An Independent VW Repair Shop Saves You Money without Sacrificing Service You’ve been taking great care of your Volkswagen vehicle, but now it needs repairs. Trying to decide whether to take it to your local independent repair shop or across town to the dealership can cause you a huge headache. But rest easy. You can save your time and your money using a local shop, and still get impeccable service with a personalized touch. Here are some of the benefits of an independent specialist versus a dealership for VW service and repair. How to Save Money on Volkswagen Repair Let’s face it. In today’s economy, saving money is what it’s all about. With an independent shop, you can save money on both parts and labor and still get great service for your car. A dealership is only able to order original equipment (OEM) parts; however, an independent can offer you both OEM as well as generic aftermarket parts, which can be just as high in quality. An ... read more

Regular oil changes are essential for properly maintaining your Volkswagen. With all that goes into taking care of your engine’s components, it’s important to have the a VW expert change your oil. Here are a few of the benefits of regular oil changes by a VW Specialist. The Best Motor Oils for a Volkswagen Oil is what keeps your VW’s engine running smoothly. Due to frequent stop and start traffic, drivers in New York should have their VW's oil changed every 4,000 to 5,000 miles. Your VW technician will be able to recommend the right oil for your vehicle to keep it running efficiently. Typically, you should be able to use synthetic or blended oil. Scheduling frequent oil changes with your VW specialist ensures your engine runs much cleaner and smoother in the long run. The Convenience of Oil Changes by a VW Specialist When considering convenience and how much your time is worth, here are some things you might want t ... read more

Baby it’s cold outside and you’re not looking forward to leaving the warmth of your home or office and sliding into the freezing-cold seat of your VW. If you’re like many drivers, you think that warming up your car not only will enhance your comfort level but will prevent engine damage. So how long should you warm up your Volkswagen before driving it? The answer will probably surprise you. How Long Should You Warm Up A VW in Cold Weather? A study conducted back in 2009 by The Washington Post concluded that the average driver let his or her car warm up for more than 5 minutes when the mercury dropped below freezing. Ask around, and that practice is still very common today. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to set the record straight. According to the EPA, the best approach is to warm it up for a maximum of just 30 seconds. The only exception to this advice is when a car’s windows are iced over and idling is necessary to defrost them so a driver c ... read more

Anyone who lives in New York knows that winter can be brutal. The last thing you want is to find yourself stranded in your car in sub-freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions. While it’s always smart to avoid driving in treacherous winter conditions, it’s not always practical to stay home and wait for the weather to improve. That’s exactly why it’s important to maintain your Volkswagen in cold weather. VW Maintenance for Winter Temperatures If you’ve not yet taken your vehicle for its winter checkup and need a skilled shop that specializes in Volkswagen, we can help. We’ll give your vehicle a thorough winter check up. Our Process: Evaluate your battery, starting and charging systems, brakes, hoses, belts, and many other components. Check the air pressure and tread depth of your tires, and let you know if your tires are suitable for winter driving. Make sure you have proper antifreeze to keep your car running in frigid temperatures. Check the level and condition o ... read more

When it's time to service or maintain your BMW, you probably take it to a qualified BMW repair facility to have brakes serviced, tires rotated, and fluids and filters changed. However, if you are handy with a wrench, you may ask yourself questions like, “Can I Replace a BMW battery myself?” and “Why do I need to have my BMW battery changed by an expert?” The answer to the first question is easy. Yes, you probably can, but you shouldn’t. You’ve made a significant investment in your vehicle. It’s unwise to cut corners for the sake of saving a few dollars. Read on for the answer to the second question. The Battery is the Heart of Your Vehicle: It Deserves Professional BMW Battery Replacement While it's possible for many people to buy a car battery at an auto-repair shop, remove their old battery, and hook up the new one, it is far wiser to entrust this job to an expert BMW repair and maintenance facility. One reason is that a professional BMW service center wil ... read more

Regardless of the make, model, age, and odometer reading of your BMW, the key to keeping it running reliably, safely, and smoothly now and well in the future is having it scheduled for maintenance according to factory recommendations. A handful of BMW owners have the expertise and tools to perform some jobs, such as oil changes. That’s not the case for the vast majority of BMW owners. When the perform-maintenance reminder illuminates, most BMW owners ask themselves a critical question: “Do I have to head to the dealership or can I look for an independent shop for BMW maintenance and service near me?” Misconceptions Can Cost YouIt’s a fallacy that in order to keep your warranty valid you must have your BMW serviced at a dealership. Of course, most dealerships aren’t quick to point this out. It’s in their best interest to allow BMW owners to believe pursuing independent BMW scheduled maintenance will void their warranty. The fact is, it’s simply not true. Whether you ... read more

If your BMW is due for maintenance services, you may have reservations about taking it to an independent repair shop instead of an official BMW or import car dealership. However,the benefits of choosing an independent BMW repair shop versus the dealership should resolve any concerns you may have about this option. It is true that foreign cars require varied maintenance and different care than those manufactured in the U.S. This is why many owners of import vehicles think that the only place to receive proper service from correctly trained professionals is at the specific import car’s dealership. To all BMW owners facing the question,“Do I have to take my BMW to the dealership to be serviced?” allow us to answer your question and debunk some myths to make your life much easier. The Customer Service Factor Unlike branded dealerships, independent auto repair shops are specifically dedicated to providing repairs and maintenance, which leads to greater indiv ... read more

Regular service and maintenance is key to keeping your BMW at top performance. When it comes to maintaining a foreign and luxury vehicle, choosing a repair shop to provide these services can be a confusing and difficult decision-making process. BMW is a pioneer brand in the luxury car category and designed for top-level performance, luxury and comfort. A prized possession to any owner, a BMW is expensive to purchase and maintain. This is especially the case if you use a dealership over an independent repair shop for repair and maintenance. Many BMW owners are skeptical about trusting an independent repair shop with their cars or are unsure about how they’re different from dealerships. If you own a BMW or other foreign vehicle and are looking for BMW auto service and repair in Brooklyn, NY, read on to learn more about your options. Dealerships and Lower Quality Shops Dealerships typically only use the manufacturer service schedule when addressing your vehicle’s needs. Deal ... read more

Winter BMW maintenance is an important aspect of prepping for the change to colder temperatures. Just like any other time of the year, your vehicle can experience issues during winter that might require immediate attention. With these five possible concerns and their solutions, you can be better prepared for potential season specific pitfalls and pick up tips on how to take care of your BMW during the winter. 1. Your BMW Battery Could Fail Often, a battery and cold weather do not go well together. Low temperatures and harsh winter conditions, such as ice, can negatively affect the performance of your vehicles battery. Though batteries are prone to failing regardless of the season, cold weather adds additional strain. 2. Cooling System It’s important to make sure checking your cooling system is on your winter BMW preparedness checklist. You’ll need antifreeze that will protect your BMW at the temperatures your area experiences each winter season. Antifreeze also helps to ... read more