Uncategorized | BMW - Mercedes - Mini - Porsche, Service & Repair

Tomorrow’s Electric Cars

The electrification of tomorrow’s cars are going into high gear since there are some rules mandating the percentage of new cars to be sold has to be 4.5 percent electric by 2018 for all the states whom adopted California emission standards.

The percentage of zero emission electric or plug in hybrid cars will have to increase to 22 percent by 2025. The companies whom can’t meat the mandate will have to buy clean air credit (ZEV credit**) from Tesla* or Nissan since they are the major provider of the credits. Since Tesla became a major manufacturer of electric cars all the other car manufacturers are getting worried.

2015 Tesla S

Tesla’s 2015 S model is priced form US $69,900 – US $93,400.

They are willing to spend billions to catch up or surpass Tesla and their future electric automobiles, in particular the Germans will take the lead in the expenditure of major research and development of a slew of new plug in hybrids and near zero or full electric zero emission cars.Please keep in mind Tesla will not stand by and watch their success to be tarnished by others so it will be interesting to watch as the titans of the car manufacturing will fight out the next stage of the future of the automobile, stay tuned and enjoy the ride.*When Tesla Motors reports its first-ever profit, much of the money will come courtesy of the state of California.

In its zeal to push electric cars into the market, the state has created a system in which Tesla can make as much as $35,000 extra on each sale of its luxury Model S electric sports sedans. That’s because the Palo Alto company qualifies for coveted state environmental credits that it can turn into cash.

These Zero Emission Vehicle credits could put as much as $250 million in Tesla’s coffers this year, according to one Wall Street analyst, and they are a key reason the 10-year-old automaker has survived this long. Tesla gets to sell the credits to other automakers that need them to satisfy tough California regulations.

**So wait, what’s a ZEV credit? California forces automakers (based on their sales) to sell a certain number of zero emissions vehicles in order to generate credits; the more ZEVs you sell, the more credits you earn. Companies with a positive credit balance can sell them to other manufacturers who don’t meet the set standard at an undisclosed rate.

The most drastic change though came in GM, which went from buying over 876 ZEV credits in 2013, to needing to buy just 4.4 in 2014. That’s a HUGE turnaround, and it can be attributed to steady Chevy Volt sales, as well as the Chevy Spark EV.

2015 Chevy Volt

The Canadian EV credit is depending on the size of the battery and it’s up to $8,250 per vehicle in Ontario, and there is also a government grant – rebate for a dedicated home charging station to endorse EV or plug in hybrid vehicle use.

Further more, there is a green plate in Ontario for most plug in hybrids and for EV cars, which currently allows you to drive on the HOV lanes in Ontario with a single occupant, again to endorse low emission vehicle use true out the province.

BMW i3 Electric Car

The facts you may like to know about the new BMW i3 electric car.

The vehicle is made of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic). You may recognize the material from the M3 coupe or the M6 roof which was made from the same material as well.

The question remains why invent a new way of making a vehicle when you already have made and perfected the steel body construction for many decades? The answer is the weight savings are substantial to offset the weight of the battery pack. It was important to start with a new way to approach this matter. Continue Reading…

BMW ActiveHybrid 5

BMW ActiveHybrid 5. Is it the ultimate hybrid – driving machine?

The ActiveHybrid 5 is BMW’s contribution to the world of hybrid motoring. It was created to use electric motors, without sacrificing the ability to get across the intersection and up to speed quicker than most of the other cars. The 5-series hybrid not only use electric motors but also does so with considerable style and operating with a combination gasoline electric power train.

There are obviously many other alternative offerings if you are looking for hybrid car, even in the mid-size-luxury segment, but for the moment, at least, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 represents the most sophisticated performance hybrid yet, a seamlessly smooth driving machine, that advances the state of the art in its class.

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Midtronincs GR8-1200 Car Electrical System – Battery Tester, Analyzer

BMW specialist Mississauga:

Complete computerized engine analysis can save you money by correctly diagnosing your vehicle’s problems the first time.

