 Your engine air filter is a little something that makes a huge difference. You might not even realize it’s there until it’s clogged, but an engine filter check is a worthwhile investment to avoid bigger problems down the road, like costly engine replacement. At BMW of Freehold, we want our customers to get the most out of their air filters–and that starts with knowing what to look for.
How it Works
Your filter is made out of material like paper, foam, or cotton, that contains large sponge-like pores designed to let air in and keep abrasive particles out. To allow airflow with minimal resistance while also trapping the maximum amount of dirt and dust particles, filter designers use the largest surface area of material as possible and fold it into a series corrugations to make the filter fit into its “housing” in your vehicle.
Healthy Engine Filter
Every car, driver, road, and combination of the three is different, so it’s hard to diagnose whether or not your engine filter is healthy based on day-to-day driving experience. The best way to check its health is to visually check it yourself. If you can get to your engine filter, take a look at it. If it is clean, and you aren’t experiencing any engine performance issues, you likely have a healthy filter on your hands.
Unhealthy Engine Filter
If your filter is exhibiting any of these symptoms, take it in for a check-up.
Black areas on the section of the filter where outside air enters could mean there’s some build-up that needs to be addressed. Without an expert’s eye, it’s hard to tell whether or not your filter’s level of build-up is safe. Take your car in for a filter-check ASAP.
Age plays a major role in filter efficiency. The range for filter use varies significantly, roughly 15,000 to 30,000 miles between replacements, depending on the manufacturer. However, this number is largely affected by the type of road you normally take. If you spend a significant amount of time on dirty, dusty roads with ever present debris, a frequent engine filter check is in your best interest.
Leaving a faulty filter in place for too long can lead to expensive engine damage. If you have any doubts, or don’t have a solid idea of the last time your engine filter was replaced, it’s worth some attention. A stop by the BMW of Freehold service department for a filter check will help both you and your car breathe easier.
 BMW has made the already redesigned 2 Series even better. Now drivers will be able to get the newest 2015 2 Series models with xDrive all-wheel drive. The xDrive option will be available on both the 228i as well as the M235i for the low cost of $1,800.
The 228i xDrive will still come with a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and the M235i xDrive will come with a 322-horsepower 3.0-liter turbo six-liter engine, but the xDrive will increase the acceleration speed thanks to added traction. The M235i xDrive is expected to see a 0-62 increase of 0.2 seconds, when coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 2015 228i will start at $33,050 MSRP,* and the 2015 M235i will start at $44,050.* Our team at BMW of Freehold is ready and waiting to take you for a test drive in one of the new 2-Series models. Call or contact us online to schedule a test drive or learn more about these powerful new vehicles.
*Including $950 Destination and Handling.
Image: BMW
 There are very few times in life where you’re stuck living with complete strangers in a box-sized room on a floor with complete strangers living in similar box-sized rooms in a building with complete strangers living in box-sized rooms on different floors. The adjustment can be rough. Having the right electronics can help, as this guide from BMW of Freehold shows.
Laptop Computer. You want your college student to be able to send you emails, don’t you? Although universities are equipped with state of the art computer labs, having your own laptop computer for doing research and other school work makes the academic adjustment easier. Laptops are also a good way to spend a quiet evening watching movies or playing games (as opposed to loud evenings doing what college students do). Laptops, as you know, don’t work without a power source, so be sure to include a surge protector to plug it into along with an Ethernet cord in case your kid’s dorm room isn’t equipped with wireless. (Although, a college dorm not equipped with wireless might be grounds for transferring to a different school.)
TV/DVD Combo. There’s only so many hours a day that your little baby can spend studying, going to class, reading, and writing home. If the aforementioned laptop isn’t in the budget or doesn’t have the capabilities for DVD viewing, consider a TV/DVD combo. They’re inexpensive and portable. Portable DVD players come with a rechargeable battery, but battery life is limited. The last thing your homesick college student needs is for the power source to cut off right when E.T. is about to phone home, so it’s a good idea to include a power cord and an extension cord.
