The clutch in a MINI is responsible for keeping your drive smooth and minimizing impact as you move through gears. Applying engine power gradually when you start moving and working to avoid crunching gears as you shift, the clutch in your MINI is tasked with an important role in your vehicle’s overall functionality. Transferring power from your MINI’s engine to the transmission and drive wheels, the clutch helps keep everything moving in the powertrain of your vehicle. So, when your MINI’s clutch goes out, it can cause some serious problems for vehicle owners. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent your clutch from failing or malfunctioning through proper maintenance and care. Preventive Maintenance for Your MINI’s Clutch When [...]

Your Porsche is a top-of-the-line sports vehicle that requires routine upkeep and maintenance to operate at a high level. Given quality care, your Porsche can drive smoothly for years to come. Regular maintenance of your vehicle’s engine oil is often overlooked, but crucial to the performance of your car. Although easy to ignore, an engine oil leak should be repaired sooner rather than later to avoid major damage to your engine and costly repairs. Engine oil is a critical component in the smooth operation of your Porsche, and ignoring an oil leak can lead to bigger problems down the road. Engine oil lubes up the moving parts within the engine so everything glides and moves together with ease. If oil is leaking out of your car, these parts will start to rub together without any lubricant, causing friction and wearing the engine parts down. O [...]

Porsche’s are powerful but intricate vehicles with a reputation of power, luxury, and style. One of its many components is the oxygen sensor. A Porsche’s oxygen sensor keeps track of your vehicle’s air to gasoline ratio and uses a computer to modify it, if necessary. Several factors can affect the amount of oxygen in your Porsche’s engine, which can make it run rich or lean. Your Porsche’s oxygen sensor has everything to do with this dynamic. Let’s take a look at what you can do if your Porsche’s oxygen sensor is bad and how you can tell. Your Check Engine Light Comes On When your Porsche’s check engine light comes on, it almost always means trouble. Porsche’s are advanced vehicles that can self-correct to some extent, so when a problem is deemed too much for your Porsche to fix the check engine light will illuminate. This can be initia [...]

At the mention of the name BMW, what comes to car enthusiast's minds is stellar engineering, impeccable design, and unrivaled performance. However, the exceptional performance a BMW offers is of no use if the engine is not functional. The engine holds all the power necessary to help your car function, but without it, your car cannot perform. The maintenance of your engine cannot be overemphasized. Maintaining your BMW's engine will keep your vehicle performing at its best. Sadly, some drivers ignore maintenance because it can be inconvenient and sometimes costly. The thought may be: Why take a car for maintenance when everything still works fine? Aside from spending more when your poorly-maintained vehicle breaks down, skipping maintenance can also reduce its lifespan. Regular Maintenance Taking your car for regular maintenance helps detect developing issues before they become fully prob [...]

Mini Coopers are built on affordability, functionality, performance, and an extended road-range per tank of gas. While these vehicles are popular for casual car owners and high-end vehicle connoisseurs alike, they are still prone to some of the usual mechanical ailments that eventually befall vehicles. They also have their own unique mechanical failures. One of the more unusual faults that can befall a Mini Cooper is finding oil in your coolant reservoir. The Purpose of Oil and Coolant Your oil and coolant should never mix, as they fulfill entirely different roles and have near-opposite properties and chemical compositions. Oil is the lubricant that covers and protects all of the friction-plagued and mobile components of your vehicle’s engine. On the other hand, coolant is meant to keep your engine’s temperature steady so that everything under the hood doesn’t overheat. If you suspect t [...]

With a stylish design, high performance, and reputable brand name, it is without question why you might choose to own a BMW. It is sure to provide you and any passengers with a quality, comfortable drive. That smooth drive can be compromised if you do not have your vehicle properly serviced and maintenanced. All of your vehicle’s components need to be properly cared for, especially the adaptive headlights, which if neglected could put you and others on the road at risk. Adaptive Headlights in a BMW Adaptive headlights differ from standard headlights used in older vehicle models. Adaptive headlights are more innovative because they are designed to respond to movement and changes in your surroundings. Adaptive headlights are capable of automatically turning on when entering low-light conditions, such as nighttime, rain, or fog. Additionally, they use sensors that allow them to automatica [...]

Owning a BMW vehicle is quite a thrill, as they are among the most remarkable automobile manufacturers around. As BMW vehicles are trustworthy and resilient, they’ve earned quite a reputation in the automobile industry. Some BMW models can develop faults with their alternator seals over time, leading to oil leaks. Oil leaks from alternator seals are quite common with BMW owners, but thankfully, you do not have to get alarmed over it, as there is a practical solution to this issue. Since all machines are prone to faults, the alternator seal is also susceptible to issues. It is essential to catch these issues with the seal, and with the whole vehicle in general, as you can ensure your safety while avoiding much larger and expensive damage. This article will help you to understand what an alternator seal is and how to detect leaks from it. The Function of the Alternator Seal An alternator seal is a necessary gas [...]

 

When considering the idea of trusting your BMW, PORSCHE, or MINI to a repair shop there are many things to consider. Outlined below are a number of questions you might want to ask yourself before entrusting your BMW, PORSCHE or MINI to just any repair shop:

 

Does the repair facility specialize in your specific car?

There are many types of specialization in the automotive business. Technically speaking, the quick lube shop specializes in oil services. However, in almost all cases, they will not be able to reset your oil service lights, and will not stock the manufacturer approved oils or OEM filters. Likewise, many shops specialize in foreign cars or European cars. Today, it is extremely difficult and expensive for a shop to maintain technical information and diagnostic tools for all makes and models. When selecting a shop you will have to ask yourself, do you want a facility that claims to be [...]

Stealth Hitches

If you drive a newer model BMW or Porsche and are looking for a means to tow a small trailer or a way to carry bicycles, without modifying your car to accept an unsightly exposed hitch receiver, Nikolas Motorsport can help. We have teamed with the leading manufacturer and distributor of hidden tow hitches, Stealth Hitches. The Stealth Hitches product line installs behind the bumper and leaves no evidence of a hitch on your vehicle when the ball mount or bike-rack connector is removed. Stealth Hitches tow hitches are tested and approved to the same regulations applicable to all OEM hitches and all vehicle-manufacturer hitches. Stealth Hitches actually provides hitches to many vehicle manufacturers, packaged in brand specific boxes. Their uniquely designed hitch locking mechanisms are the safest on the market.

No evidence of a hitch