Repair Tips
Maintenance & Care Tips
Keep Your European Vehicle Running at Its Best
practical guidance from technicians who know your car inside and out
Proper maintenance is the key to longevity, performance, and trouble-free ownership—especially for European vehicles. Our team shares clear, honest recommendations to help you stay ahead of wear, protect your engine, avoid unnecessary dealership costs, and make informed decisions about long-term care. Explore the tips below for guidance on oil service intervals, fluid changes, filters, fuel quality, and more.
Engine Oil and Filter Service
Engine Oil and Filter Service is the most common, and most frequent, maintenance item all vehicles will need. Despite what your dealership service advisor may suggest, 10,000-12,000 is far too long between oil changes. Yes, even with fully synthetic oil. Lindsey Bimmer Service stands behind the 5,000 miles (or once a year) rule. It is common for European vehicles to consume or “burn” 1 quart of oil per 5,000 miles. In this case, going 10,000 miles or more could potentially cause your vehicle’s engine to run low on oil, resulting in lack of proper lubrication or increased friction and excessive heat generation.
Maintenance Intervals
Meeting Maintenance Intervals does not need to be expensive, and consumers should not be penalized for investing in their vehicles. Most dealerships will continue to service maintenance once the vehicle is out of manufacture warranty, however, it will be at the cost of the customer. Dealerships can sneak in service charges for “vehicle check’s” or “maintenance inspection” when realistically maintenance items can be adhered to be miles or time, and do not require any added inspection cost.
Below you will see a general recommendation on common maintenance items performed at Lindsey Bimmer Service:
- Engine Oil Service – Every 5,000 miles or Once Per Year
- Sunroof Drain Cleaning - Once per Year
- Brake Fluid Flush – Every 2 Years
- Engine Air Filter – Every 30,000 miles
- Cabin Air Filter – Every 20,000 miles
Premium Fuel and Top Tier Providers
Premium Fuel and Top Tier providers make the difference for these high-octane vehicles.
Aside from Diesel options, all European vehicles should be using premium (93 octane) fuel and where you fill your vehicle up matters. Have you ever thought about how Costco and Randall’s can sale their fuel for pennies-on-the-dollar cheaper than Exxon or Shell? The reason is that true top-tier providers will not accept the last 25% of the tanker trucks because of the water content and impurities that have collected at the bottom. This remaining fuel does not burn as cleanly as it is designed to, which can result in problematic ignition, clogging catalytic converters, and overall lower fuel economy.
