Author: Ryan GMW

Before you buy a Mini Cooper you should be aware of the top 6 problems with the Mini Cooper; it may just change your mind on buying one.

THE PROBLEMS YOU WILL FIND IN THE MINI COOPER

The problems you could find with the Mini Cooper are:

1. Clutch on manual transmissions wear prematurely
2. Timing chains/belts wear out or rattle faster than they should
3. Failure of electric steering pump
4. Water pump and thermostat leaking causing overheating
5. Transmission problems due to the company claim that their transmission do not need fluid changes
6. Front radiator support made of plastic which holds the radiator, condenser, and fan; with the car that sits that low it does not take a very big bump or pothole to damage the radiator support which can then, in turn, cause damage to the radiator and cause leaks

WHERE TO GO IF YOU HAVE MINI COOPER DOOR WINDOW PROBLEMS

What if you have an issue with the windows not going up and down properly or the door locks not working properly? If you are in the Roseville area you can visit Mini Cooper Repair Roseville in order to have them inspect and fix the issue.

Sometimes with the windows, it is as simple as lubing the track, other times you will need to have a regulator installed in order to make the window work properly again.

That is not the only Mini Cooper problem we can fix in our Roseville repair shop so if you have issues with your Mini drop by and let us help you diagnose and fix the problem.

WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU HEAR RATTLING OR ODD NOISE WHEN MINI IS SHIFTING

These rattles and other odd noises when your Mini is shifting could be coming from either your timing belt/chain or your transmission.

The best way to diagnose and fix the problem is to drop by the Mini Cooper Repair Shop in Rocklin. Our technicians can help you get a proper diagnosis, then get you repaired and back on the road.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR MINI IS OVERHEATING

If your Mini Cooper is overheating it could be due to a leak in the water pump housing or thermostat. If you want to know for sure what the issue is, then stop by Mini Cooper Repair in Sacramento where our technicians can you give the proper diagnosis and an estimate on what it will cost to fix.If you allow the overheating issue to continue it can lead to damage to the radiator and/or heads. That is one headache you do not need!

CONCLUSION

Regardless of what the issue is with your Mini Cooper, one of our shops that are located in; Sacramento, Rocklin, or Roseville can help you diagnose the problem and get it fixed so you are back on the road again.

Your vehicle’s engine is one of the most important parts of your car. The engine is the heart of it all, composed of various moving parts all working together in unison to power the vehicle down the road.

It’s not difficult to diagnose your engine trouble yourself, you just have to know what to look for and if you’re able to identify these issues early enough, it’s recommended you take your vehicle in for an engine service right away.

SELF DIAGNOSE CHECKLIST

• Check Engine Light: Don’t ignore it! The engine light only illuminates to help you take preventative action and should be respected at all times.
• Leaks: It’s very important that you keep an eye out for spots or stains underneath your vehicle. This could indicate that you have a leak. If you have a large leak, it could mean serious trouble for your engine.
• Unfamiliar Noises: Odd or strange sounds coming from your engine is always a concern. Don’t wait, take immediate action before it leads to a financial headache
• Low Oil Pressure: Pay attention to your dashboard gauges
• Loss of Engine Power
• Misfiring
• Hardstarting
• Overheating: When your engine overheats, it could mean a variety of things, but it’s important to shut your engine off as soon as it begins overheating. You could crack a head and even ruin your engine altogether if you continue to run a overheating engine.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE TO AVOID ENGINE FAILURE

It is recommended that you avoid driving your vehicle through standing water. This could easily flood your engine and create havoc. The intake manifold sends an air-fuel mixture into the engine. In the event that water contaminates this mixture, it could cause the piston rods to bend and seize the engine completely.

Engine service or repairs can be costly so it’s important to take all the precautions you can to increase the life of your vehicle. Frequent oil changes are at the top of the list. Your engine oil lubricates your engine preventing friction which can lead to overheating which in turn can cause complete engine shut down. Engine replacements can cost anywhere from $3,000-$9,500. In comparison, oil changes cost around $40-$60. Flushing your engine cooling system every three years can increase the life of your engine as well. These cost around $100-$150.

The cost of maintenance is far less than the cost of an engine change. Don’t ignore the warning signs of engine failure. Be sure to get your engine service as soon as it shows any of the warning signs. Proper engine service and maintenance could help you avoid costly repairs in the future.

It is important to get your car serviced frequently. Proper servicing is important for increasing the life of your car. Frequent oil changes, checking filters, lights, belts, hoses, and all the odds and ends. 30K-60K-90K services involve all of those things and more.

