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Luxury cars such as BMWs have specific performance expectations. It’s important to monitor your BMW’s performance on a regular basis to be able to detect when you’re experiencing significant changes. However, there are other things you can do to help ensure that your BMW performs as it should consistently.
BMW recommends certain service intervals to drivers of various models, as well as ongoing care tips and suggestions for optimal performance. One of the most controversial, yet important, factors of BMW performance is what kind of gasoline you typically use. The BMW manufacturer recommends that drivers of most BMW cars fill their tank with higher-octane fuel—91 or more to be exact. Many drivers dispute this suggestion, but the overall difference in cost could be worth the benefits. In this article, we’ll talk more about why 91+ octane fuel is best for your BMW and what might happen if you don’t follow this manufacturer suggestion.
It’s safe to assume that BMW requires higher octane fuel for their engines because it serves an important purpose. Since this is ultimately up to us as drivers who are responsible for filling our own tanks, it can be awfully tempting to skip the higher octane/higher cost and use regular, unleaded fuel. However, it’s important to note what this can do to your BMW’s engine, and therefore your vehicle’s performance.
Your BMW has a high-compression engine that requires high octane fuel for a specific reason. When you use a lower octane fuel in your BMW, it causes the temperature in your engine to rise, whereas higher octane fuel keeps your engine temperature at the perfect homeostasis for optimal performance. High-octane fuel stops ignition from occurring prematurely and can prevent engine damage.
There certainly are drawbacks to having to fill your tank with 91+ octane fuel—the number one drawback being higher cost each time you fill up. However, depending on how often you drive your BMW, the difference may be negligible. There are more benefits to utilizing the proper, required gasoline type for your BMW than there are drawbacks. Here are a few:
Using higher octane fuel keeps your engine running in its optimal range. Using the right fuel source will help your engine to use the proper amount of pressure and power efficiently when it needs it, without wasting power.
BMWs are known for their exceptional performance standards. Higher octane fuel supports the power and speed that BMWs can achieve, and without the higher octane fuel your engine has to work harder at a higher temperature to achieve similar performance results.
Especially when you’re going on long-winded trips, through hilly terrain, or if the car has a lot of added weight, using the right type of gas is critical. This allows your BMW engine to endure the added strain without damaging the engine in any way.
You might be surprised to learn that gasoline is responsible for maintaining a degree of “engine cleanliness.” Higher octane fuel has a higher, yet different, chemical makeup that removes carbon buildup much more efficiently in high-compression engines.
Besides the general benefits of using the right type of fuel for your BMW, it’s important to pair this with providing your BMW with the right maintenance procedures at the recommended interval. The suggestions made by your BMW manufacturer were developed based on statistics and testing that found the optimal method of care for the best results for BMW cars. By sticking to your recommended maintenance plan and using the right type of gasoline, you’ll be able to enjoy your BMW more consistently and for a longer period of time.
The BMW experts here at Euro Plus Automotive serve clients from all over the areas of Los Angeles County and San Fernando Valley, including Canoga Park and Woodland Hills, CA. Our level of knowledge in German-engineering and specialized care is what sets us apart from nearby dealerships—not only do we offer better quality care, but at more affordable prices. If you would like to know more about your gasoline requirements for your BMW, please contact one of our helpful professionals, or call to schedule a tune-up to inspect your BMW’s condition.
* BMW 328i image credit goes to: servickuz.
Your car is a complex inter-working of thousands of parts that all must be kept in functional, working condition in order for your car to run smoothly. In a Volkswagen, these parts are maintained on a specific schedule of service intervals that the manufacturer recommends for optimal driving conditions. The nuts and bolts that hold the various parts together can also become worn out, leaving the larger, more critical parts susceptible to failure—so your automotive services should be performed by a Volkswagen specialist for thorough results.
Suspension parts are the most susceptible to the intense vibration of road contact, because they tend to buffer the brunt of road impacts from potholes, divots, and bumps. One of the most critical “nuts and bolts” pieces of your Volkswagen’s suspension is the control arm bushings. The control arms serve an important purpose in your car’s performance, and when they begin to fail it can be catastrophic to the other suspension parts. However, sometimes control arm failure in your Volkswagen is due to simply worn-out bushings. In this article, we’ll elaborate more on what control arm bushings are and how you can prevent failure.
The control arm is part of a system, or an assembly, which is responsible for connecting the suspension to the car framework. The control arms are adhered to the frame by way of the control-arm bushings, which tend to absorb much of the road impacts your car experiences. Volkswagens are generally durable cars, known for their resiliency and projected life expectancy. Unfortunately, control arms can be easily damaged, despite the fact that they aren’t supposed to need replacement until around the 100,000 mile mark. It’s important for drivers to pay attention to the common signs and symptoms of control arm or control-arm bushing failure so that they can protect the other parts of their suspension from damage.
The symptoms of control arm or bushing failure can mimic the symptoms of other suspension issues. The most important thing is that you bring your Volkswagen in for servicing as soon as you notice the slightest shift or change in performance. Some of the most common signs of failure are: intense road vibrations in the steering wheel; shaking or clanking noises when going over bumps or road divots; and uneven tire wear.
As we mentioned before, control-arm bushing failure is usually due to the driving conditions one experiences. For instance, if you typically drive your car over bumpy roads, your control arms and bushings are absorbing many more impacts over a shorter period of time than perhaps other drivers. Furthermore, over time these parts must be replaced, so the age and mileage on your vehicle can contribute to whether or not your control arms are more likely to fail sooner rather than later.
These parts of your suspension withstand a lot of shaking and intense vibrating from road imperfections, so it’s important to have them checked out regularly by a Volkswagen specialist to stay on top of maintenance procedures. If you have your suspension inspected frequently, your Volkswagen technician can catch these issues before they turn into serious, and expensive, automotive repairs. Furthermore, if you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms of control arm or bushing failure in your car, it’s important to remain proactive and schedule an inspection sooner than later—it might directly affect your repair bill and the reliability of your car.
For over 30 years, the Volkswagen experts here at Euro Plus Automotive have serviced countless numbers of clients’ vehicles from the LA County areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, and the greater San Fernando Valley in sunny California. Southern California is filled with plenty of rough backroads that drivers often take to escape the bumper-to-bumper traffic on highways and freeways. Unfortunately, these rough road conditions can take a toll on our cars’ suspension system, which includes control arms and bushings. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of failing bushings, it’s critical to have it checked out by one of our professionals as soon as possible—please contact one of our helpful professionals to schedule an inspection today.
* Grey Volkswagen Passat image credit goes to: kurmyshov.
Euro Plus Automotive specializes in maintenance, services, & repairs with certified technicians and cutting-edge tools & equipment for European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, & more as well as Japanese cars like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, & more.
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