5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Extend the Life of Your Import Car

Luxury and import vehicles are not a dime-a-dozen. They are special makes and models, thus requiring a distinct care plan. If you are keen on making your car last much longer than all your previous rides, but not sure you can afford to stay current on all that’s required of you, rest assured that import car maintenance and care can be inexpensive if you know what you’re doing.

Continue below to learn five budget-friendly ways to extend the life of your import or luxury car.

Import Car Mechanic Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800
Import Car Mechanic Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800

Cost-Effective Car Maintenance for Luxury Vehicles

It is in everyone’s best interest to keep their vehicles in good working condition for as long as possible. Not only is car maintenance important for the safety, efficiency, and performance of your vehicle, but it is also important for resale or trade-in value. Fortunately, implementing cost-effective car maintenance for a luxury vehicle is a viable endeavor. You just have to know what your car needs and how to get it done.

How to Ensure Your Vehicle Lasts as Long as Possible

Here are the top recommended car maintenance tips to make your luxury or import vehicle last longer than any other car you’ve ever owned:

Follow the Manufacturer’s Service Schedule

In your owner’s manual, you will find a very detailed service schedule for your particular make and model vehicle. By adhering to this manufacturer’s service schedule, you automatically extend the life of your luxury or import vehicle.

Check Your Automotive Fluids Regularly

Every vehicle requires seven essential automotive fluids, including motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, radiator fluid (coolant/anti-freeze), battery fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Some cars might even require additional automotive fluids, such as differential fluid. To support a long-lasting life for your vehicle, it is important to regularly check that these automotive fluids are at their proper levels.

Do Not Skip Oil Changes

As just mentioned, automotive fluids are very important to all vehicles. This is especially true when it comes to motor oil, being as though it lubricates the internal moving parts within the engine that create heat and friction. For this reason, oil changes are vital. Many people think they can hold off a little longer or skip out altogether on a routine oil change, but this is a very bad idea. If you want your car to last a very long time, have the oil changed out regularly.

Do Not Ignore Odd Sounds or Vibrations

As the primary driver of your import vehicle, you know it’s performance patterns pretty well. If you begin to notice strange sounds or vibrations happening in idle or while driving, it is important to have them checked out immediately by a Carmel Indiana luxury car mechanic. If this sounds or vibrations are fairly new, it is probably a minor problem. But it is important to get this minor problem resolved before it turns into a major one.

Pay Close Attention to Your Tires

Your car tires are one of the most vital components seeing as though they are the primary point of contact between your car and the ground, making tire care a vital element to any automotive maintenance plan. It is important to pay close attention to your tires, inspecting them periodically for proper inflation. Not only do you want to ensure that your tires have good air pressure, but you also want to look for signs of dry rot or flat spots. These damages can happen to cars that are not driven very often.

Are you wondering which auto mechanic will deliver unparalleled care and service at the most budget-friendly prices in town? Contact Autohaus Dierolf at 317-571-0800 for superior factory scheduled maintenance in Carmel, Indiana. We work on all European vehicles, but specialize in BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi repairs and services.

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Why You Should Never Use Dish Soap to Hand Wash a Luxury Car

Your luxury vehicle is an important asset. Not only is it an investment, but it is a special interest piece in your life. For these reasons, your top priority for your luxury vehicle should be to keep it in pristine condition for as long as possible. Regular maintenance and cleaning are two of the most effective approaches for achieving this collective auto enthusiast goal.

For many luxury brand car owners, hand washing is the only way to go when it comes to a car wash. Automatic car washes, even ones that advertising to be “touchless” can cause structural and aesthetic damages to luxury vehicles, especially low profile cars like Porches and Lamborghinis. So, if you opt to wash your car manually, you are making a safe choice. That is, so long as you do not use dishwashing detergent, even a mild one.

Continue reading to learn why using dish soap to wash a luxury car is a bad idea, and what to use in place of store-bought detergents.

Luxury Car Repair Service Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800
Luxury Car Repair Service Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800

The Dangers of Dish Soap Car Washing

There are many reasons why you should never use dishwashing detergent or liquid dish soaps to hand wash your luxury car. Not only can they remove your precious and vital automotive wax and clear coat, but they can also weaken automotive paint UV-resistance, cause rust formation, fog up headlights, pollute the environment, and even pose certain health risks.

Using Dish Soap on a Car Can…

Remove Car Wax

Most dish soaps, even mild formulas, contain harsh ingredients designed to eliminate grease. So, they can easily strip automotive wax after just one application. Overtime, repeated use of dish soap on a luxury car can remove the layer of wax and clear coat, and eventually lead to paint damage.

Reduce UV Protection

Repeated use of dish soap to wash a car can negatively impact the automotive paint’s ability to resist damaging UV light. As a result, paint will fade, peel, and crack. It also makes your cabin a lot hotter in the warmer seasons of the year.

