Factory Recommended MAintenance
Scheduled Maintenance for German and British Vehicles
Preventative maintenance is the key to vehicle longevity, safety and performance. German and British vehicles are known for engineering excellence and have tight tolerances, so some makes and models need more frequent factory recommended maintenance than non-German and non-British vehicles. MB Automotive Services in Rockville, MD provides European auto repair and factory recommended maintenance for many models, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Jaguar, and Land Rover.
The Importance of
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Safety Features
ROTATING THE TIRES
Tires wear unevenly because of the location of the drive wheel(s) and the difference in weight on the tires. Front tires have to bear the weight of the engine, so they wear out faster than the rear tires. Rotating helps prevent uneven wear.
ALIGNMENTS
Cars go out of alignment for several reasons, including hitting potholes, driving on gravel roads, or rubbing a curb. Worn or broken suspension and steering components can also cause misalignment. Check your vehicle’s alignment once per year to increase tire longevity and reduce wear. We utilize state-of-the-art Hunter alignment machine.
Preserving Performance
Fluids get dirty over time, which decreases lubrication and affects performance and fuel economy. Following a strict maintenance schedule for tune-ups, oil changes, transmission flushes, coolant flushes, and other maintenance ensures your vehicle’s performance remains where you expect it to be. When oil and transmission fluid become dirty, they lose lubrication, which means more friction in the engine. When the engine has to work harder, it uses more fuel and loses power. Regularly changing the oil and flushing the transmission ensure that the engine and transmission have fresh oil to keep performance at peak levels.
How Preventative Maintenance
MB Automotive Services in Rockville, MD
- Electronics and software updates for German vehicles.
- Special oil and fluids for high-performance engines in some German models.
- Regular brake, suspension and steering inspections to ensure the braking and handling remains precise. Worn brake pads can also cause significant damage, including scored rotors, over-extended calipers and collapsed brake hoses.
- Inspection of electrical components for British vehicles.
- Regular cooling system inspections, including the radiator, water pump and thermostat, to ensure the vehicle’s engine remains cooled.
- Timing belts and timing chains on German and British models. In most cases, manufacturers recommend changing the timing belt at about 60,000 miles and the timing chain at about 100,000 to 120,000 miles. Your owner’s manual will have the manufacturer’s preferred interval. It is imperative that you do not miss this maintenance item, as a stretched or broken timing belt can significantly damage some engines.
- Regular oil and filter changes.
- Regular tire inspections.
- Balancing and rotating the tires every other oil change.
- Replacing dirty engine air filters and cabin air filters.
- Checking and topping off fluids as needed.
- Checking for fluid leaks.
- Flushing the coolant, transmission, brake fluid and power steering fluid, usually every five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Replacing the fuel filter at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals.
- Lubing the suspension and steering, when applicable.
- Inspecting the steering and suspension.
- Changing spark plugs every 40,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the make and model. In most cases, vehicles that use coil-over-plug ignition systems don’t require a tune-up until 75,000 to 100,000 miles.
