Top 10 Road Safety Tips

 

• Don’t use your mobile phone whilst driving 
  Making or receiving a call, even using a ‘hands free’ phone, can distract your attention from driving and could lead to an accident. 
• Belt up in the back 
  In a collision, an unbelted rear passenger can kill or seriously injure the driver or a front seat passenger.
• Don’t drink and drive 
  Any alcohol, even a small amount , can impair your driving so be a safe driver don’t drive and drive.
• Slow down 
  At 35mph you are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian than at 30mph.
• Children 
  Children often act impulsively, take extra care outside schools, near buses and ice cream vans when they might be around.
• Take a break 
  Tiredness is thought to be a major factor in more than 10% of road accidents. Plan to stop for at least a 15 minute break every 2 hours on a long journey.
• Walk safely 
  When crossing a road always use a pedestrian crossing if there is one nearby. Help others to see you by wearing fluorescent or reflective clothing in poor light conditions.
• Anticipate 
  Observe and anticipate other road users and use your mirrors regularly.
• Use car seats 
  Child and baby seats should be fitted properly and checked every trip.
• Keep your distance 
  Always keep a two second gap between you and the car in front.

Mercedes Benz Maintenance Tips

Mercedes Benz Maintenance Tips

The days of the full-service gas station are gone, and modern cars can go 30,000 miles or more without a tune-up. So it’s up to YOU to check the little things before they become big, expensive problems by checking under the hood of your Mercedes on a regular basis.

Following these simple monthly checks will alert you to potential problems that can be dealt with before you get stranded or end up paying for expensive auto repairs.

Tuneup

An old-fashioned maintenance term that’s nearly non-existent today. With electronic ignition and fuel injection came computers that took over control of engine settings. Early versions allowed for some tinkering, but today’s engines require advanced equipment and training.

You can, however, replace normal maintenance parts and still see improved engine performance from your Mercedes. Here are common maintenance parts you can replace to significantly increase performance and reduce major problems.

Engine Repairs

Oil pressure light flickering? Engine knock? Both? Major repair problem or minor annoyance? Either way, you should always quickly investigate the source before it becomes an even bigger problem.

Oil pressure – or more precisely the lack of it – in certain parts of your Mercedes’ engine can become a major repair nightmare. All engines lose a certain amount of oil pressure over time as normal wear increases bearing clearances. But unusually low oil pressure in an engine, regardless of mileage, is often an indication that something is seriously wrong and requires immediate repairs.

That “tappet” noise may be only one sticking lifter but it may also indicate an oil flow problem that will eventually cause damage to at least one valve.

A flickering oil light is more difficult to troubleshoot if your engine is not obviously in need of major repair work. Bring it in to Malubu Motors and let us take a look at it. We have the Certified Master Mechanics to make sure your Mercedes Benz is running in tip-top condition.

Modern engines with hydraulic lifters, tight tolerance bearings and miniature oil filters require conscientious monitoring of oil pressure.

The following diagnostic tips (excerpted from “Troubleshooting Low Oil Pressure”, Underhood Service, 10/97) will help you determine whether you have a major repair problem or just a minor annoyance.

Brakes

Your brakes keep your family safe. Mercedes brake parts and repairs – expensive? Yes! Mercedes brake rotors, unlike domestics, are built with minimal thicknesses to save weight – meaning they can’t be “turned”; they must be replaced. Bring it in to Malubu Motors and let us take a look at it. We have the Certified Master Mechanics to make sure your Mercedes Benz is running in tip-top condition.

Mercedes brake rotors are also more sensitive to warping from heat, and overheated brakes are the second most common cause of failure (first is wear-and-tear).

Visually inspect brakes’ condition at least every six months. Here are some things to look for:

Mercedes Brake Rotors (discs) should be inspected all the way around the surface and on both sides for any concentric scoring (grooves) or obvious defects. If defects are found, replace your rotors immediately. Any rotor discoloration may be a sign of overheating and an inspection by an Mercedes brake repair professional is needed.

Mercedes Brake Pads will normally match rotor scoring but should also be inspected for uneven wear, breakage or cracking on the friction surface. Again, if defects are found, replace the pads immediately. Many cars also have brake pad sensors to warn of pad wear. If your Mercedes uses sensors, replace these at the same time as your pads.

Mercedes Brake Drums (if equipped) should also be inspected on a regular basis. Check for the same types of flaws as noted above. The drums should not have excessive grooves or have a deep “trough” dug into them where the shoes ride.

Mercedes Brake Shoes (if equipped) should be worn evenly and have no rivets protruding to the friction surface.

