Diagnosing BMW Problems

Diagnosing BMW Problems

One of the most recent & common misdiagnosed problems is where a customer says they need a new catalytic converter because a well known parts store or smog station, without doing proper tests, told them they have an O2 sensor code setting off a Check Engine Light!  This can be a very expensive, frustrating and often time consuming mistake.  Accurately diagnosing a BMW problem requires more than just reading codes from an onboard computer.

Over the years we have heard and seen first hand the results of bad diagnosis, bad business practices or lack of experience.

Please be cognizant of the fact that you have one check engine light and hundreds of reasons why it could be triggered.

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Maintenance tips for your Mercedes Benz

With such long service intervals on new Mercedes Benz vehicles, periodic checks are more important than ever. It may seem counter intuitive, but with these cars going as long as 15 thousand miles between services, (that’s over 1 year) How do we find the “little” problem before it becomes a big, an expensive one.

The days of the service station attendant “checking under the hood” are gone, who is going to do it now?

Here are some quick checks you can do to help catch issues before they escalate.

1: Tire pressure: This basic check increase you gas mileage, tire wear, and help prevent
you from getting that flat tire. While you’re there look over the tire and see
if it is wearing evenly.

2: Check your oil level:  All new Mercedes will allow you to do this through the instrument
cluster, no more getting dirty. All models are a little different check your owner manual or
come in and we can show you.

3: Wash your car: It may sounds silly but washing the inside and out will not only keep you Mercedes looking nice but it also help keep the paint from being damaged,  the leather from cracking, the carpet from staining and rust from developing.  Washing your car will also alert you to any loose or damaged body parts.

4: Check under the hood: a quick visual inspection with a flash light can allow you catch a small issue before it balloons. What to look for; Does everything look like it is in place? Are there any cracks in the hoses or belts? Does anything appear to be wet? All the fluids levels ok?

5: Check and change filters: Your Mercedes Benz has filters  for the engine air as well as the air in the cabin. The filters fill with dirt and debris causing them to clog. This adversely
affects the engine fuel mileage as well as the AC systems ability to cool you off in the summer.

6: Have your car serviced by a professional who uses quality parts. You invested in your Mercedes Benz take care of it and it will take care of you.

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Women In Grassroots Motorsports

Sure, there are a few famous women in motorsports, like Danika Patrick. There are far to few of them. The sport of motorsports and related activities needs more women involved to help make things interesting and maybe, just maybe, give men a little more leash from their girlfriend  or wife when partaking in motorsports activities on the weekends. Below is an excerpt that I pulled from Roundel a BMW Enthusiast Club Magazine. It is a first hand experience from a female in a mostly male dominated culture and I hope that by reading this it may encourage more women to get involved in the sport.

A Sense Of Belonging, BMW CCA Style

Submitted by chennecy on Mon, 2013-04-15 09:48

 

