Dr. Beemer Austin's Trusted BMW Mechanic
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BMW Repair & Services:
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BMW Service Inspection I and II most pre 2006 BMW's:
This BMW service I is the more minor service that should be completed every 30K miles and 90K miles or between every 60,000 mile inspection II service. The inspection II service includes all of the inspection I and more with an engine air filter. We suggest additional maintenance such as spark plugs at 60K- 90K miles and a fuel filter at every 60K miles.
Undercarriage
Change engine oil and filter oil while engine is at normal operation temperature.
Check transmission for leaks.
Check rear axle for leaks.
Visually check fuel tank, lines, and connections for leaks.
Check condition, position, and mounting of exhaust system. Examine for leaks.
Check power steering system for leaks.
Check overall thickness of front and rear disc brake pads.
Examine brake disc surfaces.
Clean brake pad contact points in calipers.
Grease wheel center hubs.
Check steering for absence of play, condition of suspension track rods, front axle joints, steering linkage, and joint disc.
Check front control arm bushing for wear.
Check brake and clutch system connectors and lines for leaks, damage, and incorrect positioning.
Check for free movement of the parking brake cables. Adjust parking brake if necessary.
Check all tire pressures (including spare). Correct if necessary.
Check condition of tires (outer surfaces (left/right)), tread wear and pattern; In case of uneven tread wear readjust wheel alignment if required.
Engine Compartment
Read out diagnostic system
Check engine cooling system/heater hose connections for leaks.
Check coolant level and antifreeze protection level; add coolant if necessary.
Check level of brake and clutch fluid in reservoir; add fluid if required.
Check windshield washer fluid level and antifreeze protection. Fill up and/or correct if necessary.
Check air conditioner for operation.
Reset Service Indicator.
Body/Electrical Equipment
Check battery electrolyte level and add distilled water if required.
Perform batter load test.
Check lighting system, i.e. headlights, foglights, parking, backup, license plate, interior (including map reading lights), glove box, flashlight, illuminated makeup mirrors, luggage compartment lights.
Check instrument panel and dashboard illumination.
Check all warning/indicator lights, check control.
Check turn signals, hazard warning flashers, brake lights, horns, headlight dimmer/flasher switch.
Check wiper and washer system(s); wiper blades, washer jet positions.
Check condition and function of safety belts.
Oil hood, trunk/tailgate, and door hinges.
Grease hood, trunk/tailgate and door latches. Check operation of all latches.
Check central locking/double lock.
Replace microfilter or Acc. Cabin Filter.
Check heater/air conditioner blower, rear window defogger.
Check rear view mirrors
Visually examine the SRS airbag units for torn cover, obvious damage or attachment of decals, decorations, or accessories.
Final Inspection
Road test with check of brakes, suspension, steering, clutch/manual transmission or automatic transmission.
BMW Service Austin Cooling System Overhaul:
The Achilles Heel on BMW vehicles are the cooling systems. The components of this system are made of plastics and tend to become brittle over time and especially under the HOT Texas summers. The package includes the items below which can also be performed separately outside the package (The prices of the individual procedures are typically more than if performed together):
Water Pump: Water pump failure is without a doubt the easiest way to cause extensive and expensive damage to your BMW. The main symptom will be a rapidly overheating motor. What occurs is that the bearing or impeller on the stock pump, breaks, completely disabling the cooling system.
Thermostat: The thermostat is a spring-loaded valve that opens and closes based on the temperature of the coolant flowing through it. A high temperature reading followed by a drop to normal temperature (or a continuously low temperature) is a common first sign of a sticking thermostat. However, many other conditions may cause these symptoms, so you need to know how to eliminate each possibility.
Hoses: Maintenance of cooling system piping consists of scheduled coolant replacement, replacement of all hoses on a regular basis and replacement of any plugged or leaking parts.
Fan Clutch: Most fan clutches fail between 80 and 100k miles. They provide the primary cooling for your car, and are easy for us to diagnose
Accessory Belt and Tensioner : Worn tensioners and idler pullies will sound like a squealing noise from the engine bay. Belts should be inspected for cracks regularly. If a belt happens to snap, the cooling system will fail as the water pump will cease to operate. Power steering and the alternator will also fail to work.
Radiator Tank: BMW loves their plastic radiator tanks....Unfortunately...The plastic around the radiator necks become brittle and crack with age, often without warning. Radiators should be thought of as 80-100k mile wear items.
Cooling systems can be your best friend when operating efficiently. Cooling system repairs . . . your worst enemy if you don't understand how your BMW cooling system works.
Your cooling system performs a critical function. Simply put, it maintains proper engine temperature by circulating coolant through the engine to pick up heat and passing it through a radiator to cool it with air. The coolant passes through a thermostat valve to control flow and possibly over a temperature sensor which controls external air cooling fans.
