Case Studies

A Collection of the Odd, Unusual and Interesting Found While Servicing Our Client Vehicles.

Originally intended as a showcase for customers of our workshop and staff’s abilities, this page has evolved in an interesting and informative teaching tool, and one of the most popular pages on our site!

By nature, these are rather extreme examples of failures, and not what we typically find during service. Our goal at Atlantic Motorcar is to prevent these from happening to you and your car. But rest assured, if we can fix these challenges, regular maintenance is breeze!

We like to call this our “YES WE CAN!” page. You can also view many of these concerns on our Facebook page. Each photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

Good News – Mini Cooper Timing Chain Correction, Once And For All

March 4, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

Good News
If you own a 2007-2010 Mini Cooper S over 30,000 miles on the odometer, you’ve likely paid to have the timing chain system, or perhaps even the engine, repaired or replaced.

* Important – We literally receive hundreds of phone calls per year on this issue. Please note that unless you are a service customer of AMC, or live in the state of Maine, or are willing to transport your Mini Cooper here for service, we can not answer questions about out of state vehicles, and would refer you to the the local Mini Cooper dealer in your state for assistance. If you are a current customer of AMC, then we will do everything in our power to assist you with your issue, or properly handle any and all service work.

Background
On the 2007-2011 Minis, the timing chain, an important internal part, and it’s associated drive system, have been failing at a very high rate. Timing chains, with proper care, generally last for the life of the engine. Failure of the chain leads to engine running and drivability problems, and can result in severe internal engine damage.

As the largest independent Mini Cooper Service facility in Maine it has been our opinion, and is now apparently also the opinion of the courts, that this premature failure is a design defect. In our experience, this is often brought on by the very extended oil change intervals of 15,000 miles (which is why we strongly advise oil changes on Minis at 5,000 to 7,500 miles).

As Promised
If you’re an AMC customer, you might recall we suggested you hold onto your service and repair paperwork, as we had been following this problem very closely, and saw help on the horizon for Mini owners.

Good News
Up until last year there was a class action legal settlement reached with Mini and Mini owners.
The bad news is that the class action settlement is now closed, but the good news is that you are not on your own! If your car still needs a timing chain repair, we can save you hundreds, and in one case, thousands of dollars over what the Mini dealer, or other shops charge for this repair. And we warranty our work for 2 Years Nationwide for your peace of mind. Note that in our experience the “N12” engine timing chains fail just as often, perhaps more so, than the “S” models.

We Really Do Love Minis
First, let me start off by sharing that we really LOVE Minis, ask any of our customers, we are very passionate about these cars, they are fun to drive, quite safe, and generally very reliable. Every car has it’s “Achilles Heel” and the later Coopers have a big one in the form of timing chain failures.

Good News
The good news is that, with proper care and service, even if your Mini has suffered a timing chain failure, it can live again…but you need to get it into the hands of someone who knows this problem inside and out, a specialist..like us. Then, once the repair is done, you need to follow a slightly different maintenance schedule to prevent it from occurring again.

The Problem
First, Mini doesn’t really acknowledge this is a problem, they’ll hem and haw about the matter, but not acknowledge it as a pattern failure, not cool. Suffice to say if you are driving at R56 Cooper, with the N12 or N14 engine, its a matter of time, rather than if, you’ll have a timing chain problem…if you follow the standard Mini oil change interval. See most of these cars are on the Mini service plan, and only having the oil changed every 15,000 miles.

Why This Happens
We don’t think that 15,000 mile intervals are a good idea for any car, much less a smaller and higher stressed engine like a Mini Cooper. The N12 and N14 engine consume oil, any engine does this, and since they hold just over 4 quarts of oil, it is highly unlikely that the car will make it to the 15,000 change interval with all the oil intact.

Go Check Your Mini
Chances are you’re going to be low on oil in the 7,000-7,500 mile range…we know, almost every Mini that comes in for service is checked and found to be low on oil, go check yours now, and see how much oil is left. Low oil, and dirty oil…yes, oil gets dirty after 5,000-7,500 miles, accelerates timing chain wear, which leads to a very expensive repair, or at times, even engine replacement.

