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Keeping Your Cooling System in Great Condition

20 June 2016

A cool interior is important for a comfortable summer drive, but don’t forget about your engine! In the coming months, your BMW’s cooling system will be working much harder than during other seasons. Let’s run through a few recommendations on how to keep it working properly.

Understanding the System

In order to maintain longevity and remain efficient, your engine needs to stay cool and stable. For this, it depends heavily on its cooling system. The water pump and drive belt work to send coolant fluid through channels in the engine block and cylinder head, collecting heat and ultimately ending up at the radiator. After incoming airflow cools the hot fluid, it circulates again through the cooling channels in a continuous cycle. The system involves a number of moving parts, fluids, and tubes, and keeping these elements in good working order is one of the key ingredients to a robust and long-lasting engine.

Knowing the Signs

Be sure to follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual or a BMW technician if you want to know optimal fluid levels, coolant-to-water ratios, and intervals for refills and flushes. These often depend on the vehicle as well as the season. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge and be aware of any unusual smells or hissing sounds. Perform a basic visual inspection of the system once every so often. If you spot any leaks in the radiator or damage to belts or hoses, a repair by a local BMW technician is needed. Regardless of what you’re inspecting, always allow plenty of time for your vehicle to cool down before taking a look or refilling!

Taking It In

An out-of-shape cooling system is one of the most common and preventable causes of breakdowns, particularly during summer. Few things can make a dent in a great summer day than being stuck on the side of the road! Knowing when to take your BMW in to have the cooling system checked will ensure that you can enjoy even the warmest of days without smoky, overheated mishaps. It will also avoid accumulative engine wear that can lead to costly repairs later on. Always be attentive and trust in the right team of technicians!

How is the condition of your cooling system? If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs above or are experiencing anything else out of the ordinary, give Motorwerkes at call at (403) 768-3161 today. Calgary’s best team of BMW experts is here for you!

What Makes Summer Tires Unique?

13 June 2016

It’s always important to change your tire type based on the season. Now that the roads are getting warmer, let’s take a look at what goes into designing a summer tire and why they’re a smart choice for this time of year.

The Material

Because their conditions demand different performance and behaviour, summer tires (sometimes called “performance” tires) differ from winter tires in rigidity and elasticity. The tread compound of a summer tire is comprised of less pure rubber than winter tires, giving them just the right balance of softness and hardness to handle well in a variety of conditions, just so long as it’s not ice or snow! The compound is also made to hold up in higher temperatures where the softer winter tire would be more likely to fail. Summer tires are made to operate best at temperatures above 7 degrees celsius, and once they go below that, they harden and lose traction.

The Design

Treads, siping, and other structural characteristics also play a critical role. Since they’re not meant for winter and don’t need to push through muck or slush, summer tires possess a more shallow tread depth. Their sidewalls are also generally stronger than those on winter tires and the tread pattern is carefully designed with large grooves and fuller blocks. Unlike winter tires, which are designed with finer and more intricate siping patterns, summer tires prioritize a dynamic shaping strategy without worrying about digging around in the snow. As a result, using a summer tire during winter is likely to fill up those larger grooves with too much icy material!

The Performance

While you might assume that summer tires don’t perform so well in wet conditions, the opposite is actually true. Thanks to the combination of the tread compound and tread pattern, summer tires are able to keep a good grip on the road and optimize turns and stopping distance in both dry and wet conditions. With high performance summer tires, you’ll get directional treads that do a particularly good job with hydroplaning resistance. The design of winter tires, on the other hand, puts first priority on dealing with ice and snow rather than fluids. Because of these differences, failing to switch tires as the roads heat up is a sure way to compromise both safety and performance!

Have you fitted your BMW with a pair of summer tires for optimized durability and safety? Give the Motorwerkes team a call at (403) 768-3161, we’re here to help you get only the best performance out of your vehicle!