Automobile Maintenance

Automobile maintenance defined by Wikipedia as: Auto maintenance describes the act of inspecting or testing the condition of car subsystems (e.g., engine) and servicing or replacing parts and fluids.

Regular maintenance is critical to ensure the safety, reliability, drive ability, comfort and longevity of a car. During preventive maintenance, a number of parts are replaced to avoid major damage or for safety reasons, e.g. timing belt replacement.

Thank you Wikipedia, all that above well said, but the question is the cost…

Does European import car’s maintenance cost a lot of money?

Sure it, does but cost a lot less than a new engine. Don’t you think?

We can prove maintenance pays dividends in the long term. With our no non sense regular maintenance you can maximize your car’s life.

Extending your investment beyond the average life expectancy of most fine European cars giving you years of reliable transportation.

A well maintained car, car engine, can go a half a million kilometers?, if looked after regularly.

Than there are the not so well maintained cars and engines, to keep those running cost much more the regular maintenance would cost.

The pictures speak of themselves. It’s your choice, it is your money, your car and your investment.

Click on the photo to view bigger picture.

BMW high km — 450 000 kilometers in this BMW

What could be done wrong possibly with a simple oil change
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BMW Approval for TOTAL Motor Oil
Oil Filters for German import cars
Oil Recommendations by BMW
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Elf Synthetic Motor Oil
Engine Oil Essentials

About Tires & Alignment

95% of your vehicle’s weight is supported by your car tire’s air pressure, with the tire supporting just 5%, making inflation a critical part of tire’s ability to perform.

70% of vehicles have at least one tire with an inflation problem.

23% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by more than 20%, this will increase fuel consumption, reduce tire life, and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Driving with one tire under inflated by 20% results in consuming approximately two weeks more of fuel per year and reduces your tire’s life by six to nine months.

17% of vehicles have at least one tire over inflated by more than 20%, this will result in excessive tire wear and reduced vehicle handling.

In addition to a monthly tire pressure, you should regularly check your car’s alignment. It is also important to check your tread wear. Poor alignment will cause your tires to wear unevenly and you may experience handling problems, such as “pulling” or vibration. Poor alignment will also increase your fuel consumption.

Your tires wear at different rates, tires rotation can extend their useful life. A general guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 10,000 km, but check your owner’s manual for the recommended interval.

Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no embedded objects, cuts or abrasions in either the tread or sidewall area. To prevent skidding and hydroplaning, tires must be replaced when the tread is worn.

These tires were also driven in without the driver knowing the tires are on the verge of self destruction.

Getting your car checked regularly and having an alignment performed as part of your yearly maintenance it will prevent this kind of disaster and saves your tires to last, and last but not least may save your life.

After all your life depends on your tires and your car. Have a safe drive every day.

Hofmann wheel aligner
Exclusive, Made in German, cutting edge alignment diagnostic tool, the Hofmann wheel aligner. Read More

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Our Latest High Tech Tool is for your fine automobile the Corghi Artiglio Master Tire Machine

ARTIGLIO MASTER marks a new frontier in the world of tire changers because it eliminates the lever, physical effort, and the precaution and worry about damaging expensive wheels and tires.

The unit’s operation is based on a completely new principle, including electronic wheel diameter selection with automatic tool positioning, wheel lifter for loading and unloading the wheel and automatic tool head for lever less mounting / demounting.

Features:

Automatic mount/demount
Computerized system
Push-button technology
12″ to 26″ rim diameter
No pry bars or tire tools
No damage to wheels, tires, operator

Continue Reading

All weather all-season or winter tire?

Probably you alredy noticed tire manufacturer’s advertising, the term “all-weather” tires. Are they different from “all-season” tires?

For me the term “all weather” tire sounded like the tire manufacturers had come up a new catchy way of marketing all season radial tires for winter driving.

However all weather tires are more than all season tires. All weather tires are a little bit both, like hybrid… They suited for winter driving in a relatively mild winter, but okay for warmer weather driving too.

The question is; Is our winter, or your winter is mild? It depends on where you live in, and it is a decision that you need to make when you buy your winter or all-weather tires.