Death Rattle
We’ve seen a surprising number of Coopers, come in with a knocking noise in the engine, this has been dubbed the “Death Rattle”. Should you hear this noise on your car, DO NOT IGNORE it, we have a car in the workshop today in which the timing chain has failed, damaging the engine. Mini has released a service kit addressing this problem, the key thing to correct it BEFORE failure.

Sounds – Cold and Warm
This noise is especially pronounced when the engine is cold, sounding almost like a diesel engine with a rapping or knocking noise between 1500 and 2000 PRM. When the car warms up, the noise will abate to a degree, but in advanced cases still be present even with a warm engine. We’ve had this occur on cars with as little as 12K on the odometer, so this is not a high mileage problem.

Prevention Is Easy
The best thing you can do to PREVENT this problem in the first place is to change your engine oil and filter every 7,500 miles, not the Mini norm of 15,000 miles, always use a high quality synthetic engine oil and factory filter.

Correction
For cars which are in warranty, we can work with Mini to confirm coverage for this fault, for cars outside of new car warranty, we have the ability to correct this for once and all. Mini has released a service kit addressing this problem, the key thing to correct it BEFORE failure. If you have this problem, call us right away, before failure. Rest assured that we have the tools and experience to put the fun back in your Mini!

We’re Here To Help
This is not a problem to left to a general repair shop, there is a very special…and expensive…set of tools required, and one needs the knowledge, experience, and training to do it right, the first time. That’s what we do here, we’ve done countless Mini timing chain tensioner, and timing chain updates, and we know exactly how to do it right, the first time, every time. Questions, just call us (207) 882-9969, peace of mind, that’s what we do!

Not Yet Replaced or Timing Chain/Engine Failure?
As an AMC customer, we have kept an eye on this problem in the past, and will continue to check every time your car is in for service.
Yep, that’s just what we do, we wear the white hats.

Read More
If you want read more on the Mini Cooper timing chain issue, or any other common issues with vehicles we service, be sure to check the “Mini Timing Chain 101” on our “Case Studies” page – https://atlanticmotorcar.com/casestudies/case-studies

Your Advocate, On Your Side
At AMC, because we are independent and locally owned, we are YOUR advocate, and our team makes a point of checking recalls and service campaigns from the manufacturer on every visit, and keeping our customers up to date.

Questions
If you have any questions, or need a copy of your service history, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. (207) 882-9969.

Thank you,
Bruce and the AMC Team

The Measure Of A Workshop – Or How To Find A New Home For Your Car

March 3, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

To Start
For sometime now I’ve been involved with other shops, either in a consulting, or in an industry 20 Group. Over the years I’ve developed a set of criteria that I’ve shared with friends and family about how to properly evaluate where to obtain high quality, ethical auto service. These apply if your auto is an Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Saab, Volvo or VW.

Some of these items may seem basic, even commonsense, but all too often folks make the decision of where to take the car under duress, you want to have an ongoing relationship with shop before problems occur, indeed a good shop will save you money by preventing problems whenever possible. After one’s home, the car usually 2nd largest expense most folks face. Determining who and where you bring your car for service can be one of the most important decisions you can make. The level of service can either positively or negatively affect both your pocketbook, and the value of your car.

Hourly Labor Rate
While this generally the first question most people ask, its really not a good way to properly evaluate a shop, but is often used as most folks don’t know what else to ask. Cost is understandably an important factor, but the most expensive and disappointing service you can buy is the wrong or poor service on your car. While a shop with a low labor rate may seem a bargain, it will often be undercapitalized and not able to properly equip its workshop, buy needed diagnostic equipment, or provide training for its staff. Undercapitalized shops are likewise usually not able to hire and retain top talent. Likewise an undercapitalized shop will be much less likely to reach into their own pockets to help with goodwill for its customers. What you want is a “fair” labor rate, one that is reasonable to you, and allows the shop to stay in business.

