Monthly Archives: December 2019

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BMW Climate Control Hacks for Your Pet

Dog owners know there’s hardly anything as fun as going out on a playdate with your furry best friend. Whether you take them to the pet store to meet other dogs and pick out a bag of treats or drive to the dog park, it’s always great to explore the world together. 

While you’re driving around together, there are a few ways pet owners make their dogs more comfortable. You might get your smaller dog a tiny car seat or your bigger dog a harness seatbelt. They could prefer to fill the backseat with toys or ride with their head out of the window.

Those are great ways to have fun and stay safe on the road, but dog owners should also think about the interior temperature of the car. BMW has already thought of that with their Climate Control feature. Read on to learn more about why regulating your car’s temperature is so important and how you can use it in your BMW.

Why Pets Need Climate Control

Most dog owners frequently travel with their pets, which makes it crucial that those dogs are comfortable and safe. Safety restraints and seat protectors go a long way in protecting both the dog and the car, but temperature plays a significant role as well.

Some breeds, especially short-nosed brachycephalic breeds like pugs and bulldogs, and long-haired breeds that are more comfortable in cold weather, can experience heatstroke at temperatures as low as 90F.

On the other side of the coin, small breeds and those with short hair can start experiencing symptoms of canine hypothermia at 40-32F. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, if you’re leaving your pet in your car, you need climate control.

How BMW Climate Control Works

The controls are always located under the air vents between the front seats, regardless of the model of your BMW. Press the Auto button to begin the Climate Control system. Using the red and blue temperature adjustment buttons, set the temperature to whatever you prefer. As long as the Auto button is still on, the car will heat or cool to maintain the temperature you’ve set.

It will also adjust the fan speed according to how quickly it needs to regulate the temperature. It’s similar to Tesla’s “Dog Mode” which also includes a message on the console screen letting passersby know that your four-legged friend is comfortable in a climate-controlled environment.

BMW drivers in cold climates where it snows frequently will enjoy another aspect of Climate Control: it automatically senses the humidity in the car, so it adjusts that whenever you open the car door and let snow blow in. Climate Control also monitors the temperature of the windshield and will automatically defrost any snow or ice that collects on it overnight or while you’re in a store.

In the near future, you might be able to use BMW’s climate control features in more than just your favorite coupe or sedan. The manufacturer unveiled plans for the NorthFace Camper Futurelight Trailer early in 2019 — a portable camper that is designed to help you bring all the comforts of home out into the wilderness.

While BMW hasn’t announced any plans to include climate control features in its camper, it would be nice to be able to keep yourself or your furry friends comfortable out in the world.

What the Future Holds

BMW owners love the Climate Control feature because they don’t need to worry about fidgeting with the settings to keep their car at a comfortable temperature for their dog. It’s enough to make you wonder how this technology will advance in the future.

Even if you’re only running into the store for one thing, you should never leave your furry friends in a car without climate control technology. Technology like this will save canine lives in the future, as companies like BMW expand their current Climate Control programs.

For now, Climate Control makes car rides easier and more enjoyable for both dogs and their owners, so try it out in your BMW the next time you go for a drive.

Car Care, DIY

How to Drive Your BMW in the Winter

During the winter, people have a lot going on. Besides daily commutes to work or school, everyone travels for the holidays and spends more time on the road getting gifts or decorations. It all leads to extra hours in your car, which doesn’t feel like a chore when you drive a BMW.

No matter which BMW model you own, winter weather poses a few challenges. Whether your vehicle is on the road or parked at home, you have to think about how it will withstand the weather.

Learn how to drive your BMW in the winter so you can take care of it on and off the road. With the right tips, your BMW will emerge from the winter weather in peak condition. 

Stay Safe on the Road

The first thing everyone should know about driving in winter is to ease up on the gas pedal. Even on roads where the speed limit allows you to drive at 55 mph or more, you never know when you’ll come across black ice. If you drive across ice at fast speeds, you risk spinning out because your tires won’t have enough traction on the road to stop. Slush can also impede your ability to slow down in an emergency, so take your time and maintain a safe speed.

