One common theme for all German cars is: maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. If you're not diligent about maintaining your BMW, the repair costs will add up quickly. But when you do properly maintain your BMW, it will run reliably, will be more affordable and will last for a long, long time.

Our team of expert BMW technicians is here to keep your vehicle running with the precision and high performance you expect from this legendary automobile.

How? With a combination of fair pricing, a superior warranty and a practical maintenance schedule.

Why Should I Choose VFC Over the Dealer?

We build German race cars. We've won two championships. If we can make the brakes, suspension and engine cooling system perform under extreme racing conditions, then we can certainly make your BMW purr as it sails west on the Kennedy. If you want unquestionable talent, real-world experience and a commitment to perfection, you'll find all that at VFC Engineering.

Not to mention, the cost of our services tends to be 20 to 30 percent less than the dealer. (Keep in mind that the cost of a repair or maintenance service varies by procedure, vehicle age, mileage and general condition.)

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What Kind of Parts Do You Use?

We use only OEM, or original equipment, replacement parts on your vehicle. In many cases, the OEM parts makers have multiple lines for the same part—good quality, better and best. In some cases, the standard OEM part doesn't perform to our standards, and we will use the higher quality parts line.

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What is Your Repair Warranty?

We guarantee all repairs for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Our warranty is among the best in the business and reflects our confidence in the OEM parts and quality service we provide.

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Do You Offer an Auto Repair Financing Program?

Yes, we offer financing through Bosch Service. You can get 0 percent financing for 6 months on repairs of $299 or more. You can apply online for instant approval or ask us to email you a link.

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What Common Maintenance or Repairs Do You Recommend?

Here are the most common services or repairs we see on BMWs:

Brake Fluid Flush
There’s a ton of humidity in the air in Chicago, and this moisture can cause a lot of problems with your car’s braking system. That’s why we recommend having your Audi brake fluid flushed every 2 years (regardless of mileage) or every 10,000 miles to prevent a soft, mushy pedal and corrosion of the brake system from the inside out—your caliper, brake lines, even the ABS module.

Cabin Air Filter
We typically recommend changing the cabin air filter every 8 months on a BMW because the cabin filters are more exposed to the elements than on some other car makes. A clean cabin air filter ensures you and your passengers are breathing clean air when you’re in the vehicle with the windows up. When possible, we use an activated charcoal-style filter that cleans the air and prevents mold and mildew buildup.

Coolant Flushes
This is one of the most important maintenance services you can do on your BMW. Because BMWs have electronically controlled thermostats and water pumps, it is important to ensure the engine coolant is clean and not corrosive or full of dirt and contaminants. Continuing to drive with old, corrosive coolant will likely destroy the thermostat and water pump, which is a costly repair. How often will your coolant need to be flushed? It depends, which is why we check your coolant level and condition as a routine part of every service visit.

Engine Air Filter
We recommend a new engine air filter every other year. And depending on availability, we’ll upgrade you to a cold weather or severe duty filter. (The filters they use in Arizona and California, for example, are thinner.) Living in the city, you may not drive very often and may be tempted to wait longer before replacing the air filter. But we don’t recommend that if you park the vehicle outside. Even if you’re not driving the car, the air filter is still subjected to rain, cold and all the environmental elements, like high humidity. This takes its toll on your filter.

Induction Cleaning
Most modern engines have a direct-injected fuel system, which leads to a lot of carbon buildup on the valves and in the engine cylinders. This carbon needs to be cleaned or removed on a regular basis to ensure proper air flow for best overall engine performance. We recommend a cleaning every 18 months or 10,000 miles to enhance performance, increase fuel efficiency, extend engine life and reduce harmful emissions.

Oil Changes
We recommend oil changes every 5,000 miles or 5 months. And like all German cars, BMWs use synthetic engine oil that includes additives specifically designed for BMW engines. Just matching the oil weight, such as 5W40, is not sufficient. You must ensure the oil is a European formula that includes these special additives. This is critical because the engine seals in BMWs are made of a natural rubber that ages quickly. If you wait too long between oil changes or use the wrong oil, the rubber will break down and lead to oil leaks. We often see valve cover and oil filter housing leaks on BMWs. And when the oil filter housing leaks, it will typically saturate the drivebelt system with oil, which can cause a drivebelt system failure. This often takes out the radiator and a couple of radiator hoses. If you own a 2007 BMW 325, 328 or 330, a drivebelt failure is a major repair because the drivebelt can get sucked into the engine through the front crankshaft seal.

Transmission Service
We typically don’t recommend a transmission fluid change on BMWs. Because we can monitor internal fluid pressure through our scan tool, we can see at a glance if everything is functioning normally or if there’s any sign of a looming repair.

Do you have a BMW that needs a straightforward oil change or a more complex diagnostic? We invite you to give us a try and experience first-hand what it's like to work with BMW experts who have an unmatched level of attention to detail.

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