bmw service calgary - Motorwerkes

Is Nature Wreaking Havoc on Your BMW’s Exterior?

22 May 2018

Even the greatest BMW money can buy will require attentive care to maintain its great look. No car is impervious to the elements, and it’s important to know how your surroundings can take a toll on your BMW’s cosmetic condition. We’ve got a few examples that will keep you prepared.

Bird Droppings

Of the many natural terrors that can befall your exterior, bird droppings are perhaps the most well known and widely feared. However, their effects on a vehicle are often misunderstood. Many assume that it’s the acidic content of the droppings which eats away at your precious paint job. While this isn’t entirely untrue, it’s not the whole story either. On a hot summer day, the surface of your exterior will be quite hot, and when the relatively colder droppings make contact, this leads to contraction and cracking of your laquer. If you don’t act quickly, the marks left behind will only be more difficult to deal with.

Rain & Plant Material

While everyone knows how unsightly bird droppings are, far too many drivers underestimate the damage that precipitation and plant debris can do. Just like bird droppings, rain has a certain level of acidity that can be harmful in its own way, but rain is also often a carrier of mineral content like calcium and magnesium. These can lead to water spots on both your paint job and your windows. When combined with abrasive plant materials like pine needles and leaves, this is a real recipe for disaster. Rain can plaster leaves to the surface, giving your paint job a hefty dose of superficial damage.

Your Habits

No matter how aware you are of the physical causes of paint and window damage, it won’t get you anywhere unless you consider the maintenance and driving habits that can allow them to happen. Parking is a particularly important factor here. Whenever you can, park in a well-protected spot or one with no large trees hanging over it. Have your car professionally washed when needed, and don’t forget to stock up on approved BMW exterior care products. They will give you the most effective results and protection. Ask your local BMW-certified technician what they have in stock!

Are you sufficiently managing and protecting your exterior? The certified technicians at Motorwerkes have everything you need to care for every aspect of your BMW or MINI, inside and out. Get in touch with us today by calling (403) 453-0269 and we’ll be happy to help!

A History of MINI and Motorsport

15 May 2018

To the untrained eye, the MINI may not look like it could dominate a race or rally. It’s a humble vehicle on the outside, but it boasts an impressive history of wins at some of the world’s greatest events. Here’s a glimpse at what this small but mighty vehicle has accomplished in competition.

Help from John Cooper

The Cooper Car Company began as a small operation in the mid-1940s, based in the garage of Charles and John Cooper. Specializing in the construction of racing cars, they became one of history’s most important contributors to Formula One engineering. They also changed the face of MINI. The original Mini was not initially designed for motorsport, but after some convincing, Mini designer Alec Issigonis allowed John Cooper to build what would become the Mini Cooper in 1961. It added front disc brakes, twin SU carburettors, and other elements, with its race-tuned engine increasing the Mini’s power from 34 to 55 bhp.

The Monte Carlo Rally and Others

After the release of the even more powerful Mini Cooper S in 1963, the newly sport-optimized Minis would establish the bulk of their most famous wins throughout the ‘60s. In 1964, 1965, and 1967, they grabbed titles at the famous Monte Carlo Rally in Monaco, France. They even got first place in 1966, but were disqualified because of a technicality regarding the design of their headlights. They also won Finland’s 1000 Lakes Rally in 1965, 1966, and 1967. This historic winning streak for the Mini wasn’t limited to rallies either, as they won the Final Finnish Grand Prix in 1963 and the 1965 Lowood 4 Hour endurance race.

Today’s Races

The ‘60s were an excellent decade for the Mini. However, some automotive fans may not realize just how big a role it plays in motorsports today. While the victories that we remember most often were by classic Mini models, the brand has still dominated many competitions since joining the BMW family. High-powered rally cars based on the MINI Countryman won the 9,000 km Dakar Rally Championship four years in a row between 2012 and 2015, and in 2017 MINI walked away with their fourth win in a row at the Canadian Touring Car Championship. Now that’s high power in a small package!

The MINI has defied expectations and become one of today’s most uniquely powerful vehicles. If you are lucky enough to be a MINI driver, you might be curious as to what it’s capable of. Call Motorwerkes at (403) 453-0269 to find out about what performance upgrades we can offer you!

The iX3: BMW’s First All-Electric SUV

8 May 2018

Electric vehicles have come a long way over the past two decades, and one of the foremost manufacturers producing them today is BMW. They’re also known for top-notch SUVs like the X3. At long last, it looks like drivers will soon be able to experience both of these worlds at once.

BMW’s Electric Endeavours

In recent years, BMW has significantly amped up their efforts at producing electric vehicles through their sub-brand BMW i. The project was founded in 2011 and began in earnest with the release of the i3 all-electric plug-in and the i8 plug-in hybrid several years later. The i3 even became the third best-selling all-electric car of all time only two years after its debut. For quite some time, these were the only vehicles offered under the BMW i banner, but BMW has recently confirmed new models for 2020. Not only this, but they’ve said that by the year 2025, they will offer as many as 25 electric vehicle models.

