BMW Builds in Brazil

Who knew Brazilians were into Beemers? According to the online news source Automotive News Europe, apparently they are as BMW has just announced plans to invest an addition $261 million in a Brazilian factory in order to meet the demands of Brazilian motorists. The new plant is estimated to create around 30,000 new vehicles and see where demands stands from there. Interest in a Brazil auto plant was prompted by a decline in sales in China and Europe in recent years. 

For a dealer alternative for professional maintenance, repairs, and upgrades on BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini Cooper autos, Tulsa European auto enthusiasts need look no further than European Autospecialist.   

Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 Puts You In Control

Mercedes-Benz is putting the world at drivers' fingertips along with a personal touch with its all new mbrace2 Technology. From personalized navigation, returning messages, checking social media, and other very handy features, the mbrace2 system is turning heads as drivers turn corners. 

For quality Mercedes-Benz and other European automotive maintenance, repair, and upgrades, look no further than Tulsa, OK's own European auto dealership alternative for European auto maintenance at European Autospecialist.  

Send Cars, Not Jobs: Spartanburg, SC Is Awarded NAFTZ Top Vehicle Exporter

Much congratulations are in order for one South Carolina BMW plant. Recently, the Spartanburg plant was recognized by the Nation Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) as the United State's top vehicle exporter. In order to attain this award, the factory produces a mind-boggling 1,000 cars each day for BMW enthusiasts around the world. The plant is already projected to be on track to produce 300,000 vehicles this year while exporting around 70% to over 130 markets around the globe. While many businesses are sending their businesses overseas, BMW continues to grow jobs in the United States. For more information this story, see BMW USA News' feature on the award. 


For quality European automobile repair and maintenance, see Tulsa, Oklahoma's dealer alternative at European Autospecialist for quality service to BMW, Mini Cooper, and Mercedes-Benz autos. 

Light Inspiration: The Continued Legacy of the BMW Headlamps

From the debut in the 1960s, the twin circle headlights have been a staple icon of every BMW automobile. Though fairly common in their time, these two pairs have set BMW cars apart from the competition and has given ever BMW car or suv as very distinct personality on the road. As BMW designers and engineers design the next generation of BMW automobiles, the challenge has been how to preserve the style of the past while utilizing the technology of future. Newer BMWs will incorporation LED (light-emitting diode) lamps for the head and tail lamps in the vehicle for superior illumination with increased efficiency. For more on the history and future of BMW lamp design, check out this video from BMW's Youtube channel. 

As the weather begins to slight, even ever so slightly, European Autospecialist in Tulsa, OK reminds you to stay up to date on the automobile maintenance for your prize European auto. For all your European auto maintenance, repair, or upgrade, look no further than Tulsa's own  European Autospecialist. 

Mercedes Benz A-Class Gets an iPhone Upgrade

In the past, we've reported about the iPhone compatibility of BMW cars, but now Mercedes Benz has announced that drivers of their all new A-Class will have full use of every feature of the iPhones from interior controls that are both user-friendly and safe. Instead of gazing down at a small handheld iPhone screen, users will be able to view all media on the A-Class' built-in screen in the dash and will be able to safely navigate their phones using a very simple joystick/wheel style selector device located in the center of the cockpit. From checking the weather, shuffling through your music mix, or using GPS and Siri voice commands,  iPhones and Mercedes Benz autos will go hand-in-hand for an optimal driving experience. For more information, Mercedes-Benz-Blog has this feature. For Tulsa's dealer alternative for expert repairs, maintenance, or upgrades for Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Mini Cooper autos in the Tulsa, OK area, visit the official website of Tulsa's own European Auto Specialist. 

Attached at the Hip: In Love With a 25 Year Old BMW

When it comes to European automobiles, their owners become extremely attached to them because of their many years of joyful driving. A combination of high performance and high quality components make popular European autos like BMW and Mercedes Benz cars to be cars that driver's hold onto longer and want to pass onto their children. For Georgia graphic designer Dave Duran, his love for his 1987 BMW 325i has become a near obsession as he has kept the 25 year old car running in top condition. In one mini-documentary about Duran's relationship with his 325i, he describes the decades-long love affair he's had with not only BMW cars general, but his specific BMW 325i as well. He goes on to describe how he wants to pass his car onto his son, even though his son is not old enough to take the wheel. In order to keep his prized European auto running like new, Duran keeps his car up to date with recent repairs and automotive maintenance. To watch the documentary about Duran and his BMW, you can watch the it on BMWBLOG's feature. For more on quality maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, visit European Autospecialist for quality European Auto repairs, maintenance, and upgrades in the Tulsa, OK area and beyond.

