performance-services-new2026

BMW Maintenance: 7 Factors to Keep in Mind

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:48:02 GMT

BMW maintenance is an important part of keeping your car performing like it's fresh off the lot. But if you don't know what you're doing, you could actually just be making things worse.

Don't slow down because of foolish mistakes. Know what to do when keeping your car revving and ready to go and you can stay on the road for years to come.

Here are seven things you need to keep in mind when maintaining and repairing your BMW.

1. The Free Maintenance Program

BMW offers a short-term free maintenance program for the first few years of your car's life.
The BMW maintenance program offers free maintenance for any BMW for the first three years or 36,000 miles of its life, whichever comes first. After three years or 36,000 miles, the program ends and you need to look for maintenance from an independent or local service provider. We have some very specific thoughts about "free maintenance" that you can read here.

Relying on generalized mechanics might not be the best idea for this endeavor, considering the complexities of any luxury car. Depending on your style of driving and driving conditions, the dealership's "free" maintenance may actually be a bad choice. Instead, you should look for a local service provider with expertise in BMW maintenance.

2. The Cost of BMW Maintenance

For decades, the name "BMW' has been synonymous with the idea of a luxury car. So it shouldn't be surprising that they're pricey to maintain. Bluebook has named BMWs the most expensive car to buy and maintain in the pre-owned market.

If you own a BMW, chances are you're OK with paying a bit extra for a quality drive. But because these services are already so expensive, you need to carefully choose a local shop that has expertise in BMW maintenance and repair. Find a well-reviewed service provider to make sure you're getting a well-done, legitimate service that's being performed by ASE certified BMW technicians.

Often times you will find that adding the time costs and travel costs of going to the dealership in Montgomery, Columbus or Atlanta will make maintenance and repairs of your BMW much more than it should be when you could choose a local shop.

3. How Often to Go For Maintenance

The easiest way to end up paying way too much for maintenance is by running to the dealership way too much. We all know the saying: better safe than sorry. But there are areas in which playing it too safe could cost you more than just a few bucks.

Different types of maintenance require different time intervals. Time magazine wrote a helpful guide on when to take different parts of your car for maintenance. They suggest checking tire inflation and windshield wiper fluid once per month. But other services are often less common. Again, this depends upon a lot of factors including style of driving, age of your vehicle and normal driving conditions in your area. If you have had performance engineering parts added to your BMW you may need to come in more frequently to make sure you are getting the proper performance from your car and to have aftermarket parts tuned and adjusted.

Make sure you're not performing different aspects of your scheduled BMW maintenance too frequently or infrequently. And if you need help figuring out what maintenance schedule is appropriate for your BMW, check the service and warranty book for your model. Or, simply bring your vehicle by Performance Services and introduce yourself.

4. Getting an Oil Change

Getting an oil change should be the most self-explanatory part of caring for your car, but it's a bit more complicated than people realize. There's a myth about BMW that recommends only giving a BMW an oil change every 15,000 miles. This myth is false.
It may work in the short-term, but giving such infrequent oil changes as a long-term strategy for BMW maintenance could result in significant damage over time.

Regularly change your car's oil to avoid having an unfortunate incident that destroys the lifespan of your vehicle. Our certified technicians can provide more information and guidance. Just give us a call at (334) 749-1588 .

5. Brake Fluid

BMW brake fluid should be changed about once every two years. If you don't change your brake fluid regularly, it will get less effective and lead to significant delays in brake performance. This isn't just bad for your car, it puts you, your family, and other drivers on the road in severe danger.

Being cavalier about taking care of your brakes is a bad idea, is what we're trying to say.
But it's not just about changing your brake fluid or pads frequently: it's about changing them properly.

There are guides available to change your brake fluid online, but they all tell you that the most important thing is doing it right. If you do it wrong, you might as well just take the breaks out of your car to save time.

BMW maintenance needs to be done properly, which means instead of trying to change the brakes yourself, you should get in touch with people who know what they're doing. Seriously. Trust us on this one.

6. Tire and Wheel Protection

You can get tire and wheel protection for your BMW as part of your BMW maintenance package. Again, this may not be enough to maintain a long life for your German import. Tire and wheel protection is separate from the ensured maintenance with a different warranty.

Protection programs last up to five years and provide protection from debris on the road such as broken glass, metal, and poorly kept roads which, let's face it, are a constant hazard for any auto enthusiast.

Checking out a complete tire and wheel maintenance program from Performance Services is a good way to ensure long lasting performance, along with something that easily pays for itself if you like to have a "well loved" vehicle.

