There is a thrill of excitement to owning and driving a European vehicle such as a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The manufacturers have even dubbed their vehicles with taglines like the “Ultimate Driving Machine” or “The Best or Nothing.” While these phrases are catchy, what should consumers expect from their vehicles once they surpass the manufacture warranty? Four years/50,000 miles is today’s standard when it comes to manufacturer warranties — after that, vehicle repairs and maintenance are on the vehicle’s owner. With the increase in the average car payment, along with increasing interest rates on car loans, Americans are opting to prolong and preserve their vehicles longer than ever before.
Lindsey Bimmer Service is here to serve you and your vehicles, and to help educate European Vehicle Owners’ on how to effectively maintain their vehicles over the long run, despite what the dealership’s may have told you.
Engine Oil and Filter Service is the most common, and most frequent, maintenance item all vehicles will need. Despite what your dealership service advisor may suggest, 10,000-12,000 miles is far too long between oil changes. Yes, even with fully synthetic oil. Lindsey Bimmer Service stands behind the 5,000 miles (or once a year) rule. It is common for European vehicles to consume or “burn” 1 quart of oil per 5,000 miles. In this case, going 10,000 miles or more could potentially cause your vehicle’s engine to run low on oil, resulting in lack of proper lubrication or increased friction and excessive heat generation.
Meeting maintenance intervals does not need to be expensive, and consumers should not be penalized for investing in their vehicles. Most dealerships will continue to service maintenance once the vehicle is out of manufacture warranty, but it will be at customer cost.
Dealerships can sneak in service charges for “vehicle checks” or “maintenance inspection” when, realistically, maintenance schedules can be adhered to by miles or time, and do not require any added inspection cost. Below you will see a general recommendation on common maintenance items performed at Lindsey Bimmer Service.
- Engine Oil Service – Every 5,000 miles or Once Per Year
- Sunroof Drain Cleaning – Once per Year
- Brake Fluid Flush – Every 2 Years
- Engine Air Filter – Every 30,000 miles
- Cabin Air Filter – Every 20,000 miles
Premium fuel and top tier providers make the difference for these high-octane vehicles. Aside from diesel options, all European vehicles should be using premium (93 octane) fuel and it matters where you fill up your vehicle.
Have you ever thought about how Costco and Randalls can sale their fuel for pennies-on-the-dollar cheaper than Exxon or Shell? The reason is that true top-tier providers will not accept the last 25% of the tanker trucks because of the water content and impurities that have collected at the bottom. This remaining fuel does not burn as cleanly as it is designed to, which can result in problematic ignition, clogging catalytic converters, and overall lower fuel economy.
Lindsey Bimmer Service, Trained and well-versed technicians specializing in European Automotive repairs and maintenance. Collectively, over 100 years’ experience on your ultimate driving machines. LindseyBimmerService.com • 512-296-4631