Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The New BMW 5 Series.



Have a look at the revised BMW 5 Series Family: The new BMW 5 Series Sedan, the new BMW 5 Series Touring and the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Top Ten Detailing Mistakes - DRIVE CLEAN



After detailing thousands of cars, Larry noticed some of the small mistakes that can make a big difference in your car's appearance. Often it's knowing what to avoid that is most important for protecting the condition of your car. Less can be more, when it comes to detailing.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Volkswagen Beetle Experience Showcase | VW USA



At the Volkswagen of America's Beetle Experience Day, Robert Gale, VW's Accessories Product Manager, took us on a quick tour of the exhibition that featured models all the way back from 1956 through 2013. On this day, people who attended the car show got a chance to experience all the customizations right from the start.

Some of the models that were exhibited included:

- 1956 VW Beetle "Retro Mod"
- 2012 VW Beetle "Tribute"
- 2012 VW Beetle Turbo "Beach Cruiser"
- 2013 VW Beetle TDI Coupe
- 2013 VW Beetle TDI Convertible

Robert points out that the Beetle is a blank canvas for passionate drivers. You can really do what you want to it and make it your own.

Monday, May 20, 2013

5 Reasons to Change Your Spark Plugs Before They Fail

Car engines never cease to be a mystery for most population, and we can only identify there's a problem by the time the lights in our dashboard go insane and start beeping all over the place.

What most people don't know is that spark plugs are the key when it comes to starting your car, and are the reason why sometimes, in those cold mornings, your car might not start. What these little things do is, they produce the spark your car needs to start circulating.

But, like most things, they deteriorate over time and the electrodes that are part of the system do to, making if harder for the spark to jumpstart your car.

Many drivers never remember this, but you can replace( and should) replace your spark plugs before they start acting up.
  • Your car will perform better: Every time you try to start your car, and it doesn't, you're wasting precious fuel. Also, you release more carbon emissions that are bad for your health and are creating some nasty climate changes. With worn out spark plugs, your car will lose performance, and become sluggish and slow starter. If you replace those plugs from time to time, it will instantly stop misfiring.
  • No more cold starts!: If you're living in an area that is very cold, you have surely faced the problem of the cold start - in the morning, the car just coughs up a bit, and refuses to start moving.
This problem has everything to do with the spark plugs, and can be avoided by a simple exchange. By changing them, the ignition system won't have to create as much voltage for the spark to make contact.
  • It protects the catalytic converter: Everytime your car misfire, a bit of fuel gets into the exaust system. This makes the catalytic converter to overheat, because temperatures at which they have to operate become too high.
If this converter fails, your engine can block and choke your engine - this causes your fuel economy to go awry, and will also downsize your engines power.
  • They won't contaminate the engine: When your spark plugs wear out, they leak voltage to the engine parts that are close by, creating performance problems and deteriorating the engine faster.
  • It costs you less: Weather it's time or moneywise, you can be sure you'll save up some dollars by beating those spark plugs to the punch. By keeping a good maintenance of the spark plugs, you won't need to worry about your car dying on you - and you going through all the trouble of calling a toe truck, all because of a tiny spark plug.
To avoid all these dire situations, you just need to do one thing: replace those spark plugs before it happens!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7723706

Friday, May 17, 2013

Volvo Cars Starts Production of New Efficient Four-Cylinder Engine Family



Volvo has begun production on a new class of four-cylinder gasoline to increase driving pleasure and fuel efficiency in Volvo's suite of luxury cars. The development and production take place in-house at Volvo Car Group and form a vital part of our strategy for independence. The new engines were developed by a Swedish team of engineers. These smaller engines are optimized and deliver higher performance than today's six-cylinder units, while offering lower fuel consumption than the current generation of four-cylinder units

The strategy of four-cylinder petrol engines and driveline electrification is the path that Volvo Cars has chosen for the future. With total control over the development and production of engines and drivelines and by reducing the number of engine variants, the result is greater ability to influence quality.

This is just the beginning of a new wave of technology and flexibility for Volvo Cars. Stay tuned for more.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Water Pump Replacement - The Heart Of A Healthy Cooling System

How important is the water pump to a vehicle's cooling system? One way to understand this concept would be to compare it to the human heart. If a human heart quits pumping, there will be a loss of blood flow and the person will die. If a car or truck's water pump cycle is disturbed, the vehicle will overheat and most likely "die".

The water pump is a device that disperses heat produced by internal combustion engines to maintain correct engine temperature. This device is circular in shape and contains chambers with a spindle in the center. It is usually located toward the front of the engine with a hose that connects to the radiator. The fan belt connects the spindle to the engine and when the engine is engaged, the fan belt turns the spindle which creates suction and permits the water pump to access water from the radiator. The water is circulated to the engine through water hoses. After the cool water absorbs engine heat, it circulates back to the radiator for re-cooling.

The water pump is instrumental in transferring the mixture of water and antifreeze from the radiator to the engine for cooling purposes. Experts agree that it is the most important element of the vehicle's cooling system. If it malfunctions, the engine coolant settles in the block and heads. If coolant isn't circulated to the radiator, overheating results. A vehicle that has overheated could be financially devastating as it may result in a blown head gasket, warped heads or even a blown engine. Any one of these potential results would mean very expensive repairs.