You should also talk with an auto professional about investing in snow tires. People use traditional tires for all-season driving, but winter versions come with specific seasonal advantages. They’re made with a deeper tread and rough edges so your car has a better grip on the pavement. You’ll make easier turns and slow down faster when you have control over the wheel. You might also think about buying tire chains for extra stability. 

Protect Your Car at Home

Winter weather doesn’t stop when you pull into your driveway. Before you leave your car for the night, pull your windshield wipers up off the glass and spread a towel or two across the windshield. In the morning, you can pull them off and save the time you’d spend scraping ice away.

If you have a garage, you can also think about replacing your garage door with something more insulated. An insulated garage keeps fluctuating temperatures from dropping the air pressure in your tires, which will prevent you from constantly refilling them. Liquids like antifreeze and oil also freeze during the winter when temperatures plummet and make it harder for your car to function when you start it up.

Remember Your Auto Care

You might want to curl up under a blanket when it’s snowing outside, but don’t forget about your BMW auto care. Check your oil and clean your windshield wipers often so your car runs effortlessly. Anyone who lives in daily snow should also remember to head to the car wash at least once a month, if not more frequently. Road salt is extremely corrosive and will damage the bottom of your vehicle and any paint it settles on if you don’t wash it off.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Whenever you head out to your car, run over a quick mental checklist to maintain your BMW. Keep your eyes open for road salt, ice on your windshield and any tire pressure changes. Go to the car wash when you can and get an expert to look over your vehicle if you’re ever unsure about its condition. All of this will help keep you safe during winter driving.

Car Care

How to Keep Your BMW Running Smoothly

Smooth is a word that comes out quite frequently when referencing BMW’s heralded luxury vehicles. Another buzzword for BMWphiles is “maintenance.” It’ll cost you a few shillings to keep that famously smooth driving experience happy and reliable.

Owning a car like a BMW takes a certain mindset. You’ve got to enjoy the ritual of maintaining it. Otherwise, you’ll lament the discomfort of repairing it. Neither one is cheap, but the former is much cheaper than the latter. Here are some suggestions to BMW owners new and old on how to keep a bimmer purring proudly.

Use BMW Parts

Yes, they cost more than the ones from China — but for good reason. There are people out there with enough knowledge of individual tolerances and running conditions to select where a given part might not need to be OEM. They’re called engineers. If you don’t know, don’t push it. BMW cars are known for being highly complex, and saving a few dollars on a part could lead to a larger spend down the road when something breaks. Just go for the OEM parts — it’ll help your resale value too!

Perform Regular Maintenance

Here’s a tip that’s just as valid no matter what marque your running. Some brands have reputations for going longer than others when they’re neglected. However, neglecting a BMW is just a good way to put a big dent in your wallet. You could save some money by performing accessible maintenance tasks at home. Put together a checklist to ensure that necessary maintenance tasks are completed on time. For advanced jobs, have a knowledgeable German car specialist on speed-dial.

Avoid Modifications

Whether it’s a car you’re buying used or you’re debating whether to make tweaks to your personal BMW, modifications can become precarious quickly. Particularly in the modern age of turbocharging when it’s so easy to extract major power increases with a few tweaks of your engine software, it can be tempting. But consider the additional load that extra power puts on the rest of your car’s running gear. Do you think the car was designed to handle that from the factory? Probably not.

The best way to get a faster car, the cheapest way to get a faster car is nearly always to buy a faster car. If you’re looking at overboosting your 335i to a power level that’s going to break the transmission, consider the cost of a new transmission and how well the car might drive after going through that surgery. Would that money buy an M3? Chances are, it might. And you’d be much happier.

Drive Responsibly

You and all the people around you on the road will be better off when you drive without making use of your BMW’s full capabilities at all times. But to speak to the topic at hand, the car will be happier too. It will run longer and smoother, and you’ll have to spend less on repairs. Again, this is where you protect that resell value. It’s alright to have some fun from time to time, but don’t be that guy. You know, the one who drives a BMW.