In basic terms, an all-weather tire has passed the Transport Canada tests for a winter tire. Unlike winter only tires, all-weather tires can be driven all-year round.

Are the better than winter tires?

All weather tires and winter tire are not the same, they are better for winter driving than all season tires, but not that good as winter tires.

The big difference is between all-weather tires and winter tires is, that all-weather tires meet the established standard for winter use, as indicated by the snow flake or mountain icon on the sidewalls. Plus unlike winter tires, they can be used in spring, summer and fall driving too.

Several major tire companies are producing all weather tires, including Goodyear, Hankook. Nokian, Vredestein and Yokohama. But these same companies produce true winter tires that perform better at low temperatures and in any winter driving conditions.

Yokohama Winter Tires from Techmax.ca

The worst choice you can make is to drive on all season radial tires at winter time. Transport Canada tests show all season tires take twice as long to stop in winter time, than winter tire.

Tests conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation showed a subcompact car needs 11.6 meters less distance to stop with winter tires compared to all-season tire. It says a minivan traveling at the same 50 km/h on the same five cm of compacted snow, in below zero temperature, required 12.8 meters more distance to stop on all-season tires compared to winters.

When the temperature drops to or below the freezing point, regardless of road conditions, dedicated winter tires are your best bet. Add a winter storm with freezing rain, snow, ice, slush or other winter conditions and their advantages become even more obvious. If you drive in winter time, winter tires are should not be an area to be satisfied with compromise.

BMW specialist Mississauga: Prepare your BMW automobile for winter…
What you need to know to improve fuel efficiency in winter time…
More winter driving related info next…
Latest winter tires…

About Motor Oils for BMW – Mercedes – Porsche & Other Luxury Cars

Whilst both car engine and oil technology advancements has resulted in dramatically increased service intervals from 4,000 to 10,000 plus kilometers, a major problem is becoming increasingly apparent.

Some car owners are unknowingly imposing upon themselves a false sense of security by assuming that their oil only needs to be changed in conjunction with their 10,000 or 15,000 kilometer mechanical service. Unfortunately, they are in danger of damaging their car’s engine, therefore minimizing its life.

Why? Because, owners haven’t checked the section of their vehicle manual to identify personal driving habits, and under what conditions the 10/15,000 kilometer oil change periods do not apply.

These conditions greatly affect the life of the engine oil, and consequently the engine. In fact, today’s engines, generally last about 200,000 kilometers, however, if well looked after, can achieve as much as 500,000 kilometers without major overhauls. A big difference car owners need to understand!

In fact we have some clients with high km in their BMW. Some of them way over three hundred thousand and one with nearly four hundred and fifty thousand kilometers of daily driving. With proper maintenance, proper oil change these German Import Cars can serve you and your family for a long time. Continue reading about these BMW with high km in...

Vehicle manufacturers are designing their engines to take SAE IOW-30 type Oil, (now the highest selling grade in the USA), and in some instances, even lighter. These reduce friction, help improve fuel consumption and assist in the reduction of exhaust emissions, all very positive benefits if the right driving conditions apply.

Visit our for more info on FUCHS Premium Motor Oils at next... or continue reading about FUCHS lubricants.

The trend to use these lower viscosity oils is becoming more common, but like the heavier viscosity oils such as 20W-50, they will still suffer from fuel dilution, resulting in oil thinning.

The fuel enters the oil on cold start-up and depending upon the driving condition of the vehicles, may or may not be vaporised out.

What most drivers don’t know is, that water vapor, unburnt petrol and blow by gases from the combustion process overload the oil which combine to produce sludge deposits.

It takes about 20 kilometers from a cold start to fully warm up the engine oil and reduce the rate of fuel contamination. Continue Reading…

Do you know? LN Engineering located in Illinois, US. They are a leader in the Porsche after-market for high performance products and services, is producer of the trademarked Nickies™ cylinders for air-cooled Porsches.

LN Engineering has established itself as the only premium brand in the industry with a well-respected name and customer base. Read their suggestion about, what motor oil is best for your air cooled Porsche at next.