Electrical System

Today’s auto electrical systems are getting more intricate and are stressing the limits of current technology but they are basically the same design as 30 years ago. What can today’s do-it-yourselfer do to keep from being electrically-challenged in the middle of nowhere? A quick overview of your Mercedes’ electrical system would be a good start.

Bring it in to Laguna Motor Werks and let us take a look at it. We will make sure your Mercedes Benz is running in tip-top condition.

10 Tips to Keep Your Car in Tip Top Shape

1. Rainproof Your Windshield
Manufacturers recommend replacing your blades every three months. Keep a spare set in your trunk. A product such as Rain Clear can also help minimize the work of your wipers; spray it onto the glass every few weeks. In some light rains, it makes the wipers almost unnecessary.

2. No DIY Car Wash
Washing a car at home uses five to 20 times more water than a professional car wash. You also aren’t doing your car any favors: A recent study at the University of Texas proved that a single DIY wash can leave scratches as deep as a tenth of the paint’s total thickness. 

3. Eliminate Distractions 
As driving instructors stress, your hands tend to follow where your eyes are looking. Adjusting the radio dial takes 5.5 seconds—and that’s 5.5 seconds when his eyes may not be on the road and both hands may not be on the wheel. Dialing a phone triples your risk of a crash. Reaching for a moving object increases it nine times. Worst of all is texting, which makes you 23 times more likely to crash. “Avoid the temptation to multitask behind the wheel altogether and put your cell phone in the glove compartment every time you get in the car,” says Ray Lahood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

 

4. Lower Your Seat
Drivers who sit higher feel as if they’re driving slower. Thus, SUV drivers, who are already piloting the vehicles most prone to roll, drive faster because they feel like they’re creeping along. So lower your seat to get the sensation of more speed. 

5. Turn Your Lights On
A Canadian study from 1994 found that people who drive with their headlights on during daylight hours have an 11 percent decreased risk of being in an accident with another automobile. 

6. Assume the Position 
Smaller blind spots mean you’ll crane your neck less. Try this mirror adjustment method from Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of NPR’s Car Talk: Set your rearview mirror as you normally would, then tilt it upward so you sit up straight. Lean your head against the driver’s window, then set your left mirror so you can see the back corner of your car. Lean right to do the right mirror. 

7. Save Your Clutch 
Don’t ride your clutch in anticipation of shifts. You’ll accelerate quicker and your clutch will last longer if you use it like expensive cologne—sparingly. 

8. Check Your Hands 
Your seat is positioned properly when you can hang your wrists over the top of the steering wheel. And remember not to grip the wheel as you would a tennis racket, with your thumbs wrapped around so that they connect in back with your fingers. Instead, leave your thumbs on top of the wheel. Otherwise, in a collision, the wheel can whip back around and snap your thumbs. 

9. Don’t Jump the Gun 
Ramp metering, or the use of traffic signals at freeway on-ramps to regulate flow, forces a small time penalty on drivers at the beginning of their commutes, but it pays off. “Requiring vehicles to wait 20 or 30 seconds can save drivers 5 to 10 minutes on their trip,” says David Schrank, Ph.D., of the Texas Transportation Institute. 

10. Look Left, Then Right 
Forty percent of car crashes occur at intersections, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as do 22 percent of all fatal crashes.

Mercedes Benz and BMW Tips

Do yourself a favor right now. Go out and look at the color of the antifreeze in your Benz or BMW.

(Make sure the engine has cooled before opening the coolant cap). Is it by chance GREEN? 

If you have anything other than the pale orange or now the new blue Mercedes antifreeze or the blue BMW antifreeze In your cooling system, please read on because you may be harming your engine! As a bit of a background, antifreeze Is in many ways a miracle formulation, because it not only lowers the freezing point of water, it also raises the boiling point, assuming there is a correct 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water.

Laguna Motor Wërks strongly urges that only Genuine Mercedes and BMW antifreeze (properly mixed with distilled Water) should be used in your car because it contains special additives to keep the coolant from corroding your engine block, radiator and engine cylinder heads. Apparently Mercedes and BMW antifreeze contains buffers to keep the pH of the coolant as close to neutral as possible, which then prevents corrosion and leaching of the engine. PH is a measure of the relative concentrations of acids versus bases in liquid. Other name brand formulations, while claiming to be specifically formulated for aluminum engine, do not contain the correct pH buffers.

While genuine Mercedes and BMW coolant is a little more expensive than the “Green stuff”, think of it as extremely cheap insurance to extend the life of your Mercedes or BMW investment. Also note that Mercedes and BMW recommends changing the coolant at least once every three years. Promise yourself you will check your coolant and have it drained and refilled with the Factory Mercedes or BMW stuff.

Those of you with the correct fluid, give yourselves a pat on the back.