BMW Service Suspension Overhaul:
One of the best thing about BMW vehicles is their suspension. Every BMW owner knows that they are indeed the "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINES" . Over time the suspension components give up and need attention. In extreme cases, it might even be dangerous to drive with a worn suspension part. The package includes the items below which can also be performed separately outside the package (The prices of the individual procedures are typically more than if performed together).Our package includes OEM or AFTER MARKET Racing setups (prices may vary) based on customer request. Some of the items in the package include:
Thrust Arm Bushing : Common symptoms for torn or cracked thrust arm bushings are undesired front toe changes during cornering, vague and rubbery feel in the steering, and vibration experienced while braking at freeway speeds. Extreme examples will also produce a clunking sound. BMW cars we have ever seen needs these replaced by 75k. Many need them by 40k
Tie Rod Ends: BMW cars share the same basic front steering components, consisting of a tie rod end attached to each end of the center tie rod. All three components contain ball joints and any one of them may cause steering shimmy. If any of the ball joint boots is cracked (you'll see grease coming out) then expect that component to need replacement. All components should also be checked for excessive play, and replaced if out of BMW spec.
Shocks and Struts: Factory BMW shocks work great for about 30k. By 60k they are completely shot. Most folks who have been driving their cars since new hardly notice the deterioration as it is gradual. Symptoms include: Diving under braking and acceleration, excessive lean and suspension compression during cornering. Bouncy and uncomfortable ride. Shocks and struts may visibly leak shock oil. Dr.Beemer generally recommends replacing the factory units with quality shocks from Koni whenever possible. When replacing shocks and struts, keep in mind it is a great time to install lowering springs or freshen up other areas of the suspension. You will be amazed at the difference a good set of shocks can make in both comfort and performance!
Sway Bar Links: Worn swaybar endlinks can compromise handling. A worn swaybar can sound like a metallic clicking noise. There is no critical danger in a failed swaybar endlink, but the handling of the car is severely compromised.
Subframe Bushings: Torn or Worn subframe bushings may lead to subframe failure. Common symptoms of subframe failure are erratic handling and unidentified clunks, squeeks and bangs from the rear of the car. Early detection of a torn or cracked subframe bushing can prevent costly subframe repair and welding.
BMW Signature Tune-up Package
BMW vehicles are known to be one of the highly tuned performance oriented vehicles in the industry. Performance is seriously compromised along with gas mileage if proper tune-up is not done periodically. The signature packages ensures the car is providing optimum performance and economical gas mileage. Some of the items include but not limited to(The prices of the individual procedures are typically more than if performed together):
MAF Sensor: A mass airflow sensor is used to find out the mass of air entering a fuel-injected engine. The air mass information is necessary for the engine control unit (ECU) to balance and deliver the correct fuel mass to the engine. Air changes its density as it expands and contracts with temperature and pressure. In automotive applications, air density varies with the ambient temperature and altitude, and this is an ideal application for a mass sensor. Faulty MAF symptoms include poor gas mileage, reduced power, poor engine performance, and often result in the SES (Service Engine Soon, also known as the "check engine light")being triggered.
CPS Sensor: A crank sensor is a component used in an internal combustion engine to monitor the position or rotational speed of the crankshaft. This information is used by engine management systems to control ignition system timing and other engine parameters. Before electronic crank sensors were available, the distributor would have to be manually adjusted to a timing mark on the engine. Faulty CPS symptoms include rough idling, loss of power and poor gas mileage.
O2 Sensors: Poor mileage, poor idle and flat spots in the power curve could be caused by bad O2 sensors. Even if your car isn't throwing a check engine light, they may not be performing optimally. BMW recommends replacing the O2 sensors every 100k miles. Extended high-RPM running/racing and high-performance chips may shorten the replacement cycle.
Spark Plugs: A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed aerosol gasoline by means of an electric spark. Spark plugs have an insulated center electrode which is connected by a heavily insulated wire to an ignition coil or magneto circuit on the outside, forming, with a grounded terminal on the base of the plug, a spark gap inside the cylinder. Poor mileage, poor idle and flat spots in the power curve could be caused by bad plugs.
Valve Cover Gaskets: Prevalent on all BMWs, a burning oil smell could indicate a leaky valve cover gasket. If the condition continues unchecked, oil can seep into the spark plug holes and damage the ignition coils, resulting in costly replacement. Replacement of this inexpensive gasket is a good idea when changing sparkplugs as the coilpacks will already be out.
VANOS : VANOS operates on the intake camshaft in accordance with engine speed and accelerator pedal position. At the lower end of the engine-speed scale, the intake valves are opened later, which improves idling quality and smoothness. At moderate engine speeds, the intake valves open much earlier, which boosts torque and permits exhaust gas re-circulation inside the combustion chambers, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Finally, at high engine speeds, intake valve opening is once again delayed, so that full power can be developed. Faulty Vanos is very hard to diagnose but its prevalent in every BMW. If the car has 50+ thousand miles , chances are the Vanos seals are bad. VANOS significantly enhances emission management, increases output and torque, and offers better idling quality and fuel economy.