If the water pump is working, but delivers reduced pressure, it can still cause significant damage to your vehicle. A constricted flow will cause higher operating temperatures of the engine and culminate in damages to the radiator, hoses, thermostat, etc. If your temperature gauge indicates that something in the cooling system is failing, it's extremely important to pull over and park the car immediately. Continuing to drive after your vehicle has overheated will likely cause catastrophic damage to your engine.

A growling sound from the engine may indicate a bearing of the water pump is going bad. If the bearings are beginning to fail, the pump will start "weeping". Be vigilant for drops of coolant underneath your car and remember to check your vehicle's coolant level and have it changed on a regular schedule. You may even want to have a professional auto mechanic pressure test the entire cooling system to ensure there are no leaks.

A vehicle's cooling system is comprised of a number of components including a drive belt that circulates coolant into passages located inside the heads and engine block. The radiator assumes the responsibility of lowering coolant temperature while the thermostat controls coolant temperature. The radiator cap controls pressure in the cooling system and various hoses transport the coolant from the engine to the radiator.

There is no definitive answer concerning water pump replacement. Depending upon the make and model of a vehicle, they will usually last approximately 60,000-90,000 miles. Refer to your owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations about water pump replacement. Staying current with the suggested preventive maintenance schedule for your car or truck will undoubtedly prolong the life of your vehicle's cooling system and greatly reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7701648

Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Inventor of the BMW 3 Series Touring.



The story about the invention of the BMW 3 Series Touring and the beginning of the lifestyle touring. Engineer Max Reisböck wanted to go on vacation with his family, but in the mid 80's regular BMW's were too small for his luggage. That's why he invented the BMW Touring out of a wrecked 3 Series Sedan. Finally, the board of BMW took over his idea.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Worn Out Brakes Are Nothing To Sneeze At

Finding a qualified auto shop or brake service center that you can rely on is essential to maintaining the safety of your car or truck. There are many important systems that should be maintained on your vehicle, but it's the brakes that allow you to come to a rapid halt should you be caught in a perilous situation. The brakes are quite literally, life savers.

Some motorists are put off at the thought of potentially spending too much money at a repair station and decide to attempt a brake job on their own. While there are amateur mechanics skilled enough to complete the task properly, it's probably best to trust the safety and accuracy of such a critical system to the care of a trained professional with years of experience. Do it yourself jobs don't always turn out to be less expensive and can potentially turn into very time consuming projects. You may find that you need to purchase special tools, many of which can be expensive. You may also discover that you have ordered the wrong parts, or that you have installed the parts incorrectly. There are a number of factors that can end up costing you time and money if you aren't absolutely sure of how to do the job right. Not only that, you are risking the safety of yourself and others if a brake job is performed incorrectly.

With many of the auto parts installed on your car or truck, you get very little warning if any before they fail. The brake system on the other hand will definitely try to get your attention when one of the various components begins to wear out. There are a number of symptoms that should alert you when it's time to have your brakes repaired or replaced. For instance, you may experience a spongy feeling when you press on the brake pedal. You may also find that the brake pedal travels all the way to the floor. A squealing noise is usually heard when the brakes are worn out. You may even feel your vehicle pulling to one side when the brakes are applied. Any of these symptoms should alert you to the fact that it's time to have your brake system inspected and serviced.

There are two main types of braking systems for cars, trucks and buses known as friction systems, and hydraulic systems. Both systems have their own specific sets of parts. A friction brake system includes brake pads, brake shoes, brake discs, and brake drums. If your auto is equipped with a hydraulic brake system, you will be dealing with brake calipers, wheel cylinders, brake master cylinders, vacuum servos, and regulators.

Brakes suffer from some of the worst wear and tear which is why it's so important to have them checked regularly. There are several factors that dictate how long your brakes will last before a brake service is required. You may find that your brakes wear out quicker if your brake usage is heavy or if you rack up a lot of miles on your vehicle during the year. Another factor is city driving. You will definitely use your brake a lot more if you are cruising around town, continuously stopping at traffic lights and stop signs. Consistently driving in heavy stop and go traffic will also put a lot of extra wear and tear on your brake system.

The average set of brake pads will last approximately 30,000 miles, but this is subject to variation according to the conditions listed above. Brake pads are fitted with a metal lining, and once the pads wear down to this lining, it is designed to give off an audible warning to let you know that it's time to schedule a brake repair. With so much riding on your brake system, it's important to take the responsibility to make sure you are keeping yourself, and everyone else that shares the road with you safe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7643195

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Mercedes-Benz TV: Torie at the Concept GLA Premiere in Shanghai



Another highlight from Mercedes-Benz: Unveiling the Concept GLA, the brand demonstrates just how a compact, sporty SUV could look. In Shanghai, Mercedes-Benz Reporter Torie not only attended the premiere but also had a chance to see the vehicle and speak to experts the evening before.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Volvo Cyclist Detection with Full Auto Brake Overview



A world-first in automotive safety. Take a look at the Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Full Auto Brake safety technology. New advanced software has made it possible to extend our collision warning and auto brake system technology to detect (and auto brake for) cyclists as well. The sensor system scans the area ahead of the car. A radar sensor behind the grille continuously monitors to detect objects in front of the car. A camera behind the windscreen determines what type of object is in front of the car. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car swerves out in front, there is an instant warning and full braking power is applied.