When you have a shiny new car you are usually desperate to keep it just that…shiny and new, so how can you keep the bodywork looking immaculate?

One of the main damages caused to car bodywork is caused by bird lime, (AKA bird poo) when this is left on the car it can very quickly eat away at the lacquer of the paintwork and take off the shine making the finish look patchy. Damage to the paint work can also be caused by leaves and berries falling on to the car whilst parked causing acid-damage to the finish. The best way to avoid this is to keep a bottle of water in the car along with some tissue so that you can immediately remove any bird lime or debris from the car before any damage can occur.

If you are driving along a road with loose chippings then it’s always best to follow the advisory speed limits as driving over them too fast could result in the loose stones chipping your paintwork and causing substantial damage to the cars finish.

If you are looking to sell your car and want to purchase another one, there are a few options that you have. You can of course try and sell your car yourself, putting advertisements up in the car windows, advertising it on social media sites or placing an ad on specialist websites such as Autotrader or Gumtree.

If you are looking to buy a car from a trader or garage, then you may be able to offer your old vehicle in part exchange. Be aware that if you do this you will often get potentially quite a bit less for your vehicle than you would if you sold it privately. A more recent option that seems to be taking of is the option to swap your vehicle for another one.

There are a few websites now that offer people the opportunity to advertise their own vehicle for a swap and they can list types of swaps they may be interested in.Other people can then express an interest in your ad or contact you to ask more details. This can be a great chance for people to change cars without having to go weeks without a car or having to find the money to buy a car prior to selling theirs.

It’s a well-known issue with BMWs that they do not perform well in snow and ice this is mainly due to the car being a rear wheel drive and losing grip on slippery surfaces. There is however some simple tips to help improve the winter driving experience.

When driving in the snow and ice you’ll need to ensure that your vehicle is winter ready so investing in good winter tyres will certainly help in a rear wheel drive BMW.

As with all cars ensure that all the windows and mirrors are frost free and not misted up before starting your journey.

Consider adding extra weight in the boot such as sandbags as this will improve the cars traction, however too much added weight in the boot can compromise the steering so be cautious not to add to much.

Don’t over inflate your tyres! This can cause problems with the cars handling, its ability to grip and increase the cars stopping distance.

And most importantly drive smoothly and carefully to suit the weather conditions to avoid accidents.

That great first impression – just sitting in the car in the showroom – will sell a lot of cars. But it’s when you actually go to pull away that you encounter the first problem. Where is the handbrake? Manufacturers are increasingly moving towards electronic devices, so presumably it’s a button, but where is it?

Thankfully I was with a colleague who had already been through this part of the A Class experience, and had shown me. Towards the door, to the right, below the steering wheel. A pull-off, push-on handle (so the opposite motion to normal, too). It’s not easy to reach, and quickly becomes useless when driving – it’s just too far out of the way, and there’s a whole pull-push faff each time you use it

Next is the ride. Unfortunately the ride height is so low that anyone over a certain age or that is pregnant would really struggle to be able to get in and out of the car safely. The suspension is so harsh that you can literally feel every painted line and crack, and potholes feel jarringly unhealthy. The handling does, to a degree, make up for it – the grip and tight pull through corners is impressive, but you’ll rarely be able to use it for fear of complaints from your passengers.

Car tyres remain the sole contact between the vehicle and the road. So, picking the right car tyre is vital to safe and secure driving. Moreover, fitting your car with the right tyre increases overall vehicle efficiency and performance, improving comfort as well.

Tyres explained in brief

Made of vulcanized rubber, and inflated with pressurized air, tyres support the weight of the car. Vulcanized rubber is a process by which rubber is made incredibly durable and able to withstand extreme conditions of heat and cold.

Friction or grip formed between the patch of rubber tyre in contact with the road and the vehicle makes certain the driver is in complete control of the car. About 85 percent of the weight of a car is supported by air, with the remaining 15 percent held up by the tyres. A car that is fitted with tyres inflated to the right pressure is a car that is highly responsive to the changes in direction and speed made by the driver. (more…)