Prices Over The Phone – We Love Giving Complimentary Second Opinions, With Your Vehicle Here
Have you been given a price or diagnosis that seems “fishy”, or just doesn’t make sense?
Ask for a second opinion, and we make a point of giving complimentary, “no wrench” second opinions.

Many of these “fishy” prices come from “phone quotes”. We have adopted a customer-first model of providing quotes only after we’ve diagnosed the issue. With today’s technologically advanced cars, other than for “commodity” services, like oil changes, alignments, tire rotations, we’ve determined that a ethical shop can not give accurate costs or prices over the phone. What you will hear from us is to bring your vehicle in so we can properly diagnose it and provide you with an accurate price. There are a number reasons why we have adopted this model and why we believe it is truly a customer-first model. Look for service facility that follows this model.

Accurate pricing, we do not play the bait and switch game – meaning that we will quote you a low price to get you in the door and raise it once you arrive. We will never do that. We want to make sure that the price we give you is accurate and we can only do that by inspecting the vehicle in person. Although you may tell us what the issue is, we might find something else that is needed. Or in some cases find a more favorable solution that will be at a different price point. It’s best to know exactly what your vehicle needs.

A correct diagnosis, no one can give you a price based on someone else’s diagnosis. You know there is something wrong with your vehicle and may have an idea what it is, but for us to know exactly what it is we need to run the diagnostic ourselves. With our 33 years of experience, on cars just like yours, and we are confident that we will discover what is wrong with your car. Or in some cases, you may have received a quote from another shop and think some of the things aren’t needed; it makes you feel like they’re taking advantage of you. We are committed to full transparency and this model of quoting is our commitment to you. Look for a facility that holds these same values.

There are many situations when an over the phone quote is useful. However, when it comes to auto service, it is best to do it in person. Meeting in person is the best way we can give a real-world diagnosis of your vehicle’s needs and provide you with an accurate, competitive and real value quote. Truthfully, we want to see you, we want to meet you and we want to hear from you what’s going on and not just take care of your car, but take great care of you. Beware of any service facility that will phone quote for anything but the most basic of services, it usually is a “bait and switch” trap.

Overall Facility
When evaluating a service facility be cautious not to repeat the reasons you left the new car dealer. While a clean and modern facility is important, you want to avoid the frills and flourishes that have nothing to do with

servicing your auto, and only serve to raise the cost of the repair. Glass palaces with gold plated facets are known in the industry as “Taj Garages”, and you don’t want to be the one paying for the owner’s mortgage and ego. If the facility looks like a new car dealer on the outside, you’re going to find the same cost structure on the inside.

Perception is often reality, look at the facility from the outside; does it look clean and safe? Does it look like the ownership takes pride in the business, if they don’t take care of their own property, do you think they will care for yours? How are you greeted at the service counter? Does the staff seem to welcome you? Look around at the waiting room, most progressive shops will now have WiFi Internet in the waiting area, ideally there may even be a desk and computer for you to work from while your car is being serviced.

Loaner Cars & Shuttle Service
Does the facility provide loaner cars or alternative transportation arrangements? Do they offer pickup and delivery valet service, or after hours drop off and pickup of your car? In short, are they thinking about your convenience?

Customer Cars
While you are looking at the outside property, take a look at cars in the prospective shop’s parking lot. Are they the same model as yours? Ideally you want a shop that specializes in your car type, we’ll talk more about that later. Are the cars waiting for service about the same type, Audi, BMW, Volvo, and vintage as yours or older? A parking lot with late model cars generally means that the workshop is keeping current on technology, and is likely properly equipped to service your car. Take a critical look at the condition of the customer cars, this is almost as important as their age. Do the cars look well maintained; or are they damaged, dented, held together with duck tape? If it looks like a car you’d be uncomfortable parking next to, then this may not be the right place for your car. If the cars in the parking lot look attractive, then the shop is doing a good job making their customer’s cars last.