Music Devices. Remember when you moved into a dorm room years ago and had to lug up boxes full of 8-tracks/cassettes/albums/CDs? Remember how you wanted to rock out to some Manilow but were afraid the entire floor would make fun of you and beat you with soap wrapped in a pillow case if you did? Those college inconveniences are a thing of the past. Chances are your kid has an iPod or mp3 player loaded with music that makes you want to beat yourself with soap wrapped in a pillow case. What he or she might not have is a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones that fit into the music player or the DVD player. Dorm rooms can be noisy. Sometimes an escape from the noise that doesn’t involve leaping from a third-story window is a plus.
Miscellaneous Electronics. You don’t want to see all the pictures your kid takes with the digital camera he brings to college, but you will want pictures of him doing things that aren’t entirely stupid. It might also be a good idea if Junior cracks open a book on occasion. Book opening becomes more effective when accompanied with light, so feel free to mix in a desk lamp or one of those bed lamps that clips on to the head board (to enable studying by osmosis once he falls asleep after three minutes of reading).
Before embarking on a pre-college electronics shopping spree, check with the school on dorm room policies. Your kid may also want to speak to his roommate, before they’re arguing about snoring and leaving boxers or the floor by day four of college.
The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe offers something new for fans of the classic 3 Series: two extra doors. But the all-new 4 Series Gran Coupe has much more to attract drivers than that. With a spacious interior, four-mode Driving Dynamics Control, luxurious SensaTec upholstery, and much more, the new model is designed to make an impression. It’s coming soon to BMW of Freehold, so visit us today to learn more.
 Before Interstate highways covered the landscape, the roadside diner was a quintessential American staple. Sadly, today many of these historic establishments have disappeared. Once the massive infrastructure of modern-day superhighways was firmly established, these classic symbols of American heritage were largely bypassed and eventually forgotten, destined to become fading memories replaced with fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King or standard-fare chains like IHOP and Denny’s.
Fortunately, some individuals have put forth the effort not only to preserve and restore the old two-lane roadways where the old-time diners were located, but also to do the same for the businesses themselves. While independently-owned restaurants still exist, some of which have even gained recognition on the popular Food Network show hosted by Guy Fieri, Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives , we at BMW of Freehold prefer roadside diners like the ones in this Guardian article. Such locations can magically transport their visitors back to a simpler time, even in the midst of the 21st century. Here are some of our favorites from the list.
A good starting point is the Old Mother Road, or US Route 66. This highway stretches for 2,400 miles from Illinois to California, and for the past couple of decades or so, many sections of this iconic road have been restored and re-opened. Driving along Route 66, travelers can find some historic roadside diners along the way like Cookin’ From Scratch in Doolittle, Missouri and The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
The exit to Cookin’ From Scratch is marked by a vintage Chevy El Camino with a giant chicken in the back. This trucker favorite specializes in pan-fried chicken and pork tenderloin sandwiches and can be reached via Interstate 44, which follows the original path of Route 66. The Big Texan Steak Ranch is located off of Interstate 40 (also part of the old route 66), and features a 72 ounce steak that is free of charge to anyone who can finish the meal in 60 minutes or less. Over half a million travelers eat here each year, so the owners are certainly doing something right.
The next stop isn’t along Route 66, but it’s still one of the most famous diners in the world. The Iowa 80 Kitchen is part of the world’s largest truck stop in Walcott, Iowa on Interstate 80. This trucker’s haven serves up delicious eggs, pancakes, and bacon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Head up to the northern plains, and you’ll find Space Aliens Grill and Bar in Fargo, North Dakota. This diner has a flying saucer-shaped door and award-winning apple and hickory wood-smoked ribs.
If warmer climes are more to your liking, drive down to Lithonia, Georgia and visit Gladys Knight and Ron Winans’ Chicken And Waffles. Yes, this is the same Gladys Knight that sang “Midnight Train to Georgia” with the Pips, and the same late Ron Winans of the “First Family of Gospel.” Together, these two entertainers opened a diner in 1997 where patrons are treated to southern dishes like fried green tomatoes, braised oxtails, slow-cooked collard greens seasoned with smoked turkey wings, and Georgia peach cobbler.
Even though the remaining roadside diners in existence today only make up a fraction of what used to be out there, you can find them if you know where to look. An interactive website, Roadsideonline.com, allows users to search for local diners by state. While fast-food and chain restaurants continue to expand, it’s nice to know that there are still classic diners along the road that embrace the simplicity and values of the past.