I’m a 28-year-old female.
Before you start passing judgment upon what I might be like, or who I might be, give me a chance; actually, give everybody out there like me a chance. There is an extremely high possibility that you might be surprised by what you find.
You see, not all of us early-middle-aged people are focused on getting a house on a cul-de-sac, a large luxury sedan, and a promotion every six months. These things are nice—but you have to realize that people my age don’t exactly have that same instinct—that fight-for-the-top mentality that Generation Xers and those who came before them might have had. I sit firmly in Generation Y—otherwise known as WhY Me—and at first, believe it or not, I felt more out of place at the BMW Club meetings than anywhere else in the world. I made the correct decision, however, to make my first Club presence known at an autocross.
There is something to the old saying, “actions speak louder than words”—and I am walking proof. I had no intention of proving myself to the Club; quite honestly, I was pretty certain that my driving skills would put me in the same category as the old guy with the station wagon with the ski rack on top. I had no self-assurance, I had no confidence, primarily because I expected somebody else to pump me up with the cockiness I needed to annihilate the course.
But after getting my wheels out of the box, I was infused with some sort of maniacal mixture of motor madness. I was throwing my 1 Series around cones, and tearing through slaloms like I had been doing it my whole life. Who was that mysterious driver out there in that spectacular Sedona Red coupe? Where did this driving dynamo come from?
I stopped in the box and rolled down my dark-tinted window to receive my time, which I was pretty sure shattered all the records out there. Our chapter is full of driving legends, cult heroes of the Southeast—but I was certain that I had smashed their records, all in one run.
The timer stooped down with an aged face and a glowing smile. “Young lady, you know this car goes faster than that, right?”
I grumbled, and placed myself at the end of the long queue of cars waiting their turn to go kill cones. I’d show that old codger what this thing is capable of, just out of spite.
But spite gets you nowhere in autocross, trust me. On my second run, I killed more cones than Free Ice Cream Day at Dairy Queen. I focused too much on trying to show off, and didn’t focus on the task at hand—which was ultimately becoming a better driver.
After about six runs, the 1 Series was tired, I was mentally exhausted, and the clouds were rolling in. With a little bit of hesitation, I decided to stick around to hear the results. But first I prepared myself to hear—from total strangers—about all the things I had done wrong.
But that’s not what happened. I heard not one negative comment in regard to my runs. Quite the opposite, actually; I was commended by all for being one of the only girls in a group of almost 50 cars to get a sub-whatever time (fill in the blank, I don’t remember the numbers). I was also commended for taking the skid pad better than most sage car hands. Compliments all around, and my brain swelled with ego and this little thing called pride.
I then received absolutely the best compliment I’ve ever heard: “Nikki, you’re not a typical girl in her twenties, are you?”
My dining-room table is a clearing house for various motorcycle helmets, jackets, gloves, and attire. My closet is full of car-racing gear and autocross helmets. My shoe rack has a pair of steel-toed work boots and an awesome pair of red pumps. What more does a girl need?
No, I’m not a typical twenty-something girl, and now I feel more at home around my car-club family than I do with my real kinfolk. I’m worried, however, that many other newbies to the Club might not feel the same way. The Club mentality is one of acceptance, of learning experiences, and an inside joke now and then. The only way you can really get in on things is to get out there and do them. If you’re new, leave all of your preconceived notions behind, and you’ll find that the BMW Club, whatever chapter you may find yourself in, is full of excellent people—people who won’t care if you don’t have a dining room table set up with centerpieces and matching drapes. Your car-club family will offer you advice on life’s tough questions, like, “Should I go Dinan?” And more important, they’ll become your friends—in some cases, for life.
The Club is my family—and my “real” family is jealous.
They should be.—Nikki Weed
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Singer Porsche 911 Docmentary

Fro all of you that truly enjoy the Porsche Air Cooled 911. Check out this documentary on the Singer 911. Just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJQ4hQSusjE

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GRAND-AM Road Racing, American Le Mans Series Announce Historic Merger

 

Welcome to the Future of Sports Car Racing!

GRAND-AM Road Racing, American Le Mans Series Announce Historic Merger

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 5, 2012) – The most significant development in the history of sports car racing in North America was announced today, with plans for a landmark merger of GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) unveiled at Daytona International Speedway.

Under terms of the merger, the following entities will combine with GRAND-AM: the American Le Mans Series; the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions ALMS events; the Road Atlanta race track facility in Braselton, Ga.; the Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center in Sebring, Fla.; and Sebring International Raceway, via a reassignment of the lease agreement with the Sebring Airport Authority to operate the raceway.

Both sanctioning bodies will continue to operate separate schedules in 2013 before racing under one banner in 2014 beginning with North America’s premier sports car race, the 52nd annual Rolex 24 At Daytona. A board of directors has been formed to operate the new combined organization with GRAND-AM founder Jim France as chairman and ALMS founder Don Panoz as vice chairman. Other members: NASCAR Vice Chair/Executive Vice President Lesa France Kennedy, GRAND-AM President/CEO Ed Bennett, ALMS President/CEO Scott Atherton and NASCAR Vice President/Deputy General Counsel Karen Leetzow.

“Today’s announcement will transform sports car racing on this continent, along with having world-wide industry implications,” said Bennett. “Aside from the organizations involved, everybody wins: drivers, teams, manufacturers, sponsors, tracks – and most all, the fans.

“This new approach is going to be revolutionary, as we take the best components from two premium brands, combine them and then benefit mutually from the considerable resources both sides will bring to our efforts. This is a bold move – and the right one – for the long-term, optimum growth of sports car racing.”

Added Atherton: “This merger will blend the best assets and attributes of each organization in terms of technical rules, officiating, marketing, communications, personnel, scheduling and broadcasting. The result will be one of the strongest, most competitive and powerful motorsports marketing platforms in the world.”

Post-merger branding still is being determined for the new organization and its principal series, as are specifics regarding the 2014 schedule. Also, the competitive class structure and technical rules beginning in 2014 have yet to be finalized.

The ALMS began operations in 1999, with GRAND-AM debuting in 2000. Both organizations were created in the aftermath of the late-’90s departure of the highly popular IMSA Camel GT circuit in North America. IMSA was founded in 1969 by John Bishop and then-NASCAR President Bill France Sr.