Specialization
Ask if the prospective shop is familiar with your type of car, not just if they have worked on them, but if they specialize in it. Ideally you want a shop that specializes in your car type; they will have the tools, parts and experience to handle your service promptly and efficiently. It works in the medical profession, and it’s doubly true when you are dealing with more than just two models. Remember the phrase – “Jack of all trades, master of none?” – most of today’s cars are far too complicated to be handled professionally by a general repair shop, you don’t want someone learning how to fix your car – on your dime. You’ll find a specialist will save you money, provide a better outcome, for they know what to look for, and have often developed service procedures to quickly handle the common problems.

Workshop Cleanliness
Are you allowed inside the workshop? A professional organization will eagerly offer to give you a tour of the facility; after all they are proud to show off what they have built. Don’t rely on website photos, they may not even be of the facility you were visiting, and it is all too easy to make even the dirtiest look pretty in photos/videos, so ask to walk inside the workshop. Can you walk from one side to the other without getting greasy? Are there used parts piled up, is the floor clean and painted, remember, what’s on the workshop floor will end up on the floor of your car. Over the years I’ve noted that the higher skilled technicians simply won’t work in a dirty environment for any length of time. The cleanliness and order of the workshop is perhaps the best indication you can get as to the service philosophy of the ownership and technicians.

Staff
While you are in the workshop, take a look at the staff, perhaps more intangible, but important nevertheless, look at the folks who will be working on your car. Do they look happy, are they working as a team, do they seem to enjoy where they are and what they do? Do they smile, can you speak with them, and does the service advisor bring you out to the shop and introduce you to the person who will be working on your car? Today’s cars are complicated, the best shops work as teams.

Our BMW ISTA Diagnostic cart, note Fronius Battery Stabilizer on side of cart. We simply wheel the cart up to the car, connect, and diagnose or program!

Information Technology
Computers, often-specialized computers, are need to service almost every late model car now. Ask to see diagnostic equipment specific to your car, if you have a BMW, ask to see the BMW computer, a Mercedes, the MB DAS system, a Volvo, the VIDA computer. Such computers and diagnostic tools represent a major expense; properly equipped shops will love to show them off.

Ask about factory service information, does the workshop use online service manuals, the paper service books have been largely obsolete for nearly a decade. Ask about factory service bulletins, does the shop require technicians to check for bulletins, which may apply to your car during service, do they regularly share such bulletins with you. Ideally you should a minimum of one computer per technician in the workshop, this may be a mix of laptops and desk computers.

Training
Ask if the shop has a regular training program, do all the people who might be working on your car go…or just a few? Where do they train – hint local parts vendor training only helps them sell that company’s parts, training should be high level training, often done off site. Ask what is their training budget for each tech – you are entitled to know, these are the people working on your car, and if they are not trained, they are learning at your expense.

Look for certifications for technicians, not all shops display these on the wall, so you may need to ask. You should see a minimum of ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) an independent certification body, but check also for other training certificates, and check that it is current – auto technology changes fast.

Service Philosophy
This is a question for the shop owner, ask him or her about their service philosophy. You want a shop geared toward Maintenance rather than Repair. Odd sounding perhaps, so let’s talk about those two terms, often interchanged and not clearly understood. Maintenance means “maintaining” your car, servicing it before it “breaks down”. All manufacturers, from Audi to Volvo have service schedules. Repair on the other hand is done after a failure has occurred. Maintenance is almost always less expensive than repair, it is far easier and less costly to maintain rather than replace. For example, it is less costly to paint your house every 5 years than replace all the wood every 10 years.

A well-maintained car is safe, reliable and has a much higher resale. An ideal shop will have safety and reliability as their two top values. Ask if they follow the factory maintenance schedule, and then ask them to show you the actual schedule for your car. The factory schedule is the minimum care that a manufacturer has determined a car needs to be safe and reliable, often in harsh climates more frequent, or different services are required.

Customer Care
The best service facilities want to have an ongoing relationship with you and your car. Ask about their after-service follow up – do you receive a call after service, thank you cards for referrals, does it seem like they appreciate you as an individual? Do they provide free service reminders for when you car should be serviced in the future?

Quality control, today’s cars are sometimes a real challenge to service, every shop should have a quality control program, and you the customer should not be the quality control department. Ask about quality checking, how many times is your car checked over before being released from service, which does the quality checks, it should be more than just the technician who serviced your car.

