New Country BMW
One Weston Park Road Hartford, CT 06120Sales: (866) 498-7471
- Service: (877) 438-3052
- Parts: (877) 268-6104
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BMW Service Hints
Tire
Pressure Warning System (TPS):
This system really is a great idea and can give you critical information when a tire has incurred damage and may be about to deflate. So if you're driving along and the Tire Pressure warning lights up, take heed.
Give us a call or just stop by so we can check your tires. If you're farther away from us or on a trip, consider finding a tire shop to check your tires for you. Remember, everything between you, the car and road is happening at and through your tires. The TPS system can, however, be triggered during certain weather conditions when large temperature swings occur, such as during the Fall and Spring when the days are warm but the nights chilly. If you get into your BMW on a crisp Fall morning and your TPS warning comes on, here are two suggestions:
The correct pressure settings are listed on a label in the driver's door jamb. If the tire pressures are OK, then you can reset the TPS system light. On most non-I-DRIVE/Navigation cars, this is done using the button the left hand steering column stalk switch. On I-DRIVE cars, the TPS can reset through the central controller (menu....settings....tire pressure). Check your owner's manual since there are variations from model to model, or call us for help.
Run Flat Tires:
You may have read some things about Run Flats and if you are of a certain age (like your humble author) you may rue the lack of a spare tire. But think about this: Run Flats will retain their integrity even when they lose pressure when driving at highway speeds. This can make the difference between maintaining control and losing it.
Also, changing tires on a crowded highway is NOT a safe thing to do in the best of conditions, let alone on today's loony-infested roads. Run Flats tend to give a harder ride and make a bit more noise, but the extra margin of safety they add cannot be over-stated.
When should I service my BMW?
The short answer is, your car will tell you when it's ready for service. Measuring key factors such as the number of drive cycles and the average number of miles you drive per trip, your BMW's internal computer will decide when service is due. Bear in mind that the average service interval is typically between 12,000 and 16,000 miles; this is possible thanks to BMW's Efficient Dynamics design and the superiority of modern synthetic oil. Your car comes from BMW with such oil as factory-fill, and it's what we put in when we service your BMW: Genuine BMW synthetic oil (and Genuine BMW filters, of course). You can check how many miles remain until the vehicle requires service by checking Settings in I-DRIVE or via your left hand control stalk on the steering column; it will tell you the status of the car's maintenance needs.
How should I prepare my BMW for winter driving?
First of all, congratulations for asking the question! Winter driving, especially here in New England, presents numerous challenges which we should all take seriously. First, understand that no matter how cool and technically advanced your car is (e.g., your BMW), the fundamental realities of physics don't change. Therefore, icy roads still afford less grip; it still takes longer to stop when the road is snow-covered; you cannot count on other drivers to drive sensibly so protect yourself by keeping your distance from them. In terms of your BMW, make sure your washer fluid is topped off with a good quality mix rated for cold weather. Look at your wiper blades and come in for a new set if they are at all streaky or worse, if the rubber is separating. Check your tire pressures. And if you really want to be in control (don't we all?) INVEST IN A COMPLETE SET OF WINTER TIRES! Your author believes that going through a New England winter on regular all-season tires is like wearing sneakers for a snow hike: not smart.
Winter tires: the correct "footwear" for the season
Winter tires offer infinitely more grip in cold, freezing, icy and snowy conditions than all-season tires. It's what they are made for. And while your snow tires are on the car, your "regular" tires aren't being used and therefore aren't wearing, so they last longer. Winter tires will allow you to steer more precisely, to get more traction and to stop in shorter distances. Why doesn't everyone have them? Good question. Your author (John the service director) believes that winter tires are a key safety feature and makes sure his wife's car is properly fitted-out with a set. A complete set could cost from $500 upwards; some are significantly more expensive. But what's the cost of an accident? Of an injury to your loved-ones? These are the valid questions you should ask yourself. Call us or email us today so we can help get your BMW equipped with the right tires for this and next winter.
This system really is a great idea and can give you critical information when a tire has incurred damage and may be about to deflate. So if you're driving along and the Tire Pressure warning lights up, take heed.
