28 Nov Cleveland BMW Specialists: Why You Need A Trustworthy European Auto Garage
Sleek, sophisticated, and the envy of your friends and neighbors.
There’s just something about the quality engineering from European imports that makes them a cut above even most of your excellent homemade autos, let alone an average one. BMW stands among these brands, and does the term “German engineering” proud by displaying an outstanding combination of craftsmanship blended with a luxury interior to give you the best of all worlds.
To properly maintain a specialized vehicle like your BMW, you’ll need to make sure it’s in the proper hands when the time for maintenance or repairs arrives. As you’re Googling “BMW shops near me” you don’t want to just settle on the first phone number that pops up. You want to make sure you’re in the hands of experienced and certified professionals who understand the specific tools, challenges, and skills needed to keep your BMW revving on the road.
What to Look for in a BMW Service Shop/Station
Not just any garage can handle BMW repairs; there’s a reason that specific certifications are granted to mechanics who go through specialized training. Take some time to look for or ask about proper certification, and make sure the garage has specialized diagnostic tools designed solely for use with BMWs. Like it or not, when you’re dealing with engineering and design that emphasize quality and precision, the tools you need simply aren’t going to be run of the mill.
A good rule of thumb is to look for places that advertise dealing specifically with not only BMWs, but also European cars or European imports. Garages and repair shops that include this as part of their advertising are far more likely to have the specific tools and skills needed to get a job done properly.
There’s also the peace of mind that comes from knowing when experienced trained professionals are on the job, your service is going to be completed quickly and correctly the first time. As a result, you get to save money and stress – which is a pretty good combination!
In short, no matter how good a job you do taking care of your car or SUV, it’s only a matter of time until that BMW “service engine soon” light pops on. It’s worth a few minutes of research and a phone call to ensure you’re taking your vehicle to experienced specialists when it does.
Why Is Choosing the Right BMW Specialist so Important?
As anyone who has done comparison shopping knows, the quality of a deal and customer service experience can vary greatly between repair specialists. You want to make sure the service team you’re dealing with is not only knowledgeable and capable, but also friendly and willing to answer your questions in order to ensure they’re on the level. Sad as it is to say, not all providers are.
Start by looking for this logo on auto repair websites you’re researching.
The work should absolutely be done in-house or it will end up costing you a lot more. Unfortunately, there are some garages out there that will claim they work on European imports like the BMW but then will subcontract that work to another garage in town that actually does have the ASE-certified mechanics to handle the work.
This will lead to a much higher bill for you as the garage that completed your work will charge full price, then the garage that handed off your maintenance or repair job will mark that charge up to get their cut. You can also expect extra fees for transportation and inconvenience thrown into the total bill.
Simply put, they rip you off. Choosing a trusted local BMW specialist is not only important to ensure the work is done right and you enjoy peace of mind, but it also makes a big difference on the final bill, as well.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Specific Questions
When you’re looking for the best BMW services in the Cleveland, Ohio area, you don’t want to take chances with second rate work. You want to make sure you’re trusting your beloved vehicle with professionals who are specifically trained to take care of it. Asking a few educated questions is the smart move and it doesn’t take many to figure out who your best option is.
First, you want to make sure to do some basic research before calling, such as:
- Looking at European import specialists in your area online
- Comparing the online reviews for each option & checking Google for news stories (good or bad)
- Checking for ASE certification
- Checking for specific mentions of being European auto import specialists
- Verifying which BMW service centers are near you
- Seeing if their website mentions your specific vehicle or brand – if it doesn’t mention BMW, then you shouldn’t pick them over an actual specialist
Once you have done this research, you can narrow down your options. You’ll want to call and ask about experience and specific certifications while evaluating the quality of the customer service you receive. You want someone who excels in all of these areas and works with you to set up the perfect solution to your maintenance or repair needs. Don’t be afraid to throw in a question about technology or the ability to repair computer parts for car systems while you’re at it.