Can you freely speak with owner, is the owner on premieres? Ask about the shop’s relationship with local new car dealers if warranty problem or recall occurs. The best shops will maintain an ongoing relationship with the service department of the new car dealer, assuring you that if a warranty problem does occur, it will be handled promptly. The best shops will arrange and handle the warranty service process for you, working with the dealer to resolve the concern.

Community
The best businesses are generally actively involved in their local community, and not just there for a fast buck. As the staff about their community involvement, or giveback. Are the owners or staff involved with local non-profits, on boards of community organization, etc? While this shouldn’t be not a major focal point, especially for a new business, but it will tell you a bit more about the philosophy of the ownership.

Online Reviews
The internet has empowers the consumer like nothing before, it’s your friend here as well. Look for online reviews written by the shop’s customers, the best are DemandForce and then Google. Read their customer’s words, you can often learn a great deal reading between the lines. No shop is perfect, and mistakes do happen from time to time, what you want to look for is how the workshop worked with the customer to resolve the issue. A string of negative reviews, or worse, few or no reviews, should prompt you to reconsider your choice.

Other
Does the company own its own building, in certain metro areas this may not be feasible, or if the business is young this may not be the case, but it does give you some idea if the business is financially secure.

About Us
At Atlantic Motorcar we are sometimes asked what makes us different, better or a superior choice to your current service facility. Simply stated, because we provide the overall lowest cost in auto service, preventing problems rather than just repairing them. We use better methods to give you the highest quality service. In short, we care about you, and your car. We don’t just say that, we measure it! We consistently rank in the upper 3% of Customer Satisfaction Surveys from Customerlink. We are conveniently located on U.S. Route 1 in Maine’s midcoast, and offer complimentary loaner cars as well as valet pickup and delivery service from Falmouth to Camden.

We have over 25 years of experience servicing Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Porsche, and Volvo. We utilize all of the latest technology and factory computerized diagnostic systems. Our service staff is trained on even the very latest models and systems. As Maine’s Bosch Authorized Service Center (since 1989) we have both the experience and training to repair and service these fine automobiles. Our facility offers comprehensive service for your car, and we are not limited in our capabilities.

Please take a few moments to let us know how we can help you! (207) 882-9969 or on the web at AtlanticMotorcar.com.

Most Respectfully,
Bruce J. Howes

BMW Sunroof Repair and Reseal – Wind, Water Leak and Noise

February 3, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

Problem

Correction and repair of water and wind leaks.

This BMW 5 series presented with a concern of sunroof wind noise, and a possible water leak or entry. A quick inspection of the existing seal showed that it had become compressed, not an unusual occurrence for a tubular rubber product after time, much like an engine’s gaskets can get hardened and leak, so the rubber seal on the sunroof, installed back when the car was first manufactured, needed service.

Correction
The Atlantic Motorcar Center has developed a very through service and replacement process for the BMW models affected with this problem. And it is a matter not so much as of “if”, but rather as “when”. BMW offers a service part, referenced in a Technical Service Bulletin, for correction of this problem. The only problem is your local dealer is unlikely to be aware of it, when we first called to check status of the part, the parts person had no idea of what were referring to. Thankfully our extensive contacts allowed us to source, locate and order the update kits, and we now stock these for most of the models affected with this problem.

Prevent
On these seals, we suggest inspection yearly, and consider replacement at the 5 Year, or 60,000 mile interval. Failure in the form of leakage, usually occurs very soon after the car hits this milage or age mark. There is a better and revised seal available, which we use in our service procedure.

When replacing any sunroof system part for a leak or wind noise concern, it is very important to check and clean the sunroof drains at the same time, the BMW drains are often found clogged, or at the very least, partially plugged from dirt, leaves and other debris. As you can see from the photos, it is a bit of a process to access the seal, so be sure to always check and clean the sunroof drains at the same time.

Final
Not a simple repair, yes, but one, if done correctly, will last several years. That’s our goal with BMW, and other autos here, fix it right the first time, and prevent problems from happening in the first place. 30 years of service experience have well taught us that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Be cured, once and for all, and give us a call, we’re happy to answer any service questions you might have on your BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo or Volkswagen.

