Monday, September 06, 2010 12:02

Posts Tagged ‘indianapolis bmw’

BMW Repair Expensive, But What’s Safety Worth?

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Repairs for BMWs can be quite expensive.  It is important to find a knowledgeable and reputable dealer.  You can locate BMW repair shops in Indianapolis via search engines on the web.  You can verify the reputation of the shop with a consumer grading service for your area.

Brake repairs are a critical aspect to keeping your family safe.  It’s best not to take chances and have them repaired as soon as you notice there is a problem.  Brake rotors for BMWs, like other import cars are built with minimal thickness to save weight.  This means they cannot be “turned” like domestics, they must be replaced.  They are also more sensitive to warping from heat.  Overheated brakes are the second most common cause of failure.  The first if wear and tear.

There are a few tips to help extend the life of your brakes.  The first is to keep the hydraulic reservoir at the proper level with the type of fluid recommended by BMW.  Next, wash your brakes off at the same time as your car.  This will ensure they stay free of dust and dirt.  Lastly, never touch, spray or drip any lubricants or oil on the brake friction surfaces.  If this were to occurred, immediately spray the surface with brake cleaner to remove completely.

You should visually inspect your BMW brakes every six months.  The rotors should be free of concentric scoring or other obvious defects.  Any discoloration may be a sign of overheating.  The brake pads should also be inspected for uneven wear, cracking or breakage on the friction surface.  The brake drums should not have excessive grooves.  Like the brake pads, the shoes should also be worn evenly.  Have these looked at by a qualified mechanic to be safe.

The sound your brakes make can also be a signal that they need repaired or replaced.  A slight brushing sound from the pads lightly touching the rotors is perfectly normal.  There are a few sounds to be aware of that can indicate problems.  A squeaking noise can be caused by dust or dirt on the brakes, loose pads vibrating or worn pads.  A rhythmic, pulsating noise can indicate a warped rotor.  Any constant grinding noise means real trouble.  The most important thing to remember is as soon as the problem is noticed you should get it repaired immediately.  Any delay could be extremely dangerous.

Rotors and drums that are overstressed can break.  Brakes may be too worn or damaged to stop your BMW in an emergency.  The longer you delay in fixing brake problems the more the cost will be to do so.  Badly worn, overheated or warped rotors can cause damage to wheel bearings and the wheel hub assembly.  These repairs and parts are often much more expensive than just fixing the brakes themselves.   Brakes should also be inspected for warping, proper proportioning balance and wheel bearing play among others.  A full inspection could also uncover underlying problems that could eventually become costly or dangerous.  Contact a BMW repair shop to schedule a check up on your brakes today!