4 Ways to Improve Engine Response

Keep Your Fuel Filter Clean

One of the easiest ways to improve engine and throttle response is by making sure your fuel filter is clean. When you stomp on the gas pedal, it sends a signal for more fuel to go into the engine. To get there, it has to pass through the fuel filter (which filters out impurities and sediment, keeping your engine clean). Asking and engine with a clogged or dirty fuel filter to respond to throttle input is like asking someone to sprint with a muddy towel over their nose and mouth. They can probably do it, but it won’t be pretty.

In addition to poor engine response, symptoms of a clogged fuel filter include rough idling, poor fuel economy, trouble starting, sputtering and flat-out stopping. Cleaning a fuel filter is pretty easy, though. Most cars have their filters in the fuel lines between the fuel pump and the injectors. Because they’re made to be cleaned and replaced (if they’re really dirty), it’s fairly easy to pull a fuel filter from your car’s engine. You can clean it by blowing some compressed air on it until air flows through it freely. But if you can’t get air to flow through it, it’s time for a replacement. Put your dirty fuel filter back in for one last trip to the auto parts store. Playing taps as you throw it away is optional.

Fuel Pump

The fuel pump should pump fuel to the engine. If this isn’t working properly, the engine won’t get the fuel it needs and it won’t respond as it should. Unlike a fuel filter, the fuel pump is harder to fix. You should make sure to take your car into Laguna Motor Werks where sometimes the only solution is to replace. Make sure to have it looked at by a BMW or Mercedes Benz specialist to make sure.

Fuel Lines

The lines that connect the fuel pump to the gas tank are an integral part of the engine process. If you have a kink or a leak in the line, the fuel pump and thus entire engine starting process wi

Sensor Problem

Sometimes engine problems aren’t mechanical at all, but could be a sensor problem. Two main sensors that cause problems are the mass air flow sensor and the engine speed sensor. The mass air flow sensor (MAF) measures and reports about the airflow into the engine in order for the computer to request the right amount of fuel. If this sensor is bad, the engine won’t recieve the proper amount of fuel and this will throw off the engine’s combustion, thus decreasing engine response.

The engine speed sensor measures how fast the engine’s crankshaft is spinning. The car needs a specific amount of air and fuel to work correctly at different speeds. If the computer doesn’t know how fast the engine is working, it doensn’t know how much air or fuel to send and it will lose its responsiveness.

Fixing this problem is fairly easy, but you should take your car into Laguna Motor Werks where we can hook up a diagnostic code reader to the car in order to see which sensor is not working.

Tips to Maintaining Your Car’s Value

Tips for maintaining your bmw or mercedes benz value

Regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive, or how old the vehicle is there are several simple things you can do to slow its depreciation and maintain its value.

Eventually, you will sell your car, trade it in, or return it following a lease program. Many factors are considered when evaluating a vehicle’s worth in all of these instances, including condition, age and total mileage. While some of these items are beyond your control, there are several within reach.

Kelley Blue Book’s Executive Editor, Charlie Vogelheim, recommends simple ways to retain and maintain your vehicle’s value. “If a consumer puts a little time and care into their vehicle, depending on the make and model, there could be up to a $1,000 difference in the car’s value down the road.”

Exterior/Interior Condition.  Appearances are important when it comes to perceived value. “When you go to sell, a clean, shiny car gives the impression that you care about that car and have maintained it properly during your time of ownership,” Nerad says. “And the better the car looks, the broader its appeal.” So even if you don’t get a lot of money for it, you will probably sell it quicker.

A thorough washing and waxing on a regular basis will help maintain the quality of a vehicle internally and externally. A one time investment of $50 – $100 for seat covers is one way to help maintain the quality of the interior cloth or leather seats. Smokers may want to consider keeping the cigarettes out of the car. Cigarette smoke is tough to remove or cover up and can affect the overall value of a car.

Stay on top of maintenance. Save receipts from car washes, oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations and other services that demonstrate long-term vehicle care. Providing a verified history of maintenance often helps maintain vehicle value.

Avoid excessive miles. We know, you purchased the car to drive it, and that means putting miles on it. However, excessive mileage — more than the Federal Highway Administration’s national average of 13,476 miles per year — is not only perceived to be bad for the vehicle, it actually does put undue wear and tear on parts. Thus, it’s bad for resale. So if you plan to take long road trips for pleasure or business, weigh the option of renting a car. “The cost of the rental will likely be less than the potential depreciation in the value caused by high mileage,” Nerad says.