7. Getting The Best BMW Service

With the economy booming and so many Americans choosing to purchase new cars there's a lot to consider when it comes to BMW maintenance. So after you own your car for 3 years or work your way up to the dreaded 36,000-mile mark, it's easy to feel lost.

That's why you need to rely on seasoned professionals with a passion for auto care. We can help. We've been in business in the Auburn-Opelika area for since 1996, and have a specialty in providing high-quality care not just to BMWs, but to other German models as well.

So whether it's a BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, or Mercedes Benz, you can trust Performance Services because we're specialized professionals who know what we're doing.

On top of that, we also do what we do for the right reasons. The reason is: we love cars. We drive and enjoy our OWN German sports cars. We find it incredibly sad when people get rid of a car after only a few years, especially when that car could have easily been saved by more careful maintenance and regular care.

Get in touch with us to discuss your BMW maintenance plan.

How to Find the Best Local Shop for Installation and Maintenance of Performance Engineered Parts for Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagens

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:35:25 GMT

Since you found us, chances are you know how important it is to have a quality vehicle. If you prefer high-quality German vehicles over the standard fare cars or trucks, you're in the right place!

While we believe that these luxury vehicles are preferable to the other options out there, they don't all leave the lot with every feature you might want. Maybe you wish you could go a little faster (or a LOT faster), have a smoother ride, or maybe you even want to race your car.

Did you know you can further improve your vehicle by using aftermarket performance car parts? If you already knew that, we can help you find the perfect fit for your needs. If that's new information, let us show you how these simple additions can add value to your car and make it more fun to drive!

Why Aftermarket Parts?

Fine German vehicles are known for their superior function, reliability, and longevity. However, there is always room for improvement. If you feel like your car could use a boost, consider installing performance cars parts.

Using the right aftermarket parts can transition your drives from good to excellent. Performance car parts can:

boost speed
enhance acceleration
improve sharp turns
help you brake quickly
and much more!

Not only will your driving experience improve, you'll also look and feel awesome! These parts can make all the difference, whether your vehicle is brand new or your old, faithful companion.

Which Performance Car Parts Do I Need?

The specific performance car parts you need will vary depending on the aspects you would like to improve. So the first thing to consider is how you would like your car to run. If you want your car to go faster, you'll need different products than you would if you were trying to improve handling. We install and maintain products from APR Motorsport, Fabspeed, Shark Werks, and Bimmer Tech . No matter what your needs are, we can help you find the best fit for your car and your life.

In addition, the products you should consider will vary greatly with different makes, models, and years. To ensure you have the correct quality parts to meet your needs, you need to speak directly with an informed professional.

What Do I Need to Know About Installation?

After you research and figure out which performance car parts you would like to add to your vehicle, you're ready to start!

It's important that only the highest-quality parts are expertly installed in your car. So while you need to be certain that the parts are correct for your ride, you need to carefully decide who you will trust to do the installation.

It's important that the shop you choose installs only reputable parts. The technicians should be experts about products. So talk to them and ask questions about the parts you're looking for.

You need to make sure to select a shop that specializes in your vehicle. After all, you cannot take your foreign car to a small shop that works primarily with standard American cars and expect good results. Performance engineered parts installation is a highly specialized and technical skill and the techs at Performance Services are certified by the German brands you love to drive .

Call the shop and ask them questions about their products and the process of installation. Make sure they have all the correct knowledge and tools. This is also the time when you will want to think about the warranties they offer.

What Do I Need to Know About Maintenance?

Just like installation, you'll want to make sure that the shop you choose is specialized to your car. In addition to having the right tools to fix anything that may be going wrong with your performance car parts, they need to have the right diagnostic tools to know what's causing the problem. If they don't, they might miss a potential issue that could cost a lot in the long run.

Again, it's important to ask questions. You can also read reviews so you know what other people are saying about the quality of an individual shop.

Finally, you'll want to talk to technicians about the best maintenance schedule to catch potential problems before they interfere with your life. Make sure someone looks at your car often enough for everything to run smoothly.

While it can be tempting to put off maintenance until something starts to go wrong, regular, preventative maintenance can save you both time and money. So be sure that the shop you choose will stick with a maintenance schedule that will keep your vehicle in peak condition.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

As we mentioned earlier, your needs and concerns will vary based on the type of car you have. This will affect both the installation of aftermarket parts and your regular maintenance.

At Performance Services, our technicians are experts in German cars and the performance car parts that work best for these vehicles. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your brand:

You should only take your vehicle to shops with the correct tools and skills to install performance car parts suitable for your make and model. If someone tries to work on your car without specialized knowledge of the brand, it could damage your vehicle and make it unsafe to operate.

