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

  Image: BMW 5 Series Complete Harman Kardon Amplifier Set for sale at MT Auto Parts You bought a BMW without the Harman Kardon option. Maybe it wasn't available on the trim you chose, maybe it pushed the price too far, or maybe you simply didn't know how much difference it would make until you sat in a friend's car with it fitted. Now you're wondering whether it can be added after the fact. The short answer is yes, in most cases. But the detail matters, because "adding Harman Kardon speakers to a BMW" is not a simple speaker swap. It involves replacing an entire audio system, potentially modifying wiring, and coding the car's electronics to recognise the new hardware. Done correctly, the result is the factory Harman Kardon experience in a car that didn't leave the factory with it. Done incorrectly, it's a partially working system with fault codes and compromised sound. This guide covers everything you need to know before committing to the upgrade,...

  Photo by Brandon Vázquez on Unsplash The BMW 3 Series is one of the most popular cars on UK roads and one of the most debated when it comes to reliability. Ask in any BMW forum, and you'll get answers ranging from "mine has done 180,000 miles with nothing major" to a list of expensive faults that reads like a parts catalogue. Both can be true. The 3 Series spans multiple generations, multiple engines, and two decades of ownership history, and reliability varies significantly depending on which version you own or are considering. This guide covers the F30 3 Series (2012–2019) and the G20 3 Series (2019–present) — the generations we see most at our BMW breakers yard in Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire. We work on these cars every week, so what follows is based on what we actually see rather than forum hearsay or manufacturer claims. The Short Answer on 3 Series Reliability The BMW 3 Series is a reasonably reliable car when maintained correctly and bought with a service history....

  Photo by El Malandro on Unsplash The BMW F30 3 Series is one of those cars you just see everywhere. If it’s a diesel doing motorway miles or a petrol M Sport cruising through town, it has become a proper staple on UK roads. And it’s easy to see why. It looks modern, drives really well, and still gives you that classic BMW feel without being too harsh or too expensive to run (at least on paper). When it came out between 2011 and 2018, it felt like a big step forward from the E90. But now these cars are ageing, and as they move past 70,000–120,000 miles, certain patterns start showing up. Not every car has issues, but after seeing and dealing with plenty of them, you do start noticing the same things again and again. The F30 is a great car… but the engine choice changes everything This is probably the most important thing to understand with the F30. Two cars can look identical on the outside, but underneath, they can behave completely differently depending on the engine. For exampl...