Watch where you park. Your car is very susceptible to the elements — wind, snow, sun, etc. For instance, excessive sun can damage paint, trim and moldings. Extreme cold can wreak havoc on your car’s internal engine components. “If you can, park your car in a climate-controlled garage or other type of shelter,” Nerad says.

Auto Repair Tips from Laguna Motor Werks in Laguna Beach

It’s not a restaurant, don’t treat it as such. Avoid eating and drinking inside your car-and by all means, don’t smoke. Spills, cigarette smoke and stains can ruin the appearance — and smell — of your car’s interior. “No one wants a vehicle with stained upholstery and a funky odor,” Nerad says. “If you do spill something, clean it up immediately.”

Free Oil Change from Laguna Motor Wërks

Laguna Motor Wërks is giving away one free oil change for our BMW and Mercedes-Benz clients. To enter to win, simply click HERE go to Laguna Motor Wërks and enter your email into our newsletter data base to win!

The New BMW 4 Series

BMW is in the middle of a model-name renaissance. To help bring the whole family in line, all coupes will become even-numbered models, with the sedans retaining their odd-numbered nomenclature. Think of the long relationship between the 5 Series and 6 Series to get a good idea. So with that in mind, the 3 Series coupe is dead. Long live the new 4 Series.

Bimmer’s new coupe features a unique body that is longer, wider and sits much lower to the tarmac than its predecessor. As a result, we get the best-looking BMW this side of the Z4 in nearly 10 years.

 

The shape may be new, but everything else simply maintains the status quo established with the current 3er. The 4 Series comes in two models, the 428i and the 435i, each available with or without xDrive all-wheel drive. Just like the 328i, the 428i is powered by the TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder; the 435i gets its thrust from the TwinPower Turbo 3.0 straight six. Horsepower levels sit at 240 ponies for the 2.0, with the 3.0-liter pumping out 300 horses. Transmission choices consist of an 8-speed auto or an honest three-pedal manual with six forward cogs. Hallelujah.

Pricing for the new car sits between $41,425 for the base 428i and $46,925 for the 435i. Add $2,000 if you want the xDrive models.

Summer Driving Tips

Here are tips to keep your car in great shape during the hot summer months. 

Cooling System

Your cooling system is less crucial when it is cold outside but becomes increasingly important as the summer months approach. Your car will need to remain cool to keep running. Have your cooling system checked to make sure it is ready for the hot summer months.

Brakes

Stopping your vehicle is one of the most critical means in avoiding and accident. Your brakes need to be in optimal condition at all times of the year. The brakes on your car should be checked by a certified Mercedes-Benz and BMW specialist at Laguna Beach Motor Werks every season. All little problems with your breaks should be fixed. If these minor fixes are not made, then they may turn into big problems on the road. Take a look at your engine to make sure all of the valves and filters and other parts of your engine are working properly. It’s a nightmare when your car breaks down in the middle of the road, under the hot sun.

Tires 

Tires are important year round but can become increasingly dangerous during the heat of summer. The hot weather can cause the air in your tires to expand and cause your tires to become over inflated. Over inflated tires can burst and cause dangerous tire blow-outs on the road. See if your tires need to be rotated, check the air pressure, or see if your tires need to be replaced.

Air Conditioning 

If your comfort is important to you than you should make sure your air conditioner is in good order. There’s nothing more frustrating than being stuck in rush hour traffic with no air conditioning during the hot summer months. Make sure to take your car in for a checkup on your air conditioning – You will thank yourself later.

Oil 

As always, your car’s oil is of the utmost importance. Make sure to have oil and filter changes performed regularly by Mercedes-Benz and BMW specialists at Laguna Motor Werks.

Emergency Items 

The summer heat can be brutal and in some cases fatal. Take the necessary precautions to keep you and your family safe by keeping a short list of emergency items in your car. Items like flares, first aid kits, and even water can be crucial in an emergency.

Mercedes Working on BMW 3 Series GT Rival

Rumor has it German automaker Mercedes-Benz is developing a C-Class Sports Coupe model that could rival the BMW 3 Series GT and the Audi A5 Sportback.

Expected to arrive in 2016, the new version of the C-Class will actually be a five-door hatchback that aims to combine the roominess of a station wagon and the sporty look of a coupe, as German website Autobild reports. That sounds like a BMW 3 Series GT competitor alright!

The new niche vehicle will most likely be powered by the same engines fitted to the standard C-Class model lineup, including the 2.2-liter CDI, the turbocharged 1.6-liter, the turbocharged 2.0-liter (all four-cylinder mills), and the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. Power outputs will range from 156 HP to as high as 333 HP.

The C-Class Sports Coupe will also feature a redesigned interior with more head and leg room, a panoramic sunroof and, as one would expect, a substantially higher price tag when compared with the sedan.