Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Engine Oil Tips - What's Lubricant Quality?



What's engine oil made of? What's the difference between mineral, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic oil? What does these differences mean for your engine?
Watch this educational video and you'll have no more trouble in finding which oil is right for your vehicle.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Vantage GTE: The Birth Of A Future Champion



Follow the Vantage GTE from initial concept to launch with this nine-minute documentary, showing what it takes to build a brand-new FIA World Endurance Championship race car alongside Aston Martin's very latest sports car - the Vantage.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | “Intersection”



With available 4MOTION® all-wheel drive, the family heads into new territory. The 7-seater Volkswagen Atlas. Life’s as big as you make it.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Strong Stories



Martin Breuninger lives the dream of an adventurer. He has toured the globe for many years, and taken the Mercedes G to the most remote places.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Can Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist Help Prevent Collisions?



When it comes to car safety features, the collision avoidance system provides the peace of mind that every driver is searching for. The cross-traffic function can detect approaching intersecting vehicles and persons with the help of a long-range radar used in conjunction with a stereo camera.

How does the Active Brake Assist work?
In an emergency situation, the Active Brake Assist warns the driver of the oncoming danger and, depending on the distance and size of the obstacle ahead, sends out an acoustic or visual warning to alert the driver. If the driver reacts in time, the emergency brake assist supports the driver in applying pressure to the brakes, and if the driver reacts too slowly, the automatic braking system will be activated.

The Active Brake Assist automatic braking system can be activated and deactivated as and when the driver pleases. Additionally, it can be set to one of three modes including “Early”, “Medium” and “Late” mode – each of which determines the sensitivity of the driver assist programme.

By interpreting your driving behaviour, Active Brake Assist provides an intuitive safety measure that will bring your vehicle to a halt or reduce the speed exactly when you need it most. Active Brake Assist is just one of the many Mercedes driver assist features created to provide you with the ultimate security in all your driving endeavours.

Monday, November 13, 2017

The 2017 Volkswagen Sign Then Drive Event – “Really?”



For some reason, zero has a bad rap. But this season you may look at zero a little differently with the Volkswagen Sign Then Drive Event. See your Volkswagen dealer today or learn more at www.vw.com.

Friday, November 10, 2017

The Concept X7 iPerformance.



This study car offers a look ahead to the future production model set to make its debut in 2018. The forthcoming BMW X7 forms part of the largest model offensive in the company’s history to grow the presence in the luxury class.The X family’s new top model extends BMW’s offering in the luxury class and redefines the concept of luxury for the BMW brand and beyond.Furthermore, the BMW Concept X7 demonstrates it’s perfectly possible to combine a large sports activity vehicle with an electrified drivetrain.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Presents: King Of The City Jungle | S-Class Commercial



How to tame a lion: the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class with ENERGIZING comfort control. In the animal kingdom, he is undisputedly at the top of the food chain – there is no living creature that does not fear him: the lion. But even the strongest alpha animal has a bad day, as the new S-Class film by antoni proves in a very humorous way. In the spot for the new S-Class, it serves as a metaphor for the alpha animal in the business world: the boss of a successful startup. His day is anything but successful. Time and again, minor mishaps cause his mood to deteriorate. Stressed and anything but in a good mood, he gets into the new S-Class at the end of a long business day. Here, he experiences what Mercedes-Benz describes as Mood Changing Technology: the ENERGIZING comfort control. A system that adapts the temperature, fragrance, lighting mood, seats, music and many other components to the driver’s wishes and improves the mood. At the touch of a button, the lion’s bad mood vanishes. He’s relaxing. An entertaining drive through the night begins, at the end of which he arrives home in a good mood. The stress is passé.

The film follows the reorientation of Mercedes-Benz towards human-centered innovation and focuses on human needs, albeit in an unusual way. As the technological flagship brand and industry leader, the S-Class takes on a pioneering role.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Do I Need A New Muffler?


It's not difficult to know if your muffler needs replacement, generally your car will be louder than normal. Mufflers are not repairable, they wear out, rust out or sustain damage and replacement is your only alternative.

Where should I take my car for a new muffler?

A few decades ago there were muffler shops all over town. Mufflers are better engineered and last longer than they used to, which has led to a decrease in the number of muffler shops across the nation. There are still plenty of places to get your muffler replaced.

Muffler shops still exist because not every auto repair shop is equipped to replace mufflers. Most mufflers need to be cut off and the new muffler welded in place. In addition to welding, muffler repair shops have tube bending equipment to custom bend a new exhaust pipe from your engine to your tailpipe if needed.

Some general auto repair shops will be equipped to replace your muffler. If you suspect you do need a new muffler, ask your mechanic if this is a service they perform. There are literally thousands upon thousands of muffler shops in the United States.

Choosing a muffler

Generally speaking, car mufflers usually don't go out while the vehicle is still under warranty. They last quite a bit longer. When it does come time to replace your muffler you have many choices. You can take your car to the new car dealer to get the exact replacement part for your vehicle, but be prepared to pay more than you would at a muffler specialty shop or a general auto repair shop.

You need not replace your muffler with the exact part number from the Ford dealer or Toyota dealer. Replacement mufflers are designed to replace the original mufflers from the vehicle manufacturers no matter what year, make and model of car you have.

There are also a wide variety of brands of mufflers, some are engineered to let the engine breath better giving you a boost in horsepower. Consult with the repair shop performing the repair to see which mufflers are available for your specific vehicle. Keep in mind, the muffler is part of the emissions system, you don't want to void your factory warranty or do anything to keep your vehicle from passing a smog check or emissions testing in the future.

Catalytic Converters

The catalytic converter is an integral component of your exhaust system. Its function is to convert toxic gases into less toxic gases before emitting them from your exhaust pipe.

Catalytic converters do fail. One of the most common failures is clogging. When the converter becomes clogged, you may find that your vehicle does not accelerate as well. If the fuel system cannot release burned fuel, it cannot take in as much fuel to burn.

If the converter rusts, you will also have a noisier exhaust system and may smell fumes in the car's interior. The converter is normally located just under the divider behind the front seats.

Don't try to diagnose a bad catalytic converter. Most often your car will have drivability problems that lead to diagnosis of a bad converter. Many times you will find out when your vehicle does not pass emissions testing or an annual smog check.

Some catalytic converters are bolted on and some are welded on from the factory. Either way a quality repair shop can replace the catalytic converter for you.

Muffler repair components

Pipes leading to a muffler, from your catalytic converter often rust out and need replacement. Tailpipes will sometimes rust the muffler connection. Hangers also break. If your exhaust system is lower than normal, or dragging under your vehicle, you probably need new hangers. This is usually a low cost repair, but should be performed quickly. Dragging exhaust system components will damage them. The metal can also produce sparks that might start a fire.

You can extend the life of your exhaust system by ensuring that you drive far enough during wet or cold weather to heat up and dry the exhaust system. If you only drive a few miles every day your exhaust components may actually wear out quickly. When you first start your vehicle in cold or wet weather, moisture forms inside the pipes. If the moisture is not removed by heating the exhaust system, the pipes will rust prematurely.



Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Engine Oil Tips - Synthetic vs Mineral Oil



What's the difference between a synthetic oil and a mineral oil?
Watch this educational video to find out everything you need to know about synthetic and mineral lubricants!