“This merger will strengthen professional sports car racing beyond what either of our organizations could have achieved separately,” said Panoz. “The American Le Mans Series was founded for the fans and I’m personally gratified that they will benefit greatly as we now work together with GRAND-AM to take this sport to the level at which it belongs in the North American and international motorsports landscapes.”

France said the merger was exciting both “on a professional and a personal level, with me being a long-time sports car fan. This merger was achieved through a true spirit of cooperation. Moving forward, that same spirit will drive our day-to-day efforts.”

Collectively, this merger involves a total of eight sports car series racing throughout North America. GRAND-AM sanctions and operates the Rolex Sports Car Series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the TOTAL Performance Showcase. GRAND-AM also sanctions the Ferrari Challenge that is operated by Ferrari North America. IMSA is the sanctioning body for the ALMS, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama Series, the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin.

“This looks good from a business standpoint but it also ‘feels good’ from a historical standpoint,” Bennett said. “Both GRAND-AM and the ALMS have lineages tied to Daytona Beach, Daytona International Speedway and the France Family. This announcement is a proud moment for all involved, as we now look forward to a bright future for sports car racing.”

About American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is based on the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. It features multiple classes of purpose-built prototypes and production-based GT cars that race on the same track at the same time. The ALMS holds events annually throughout North America on premier urban street circuits and top permanent natural terrain road courses. The American Le Mans Series has a leadership role in motorsports for the furthering of alternative fuel technology and use. The ALMS was the first motorsports body in the world to embrace an entire suite of alternative energy sources – E10 and E85 cellulosic ethanols, isobutanol, clean diesel and hybrid technologies.

About Grand-Am Road Racing
GRAND-AM Road Racing operates and sanctions the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the TOTAL Performance Showcase. GRAND-AM also sanctions the Ferrari Challenge in North America. Owned by NASCAR Holdings Inc., GRAND-AM is located in Daytona Beach, Florida. With a racing schedule led by the prestigious season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, GRAND-AM delivers professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International.

Source: Alms

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Chrysler CEO: Alfa Romeo to Return to U.S. With New 4C

Chrysler CEO: Alfa Romeo to Return to U.S. With New 4C

Alfa-romeo-logo
Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has announced that storied Italian luxury brand Alfa Romeo will indeed be returning to the U.S. market, arriving by year’s end with the new 4C — a lightweight two-seat rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined sports car.

Speaking at a conference in Detroit last Friday, Marchionne contradicted statements he’d made earlier in the week in saying that the 4C and Alfa’s return to the U.S. had been intentionally delayed so the company could focus on Maserati brand instead. “We’re finalizing the car now, so it should be here by the end of the year,” Marchionne said, according to the Detroit News. “It’s ready in the sense of all the work with architecture and types of models.”

Furthering Alfa’s sports car future was the formalization of a joint-venture partnership between Alfa Romeo and Mazda, originally announced announced in May 2012, to develop certain vehicles together from shared architectures; the next Alfa Romeo Spider and new MX-5 Miata are the first fruit of that relationship. The partnership was formally signed just last week, with the first vehicles expected to appear in the next two to three years.

The announcement that the 4C will arrive by year’s end is frankly curious, given the timing. This would mean that dealers have less than a year to get showrooms in order for Alfa Romeo, ordering signage and signing up for franchise agreements. It is thought that most Fiat dealers will also get Alfa Romeo shops, giving them some higher-margin vehicles to sell besides small cars, but no formal launch of the brand has yet been scheduled.

From Cars.com by Aaron Bragman
 

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BMW Repair & Service at RennWerks Performance

BMW, also known as Bavarian Motor Works, was founded in Germany in 1916. A world-renowned automobile, motorcycle, and engine manufacturing company, BMW also produce the MINI brand, and are the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

When BMW first started, its specialty was aircraft engines, thus the reason their logo represents the movement of a white airplane propeller cutting through the blue sky, which also match the colors of the state of Bavaria. After World War I and the signing of the Versailles Armistice Treaty ceased their ability to make aircraft engines, BMW became a motorcycle manufacturer in 1923, and additionally an automobile manufacturer in 1928.

BMW has had a colorful history within Germany, and is widely known for its high performance, well-engineered lines that include sedans, coupes, crossover SUVs, and convertibles such as the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, Z Series, M Series and the X Series. RennWerks Performance mechanics are experts with BMWs and are certified to work on the older, as well as the newer BMW models.

