MT Auto Parts Blog | Expert Tips for BMW enthusiasts on BMW Parts, Accessories, Engines and More

Image: BMW 1 Series Complete 76MM Exhaust System with Sports CAT for F20, F2X models, for £598.49, at mtautoparts.com Your BMW's exhaust system does considerably more than carry fumes away from the engine. It has to move exhaust gases safely underneath the car, reduce harmful emissions, control the amount of noise reaching the outside world, and work with a collection of sensors and electronic systems that monitor what is happening inside the exhaust. On an older BMW, the system can be relatively straightforward. On a newer diesel, there can be a diesel oxidation catalyst, DPF, SCR catalyst, AdBlue injection, NOx sensors, temperature sensors and pressure sensors all working together. Petrol BMWs can also have several catalysts, oxygen sensors and, on some newer models, a petrol particulate filter. That is why an exhaust fault isn't always as simple as finding a hole in the pipe. Understanding what each component does makes it much easier to work out what a warning light means...

Image: BMW X3 Series Engine ECU Control Unit Set for B57D30B engine, G01 model for £569.99, at mtautoparts.com   A question that comes up regularly from BMW owners considering used parts: will fitting a used genuine BMW part affect the MOT? It is a reasonable thing to wonder, particularly for owners unfamiliar with how the test actually works. The short answer is no, but understanding why helps clarify what the MOT actually checks, which parts do carry specific legal requirements, and why genuine original parts are relevant to the question even if the test does not directly ask where they came from. What the MOT Actually Tests The MOT test assesses whether a vehicle meets minimum road safety and environmental standards at the moment of testing. An MOT tester checks whether components function correctly and are in a condition that meets the standard. They do not check, and are not required to check, whether parts are new, used, dealer-supplied, or sourced from a specialist used car...

Image: BMW 3 Series Multifunction Steering Wheel for F20 and F30 models for £379.99, at mtautoparts.com    The BMW 3 Series has been through seven generations since the E21 arrived in 1975. The cars have changed considerably along the way, but one thing has stayed the same: owners like making them their own. Some want a better interior, others want to bring an older car up to a higher specification, and plenty simply need to replace a worn or damaged original part. BMW confirms that the 3 Series has now covered seven generations, with the F30 representing the sixth and the G20 the seventh. That makes choosing BMW 3 Series accessories slightly more complicated than it first appears. A steering wheel for an F30 isn't automatically suitable for a G20, while an accessory for an F31 Touring can be completely different from the equivalent part for an F30 Saloon. The same applies to interior trim, infotainment equipment and many of the smaller details that changed during a model's p...