Earning your trust, every time you turn the car…that’s what we do…every day…for the last 30 years. Click here see what our happy customers have to say about us and our service at AMC Customer Reviews.

If you have questions, or if we can be of further assistance, just call us at (207) 882-969, we’d love to meet you, and your car!

Warmly,
Bruce and the AMC Service Team

2012 BMW N20 Engine – Oil Filter Housing Update Kit

January 28, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

The Problem
2012 BMW with the N20 engine presented with an apparent coolant and oil intermix fault, in other words, the normally green antifreeze was black with oil, and antifreeze had gotten into the engine oil.

Testing confirmed that coolant was being contaminated with engine oil, and the engine oil was noted to have a white foamy mixture on the dipstick and fill cap. Tech diagnosed as a defective engine oil filter housing, the original housing was plastic, BMW has since released an update kit which is constructed of aluminum.

Repair
Tech replaced oil filter housing with update kit, engine oil and filter were drained and replaced until the engine oil was free from contamination. Engine was then test run to verify no internal damage. As the vehicle was new to us, and was towed in, testing of the pre-failure condition was not possible.

With the engine oil clear and clean, the next step was to deal with the contamination in the cooling system. Using several containers of solvent, the cooling system was flushed out until the water ran clear, then drained, refilled and protected with the proper coolant. Finally, an extensive road test and engine run test were carried out, to verify completion of the repair.

In Closing
Questions, or if we can be of help in any way with service on your Mini Cooper, BMW, or other European (and now Japanese) import, please contact us. Our team of Service Specialists are here to help, for even the newest autos! (207) 882-9969.

Knowing, not just “doing”, that’s the Atlantic Motorcar Center way of life.
Thanks!

Warmly,
The Atlantic Motorcar Center Service Team

No results found.

Mini Cooper Timing Chain Service

January 13, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

– Mini Cooper Timing Chain Service –

Big Nick hard at work doing a timing chain update in a newer Mini Cooper.
Be it a Cooper, Cooper S, or Clubman, we see this nearly weekly on the Mini Coopers in our area. You can read all about Mini timing chains at our Mini Timing Chain 101 page – http://tinyurl.com/Happy-Mini

Fortunately this was caught BEFORE it failed and damaged the engine. When looking at the R56 Mini Coopers (2007 and newer) , we’d always advise checking to see if the timing chain has been updated to the newer kit.

If you have questions, or need Mini service, we’d be delighted to assist you, just call our service team at (207) 882-9969.

Thanks!
– Bruce with the AMC Service Team

BMW Service Engine Clogged Breather System – Oil Consumption Use

January 11, 2016

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

BMW Service Valve Cover –
Note sludge or clogging in ventilation port

BMW Service with N52 Engine – This vehicle came from another shop with an uncorrected engine oil leak and high oil use. Consumption was on the order of 1 quart per 100 miles, yes, you read that right.

We started by finding the incorrect engine oil fill cap had been installed by the previous facility, causing an oil leak on the top of the engine, but that was only one problem. The real culprit was a problem with the crankcase ventilation system. Using our special BMW service diagnostic tool, we confirmed a severely clogged engine breather box, on this engine located in the camshaft cover. Not an easy job as this engine has “Valvetronic”, but one that needed to be handled. In the past, we’ve found these breather failures are much more common in colder weather.

On the earlier BMW service, the ventilation or breather system, sometimes called the oil trap, was replaceable. On the later cars it is now part of the camshaft cover, sometimes called the valve cover, and cleaning a clogged breather is next to impossible, replacement usually being the only proper correction.

In the photos below, you’ll note the large camshaft cover assembly that must be replaced for clogging. Such clogging has become an issue with the later breather systems. The build up of this material prevents the crankcase ventilation system from functioning correctly, and will lead to an increase in crankcase pressure, external oil leakage. In severe cases it can build up enough pressure to damage engine seals, including the rear main seal. Any problem with multiple engine oil leaks must first be dealt with by inspecting and servicing the crankcase ventilation system.

