Learn When to Bring Your BMW in For Service No one wants to experience car issues, especially owners of luxury vehicles like BMWs. People who invest in the performance, experience, and status of a BMW expect a lot out of their cars, but even though these vehicles are high-quality, they do have issues from time to time. One of the most common issues with any vehicle, including BMWs, is an oil leak. Some oil leaks are easy to spot, and other times an oil leak can lead to issues without being obvious. As a leading repair shop in the Bay Area, our team has dealt with BMWs for many years, and we have the know-how to help any time you have an issue. Our clients come from Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, and the surrounding areas to have our team of pros fix their vehicles. When a vehicle has a problem, there are typically some warning signs to watch out for. This is especially true with oil leaks, and in the article below we will detail a few occurrences which might indicate it’s time to bring your BMW in for a check-up. Visible Oil Leaks  The first and most obvious sign of an oil leak is visible oil, which is present where your vehicle was parked. These leaks are not only a sign of a problem with your vehicle, but they can also permanently stain your garage floor and/or release harmful materials into the environment. You might assume an oil leak is condensation from the car’s AC, but the best way to tell is by looking at the color of the liquid on the ground. If the spot under your car has a dark tint featuring purple, blue, or green colors, you have an oil leak and it needs to be addressed in order to prevent further damage to your vehicle. Strange Smell  When oil leaks, it typically is because a gasket or seal has gone bad inside the engine. Sometimes this leaking oil falls directly onto the ground and puddles as we discussed in the section above, but in other cases, it can leak onto other components of the engine. Many components of an engine get very hot, and when oil hits them, it can burn, creating a noticeable smell, which is another sign of a potential leak. Blue/Dark Exhaust Smoke  A vehicle’s exhaust can smoke for different reasons, and the color of the smoke typically reveals the problem. When your vehicle’s exhaust smoke has a blue tint, it’s likely burning oil. This is especially true in many BMWs with superchargers, but it can present itself in any model. Check Engine Light/Warnings  Aside from issues you can sense, such as the ones we have discussed, BMWs often have a way to alert you to oil leaks before they turn into larger problems. Older models might simply display the check engine light, but new BMWs can tell you exactly what the issue is, and can alert you to low levels of oil before they become noticeable any other way. Let Our Team Help  If your vehicle is exhibiting any of the issues above or has any other problem which needs to be addressed, we would love to help. You will love our honest and customer-focused repair process, and we are confident we can solve any issues your vehicle may be having. To learn more about our repair process or schedule your service, give us a call or stop by today.