A Brief History of the BMW

2 November 2015

You may have read our blog recounting the history of the famous BMW roundel. There is, however, always more to a company than its logo. As experts on the work of such a time-tested brand, we’re always eager to dig into its past and find out more. Here’s how it all started.

Early Origins

For much of World War I, German mechanical engineer Karl Rapp operated Rapp Motorenwerke, one of the central military aircraft engine manufacturers in the German state of Bavaria. With the arrival of a new engineer named Max Friz, Rapp Motorenwerke designed the groundbreaking IVa engine that would radically change the shape and reputation of the company. Rapp resigned in 1916 and the manufacturer was eventually restructured and merged with two others to form Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works).

Branching Out

The end of World War I had a significant effect on the newly-formed BMW company. A clause in the Treaty of Versailles restricting German aircraft engineering meant that the design of other technologies was necessary. After further restructuring and a change of logo in the early ‘20s, BMW built its first complete vehicle: the R32 motorcycle, establishing the boxer-twin shaft-drive powertrain layout that BMW still uses today. In 1928, they produced their first automobile, the Dixi, and less than a decade later introduced the famous 328. This model redefined the sports car and made automotive history. BMW grew to become a global-scale company in the early ‘70s, founded its Research and Innovation Centre in 1990, and has remained at the forefront of vehicle design and engineering since.

Toward the Future

With nearly a century of production to their name, the future of automotive design holds interesting prospects for BMW. Demand for electric mobility and other sustainable technologies is creating a complex new chapter in the company’s history. Focus these days is on increased efficiency and decreased carbon footprint in the product lifecycle, including recycled materials, lightweight construction, and the continued development of bivalent hydrogen/gasoline engines. From the innovative IVa aircraft engine to the hydrogen-based car of the future, things have certainly come a long way.

Whether it’s a simple repair or an impressive performance upgrade, we at MotorWerkes believe your BMW should be in the hands of a team that loves it as much as you do! To find out what we can do for your vehicle, feel free to get in touch with us at (403) 453-0269.

The Origins of the BMW Logo

19 October 2015

One of the most recognizable features on any BMW vehicle is its logo. This timeless insignia has come to represent one of the most respected names in vehicle design and manufacturing, but how did it come about? Let’s dig into the history of our favorite make and find out.

Out With the Old

The BMW logo — or “roundel” to be more precise — has its origins in the logo used for the Rapp Motorenwerke company, the aircraft manufacturer from which Bayerische Motorenwerke as we know it today would eventually evolve. This early logo consisted of a circle containing the figure of a black horse. The words “Rapp Motor” were curved along the top and bottom portions of the circle, not unlike the letters “BMW” on the current symbol. After the expansion and renaming of the company, it was decided to create a new logo based somewhat on the black horse design.

In With the New

Ultimately, it was decided to replace the black horse silhouette with four quadrants of alternating blue and white. This pattern and its colours were taken from the flag of Bavaria, the southeastern German state where Rapp Motorenwerke originated. This is characteristic of the sense of patriotism surrounding the company’s emblem and its historical context, as Rapp Motorenwerke was one of the most important German aircraft engine manufacturers during World War I. The fact that the logo is in the style of an aircraft roundel is in keeping with the company’s roots as a proud and significant contributor to the war effort.

The Propellor Myth

This origin is a bit different from the common myth. Many assume that the alternating blue and white pattern is meant to represent a rotating airplane propellor. This arose from a 1929 BMW technical magazine, the cover of which featured an illustration portraying the front ends of two airplanes. The features of the roundel were drawn into their rotating airscrews, including the BMW text. The illustration is therefore mistakenly credited for the genesis of the roundel, despite the fact that it was published long after the new logo had been established. Decades later, it represents a household name and unparalleled legacy in vehicle engineering and design.

We at Motorwerkes aren’t just experts in BMW trivia, we’re also fully certified and ticketed technicians with the latest hardware and software tools. For Calgary’s best service and performance centre specializing in BMW, give us a call at (403) 768-3167 today!