If you car has the symptoms noted above, you might want to give us a call, BEFORE the failure occurs. The update cost is minimal compared to the damage which can result. Our goal at Atlantic Motorcar’s BMW service, to provide the lowest possible cost by preventing problems first, rather than just repairing them.

Precautions
Here is how you can take some simple precautionary steps:

If you have no choice but to make short trips, try and take your vehicle on the freeway at least once per week, as this will help burn off condensation.
Avoid excessive idling or allowing the car to warm up.
Keep Your vehicle garaged at night, if possible, when the temps are very low.
Change your engine oil every 5,000-7,000 miles, always using full synthetic.
We strongly advise not to follow BMW’s 12,000-15,000 mile oil change intervals, we have an expression here, “Oil is cheaper than metal”, keep your engine oil clean, and change on a frequent basis and your BMW will serve you well.

Feel free to call or stop by find out more on how we can help you get your car back to the condition you both deserve! Earning your trust, every time you turn the car…that’s what we do…every day…for the last 30 years.

Click here see what our happy customers have to say about us and our service at AMC Customer Reviews.
If you have questions, or if we can be of further assistance, just call us at (207) 882-969, we’d love to meet you, and your car!

Warmly,
Bruce and the AMC Service Team

Mini Cooper – Engine Problem – Carbon Deposits On Intake Valves

December 22, 2015

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

Problem occurs with both "S" and non "S" models — Problem occurs with both “S” and non “S” models

Carbon Deposits On Intake Valves
As the largest Mini Cooper service specialists in Maine, at the Atlantic Motorcar Center we’ve noted a significant increase in late model Mini Coopers with cold start or cold running problems, even to the point of stalling, or Check Engine warning lights coming on.

We’ve found that many of these Mini Cooper direct injection engines suffer from an excessive carbon build up on the back of the engine intake valves. The carbon build up can cause drivability issues such as stumbling, flat spots and lack of power, poor throttle response, or in extreme cases, internal engine damage. In addition, Mini Cooper engine carbon build-up on the intake valves is commonly associated with an inconsistent idle and in some cases, a direct injection engine will not idle at all when cold.

The Cause
Due to stricter federal emission requirements, most manufacturers have switched to an fully closed emission control system that cycles the crankcase fumes back into the cylinders to be burned off. Also, oil from lubricating the valve guides can drip down the valve stem, and deposit on the back of the intake valves.

As you can see from the photos below, carbon build-up around intake valves in a Mini Cooper engine is a sticky coating of oil and fuel constituents, we’ve noted that this issue seems to be worse on the 2007 and newer models, but we have seen in as well on the earlier cars. Once formed, these deposits continue to grow, further coating the intake valves and has an extremely negative effect on engine performance.

Great idea for emissions, but certain driving styles lead to a rapid onset of this issue. Vehicles that aren’t driven for extended (20mins or so) periods at full operating temp are more prone to the issue. I.e. cold start and a 15 min drive to work then shut off until leaving work. The more often run and stopped away from full op temp the faster this issue develops. There seems to be no difference in manuals or autos.

The Fix
The Atlantic Motorcar Center has developed a very through cleaning process for Mini Cooper (and other models) with direct injection engines. Our process safely removes the carbon build up and is significantly quicker and less expensive than removing cylinder heads and subsequently cleaning the valves (a common dealer suggestion).

Our process involves minimally invasive mechanical service work, and some special tools, which allow us to directly access, inspect and learn the intake valves. The process removes all of the carbon build up and consistently returns good engine performance. To de-carbon a Mini Cooper engine takes less than a day and the results are excellent – improved cold start operation, immediate throttle response and power return. Best of all, we can carry out this entire process for a fraction of the cost of other alternatives, and you’ll love the results, our 5 Star Service Rating speaks for itself.

