Thursday, January 24, 2008

Carma MotorSports of Atlanta, Gas Station Check-Ups


There are a lot of goodies that help your car at the local gas station. First is good gas. Show your car how much you care by giving it the best. Premium gas is always recommended for BMWs and Mercedes. It really does help keep the engine clean on the inside and performing it’s best. Some of the newer car will even turn on the check engine lamp do to “pinging” cause by low octane fuels.

Oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. Keeping the oil changed often is crucial, but keeping its level correct is just as important. This does not pertain as much to newer car, but if yours tends to drink a little oil, make sure you keep her topped up. Always check the engine oil when the car is not running.
Most owners usually over look tire inflation. Keeping your tires properly inflated is key to tire life. With tires under inflated your tires wear out much more rapidly. This will also lead to decreased gas mileage as well. Over inflating your tires will lead to more rapid wear in the center of your tire and poor performance. Always check your manual. A good rule of thumb is 34 to 36 psi in the front tires and 36 to 38 psi for the rear.

Remember, if you do not have a gas station that provides and air hose and oil feel free to come by here. We will always check your fluid levels, top them off, and adjust your tire pressure for free. Just another perk of being friends with Carma.

Carma MotorSports of Atlanta, Proper Maintenance


Keeping up on the maintenance with your vehicle is perhaps the most important thing you can do to get the most out of your car. By performing regular services, you extend the life of your serviceable components -- the engine, the transmission, the differential. When these services are neglected, the results can be detrimental. In order to assist our customers in engaging in proper maintenance, Carma has lowered the cost of our oil services -- now as low as $70. Some customers ask us why our services are so much more than your local quick oil change shop. The simple answer can be chalked up to a simple adage many of us at Carma like to keep in mind -- you get what you pay for. You pay more at Carma because we do higher quality work, and we maintain the proper facilities, equipment, and knowledge to do so. And we still beat the cost of the dealer, every time.

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. It pumps through the motor, cleaning and lubricating all the vital components. Unlike the the blood that pumps through living organisms, engine oil does not clean itself. It must be removed and replaced at regular intervals to ensure it maintains it's properties. A recent growing trend among vehicle manufacturers is an increase in oil service intervals -- BMW has a "calculated maintenance" reminder that goes as high as 15,000 miles! This, unfortunately, is simply a marketing ploy to lower the cost of vehicle maintenance on paper. What makes it so unfortunate is the damage it does to both the vehicle and to the customers' finances. The biggest problem we've seen at Carma due to lack of maintenance -- oil sludge.

Carma MotorSports of Atlanta, a full-service aftermarket repair facility.

Many of our customers don't realize that Carma is truly a full-service aftermarket repair facility. We are able to perform any service or repair that the dealer offers, often at a significant savings to you. The only services we do not perform are tire replacements and balancing, and wheel alignments. Carma is qualified to perform all other mechanical services and repairs, and furthermore, servicing your vehicle at Carma will not void your new vehicle warranty! Don't let the dealer scare you by telling you lies to the contrary. By law, your warranty cannot be voided by using a 3rd-party repair facility for your non-covered repairs and maintenance. Another common scare tactic used specifically by Mercedes-Benz dealers is the claim that only they can properly service the electronic braking system on certain newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This is untrue -- Carma maintains the proper computer equipment to service and repair those systems, and again, your warranty will not be voided.

Carma uses OEM parts (read more about OEM parts) to assure proper fit and function of all parts used during service and repair. Need an A-Service on your 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550? We can do it, and at a significant cost savings to you. If what you need is not covered by warranty, please give us a try. Mercedes-Benz does not offer a maintenance warranty on their new vehicles, unlike BMW. That means all regular service items, such as oil changes, brakes, fluid flushes, drive belts, etc, are not covered by your warranty. Why pay high dealer prices? Call us today to schedule an appointment.