Karl Benz: The Father of the Automobile

Karl Benz

Though Henry Ford's name is synonymous with the modern automobile, Ford's real claim to fame comes from his ability to produce an affordable automobile for the general market. The real father and inventor of the automobile was a German engineer by the name of Karl Benz. Though working closely with other engineers of the time period, Benz first acquired a patent for his invention of the internal combustion engine in 1879. From there, Benz developed the very first gasoline-powered automobile which he acquired the patent for in 1886. At the time, developing a method of steering a self-propelled vehicle with four wheels was difficult, so most of Benz's automobiles had three wheels. Because many roads at that time were simply two ruts for wheels on either side of the carriage, this made the ride of the original three-wheeled vehicles quite uncomfortable, if not treacherous for passengers. In order perfect his invention for the wider market, Benz later went into a business with Austrian businessman and car racer Emil Jellinek; who had the nickname "Monsieur Merecedes" in racing circles. The legacies of Benz and Jellinek continue in every Mercedes-Benz to hit the highways and city streets. For more information on the earliest automobiles from Karl Benz, visit this post from 3 Wheelers.com.

Over a 125 years since the patent of Karl Benz’s first automobile, his name lives on in every Mercedes-Benz automobile as being the standard in automotive excellence. An excellent car requires excellent maintenance and repair. For the finest quality European automotive service for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Mini Cooper autos in the Tulsa area, look no further than Tulsa’s favorite dealer alternative at European Autospecialist.

BMW X5 Comes Out On Top

Though many enjoy seeing how BMW automobiles stack up against Jaguar and Mercedes Benz model autos, this was quite literally the scene in one Chicago parking garage as a 74-year-old driver was returning a rented BMW X5. Not as familiar with the car as he should have been, the man accidentally pushed down on the gas instead of the brake upon entering a space which sent the X5 through multiple cables, landing on top of a 2003 Mercedes Benz E-Class and a 2005 Jaguar XJ. The man responsible was cited for driving too fast for conditions, but other than being a bit disoriented by the scene, no one was injured. For more on this peculiar story, check out this article from BMWBLOG. Had this happened in Tulsa, most of the cars involved could have benefited from the services of European Auto Specialist. Tulsa's favorite dealer alternative for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, let the BOSCH certified technicians from European Auto Specialist handle all your BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Mini Cooper repairs and upgrades. 

Internet Marketing Drives Auto Sales

In a recent blog post by BMWBLOG, Bloomberg news reported on the changing face of automobile marketing. As more individuals begin to utilize the internet for information on automobiles, internet marketing has begun to play a much larger role in how consumers shop for new vehicles as well as various other products and services. A great example of the influence  that social media, blogging, and internet ad campaigns have had on the auto market comes from BMW who reported a $110 million gain in revenue for its 1-Series line. The 1-Series line by BMW was only advertised via the web which expresses the influence the internet alone has on product marketing.  The auto industry is anticipating a large shift from traditional methods of advertising by devoting a larger focus towards internet marketing. By creating an engaging online marketing experience for the new generation of automobile enthusiasts as well as those who have begun utilizing the web to assist in their buying decisions, auto manufacturers hope to take advantage of a huge marketing opportunity that is only continuing to expand. 


Keeping up with European auto enthusiasts online, check out the official website for Tulsa's own European Auto Specialist for more information on the Tulsa dealer alternative for all your European automotive repairs, maintenance, and upgrades.  

BMW's i3 & i8 Models Help Owners Save Money, Just Not With Their Pricetags

As BMW enthusiasts gear up for the release of the all new BMW i3 and BMW i8 electric and plug-in  hybrid models to hit the streets in 2014, it is doubtful that the drivers will be clamoring to these models just in order to save money on gas. With the i3's price tag rumored by Bloomberg to be in the +100,000 EUR ($125,510 USD) range, customers will be primarily paying for the performance, innovation, and luxury of a BMW without near the emissions. Still very much resembling concept cars, the sci-fi inspired carbon fiber bodies along with polycarbonite windows, doors, and fenders are sure to turn heads on the highway. Both of these vehicles are just as much about innovation as they are about energy conservation in order to help maintain the vision of what the automotive industry can accomplish as long as the demand is present. For more on other BMWs as well as other favorite European automotive imports, visit the official site of Tulsa's dealer repair alternative at European Autospecialist. 

