wishes of our loyal clients is one of our highest priorities. If you have any ideas as to how we can improve our variety and quality of service, never hesitate to let us know!

Need an interior or exterior detailing? Give us a call at (403) 768-3162 today for pricing information. We’re here to keep your BMW looking and working great, both inside and out!

Upgrades from Active Autowerke

1 February 2016

If our earlier blog on performance upgrades got you thinking about how you can amp up the power of your BMW, you might be wondering where your upgrades will be coming from when you get them done at Motorwerkes. For this week’s blog, we’d like to fill you in on how it all works.

An Authorized Active Autowerke Dealer

Motorwerkes is proud to be an authorized dealer for Active Autowerke, a BMW performance parts manufacturer with over three decades of experience. It means that we can provide you with some of the highest quality performance and tuning technology available, combining the sophistication of their manufacturing with the expertise of our certified team. Whether it’s a software tune or a custom build like the example M3s listed on our site, their the reliability of their engineering help us deliver the results you need.

What Do You Have in Mind?

You might already have a general sense of what kind of upgrade you’re looking at for your BMW. The trick is choosing the one that’s just right for you and your model. Browsing Active Autowerke’s site to familiarize yourself with the possibilities is a great way to do this. One aspect of upgrade work that they’ve really made a name for themselves in is software. ACTIVE-8, for instance, combines the convenience of the piggyback tuning approach with a highly competitive 64-bit processor that stands up to TUV testing standards like no other module out there. And with just one look at their shop, you’ll see that software isn’t the half of it!

Upgrade Policy

While Active is our go-to supplier for the parts and software that will amp up the power of your BMW, Motorwerkes understands that the world of upgrade manufacturing is a big one! If you have an upgrade or project in mind that requires parts not supplied by Active, we’d be happy to provide our signature quality of service and make that installation happen. However, our commitment to Active Autowerke means that you’ll need to source and bring in the parts yourself. In either case, your BMW will be in the right hands when it’s with us!

Looking for advice on how to get the power you need and where to get the necessary parts? We’re more than happy to advise you on this and many more services! Get in touch with us at (403) 768-3166 today and find out why we’re still Calgary’s favorite BMW specialists.

A Guide to Purchasing the Right Winter Tires

18 January 2016

Here in Alberta, purchasing winter tires for your BMW is one of the most important components to responsible driving on icy and snowy roads. Combine the tips in our previous blogs on winter maintenance and winter driving with this brief guide to winter tires!

The Importance of Winter Tires

Winter tires can sometimes be a bit of an investment. However, if you choose the right ones, it’s an investment in your safety and the safety of others. It also goes without saying that a set of winter tires is likely cheaper than the repairs that you’ll need after a collision. Overall, driving in cold conditions is at its safest when all of the proper steps have added up. Winter tires are the upgrade that will complement your smart driving and knowledge of your vehicle to make for great driving even on the coldest days.

How They Work

There are a few clever approaches to engineering that make good winter tires as effective as they are. Generally speaking, they are optimized for a greater degree of grip in low-traction environments as well as resilience in lower temperatures. Because the rubber compound is a bit softer, you’re getting better traction because the material can remain flexible in response to the road. Put this together with greater tread depth and careful design of the siping and you have a considerable improvement in winter handling. Don’t use them year-round though, as they’re not designed for higher temperatures!

Things to Keep in Mind

It’s a good rule of thumb to stick with the original equipment specs and, more specifically, avoid undersizing the tires and overwhelming them with the weight of your vehicle. The loss of tire pressure with dropping temperatures should also be kept in mind. When it comes to the decision between run-flat or regulars, we see that run-flats come standard on most BMWs because much of the engineering of the vehicle is designed specifically for their use. They’re also good for avoiding the pain of changing tires in the snow. Some may find, however, that they do not offer the longevity or traction of regulars. This and other considerations will vary widely, so getting a personalized opinion from a specialist is always a good move.

Need more help optimizing your BMW for the best and safest winter performance? Motorwerkes is a trusted team in Calgary that can help you with your BMW motor vehicle. Get in touch with us at 403-768-3168 to see what we can do for you!