Maintenance
Oil & Filter Service
Certain manufacturers include a "free" maintenance plan with the purchase of the vehicle. Such plans are not tailored for long-term ownership, however, as the oil change intervals are scheduled for anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 miles, depending on the brand. Vehicles maintained using this regimen are the ones which, in our experience, suffer oil-related failures long before 100,000 miles. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and changing it every 5,000-7,000 miles will ensure more reliable performance and a longer service life. German Car Repair can perform these interim oil and filter changes without resetting the maintenance reminder, so your dealer maintenance plan is not affected. Doing so also allows us to inspect your vehicle on a regular basis, and look for any items that may need to be attended to under your manufacturer's warranty.
Major Scheduled Services
German Car Repair can perform all scheduled maintenance services whether your vehicle is under the manufacturer's warranty or not. Many maintenance requirements have been dropped by various manufacturers in an effort to save on service costs. As a result, the expected "lifetime" of most current vehicles is now only 10 years or 100,000 miles. Fuel filter replacements, transmission services, differential and transfer case fluid changes, etc. are no longer required maintenance items, as most of these components can last for 100,000 miles without being serviced. They won't last much longer than that though, unless they are maintained correctly.
Our service and maintenance estimates reflect our more robust recommended maintenance regimen, which is particularly important if you plan to keep your car for longer than 100,000 miles. Please contact us for more information specific to your vehicle.
Inspections
Pre-Purchase Inspection
If you're in the market for a pre-owned Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, or Volkswagen, the most important thing you can do before completing your transaction is to have the vehicle inspected by a qualified third party. Our Pre-Purchase Inspection (often referred to as a "PPI") includes an exhaustive check of all aspects of the vehicle, including drive-train components, structural integrity, cosmetic condition, and overall appearance. German Car Repair will prepare a comprehensive report on the vehicle based on our checklist.
Pre-Warranty Expiration Inspection
If your vehicle warranty is about to expire, a Pre-Warranty Expiration Inspection is a great idea. German Car Repair will identify problems you may not be aware of that are covered by the manufacturer. We recommend scheduling your inspection no later than 1 month, or 1,000 miles before your warranty is due to expire.