The actual cost of running your BMW, Mercedes or Porsche

The actual cost of running your BMW, Mercedes or Porsche in Europe.

There are some interesting cost to compare between two European countries and Canada when it comes to your most common automotive consumables like fuel and motor oil.

In the summer I had the pleasure of driving true 3 countries, Austria,Germany and Switzerland and I could not help myself but notice the cost of fuel is nearly double in Germany and Austria and Switzerland.

I made the next picture in Switzerland at August 21, 2014. The gas station is BP (British Petrol)

Gas & Diesel Price in Europe

Every time we filled up our diesel car we have seen 1.45 Euro and up for regular diesel and while I was hanging around the gas station I have noticed the astronomical price of high tech motor oil which was 35 Euro at the Shell station per liter.

Gas Receipts from Europa

As you can see on the above receipt, I paid for 20 liter diesel fluid 56 Euro, which is around 80 Canadian dollar.

About the motor oil price, I thought it was a mistake so I have taken multiple pictures at multiple stations just confirm it has not been a pricing error and it wasn’t.

Now I know why the European manufacturers want to keep the oil changes to an extended period.

I’m sure the wages are slightly higher in Europe but not in the relation to the 35 Euro per liter of motor oil, which is at the time of the exchange was more than 50 Canadian dollars.

Shell’s motor oil price from in Germany.

Shell Motor Oil

I also noticed the number of small cars and medium cars with rather small engines are very common in those countries and to boot the majority is diesel as well.

Please take a look at for the price of Castrol motor oil. I made the photo in in Switzerland (BP gas station) in August 2014. What is our price?

Castrol Motor Oil in Europa

So next time if you think how fortunate we are considering the prices in Europe, perhaps you may enjoy your daily driving more , have a happy and safe motoring in this part of the world.

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FUCHS Synthetic Motor Oil for BMW – Mercedes – Porsche & Other Luxury Cars
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Oil Recommendation for BMW
Mercedes Engine Oil Recommendation
Total Quartz Ineo Synthetic Motor Oil
TOTAL synthetics motor oils related F. A. Q.
AdBlue & Clean Diesel facts
The importance of oil changes

Winter Tires

The seasonal adjustment to our frequently changing weather and climate changes, in other words, the fast approaching winter in your daily motoring and driving habits, may need to be adjusted soon.

The frequent questions we get; When should I switch to my winter tires from my summers? There is any date you suggest please?

The magic number and date is depend on the temperature. When the temperature steadily stays bellow + 7 Celsius, which is regarded by the tire manufacturers as the temperature threshold of your summer or all season tires, that is the point where your ordinary tires no longer pliable and will not adhere to the road which will get even worst by adding moisture to the same surface.

Yokohama IceGuard

Winter tires as the name says are purpose built for the worst conditions what nature can throw at them so they are made from a softer, more pliable compound and have deeper grooves with micro sipes to evacuate water, sleet and snow between your tires and the road.

Just as seasonal clothing and shoes in particular are strikingly different and are built for the weather, winter boots and flip flops do not mix well in vastly different weather.

Being prepared is half of the battle, between just being there, and or getting there with confidence and staying in motion when you want to, and or stopping when you need to.

We provide proven winter tires from economy to the best brands like Yokohama, Continental, Pirelli and more.

We wish you a safe and happy motoring through the winter seasons.

Thank you for reading and participating in keeping our roads safer.

The new Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c is the latest winter tire from Yokohama.

Yokohama Winter Tires from Techmax.ca

Suspension Lowering

Lowering your BMW and or any car, should you or shouldn’t you?

Before you spend your money lowering your vehicle suspension system, you should make sure, the change is compliant with your, country, province, or state’s, the Motor Vehicle Act.

You should know that: In Ontario any modification in vehicle height of more than 10 cm (lower or higher) requires the inspection of the vehicle at an approved designated inspection facility to ensure that the modifications meet safety standards.