How To Prevent Carbon Deposits On Intake Valves
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so here is what you can do to help prevent this from occurring with your beloved Mini, BMW or other vehicle. How fast the intake valves get dirty does not seem to be a function of fuel quality. Rather, it appears to be influenced most by driving habits, and how often the engine oil is changed. Oil vapors and combustion byproducts that are drawn back into the intake manifold through the crankcase ventilation system seem to contribute most to carbon deposits on the intake valves. 111

At the Atlantic Motorcar Center, our advice is to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you only do short trip stop-and-go city driving, or change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles if you do mostly highway driving. If you want to minimize carbon buildup on the intake valves, don’t push your oil change intervals to 7500 miles or longer unless you are using a high quality full synthetic oil (which usually has less volatility than conventional motor oil).

We also recommend the monthly use of a fuel additive, like Lubromoly, or Chevron Techron, while these cars are direct injection, and as such the fuel does not inject onto the back of the valve, but rather in the cylinder itself, we’ve noted that cars using these products experience considerably less carbon buildup.

Finally
Questions, or if we can be of help in any way with service on your Mini Cooper, BMW, or other European (and now Japanese) import, please contact us. Our team of Service Specialists are here to help, for even the newest autos! (207) 882-9969.

Knowing, not just “doing”, that’s the Atlantic Motorcar Center way of life.
Thanks!

Warmly,
The Atlantic Motorcar Center Service Team

Mercedes SL Hydraulic Power Top Repair

September 28, 2015

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

The Car
The classic Mercedes 129 chassis (aside from being Bruce’s favorite car ever) also know as the SL300 and SL500, has to be one of the most amazing cars from a electromechanical technology standpoint. First released in 1989 and were in current production through 2002. The R129 replaced the R107 SL-Class in 1989 and was in its turn replaced by the R230 in 2003 (US). The R129 was produced as a two-door roadster with an automated (electro-hydraulic) textile tonneau cover. All R129s came standard with an detachable hardtop that could fitted by folding the canvas roof down and manually attaching it.

The Problem
The technology which makes these cars cool, is unfortunately the technology which can be their undoing. With some of the earlier cars nearly a quarter century of use, the top hydraulics have become one of the weak points in an otherwise rock solid auto. Still, I can’t imagine that Mercedesever anticipated that these hydraulic systems would still be functioning some 25 years later, and it’s only a testimony to their superb German engineering that most still are.

How We Can Help
At Atlantic Motorcar we’ve deverloped some very specific procedures and tooling, combined with our expect technicians, to make this otherwise onerous repair a snap. Well, maybe not a “snap”, hard to call a day + of labor a snap, let’s just say that we make it flow very, very smoothly.

All told, the power hydraulic system on the 129 is compromised of 12 individual cylinders that do everything from unlatching the top, to moving the convertible top out of the way, and folding securely in the boot. If the soft top of your beloved SL roadster, or for that matter W124 Cabriolet, is not working any more or is very slow, chances are that the hydraulic cylinders that operate the top are leaking.

The Fix
This is the main cause of failure of the soft top of these cars. The hydraulic seals inside the cylinders are made of material that is not very durable and degrade over the years in the mineral fluid independently whether you use the soft top a lot or do not use it at all. The hydraulic seals usually simply disintegrate. No stop leak is able to fix the problem as sometimes sections of the seal crack away creating a very large, and expensive damage to the interior of the car. The only correct and lasting repair is to replace the cylinders, which usually entails all of them so the problem does not repeat.

Atlantic Motorcar has deverloped some very specific procedures and tooling, combined with our expect technicians, to make this very challenging service last another quarter century!

Knowing, not just “doing”, that’s the Atlantic Motorcar Center way of life.
Thanks!

Warmly,
The Atlantic Motorcar Center Service Team

When Your Turn Signal Indicator Blinks Rapidly, Change Your Bulb

May 13, 2015

Case Studies

Atlantic Motorcar Center

You typically can’t see your turn signal lights when you’re inside your car.
However, most vehicles have a subtle way of letting you know when one of your blinkers burns out: the indicator in your dashboard will blink faster than normal.

The indicator inside your car is designed to operate under a specific electrical resistance. When the bulb burns out, the resistance changes, which causes the turn indicator in your dashboard to blink faster. This is a quick way to know whether your light needs to be changed without getting out of your car.