Always check the suggested maintenance schedule for your vehicle to make sure you have it serviced often enough (if you are curious about scheduled maintenance for your performance vehicle read this article).

If you lost track of your owners manual, you can find electronic copies online:

To keep your vehicle running smoothly for years and even decades to come, make sure you only trust the best technicians who are experts in maintaining your car.

Of course, if you have any concerns about your vehicle, you should speak with a qualified professional. If you think there is something wrong with your car, it's important to have someone look at it as soon as possible. This can save a lot of headaches!

Fortunately, we are equipped to handle these cars without necessitating a long, out-of-town trip to the dealership.

I'm Ready! How Can You Help Me?

Performance Services has been serving the Opelika, Auburn, Lake Martin and surrounding areas for over 20 years and is well-respected in the community. Our technicians are ASE certified and fully equipped to help you make your German vehicle the best around.
Let us know how we can help you truly love your fine foreign vehicle.

We're happy to discuss your plans and make proper recommendations that will have you enjoying your fine German vehicle for years and years to come.

Why Take Your Car to a Local Mechanic Instead of a Dealership?

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 19:35:25 GMT

Uh-oh, the check engine light came on.

It's looking like you've got two options:
Ride it out

Fix it

You sit in traffic hoping it's nothing serious until you hear the engine start waning. Crud, this will be a big problem. Not really, especially if you bring it to a local mechanic.

When Brand Loyalty Has You in a Vice

It's an easy decision to take the vehicle to a dealership due to brand loyalty.

Many cite the use of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts instead of aftermarket parts suggested by local mechanics. One may desire OEM parts to maximize the longevity of their vehicle due to their extensive testing and quality.

There is a false pretense that using a local mechanic would void their warranty.

This isn't true.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act ruled in favor of consumers. A customer's decision to use aftermarket parts which prevents brands from voiding warranties when they're used.

Dealership services come at a high cost. The costs are hard to justify brand loyalty and creates an ideal scenario to work with local, fair-priced mechanics.

The Benefits of a Local German Auto Mechanic

Import cars are well-known to cause disruptions with getting back on the road due to their unique parts and availability. Many import car owners may wait weeks before an essential part makes it to the dealership.

Looks like it's time to visit the Performance Services!

Here's what you gain from doing so:

Convenience

The closest German import vehicle dealerships providing repair services are quite a distance when living on the outskirts of a major city. A major repair of the vehicle may require towing which increases the expenses.

Performance Services is conveniently located in your proximity. This allows you to roll into the shop for basic work or keep the towing costs to a minimum if you're expecting major work.

Local shops typically carry the unique parts, too, because it's their specialty. It adds to the convenience and solving the urgency when getting repairs.

BYOP

You'll find many shops open to the practice of "bring your own parts" for performance enhancement. This allows you to order aftermarket parts to improve performance while the mechanic is busy working. Versus using the limited selection that's available through the dealership.

Online ordering is fruitful in finding unique parts with foreign brands like BMW. Plus, it presents an opening to talk cars with your mechanic and develop a better, professional relationship.

Deep Knowledge

Some shop mechanics have been working in the industry for decades. These individuals provide a wealth of information and knowledge. Their knowledge will cut down repair time since they know the tricks to troublesome repairs. They also provide solid recommendations for performance improvements based on the constant tinkering done throughout the years.

Accountability

You talk face-to-face with your mechanic which builds a relationship. These shops rely on reputation (not big marketing budgets) so you're less likely to deal with a local mechanic trying to swindle for quick gains.

A branding of being a "shady character" will quickly destroy their reputation. Meaning, they'll remain honest about the required work and costs.

Handling Insurance

Auto repair shops and insurance adjusters regularly work with one another to find a middle-ground. This would include an agreement about parts covered by insurance and the shop.

The agreement ensures the best options since both parties are accountable for their services. Plus, most third-party warranties are honored!

You will need to negotiate with adjusters to settle on the best prices. But, a good relationship with your local mechanic could provide great guidance since they've likely helped others like you many times before.

Upgrades

The independent shops are excited when customers want to mod their vehicles.
The right shop will offer performance parts to:

Boost speed

Acceleration

Handling

...and more.
It turns the shops into a place to talk and experiment with vehicles.

Performance (with a Personal Touch)

Performance Services has been serving the community from Columbus to Atlanta to Birmingham and beyond for almost 30 years.

We wouldn't be around if we weren't doing something right!

Our A.S.E. certified techs know their way around imports and we've got the busted knuckles to prove it.

Roll into our shop with your BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, or Porsche and see the difference versus the dealerships.