RICHMOND GERMAN AUTO REPAIR

With November approaching, despite the hardships of the past year, it’s important to recognize that we’ve survived, and to give thanks for that. As we gather together for Thanksgiving at the end of the month, perhaps it’s a good time to give praise to that family member that we rely on too readily and credit too little: our cars. You can’t give your BMW a slice of pumpkin pie or the drumstick, or even a place at the table, but you can show a little more love to your car in the year ahead. Here’s a list of ideas to show your BMW the love over the next year: Keep it clean inside and out. Dirt inside your BMW is unhealthy for you, and dirt n the outside of your BMW can get caught in your car’s systems, choking them. Also, a clean car is a happier driver… and you are less anxious to protect a car that you think of as dirty. Clean car = safer car. Protect the interior. If your BMW has a leather interior, it&rsqu ... read more

A community is more than just a diverse group of people. It’s families and it’s also strangers who trust each other to do right by each other... an ecosystem of justice and an economic system of interdependence and reliance.  We can’t claim to know everyone around us, but the more we know each other, the more we strengthen the bonds of community. By promoting organizations that add good things to our community, we create a better society for Richmond, Short Pump, The West End, and The Fan District.  Supporting each other is supporting ourselves. That’s why Bimmer Rescue has a community outreach program: we want to feed back into our community and help it grow, knowing that we will grow with it, and be enriched by it with better lives and a happier standard of living. Here are some of the community outreach programs that Bimmer Rescue takes part in: Richmond Arts Scene Did you know that we host a family-friendly art opening at Bimm ... read more

The COVID era has created a lot of change in the auto repair industry, that is for sure. However, many positives have emerged from the pandemic. That is why we want to share what you can expect when you bring your vehicle to Bimmer Rescue in 2020 and beyond. We take health and safety very seriously. We follow the CDC and local health authorities' recommendations closely so our auto repair team can continue to provide top-notch German auto repair for the Richmond region. As a result of our extra attention to cleanliness, health, and safety, some of the positives we've seen include: More demand for our popular concierge pickup and dropoff system.  Continued wiping of steering wheels and keys with disinfecting wipes. Regular and thorough cleaning of our facility, desktops, and workstations. Increased use of our after-hours pickup and dropoff system, using the lockboxes located to the right of our front door. Ongoing community involvement ... read more

Your automobile can serve as more than just transportation. It can be a trusty friend, a safe space, and a second partner on the job. You depend on it, and it depends on you for upkeep. You naturally want to do your utmost to maintain it as best you can, and within your given budget; maintaining your car helps you maintain many other aspects of your life, after all. You give yourself the best care that you can afford, and your car needs that, too. That’s why we hope you’ll bring your European automobile to Bimmer Rescue. Putting your car in the care of a Master Technician isn’t just reassuring, it’s an investment in the long-term life of the car. What’s a Master Technician? The Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) program offers eight separate qualifications for car mechanics, which covers different aspects, such as Electrical Systems, Engine Performance, Heating and Air Conditioning, etc. A Master Technician is an automotive service professional who has ... read more

Have you heard of Automotive Endurance Racing? Here at Bimmer Rescue, it’s our passion. Many people also call it LeMons Racing, and it’s a lot of fun. Automotive Endurance Racing is when you take an old beater car and you race it for 24 hours. Automotive Endurance Racing is a lot more affordable than traditional car racing and we’d like to think it’s a lot of fun. They’re lemons, after all. Here’s a video that explains the sport: But why are the folks at Bimmer Rescue so passionate about Automotive Endurance Racing? For one, it allows our gearhead crew to have fun modifying our old-model BMWs. For another, its a team effort where we all get together and take turns racing the cars. It’s an amateur sport, but we absolutely love it! Now that you know what Automotive Endurance Racing is, here are three reasons why YOU can benefit from Bimmer Rescue’s passion:  It gives our crew the opportunity to dive more deeply into automotive tech ... read more