Modifying your car to a lower stance, will make your vehicle sit closer to the road. It might improve handling, speed and control, but only when done properly. Some car owner lowering their car for cosmetic reason.

What ever your reason is to lowering your car, it is fact a lowered car often create rougher ride. However there are car owners that don’t mind because they value aesthetics over the ride.

There are a lot of different kind of lowering kit are on the market, however any kind of after market suspension lowering kit, and / or suspension system alteration has its own specific effects on a vehicle.

There are pros and cons to lowered suspension systems.

The Pro’s: Lower center of gravity, to improve the cornering ability of the vehicle. With a lowered suspension, less air going underneath the vehicle, and this can create a better outcome for wind drag on a car. It’s done on race cars to improve the cornering ability, to gain speed or keep high speed during cornering..

Lowered suspension also increases camber which will furthermore increase the angle to fight the tire distortion in extreme cornering. It will ultimately cause excessive and extreme tire wear (sometimes less than five thousand kilometers driving).

When the center of gravity is lower, the rollover risk is lower too. The higher the car sits, easier it rolls over.

Take a look at the next photos and you will see, the tires are fairly new, but they have a lot of damage, wear inside and cracks, do to incorrect suspension geometry, and weight delivery.

The con’s: Stiff uncomfortable ride. Excessive suspension component wear on joints and shafts and unpredictable handling in rough road conditions including bumps and potholes, could cause body damage to suspension mounting points on the chassis. Contact with the ground can cause seriously damaged. The oil pan and exhaust system are particularly vulnerable.

More con’s; The normal ride height is optimized by the suspension engineers to give you proper comfortable ride, great cornering and optimal tire wear. Furthermore joints and axles are optimized for the original ride height to provide proper suspension travel and suspension and tire wear for the rest of the life of your vehicle.

Shocks and springs are matched to work together regardless of type of the vehicle and for the best ride quality possible considering weight and type of the vehicle.

Low suspensions can get caught up in anti-lock brake apparatus, sway bars, or even with the sidewalls of the tires. An incorrectly set up suspension can actually chew on tires, causing some serious potential risks.

Please keep in mind there is a reaction to every action and suspension geometry is engineered not guessed by the manufacturers by people whom do this for a living with years of experience and knowledge in the field. So when you modify your car beware of the consequences.

Our exclusive, cutting edge, 3D laser alignment diagnostic tool

BMW specialist Mississauga: How to prepare your BMW automobile for winter, at next>>>

Oil Change Related Frequently Asked Qestions

1, Why do European cars have such a long oil drain interval?
Because the oil’s quality that we use today. Continue Reading…

2, Why don’t American or Asian manufacturers recommend such long intervals?
North American and Asian Import manufacturers have been quietly increasing their oil change intervals as API standards have improved the quality of the standard oils on the market. Continue Reading…

3, Why do most quick lubes recommend changing oil every 5,000 kms?
Because the oil quality that they use and because oil is cheaper than a motor: While there will be no damage caused by more oil changes, the environmental impact of unnecessary used oil is a high price for the sense of security it gives. Also more oil changes mean more money for quick lubes places.Continue Reading…

4, What do the numbers on the front of the bottle mean?
They are the viscosity numbers and…Continue Reading…

5, I heard some synthetics are just fancy mineral oils, is that true?
Yes and no… It’s true that some oils called ‘synthetic’ are comprised of severely refined mineral base stock, but there is more… Continue Reading…

6, What kind of synthetics oil does Total use in their oils?
Total S.A. is a base oil producer. Depending on the application… Continue Reading…

7, What is Low SAPS?
Low SAPS stands for low content of Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus and Sulphur.Continue Reading…

FUCHS Synthetic Motor Oil for BMW – Mercedes – Porsche & Other Luxury Cars
European Import Cars Motor Oil Specifications
The Importance of Proper Oil Changes
Engine oil essentials

Skipped Oil Changes

Click on the thumbnail to view bigger photo

The next two photo is show you, how a vehicle’s engine looks like and will look like, if the owner skips the oil and oil filter changes. It can cause significant damage, and costly repair, and or might end up in engine replacement.