This is part of the reason Larchmere Imports has proven itself to be a BMW specialty repair option Cleveland residents can trust. We keep up with the most recent technology, have experienced professionals who have worked on BMWs for decades, and have all the tools needed to make sure you don’t lose an ounce of that advanced performance that BMW owners love.
Tips to Extend the Life of Your BMW
If you take proper care of your BMW, its advanced engineering will keep paying off for you for many years to come. While we obviously believe a major part of that is choosing Larchmere Imports for your BMW repair needs in Chagrin Falls or Cleveland, if you live further away you’ll want to find a local BMW service station that can meet all of your needs in your own neighborhood.
A smart and regular BMW maintenance service schedule based around your specific vehicle model will go a long way toward keeping you on the road, but we also have a few additional tips to ensure your BMW will stand the test of time.
Tip #1: Watch that BMW check engine light
When those classic BMW service icons start lighting up, it’s time to pay attention. While there’s always the chance that it’s a random light/fuse issue in really old models, most of the time this is the first warning sign of a minor issue. Ignoring those is eventually going to lead to really serious problems, so take the time to have it looked into as soon as you can.
Prevention is a lot less painful than repair, after all.
Tip #2: Keep track of your oil change schedule
Oil companies recommend oil and oil filters being changed often (which isn’t a big surprise) but for the average driver of a BMW the two points to remember are 12 months or 10,000 miles. You want to change your oil on whichever one comes first – which will be 10,000 miles for most of us.
You should take your BMW in for a yearly oil change at minimum, which is also a great time to get a general checkup or other BMW maintenance work done. You have an incredible German engine under the hood – you don’t want to destroy it by ignoring oil changes…or even just pushing your luck a little too far.
Tip #3: Listen for strange sounds
Some warning signs are universal. If your vehicle starts making strange sounds like knocking, ticking, or just starts making different sounds when starting up or accelerating, then it’s time to start looking for your local Cleveland BMW service specialists. Strange sounds that you haven’t heard before means something’s going on that wasn’t before.
This is almost never a move from bad to good. New, strange sounds are a sign that you want someone to have a look under the hood before that new sound becomes a messed up transmission, timing belt, or a similarly critical issue.
Tip #4: Pay attention to weird vibrations or when the feeling of driving changes
Sometimes the signs are more subtle than knocking or banging noises that emanate loudly from under the hood. If your BMW starts shaking, there are weird vibrations on one side of the vehicle or another, or even minor changes in steering or feel of the road, you are often receiving the early waning signs of problems. This could be something as simple as checking the air pressure or wear of your tires, but it can lead to something more serious as well.
Just be alert and take action at the first sign of potential problems and you’ll usually be fine.
Tip #5: Leave BMW repairs to the professionals
All you need to do is jump online and Google “BMW auto repair near me” to find an option near you. In fact, there are plenty of you who probably found this article by doing something similar around the Cleveland area. When it’s this easy to find reliable professionals, you need to leave BMW repairs to them.
There’s a reason BMW-specific certification exists. The way you get top of the line engineering and control comes from designing a little differently than the rest of the pack. This means even if you’re handy as a car guy for regular vehicles, you’re still not qualified to handle the intricacies of how these German automobiles work. Let the professionals take care of it.
Tip #6: Always get a checkup before a LONG road trip
Finally, if it’s been 6 months or more since your last checkup or maintenance appointment then you’ll want to be cautious before taking off on a long road trip. Whether it’s three weeks going cross country to see America with the family or traveling for an entire summer to make new memories, you want to get your BMW looked over before going on any journey where you’ll be putting thousands of miles on the vehicle. Always better safe than sorry!
Cleveland Area BMW Owners – Contact Us Today!
With locations in Cleveland and Chagrin Falls, we have two convenient locations to take care of all your BMW maintenance, checkup, and repair needs. Whether it’s time for scheduled maintenance on your BMW, a pre-trip checkup, or some needed repairs, contact us today to set up your BMW service appointment and we’ll get you back on the road in no time!
Chagrin Falls BMW Repairs: (440) 591-5488
Cleveland BMW Repairs: (216) 229-8000