Before we begin discussing the history of the Mini Cooper -- which is a long, storied history -- we want you to know that Bimmer Rescue specializes in working on newer MINIs. As much as we adore the look and feel of the classics, we are not the old car shop. We’re the shop you come to when your newer car runs out of warranty. We love working on modern, cutting edge cars, and our sweet spot is when we service and repair MINIs, BMWs, and Audis that are between three to 12 years of age. Okay, now onto our regularly scheduled blog… At Bimmer Rescue, we absolutely love the Mini Coopers! They’re fun. They look really cool. They’re the adult-sized go-kart. They reflect the individualized personalities of their owners. They are terrific cars and can last a long time when you consistently service them. But the reason we love them so much is because of their origin story. We admit, we were going to write a long essay recounting the milestones (pun intended) that MINI ... read more

Driving an Audi is a luxury experience like no other. The precision sports car meets modern design, providing a luxurious experience like no other. With a history of being at the forefront of four-wheel racing, this car is a high-performance machine ideal for a deluxe commuter to and from work. Why drive an Audi, you ask? Well, it is one of the few cars that offer both performance, style, and comfort that makes you want to let loose and laugh for no reason as the wind whips through your hair, and you are out on the highway heading to who-knows-where. Audi's are known to be fuel-efficient, so if you are into driving a performance machine that is a fuel sipper, an Audi is for you! These cars are lightweight by design, come equipped with the latest in cutting-edge technology, and are quite reliable. Audi drivers love their vehicles. The reliability of an Audi's precision engineering and dependability offers you options from taking it to the track for a race, or drive it on the hi ... read more

When it comes to knowing the health of your car, a VHC or Vehicle Health Check is just what you might want to have performed. This visual inspection can put your mind at ease, whether your car is safe to drive or in need of serious work. These simple visual inspections performed by a professional who follows a checklist use a traffic light system. This means that you will have a checklist with Green, Amber, and Red items. Green means you are good to go, Amber means there is recommended work to be performed, and Red means that your vehicle needs urgent attention. Every time you have a VHC performed, no actual work is performed without your permission, and nothing on your car is disassembled.  It is standard for Brakes, tires, lights, fluid levels, exhaust, steering, suspension, and electrical items on your car to be inspected. This all comes delivered in a checkpoint report. If anything comes back in yellow or red, your service writer will explain what the mechanic found and what ... read more

Who knew that the BMW company originally started as an airplane engine company? This past 100 years has seen the BMW through the struggles of war and now stability, as refined, and quality German designed luxury vehicles grace the market. Three companies merged to become BMW; they were Rapp Motorenwerke, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, and Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. These three companies came together to build and refine engines and later create luxury cars of the finest of German engineering. In 1917, the first BMW logo was created in honor of Karl Rapp’s original logo. Many believe that the colors alternating in a circle represent an airplane propeller spinning. Although the BMW logo has gone through subtle changes over the years, it has always retained its basic form. In 1922 the BMW company moved its headquarters to Munich. Today the headquarter and primary plant employ over 9,000 people and make over 200,000 cars a year. In 1923 BMW produced its first motorcycle called the R32. T ... read more

When it comes to your BMW, we already know just how much you love your car. A BMW is special; not like other vehicles. It moves in ways that make running errands fun. You no longer want to send your spouse to the market for that unforgotten item off of the grocery list. You now seek out roads with twists and turns galore. A vacation no longer has to include a plane ride and in fact. This time of year gives you an opportunity to show your love to your special person, but it’s also a time to show your love for your BMW.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your BMW feel loved. Start with a good vacuuming. Throw away all the built up trash such as receipts or empty snack bags. Wipe down the dash and steering wheel. Use a window cleaner on the inside windows. Install a trash bin or bag to help you keep down the clutter. Buy an organizational item or two to help keep things nice and tidy.  If you do want to spend a little bit of money to show your love, pr ... read more