Ryan G. Motorworks is now offering the best qualified trained mechanics and customer service to handle your BMW repair in Roseville. Don’t miss this opportunity today.

30K-60K-90K Services

Services include:

• Oil change service – Oil change services are critical for the life of your engine. Oil is the life of your engine; it lubricates the moving parts. Without oil, your vehicle would not perform. At least not for very long.
• Inspection and/or replacement of filters (air, cabin, fuel, etc.)- According to studies, changing the various filters in your vehicle increase the performance of your vehicle.
• Tire inspection, pressure check – It’s quite obvious why this is important. Having the right amount of air in your tires is extremely important for keeping your vehicle on the road and avoiding causing damage to other parts of your vehicle. They also inspect the tread to ensure that it is still safe to drive on and will inform you how much longer your tires have left to live.
• Inspection of brakes and rotors – A thorough inspection of your brakes and rotors are important because without the brakes, your vehicle would be a fast moving machine with almost no way to stop it.
• Check all lights, belts, and hoses – Ensuring that all your lights are important for keeping you and other drivers safe on the road. Belts need to be replaced so that they do not break on you while you are going down the road and for other important things that keep your car moving. If you have a leak in a hose it can seriously cause a lot of problems.
• Inspection of drive train
• Inspection of fuel system and fuel injector cleaning service – Mechanic will clean the injector, the fuel lines and the gas pump with a cleaner and starts the engine cleaning process. The mechanic will will apply another cleaner to the engine directly while it is warm. This cleaner will help remove carbon deposits and other buildup from the combustion chambers. The mechanic then cleans the air intake by hand with a different cleaner, using a bottle brush to remove any deposits that may disturb the air flow.
• Vehicle road test
• At higher mileages, an inspection of your spark plugs and timing belt, transmission and differential fluid check.

While many manufacturers have no recommendations for changing your transmission and differential fluid check, but having them checked could help avoid future problems. It is recommended to have your vehicle serviced before any long trip to ensure that you don’t end up stranded miles away from home. Having these components inspected and serviced by a professional is important for ensuring that your vehicle has optimum life.

Your brakes save your life every single day. It’s imperative that you also take care of them by performing routine checks with required maintenance on a regular basis.

It is recommended that you check your brake fluid, brake cables, and friction material every 10,000 miles and every 20,000 miles you should change your brake fluid to ensure your families safety on the road. In Roseville, BMW service centers are limited. However, consider yourself luck as Ryan G. Motorworks is one of the regions premium service centers offering the best service and care for precious vehicle.

IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING FLUID

It is always good to inspect that your brake fluid is at an appropriate level. When checking this, you should also check the color; making sure that the fluid isn’t a milky color. If it is, this means that either condensation or water has gotten into your lines and it needs to be changed ASAP. If your contaminated brake fluid remains in the vehicle, you can count on it to ruin your master cylinder in your brake system and wear down your wheel cylinders. When changing your brake fluid, it’s just as important to bleed the lines prior to adding new fluid. Bleeding the brake lines typically takes two people, one to pump the brakes and the other to watch the bleeder so that you can close the valve when fluid begins to pass through. This removes all of the air out of your brake lines and ensures that your car will stop properly every time. When performing the next brake job on the vehicle, you should replace the calipers, the wheel cylinder, along with the brake hardware.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS?

Brake maintenance isn’t a challenging process, however, it is very important that you make sure that it is done correctly. Inspect your brake pads and rotors for wear regularly. When driving, if you feel like it’s taking more pressure on your brake pedal to slow down or come to a complete stop, it is likely that it is time to replace. If you’re hearing a high pitched squealing coming from your wheel well means it’s time to change your pads. You can check these by removing your tires. If it’s showing so much wear that you can only see a little portion of the pad, it is definitely time to get those changed.

WHEN CHOOSING A PAD, WHAT MATERIAL SHOULD I CHOOSE?

A thorough comprehensive brake job on your vehicle will include

• refinish rotors
• refinished drums
• replacement of the existing brake pads/shoes
• further inspect
• clean
• repack wheel bearing
• replace the grease seal

You always want to make sure to replace your pads with the same time of friction material that is being taken off of your vehicle, whether it be organic or semi-metallic.

It is always recommended that your BMW is serviced by a certified trained professional who knows your BMW being able to identify any problems and offer adequate solutions. To save you time, money and peace of mind be sure to visit Ryan G. Motorworks for your next BMW service and repair in Roseville.