Who Says Mercedes' Don't Grow On Trees?

What if instead of a car being built in a plant, it was built from a plant? With the new Mercedes Benz concept car, the Biome, it is the first automobile not built, but rather grown from organic matter that is lighter than plastic yet stronger than steel. At an astonishing 875.5 lbs, the car's all-new BioFibre body is completely biodegradable. The different parts of the car are not built, but rather grown in a lab with a genetic code that was been modified by genetic engineers. The car is rumored to run on oxygen that it absorbs directly from the BioFiber. Each wheel is grown from a seed of its own. For more information on this, one of the most innovative designs at the Los Angeles Auto Show, check out this write up on it from Gizmag. For all Mercedes autos that don't require Miracle Grow, put your auto in the capable hands of the dealer alternative at European Auto Specialist. 

Reminesing the Volkswagen Micro Bus

In a new photo gallery from News Times, the van that shaped an entire generation is brought back with descriptions of many of the monumental happenings in the history of the Volkswagen Microbus. A precursor to the modern-day mini-van, the Microbus brought a fairly fuel-friendly alternative to a generation in need of a utility vehicle rather than simply a cruiser. With its simple design and spacious interior, the Microbus quickly took off with the hippie generation of the 1960s; quickly becoming an icon in its generation. Being very customizable, Volkswagen came out with the ever-popular Westfalia camping edition van that featured two sleeping areas, a built-in stove, sink, and refrigerator. Celebrate this historic icon with this photo album. For all your other European auto repair and upgrade needs, check in with the experts at European Auto Specialist.

The Hybrid Hype Continues: Mini Cooper Gets Bitten By The Hybrid Bug

According to a variety of sources, there has been an all-new 2014 Mini Cooper Hybrid spotted in test trial. For those of you saying "What's the big deal? Everyone is coming out with a hybrid. Why is this one special?" The difference in this hybrid is that the car is rumored to be all-wheel drive model with the rear wheels not even connected to a gas-powered engine. According to Car & Driver, the vehicle brings an innovative twist to the hybrid auto scene with rear wheels being powered exclusively by the an electric engine. Not a whole lot else is known about the car even since the story broke in March in 2011, but the scarcity of news just adds to the mystery of this upcoming Mini Cooper release. For another look, check out the break of the story at Car & Driver. For all your European auto repair, maintenance, and upgrade needs, check in with the professionals at European Auto Specialist.

High Performance Meets High Fuel Efficiency in BMW's i-Series

BMW has always had a reputation for bringing high performance to the city streets, but with some announcements this year about getting serious about fuel economy, BMW has introduced their i-Series cars; the "megacity" i3 and the high performance i8. Though projected to be 2014 models, the autos are already redefining what it means to meld performance with efficiency. The BMW i8 is a high performance electric-hybrid with plug-in capabilities and the i3 is an efficient plug-in electric city cruiser. With a light carbon body and 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds for the i3 and 4.6 seconds for the i8, these are some of the highest performing autos to ever run on electricity. In addition to performance, when these hit the streets sometime in 2013, they'll be some of the fasting charging electric cars on the road. For more specs on these groundbreaking rides and information about their release, check out Zero Emission Motoring and this sneak peak by Car & Driver. As always, for the finest in European auto repair and maintenance, visit the experts at Tulsa's own European Autospecialist.

BMW and Stitcher Radio Collaborate to Bring Internet Radio to the Road

Think cars and cell phones don’t mix? In most cases, you’d be right, but with the innovative iDrive infotainment system from BMW, BMWs and iPhones go so hand-in-hand, you don’t even need your hands on your phone to safety use many applications of your iPhone. With this idea of safe access in mind, BMW is proud to announce collaboration with the Stitcher Radio application. If you enjoy great radio show programming online, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for within Stitcher Radio’s 5,000+ radio shows with topics ranging from news, tech talk, politics, sports, religion, arts, and culture; all streaming from your iPhone. With this new announcement in integration of Stitcher with the BMW iDrive system, access to all your favorite radio shows is right at your fingertips. BMW recently announced their collaboration with Stitcher at SXSW 2012 and plans on featuring more of user’s favorite iPhone apps for the iDrive system in the future. For more information on the BMW iDrive system, visit your local professionals at European Auto Specialists.