For an appointment, contact RennWerks Performance at 408-374-7480 /  service@rennwerksperformance.com or drop by our location at 1070 Dell Ave Campbell, CA 95008 for a quick look at your BMW. At RennWerks Performance, we’ll be happy to
assist you and take excellent care of your BMW so it can safely take care of you.

 

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Time To Change Those Wiper Blades!!

Are you as conscientious about your windshield wipers as you are about your
European vehicle’s engine? Car safety is a critical concern for everyone.

Worn wiper blades are dangerous. Because 90% of your driving decisions are based on
a clear, unobstructed view of the road, it’s a critical safety concern that your car’s wipers provide you with the cleanest windshield possible.

Airborne contaminants, oil, sunlight and dirt all act to weaken and reduce your wiper
blades’ ability to keep your view unobstructed. Exposure to sunlight and pollutants
cause the wiper blades to age and crack, even if they’re not used much.

Weatheralso plays a critical role in your windshield wiper blades’ weakening. Freezing
temperatures make the rubber in your wiper blades hard and brittle, which increases their tendency to crack or tear. Hot weather warps the rubber and prevents the blade from wiping your windshield cleanly.

Heavy use is hard on the wipers because dust, road grime and bug juice wear away the
cutting edge the blade needs to wipe cleanly. Even road dirt acts like an abrasive to wear away the flat surface necessary for a good squeegee effect.

As blades age, they lose their flexibility and are less able to wipe cleanly. They may develop a permanent set or curvature, which prevents full contact with your windshield.

RennWerks Performance is here to serve you and make sure your windshield wiper blades allow you to safely see your way through each journey. We recommend you replace your wiper blades every 6 months or 6,000 miles.

Contact us at 408.370.7480 or service@rennwerksperformance.com to schedule an appointment to change your wiper blades any time before or during a service check-up or an oilchange. You will receive a FREE courtesy safety inspection if you mention this blog before the end of October.

 

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What if I never changed the oil in my European car?

Oil in an engine is vital to your vehicle. Without them, someone or something is going to die!  Oil is an essential lubricant in your engine.  It lets metal press against metal without
damage.  For example, it lubricates the pistons as they move up and down in the cylinders. Without oil, the metal-on-metal friction creates so much heat that eventually the surfaces weld themselves together and the engine seizes. This is not good if you’re trying to get somewhere.

Let’s say that your Audi or BMW engine has plenty of oil, but you never change it. Two things will definitely happen: Dirt will accumulate in the oil.  The filter will remove the dirt for a while, but eventually the filter will clog and the dirty oil will automatically bypass the filter through a relief valve. Dirty oil is thick and abrasive, so it causes more wear.

Additives in the oil like detergents, dispersants, rust-fighters and friction reducers will wear out, so the oil won’t lubricate as well as it should. Eventually, as the oil gets dirtier and dirtier, it will stop lubricating and the engine will quickly wear and fail.

Also, all engines burn a little bit of oil over time. Eventually, you will run out of enough oil
to properly lubricate your motor and the motor will have catastrophic damage. This is why all manufacturers recommend that you check your oil regularly. Usually, every other time you visit the gas station or 1000 miles.

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Have A Happy and Safe Halloween, Everyone!

At RennWerks Performance, we love celebrating Halloween, for it’s one of our
favorite holidays. However, don’t get scary driving around while the little ghosts and goblins are Trick-Or-Treating. To help keep Halloween fun, we thought we’d provide some driving “tricks” and tips to stay safe on the road after dark on Halloween.

To help everyone bring home treats — not tragedies — follow these driving tips for
a safe Halloween:

• Don’t use a cell phone while driving through neighborhoods. A single
distraction could lead to a tragedy.

• Stay well below the posted speed limit.

• Pay attention to what’s happening on sidewalks and roadways. Watch for
children darting across streets, especially between parked cars.

• Be extra alert when pulling in and out of driveways.

• Do not assume children can see you or are paying attention. You need to take
that responsibility.

• Drivers should also check that all lights on their car work.

• Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. They could be
dropping off children.

• If you’re driving a group of children, but staying in the running vehicle at
the curb, be sure to put on your hazard lights to alert other motorists.

• And if you’re driving to a Halloween party, put that mask on after you park
the car.

Parents can help motorists, too:

• Make sure drivers can see the children. Give them flashlights and glow
sticks. Dress kids in bright, reflective clothing or use reflective tape on
their costumes.

• Use makeup, rather than masks, so children have a clear, unobstructed view of
their surroundings.

• Be sure children know how to cross a street — look left, right and left again
before crossing.

• Instruct children to stay on sidewalks and to cross only at corners or crosswalks.

• Accompany your children as they trick or treat.

 

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