A Look at the iX3

The iX3 is one of the most exciting of these promised electric cars. As the name indicates, it’s a plug-in version of the X3, one of BMW’s most popular crossovers. This isn’t the first time that the manufacturer has ventured into the electric realm with its range of SUVs and SAVs, as the X7 iPerformance plug-in hybrid is slated to hit the market in 2019. However, the iX3 marks the brand’s first fully electric sports utility model. Its design will appeal significantly to those who aren’t big fans of the X7’s bulky size, while still having enough space to accommodate a battery large enough for a long-distance charge.

More on the Horizon

We’re only really in the early stages of BMW’s ambitions when it comes to electric models. Also confirmed for 2020 will be the i4, an all-electric 4-door coupé based on the i Vision Dynamics concept that appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. With a charge range of up to 435 miles, this one beats out the Tesla Model 3. Even the super futuristic iNEXT concept will see a production model for 2021, no doubt pushing forward both the potential of battery power and carbon fibre construction. BMW plans to continue electrifying many of its established models and perfecting its eDrive technology.

It’s hard to deny the ingenuity that goes into developing such a forward-thinking line of performance luxury vehicles. Whether or not you own a BMW i model, give the Motorwerkes team a call at (403) 453-0269 and we will provide first-class repair, maintenance, and upgrades!

New Year’s Car Care Resolutions

1 January 2018

Have you set any New Year’s resolutions for yourself? If you have, they probably don’t address car care, but don’t forget that your BMW is an important part of your day-to-day life. As a significant investment that you depend on to get around, it deserves a few resolutions of its own!

Sticking to Routine Maintenance

Few car care resolutions could be as important as this. If there’s one thing that will have the most significant positive effect on how much you get out of your BMW all year long, it’s holding yourself to the maintenance schedule that it needs to be at peak performance. Follow the interval of miles between oil changes, fluid top-offs, brake checks, and everything else that a vehicle simply can’t perform well without. It may not seem like a big deal to be a bit behind on one or two routine items, but it will start to add up. Besides, going off your maintenance schedule just doesn’t do your BMW justice!

Investing Wisely

One of the most harmful habits you can get into when it comes to caring for your BMW is investing in the wrong parts, the wrong maintenance, and the wrong technicians. This tends to happen most often when drivers want to cut corners and save money here and there. BMWs are vehicles that offer a powerful and high-quality driving experience. As such, they demand approved parts, specialized maintenance, and certified technicians who know how to provide an experience that lives up to the BMW name. If you make it a resolution to invest in these essential elements, your vehicle will pay off for you the way it’s designed to.

Knowing Your Stuff

In addition to wise investment, knowledge is power. An enthusiastic desire to learn about BMWs, how they work, and what they need is what ends up defining the most devoted fans out there. If you own a BMW but aren’t particularly motivated to know you stuff and get the most out of it, you’ll be missing out on all the good stuff! Make it a resolution this year to take note of and follow all of the advice that your BMW certified technician gives you. Allow that advice to enrich your understanding of your vehicle on the whole so that you can ensure a long life for the top-class driving machine at your fingertips.

There are some New Year’s resolutions that we abandon or give up on, but your BMW deserves only the best treatment it can get. For repairs, maintenance, upgrades and more, call (403) 453-0269 today and the Motorwerkes team will help you stay true to your word all year long!

Switching Your MINI to Winter Tires

22 November 2017

MINIs are known for the excellent level of control they offer drivers, thanks to their compact size and “wheel-at-each-corner” approach to suspension design. Still, no vehicle can compensate for unsafe driving habits, and failing to switch your MINI to winter tires is a pretty good example.

What’s the Difference?

One of the first things to bear in mind about winter tires is the material that they’re made from. Their compound has a higher percentage of rubber and is therefore softer, which means that they grip the road better than their warm-weather counterparts. The tread and siping, meanwhile, are carefully designed to avoid buildup of slush and manage the movement of water across their surface in order to maintain a solid grip. The low temperatures and unstable surfaces of winter driving conditions can wreak havoc on tires that are not built for them.

Choosing the Right Ones

Winter tires all express varying levels of quality and different approaches to design in their siping, tread, and overall shape. The first thing to remember when choosing a set for your MINI is that you quite often get what you pay for. If you want a durable tire that can offer you optimized performance and safety, you should invest accordingly. Secondly, remember that some MINI models do not come with a spare tire, so it may be a good idea to choose run flat winter tires if this applies to you. Michelin’s X-Ice Xi3 run flat is a good example.

Driving in Winter

Regardless of how well you invest in your winter tires, never forget the importance of smart winter driving. It may be easy to get carried away when you’re driving a vehicle that can corner as well as a MINI, but you should nonetheless be careful on turns and keep your stopping distances as safe as you can. Even in a car so compact, keeping an eye on how close you follow the vehicles ahead of you is especially necessary in icy conditions. With a good set of winter tires and even better driving technique, you and your MINI will be ready for winter!

If there’s one season when driving can be the least pleasant, it’s probably winter. However, if you stay safe and get your maintenance from the right technician, you’ll run into far fewer problems! To give your MINI the best service, give Motorwerkes a call at (403) 453-0269 today.