As The Wrench Turns: Stories from the Shop

It’s funny how people’s perceptions and actual reality works out sometimes. We had a customer’s vehicle towed into the shop the other day. It had lost power and had broken down on the road. After opening the hood and inspecting the damage, we had found that an idler pulley bearing was failing. The pulley had locked up, causing the main fan belt tensioner to literally break and pull out of it’s mounting bolt holes in the oil filter housing. After making an estimate, I had also noticed they were due for their oil service, past due actually. The customer told me that they had already had the oil service done at some quickie lube place about a week ago. They said they had received our notification that it was due, but thought our price was too high and our hours to inconvenient.

Upon reflection, they found their perception to be false. After the oil service at the “cheap” lube center was performed, it was no longer the advertised price, in fact, it turned out to be more expensive than ours. Also, had they brought the vehicle into the shop, we would have noticed the pulley and told her about the pending failure of her vehicle. See, these are the only cars we work on. There is a reason for that: we know these cars. We could have told her abut the pulley being worn, how it was making noises it shouldn’t.

So, with our expensive oil service and inconvenient hours, they potentially would have been without the car for one day and a bill of about $600.00. Instead, they got the cheaper oil change that was more expensive, a vehicle that had broken down conveniently on the side of the road, then had the convenience of waiting for the tow truck, us having the car for 2 days with a bill that added $750 to the normal repair.

OK, we may not have the most convenient hours, but this is our job, just like you have yours. But in this world of instant gratification and convenience, be careful, some things are better with a little time, thought and inconvenience.

BMW History and Facts

After years and years of working on BMW's, I've amassed a fair bit of knowledge about the Bayerische Motoren Werke as it is known in Germany. These are a few little tidbits of info about our favorite German car company.

• Many believe the BMW roundel is designed after an airplane propeller spinning. Actually, it’s design is based in the Bavarian flag's blue and white checkerboard.

• BMW was originally an airplane motor manufacturer as well as motorbokes. After World War II, Germany was banned from building any vehicles that could be used for warfare. For survival, BMW bought the car company DIXIE and began building car engines.

• In the late 1920’s, an experimental train called "The Rail Zeppelin" used a BMW IV aircraft engine. On June 21st, 1931, the "Train" covered a distance of 160 miles in 98 minutes, reaching a speed of 143MPH, a record that was held for almost 25 years. The German National Railway deemed the propeller drive too dangerous. Due to the braking technology of the time, it was too difficult to integrate the "Rail Zeppelin" into the railway network. The "Train" was sent to the scrap yard in 1939.

• Most car advances that car manufacturers advertise have been on most BMW models for at least a couple of years. ABS brakes were standard on BMW’s in the late 80s’

For all of your European auto needs, come to European Autospecialist at 4121 S. 72nd E. Ave. in Tulsa, OK.

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The Internet and Misconceptions

The internet is a wonderful thing, really. It’s the worlds filling cabinet! Anything and everything can be found here. But, is it all correct? Now, we know there is no way for the human race to monitor, correct or clear up everything on the internet. The best thing we can do is educate! The more my customers know and understand about their vehicles, the easier my job is!

What I would like to write about today is a misconception about BMW automatic transmissions in vehicles that are 1994 and newer. Recently, I had a customer on the phone that unfortunately had a transmission that was failing. He was telling me that he had read on multiple forums that this was a problem with BMW’s. Well, that’s not really true. And the cause is not limited to BMW. The initial problem started with us, people and society. We didn’t like maintaining our vehicles, we didn’t like the cost involved, and we didn’t like the inconvenience of not having our cars. It brings to mind one of my favorite saying “Careful what you ask for, you may just get it.” As petroleum technologies advanced and synthetic fluids came into the picture, factories started filling their transmissions with “Long-Life” synthetic fluids and telling people that maintenance was no longer necessary. They said that the transmissions were filled with “lifetime” fluid. Well, this made people happy, something they no longer had to worry about right? Wrong, just like there is no such thing as a “maintenance free battery.”