There are a few clues that indicate your driveshaft could be failing, which means it’s time to take your vehicle in for a driveline service. Some symptoms of a failing drive shaft are:

• shaking and intense car vibrations
• clunking
• rattling
• scraping coming from bottom of vehicle
• U-Joint movement
• turning issues

If your car is showing any of these signs, it could be time to take your vehicle to the mechanic in for an inspection.

SHAKING AND VIBRATION

Your vehicle parts, especially in floorboards may shake and shudder, even your whole vehicle; it may even get worse as you accelerate. This causes issues with drivability. The vibrations would be coming from beneath your vehicle. The vibration could be caused by wear on the drive shaft u-joints. When they wear out, they can cause excessive shaking. When your car was manufactured, they ensured that the entire car was finely balanced so any vibrations you may feel will indicate an issue. Vibration is usually the first symptom of a failing drive shaft.

CLUNKS, RATTLES, AND SCRAPES

If the bushings on your driveshaft or the u-joints deteriorate or fail, it can hinder the drive shaft’s ability to rotate. When your drive shaft’s rotation is interfered with it will cause all the different sounds associated with a failing driveshaft. You may also hear a low squeaking sound that gets worse as your speed increases. This sound may disappear when you continuously travel at high speeds, but may reappear when you slow down again. This sound is a result of a severely damaged u-joint and a huge indication that it is time for an inspection of your drive shaft.

MOVEMENT OF THE U-JOINT

Another large indication that you may need a driveline service is a u-joint that moves too much or doesn’t move at all. You can inspect your universal joints yourself by setting your parking brake and put your car into neutral. Reach underneath your vehicle and you should be able to move the yokes of the u-joint; this checks the flexibility. If there is excessive movement, your u-joints could be unstable which negatively impacts the drive shaft. If you see rust along the the bearing cap seals, that can also indicate a problem drive shaft. In serious cases, this could prevent your wheels from turning properly or resist when making sharp turns or u-turns. It could be especially hard to maneuver in tight spaces.

Well, what is the purpose of your drive shaft? That certainly sounds important. Well, your drive shaft is a cylindrical shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the wheels. It is located between the differentials and the gearbox. The driveshaft, when functioning properly, helps switch between idle and drive. So the drive shaft is very important, because without it, your car would never move. As with many issues, early detection helps prevent long-term costly repairs.

Fuel induction services are recommended for most vehicles around 60k miles or so. Routine maintenance of your fuel system can prevent many long term problems, engine damage, and cold starts. If your car is showing these symptoms, it could mean you need a fuel induction service.

WHAT IS A FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE?

A proper fuel induction service consists of two main parts:

• fuel injection clean
• top engine clean

In your manual, the manufacturer (typically) recommends that you get a throttle body and drip cleaning every 60k miles, however, they only suggest getting a thorough top engine cleaning every 150k miles. Top engine cleaning needs to be done by a professional or else it could end up damaging your catalysts more than helping anything.

Make sure the mechanic you receive your fuel induction services from also cleans your throttle body and intake as well.

WHY DO I NEED A FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE?

There are many reasons to get a fuel induction service:

• increase your fuel efficiency
• increases engine performance and drivability
• reduces harmful engine emissions
• extend engine life
• extend fuel injector life

Cleaning your fuel system is important to the life of your engine and can prevent a variety of long term issues with your vehicle. Fuel induction services clear out carbon deposits and other buildup that forms inside your engine. Cleaning your throttle body and engine intake as well cleans carbon deposits on the intake valves, which will allow your fuel to flow better into the combustion chamber which in turn will increase your fuel mileage. Also, cleaning your intake valves also allow for better airflow to your engine. This will help reduce shaking or a rough idle issue, along with hesitation during take-off.

Your fuel filter, fuel pump and fuel injectors can all get clogged with debris and dirt… Gas isn’t as clean as you think it is. You can help prevent major buildup by using good gas, I prefer Chevron. However, buildup is inevitable. If your system gets clogged, it can lead to engine damage. The symptoms start off slowly by breaking down your engine and finally, your engine will completely shut down.

IS A FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE WORTH IT?

Ultimately, the answer to that question is yes. Of course, you don’t need an over the top cleaning every 60k miles or anything like that, but maintaining proper upkeep could really help your wallet in the long run with fuel costs. You can help reduce the buildup in your fuel filter by using additives like sea-foam and 100% Techron. You can also use premium gasoline.

In conclusion, fuel injection services can be costly, but help you maintain your vehicle in tip top shape. Your engine will thank you and so will your wallet when you get a few extra miles in before having to stop to fill up. Personally, I believe that fuel induction services can be well worth it when done properly and by a skilled hand.