Lead to Rust Formation

Oxidation is a common consequence of using dish soap to wash cars. Oxidation is rust, and it forms due to a combination of sunlight, moisture, and oxygen exposure. When automotive wax and paint are jeopardized or in poor condition, dish soap applications can quickly lead to rust formation.

Cause Foggy Headlights

Dish soap can cause your car’s headlights to fog up because of the suds produced during the cleansing process. Soap residues will buildup on the surface of the headlights overtime, causing a hazy, cloudy appearance that is not easily reversed.

Pollute the Environment

Most dish detergents are not safe for the surrounding environment. Even mild solutions contain man-made chemicals and stringent ingredients that can be harmful to plant life, wildlife, and the atmosphere. Soapy water runoff can enter the local sewer systems and storm drains, which can lead to further pollution to our underground water tables, ponds, oceans, lakes, streams, and more.

Threaten Your Health

Believe it or not, using dish soap to wash your beloved car on a regular basis can be bad for your health. Detergents, as mentioned, contain harsh chemicals and ingredients that can be toxic to the environment. Well, they are just as toxic to our health. Ingredients like DMDM Hydantoin, formaldehyde, and sulfuric acid are common in dish soap, and proven to be harmful.

What to Use Instead of Dish Soap

Always use a detergent that is specially designed for car washing. You can buy these products at any local department store, auto parts store, or online retailer. Make sure the detergent is compatible with your particular car wax and paint.

Are you looking for specialized auto repair for your luxury European vehicle? Contact Autohaus Dierolf at 317-571-0800 for European auto services in Carmel, Indianapolis, Indiana. We work on all European vehicles, but specialize in BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi repairs and services.

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European Automotive Repair Carmel
European Automotive Repair Carmel Indiana 317-577-0800

Recommended Car Maintenance for Fall

Fall has begun, and likely so has some of your favorite seasonal activities and indulgences. But don’t let all the fun Autumn festivities distract you from your season-to-season scheduled car maintenance duties. Continue reading to learn the recommended car maintenance checklist for Fall, and who to trust for superior European auto service in Indianapolis.

Factory Scheduled Maintenance Indianapolis IN 317-571-0800
Factory Scheduled Maintenance Indianapolis IN 317-571-0800

Fall Season Car Care Checklist

Heating and Air Conditioning System

Now that the temperatures are slowly dropping, it is important to ensure that your heating system is on point and ready to deliver a cozy indoor environment for your vehicle. In preparation for the increasingly chilly Fall weather, be sure to have your automotive heating and air conditioning system inspected and serviced by a licensed mechanic in Carmel, Indiana.

Tires

Proper tire inflation is vital for safe driving through the fall season. Colder climates can also cause tires to lose air pressure, making it important to routinely check your tire pressure. Before fall turns into winter, be sure to have your tire serviced by a licensed mechanic. Have your tires changed at the tread is low and have them rotated and balanced for optimal performance and fuel efficiency.

Car Battery

Car batteries are known to encounter problems as the outdoor temperatures drop for the Autumn season. Be sure that your automotive battery is an optimal condition. Also, be sure that your vehicle is equipped with jumper cables and additional emergency roadside assistance supplies in the case of your car battery dies while out on the road.

Automotive Fluids

All vehicles, regardless of make or model, require 7 vital automotive fluids. These include transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, radiator fluid (also known as coolant or antifreeze), battery fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and of course motor oil. Bring your vehicle into your local Carmel Indiana auto shop to have all fluids topped off and refilled as needed.

You might want to also consider keeping an extra bottle of coolant and motor oil in the trunk in the case of an overheating car engine. Depending on the type of battery you have, you may not require battery fluid. Sometimes battery cells are required to be topped off with water. This is more common in older vehicles.

Headlights

Before the foggy and hazy fall and winter days approach, be sure your headlights are cleaned up and shining bright for optimal road safety and driving control. Be sure to have any lamps changed if any of your headlights or taillights are burnt out.

Windshield Wipers

Not only do you want to ensure that your when should wiper fluid is topped off and ready for the fall season, but you also want to ensure that your windshield wipers are in good condition. It is important to switch at you when chilled wipers annually to ensure optimal performance and water runoff clearance. You need to prepare for flurries and snowstorms, even in the Fall.

Do you own a European vehicle that requires some routine car maintenance in Indianapolis? Contact Autohaus Dierolf at 317-571-0800 for superior factory scheduled maintenance in Carmel, Indiana.

You Should Also Read:

When Do I Need to Change the Fluids in My Car?
Factory Recommended Maintenance for Car Brakes
How to Correct an Overheating Car Engine

European Automotive Repair Carmel
European Automotive Repair Carmel Indiana 317-577-0800