Give us a call or just stop by so we can check your tires. If you're farther away from us or on a trip, consider finding a tire shop to check your tires for you. Remember, everything between you, the car and road is happening at and through your tires. The TPS system can, however, be triggered during certain weather conditions when large temperature swings occur, such as during the Fall and Spring when the days are warm but the nights chilly. If you get into your BMW on a crisp Fall morning and your TPS warning comes on, here are two suggestions:
- Come in and see us; we will check your tire pressures and reset the system or.
- If you're feeling more adventurous, check each tire's pressure
using an accurate gauge (NOT the ding-dong kind at the local gas
station!).
The correct pressure settings are listed on a label in the driver's door jamb. If the tire pressures are OK, then you can reset the TPS system light. On most non-I-DRIVE/Navigation cars, this is done using the button the left hand steering column stalk switch. On I-DRIVE cars, the TPS can reset through the central controller (menu....settings....tire pressure). Check your owner's manual since there are variations from model to model, or call us for help.
Run Flat Tires:
You may have read some things about Run Flats and if you are of a certain age (like your humble author) you may rue the lack of a spare tire. But think about this: Run Flats will retain their integrity even when they lose pressure when driving at highway speeds. This can make the difference between maintaining control and losing it.
Also, changing tires on a crowded highway is NOT a safe thing to do in the best of conditions, let alone on today's loony-infested roads. Run Flats tend to give a harder ride and make a bit more noise, but the extra margin of safety they add cannot be over-stated.
When should I service my BMW?
The short answer is, your car will tell you when it's ready for service. Measuring key factors such as the number of drive cycles and the average number of miles you drive per trip, your BMW's internal computer will decide when service is due. Bear in mind that the average service interval is typically between 12,000 and 16,000 miles; this is possible thanks to BMW's Efficient Dynamics design and the superiority of modern synthetic oil. Your car comes from BMW with such oil as factory-fill, and it's what we put in when we service your BMW: Genuine BMW synthetic oil (and Genuine BMW filters, of course). You can check how many miles remain until the vehicle requires service by checking Settings in I-DRIVE or via your left hand control stalk on the steering column; it will tell you the status of the car's maintenance needs.
How should I prepare my BMW for winter driving?
First of all, congratulations for asking the question! Winter driving, especially here in New England, presents numerous challenges which we should all take seriously. First, understand that no matter how cool and technically advanced your car is (e.g., your BMW), the fundamental realities of physics don't change. Therefore, icy roads still afford less grip; it still takes longer to stop when the road is snow-covered; you cannot count on other drivers to drive sensibly so protect yourself by keeping your distance from them. In terms of your BMW, make sure your washer fluid is topped off with a good quality mix rated for cold weather. Look at your wiper blades and come in for a new set if they are at all streaky or worse, if the rubber is separating. Check your tire pressures. And if you really want to be in control (don't we all?) INVEST IN A COMPLETE SET OF WINTER TIRES! Your author believes that going through a New England winter on regular all-season tires is like wearing sneakers for a snow hike: not smart.
Winter tires: the correct "footwear" for the season
Winter tires offer infinitely more grip in cold, freezing, icy and snowy conditions than all-season tires. It's what they are made for. And while your snow tires are on the car, your "regular" tires aren't being used and therefore aren't wearing, so they last longer. Winter tires will allow you to steer more precisely, to get more traction and to stop in shorter distances. Why doesn't everyone have them? Good question. Your author (John the service director) believes that winter tires are a key safety feature and makes sure his wife's car is properly fitted-out with a set. A complete set could cost from $500 upwards; some are significantly more expensive. But what's the cost of an accident? Of an injury to your loved-ones? These are the valid questions you should ask yourself. Call us or email us today so we can help get your BMW equipped with the right tires for this and next winter.
Hours
- Monday: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday: Closed
Contact Information
- New Country BMW
-
One Weston Park Road
Hartford, CT 06120 -
- sales Sales:
- (866) 498-7471
- service Service:
- (877) 438-3052
- parts Parts:
- (877) 268-6104
Website by Dealer.com
New Country BMW
One Weston Park Road
Hartford,
CT
06120