 Quality control is one of the most important steps in auto manufacturing, reducing waste, reducing costs, and ensuring customer satisfaction. As important as quality control is to the process, it can often be expensive, time consuming, and somewhat ineffective. Quality control was subject to a greater degree of human error, with inspectors marking flaws manually with a pen and then making notes.
BMW, in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute in Karlsruhe, Germany, has developed a solution. They call it the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” as it merges the virtual and real world. Using this system, completed bumpers are sent to a quality control station where, using gesture recognition technology similar to that developed for video games, an operator points out defects in the bumper by pointing to them.
The new technology is an infrared light system that projects a grid over the bumper while a pair of 3D cameras monitor the grid and recognize and record gestures. Operators point to flaws as the system maps the coordinates of each mark, and if no flaws are found, operators make a wiping motion to indicate the bumper is flawless. This decreases the number of operator errors, and makes the inspector’s job much easier.
The new technology is currently being tailored for production purposes after having undergone a successful pilot program. BMW of Freehold invites you to visit our showroom today to learn more about this exciting new technology that will increase quality and decrease costs. Call or contact us online for more information or to schedule a test drive in one of our new BMW vehicles.
Image: BMW
 Many car drivers experience problems with their car battery during the winter. Damp, cold weather can wreak havoc with this critical car part. Many an early morning has been made more stressful by a car battery that doesn’t want to work. However, the warmer summer months are not entirely plain sailing when it comes to your car battery, with the sun and hot temperatures posing challenges. Here are some tips on caring for your car battery during the summer from BMW of Freehold.
Excess heat
The excess heat of summer can cause problems for the car battery. If the car is left in the sun for a long period of time or out on the road, the internal temperature can soar. The excess heat can cause the battery fluid to evaporate, which can damage the internal parts of the battery. If the components fail, the battery could eventually stop working entirely, which could be disastrous for you.
Checking the battery and electrical system
Before the summer starts, ask your service department to check the battery and electrical system. An expert eye may identify problems before they become too serious. While you may need to spend a bit of cash up front, you could easily discover that this is a good investment in the long run. As a general rule, if your car battery is more than three years old, you should have it fully tested to see how much more life there is in it.
Additional Battery Pressure
Even if the battery checks out, it is important to look after it during the summer months to ensure that it works at maximum efficiency. Ensure that you check your battery on a regular basis, and certainly before every long journey. Add distilled water as necessary and make sure that you carry additional distilled water for long journeys. Remember that the battery may be under additional pressure on long journeys. Idling in traffic, air conditioning, and the use of electronic devices such as GPS systems or portable DVD players can all place additional demands on your battery.
Battery Cleanliness
It is also important to keep the battery clean. Excess dust or dirt on the battery can become a conductor which, in turn, can drain battery power. Accumulated corrosion on the battery terminals may insulate the battery and inhibit the flow of current. Both these things can add additional pressure to the battery. You can easily clean the battery and terminals with an old toothbrush. Always clean the battery before the car heats up. Contact the BMW of Freehold service department for more information.
 Whether it’s to the beach, the pool, or Uncle Gary’s July 4th barbeque, higher temperatures mean more driving. It’s easier to be on the road in summertime than in winter. Sudden downpours can make surfaces slippery, but there’s (usually) no snow or ice to worry about, and plentiful daylight ensures good visibility. Surprisingly, though, long road trips in high temperatures can be hard on both car and occupants, and who wants to break down in the middle of nowhere? Enjoy peace of mind by taking care of these service needs at BMW of Freehold.
Schedule some summer maintenance
Cooling systems and air conditioning work harder when the mercury rises, so have a technician check them out before hitting the highway. Tires, batteries, and windshield washers can all cause problems as well, so add them to the list. Here are five things to ask about when you go in for summer maintenance:
1. Engine cooling
It’s not just a case of checking that the radiator or reservoir are full – and NEVER open a hot radiator cap! Coolant needs replacing every few years to avoid corrosion inside the engine and radiator. Hoses should be inspected for signs of cracking and replaced as necessary. Ask to have them swapped out when the coolant is changed.