Basically what that says is, use it until it fails then buy another one from me and I can make a bigger profit, faster. This applies to almost everything around us, we have become a use- it-and-buy-a-new one society, and we are getting worse. But I regress. Transmissions require service if you plan on keeping and driving you car for any real length of time. Transmissions should have their fluid service approximately every 60,000 miles. We see a lot of cars with transmissions failing around the 80,000 to 100,000 mile range. Hey, guess what? That’s the “lifetime” of a transmission that sees no service! We have long-time customers on their second or third BMW with over 150,000 miles on them. You know how many transmission problems they’ve had?? None, why? Because we have serviced them. On the basics of transmissions, nothing has changed. They still wear, the fluid still breaks down, but because the damage doesn’t happen for a much longer time, the factories don’t care. Let’s face it; they want you to buy a new car every 3 to 5 years anyway. No machine lasts forever, or your “lifetime” without maintenance, unless you’re prepared to use it, throw it away and buy a new one.

Please Don't Ask

I understand that economic times are hard everywhere. I understand that everyone is looking to either save money and/or getting the best they can for the dollar. No one can be criticized for this. But, when cutting corners, I personally don’t understand why your car’s service and repairs seem to be an area people seem to think are a good one to cut. Yes, some service and repairs are expensive. Yes, there are repair shops that are less expensive than our business. These shops use aftermarket, less expensive parts and may allow you to take your own parts in. We don’t do this. I know this may sound harsh or elitist, but we do have good reasons. First is quality. We use factory parts; we know they’re going to fit properly; We know they are of high quality; we know that if there is a premature failure, there is no problem with warranty and the factory is backing their own quality. Now, I understand that if you buy a part from the dealer, you would think, “I bought the right part, why won’t you install it for me?” That is our policy. We stand behind everything we do. If we were to compromise in one area or policy then you could ask yourself, what’s to keep them from compromising in other policies or areas?

Think about it, your car is the third highest expense in your life (The first being children and second being your home), and a very important necessity. You need your car to go to work (to make your hard earned money), to go to the store for food, to protect you from inclement weather while you are taking care of your responsibilities. Your car is something that you depend on. Are you really wanting to compromise with its dependability? What if you were hurt and had to go the emergency room? You wouldn’t take a bottle of whiskey with you because it’s cheaper than the Hospital’s anesthesia? It’s amazing how many phone calls we get from people that want to bring their own parts in, parts that have been purchased online, at an auto parts store, from the salvage yard, etc. Ask yourself this question; “Why is that part cheaper?” I could give you at least 50 different reasons why. I mean why buy a diamond wedding band when a cubic zirconium looks just as good, right? There is truth in the saying “You get what you pay for,” and it works both ways. Sometimes the “cheap” way is even the most expensive way. I personally learned this with a washing machine. Keeping your car dependable and in top condition, that’s what we do, that’s our job, our focus. It’s what we do best, allow us that privilege and I promise, we won’t come to your job, bring our own stuff and ask you to compromise your quality.

What's Its Worth?

Unfortunately, if a car needs and expensive repair my job involves not only delivering the bad news, but also delivering what the cost of that repair is going to be. Over the years the change has been from “How much?” to “The car’s not worth it!!” Ok, let’s think about this a minute. How much is a car worth? That really is a big question. Most people today base the value of the car on the resale price, how much can they get for it. So, if your car is broken and you need an expensive repair, do you think you are going to get market value for it? Let’s say you do, now what? You now need a car, right? Are you going to buy a brand new car? If you are, then this article is not for you. New cars are expensive! So if you’re going to buy a used car, what kind of car are you going to get with the money that you got from selling your car? Why are those people selling their cars? Does it need repairs? Probably. What kind of service history does that car have? Did the previous owner take good care of it? Did it get regular scheduled maintenance? Hmmmm.

So, let’s take another look at our broken car. First, is it paid for? It’s nice not having a car payment! Insurance and tag costs are cheaper. Believe me, maintenance and repair costs on an older car are going to be less expensive over the years than the new cars! You probably already know the condition of your car, what repair it needs and services that are coming up. Is that large repair looking cheaper? Let’s say, for example, the repair is $3,500. If you were break that down, that’s less than a year of car payments. You don’t have to keep paying for another four or five years for repairs on top of a car payment. I have seen customers make $4,000 and $5,000 repairs, and come out with basically a new car that last them many more years, saving them thousands of dollars in the long run.