Oil also provides a lot of engine cooling, taking heat away from the cylinders to the pan or sump where it gets transferred to the moving air. If it’s been a few months since your last oil and filter change, get this done too.
2. Occupant cooling
A non-functioning A/C system can overheat passengers, leading to frayed tempers and a ruined trip. Air conditioning systems can leak refrigerant gradually over time, so have a technician check the system thoroughly. If there are leaks you’ll want to get them fixed as the leaking gas is bad for the environment as well as your wallet!
Many modern vehicles also have a cabin air filter to keep out dust and contaminants. These will clog up over time, reducing the volume of air that can blow through. Have the tech add an air filter replacement to his “To-Do” list.
3. Tire pressures
As hot air expands in the tires their pressures increase. Throw in the heating during a long drive over sun-baked asphalt and pressure levels could get high enough to cause a blowout. Have your tires checked while the a/c and cooling system are updated.
4. Windshield wipers and washers
Summer brings bugs, and on a long trip many end up on your windshield. It’s important that the washers are working properly so you can wash those bugs away and maintain visibility. Don’t forget to have the blades replaced at the same time!
5. Battery check
Winter is notoriously hard on batteries, but the high temperatures of summer can be worse. Temperatures under the hood can easily exceed 100°F and that dramatically shortens battery life. Starting may not be a problem before the freezing temperatures of winter arrive, but it’s prudent to have an auto shop check the battery. It’s always better to replace ahead of time than struggle with a car that won’t start on a December morning!
Don’t let your car spoil your summer
Memories are made from road trips, picnics and vacations. Don’t let car trouble make those memories bad ones. Talk to a BMW of Freehold service technician about getting your vehicle in shape for summer.
 Get a sneak peek at the slickest BMW Sports Activity Coupe yet
Well-known for pioneering powerful and sophisticated vehicles, BMW has raised the bar yet again. Recently, the second-generation F86 X6 M Sports Activity Coupe was spotted before its official reveal, and it looks even sleeker and more sophisticated than its predecessor (shown here). Our team at BMW of Freehold has the details.
Though you will have to wait to learn the detailed specs about the second-generation X6 M, pictures have revealed a few important details. Slightly larger, it will be more accommodating for passengers and cargo without sacrificing performance. Designed for power, it comes standard with side air intakes, large front end air intakes, large side skirts, wide fenders and twin double exhaust tips. Under the hood, the new F86 X6 M lets drivers take advantage of 560 horsepower from its twin turbo V8 S63Tu engine. 575 horsepower will also be available with the Competition Package.
Here at BMW of Freehold, we cannot wait to see the new X6 M in person. To stay updated on its reveal and release, contact us online or stop by in person! You can also take a look at a number of our other exciting new BMW models available right now.
 A convenient way to charge your electric BMW more efficiently
At BMW of Freehold, we believe BMW is a clear leader when it comes to technology and the driving experience. That’s why it came as little surprise to our team at when the automaker unveiled its latest smart technology for its electric vehicles – the BMW Smart Charging App. Used exclusively for BMW i customers, it lets you know the best times to charge your vehicle and what rates to use. Despite the i8 and i3’s efficiency, the result is an even more convenient and efficient driving experience.
This new technology is a much-needed part of BMW’s i Remote App. Alongside charging optimization, it also lets you set your vehicle’s temperature before you set foot inside, view vehicle statistics, charging times, and even tweak your charging setting remotely. If you own a BMW i vehicle, this app could easily save you up to $400 a year on driving costs!
Currently, the app is being tested by BMW Electronauts. These are electric enthusiasts who are field-testing the BMW i3 and other electric BMW vehicles. This is a huge step forward for BMW electric vehicle owners, as Product Manager and U.S. Product Planning and Strategy for BMW i, BMW of North America Jose Guerrero pointed out in a press release: “By automating the at-home charging planning process with the BMW Smart Charging App, we are…helping [customers] conserve energy while maximizing their cost savings.”
The BMW Smart Charging App will be available to i3 and i8 customers in 2015, so stay tuned to the BMW of Freehold newsletter or contact us today to stay up to date. Even if you aren’t into electric vehicles, we offer a huge array of exciting new BMW models that as technologically advanced as they come.
Image: BMW
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