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

  Image: BMW 3 Series Wing Mirror Left Side for BMW F30, F31 for sale at MT Auto Parts  Someone clipped your mirror in a car park. A wing mirror glass is cracked. The mirror cover is snapped off. It happens to a lot of BMWs, and the first instinct is to ring the dealer, then put the phone down when you hear the quote. A BMW wing mirror from a dealer can cost £300 to £800 or more for a complete unit, before fitting. A genuine used BMW mirror from a documented donor car with the same colour and the same specification costs a fraction of that. And in many cases, the job itself is straightforward enough that a competent DIYer can do it, or an independent specialist can do it quickly and cheaply. Here is what you need to know.   First: What Exactly Needs Replacing? The wing mirror assembly on a modern BMW has several distinct parts. Knowing which one is damaged determines what you need to buy. The mirror glass. The glass inside the mirror housing. This can often be replaced ...

  Image: BMW X3 Series Roof Rail Bars Pair for Sale at MT Auto Parts Planning a ski trip, moving a bike, or strapping a roof box on for a family holiday, whatever the reason, fitting roof bars to a BMW needs a bit more thought than just picking up a set from a rack and bolting them on. The wrong bars, the wrong load, or a poorly fitted system can scratch the roof, trip the panoramic roof sensor, or, in a worst case, come loose on a motorway. Here is what you need to know before you buy a BMW roof rack . Seven Things to Check Before You Buy  1. Does your BMW have a roof rail or flush roof? This is the first question. Some BMWs come with factory roof rails, the raised bars running along the roofline that you can see from outside the car. Most newer BMWs do not. The majority of modern BMWs have a flush roof with concealed mounting points hidden under plastic covers. The type of roof determines which roof bar system you can use. Bars designed for roof rails will not work on a flus...

  Image: BMW X3 Series G01 ABS Pump Control Module for Sale at MT Auto Parts   The ABS warning light comes on. A few seconds later, the DSC light joins it. The car drives normally, the brakes seem fine, and you are left wondering whether this is urgent or whether it can wait until the next service. It should not wait. When the ABS light is on, the anti-lock braking system has disabled itself. The car can still brake, but in a situation where ABS would have prevented a wheel from locking up, it will not activate. On a wet or slippery road, that distinction can matter considerably. This guide explains what the fault usually means, what causes it, and what it costs to fix. What the ABS System Actually Does Anti-lock braking prevents wheel lock-up under heavy braking. When a wheel locks, the tyre slides on the road surface rather than rolling, and a sliding tyre generates significantly less braking force than a rolling one. It also removes steering control, because a locked front...

Image: BMW X3 Series Complete Brake Calliper Set for Sale at MT Auto Parts One wheel gets hot when the others do not. The car pulls slightly to one side under braking. You notice a faint burning smell after a motorway run, or a scraping noise that appears only on one corner. You might be told you need a new BMW brake calliper . Sometimes you do. But a sticking BMW brake calliper is one of those faults where the calliper itself is often not the original problem. It is what happens to the calliper when something else has been neglected. Understanding the real cause saves money and stops the fault coming back. How a Brake Calliper Works The calliper clamps the brake disc when you press the pedal. Inside it are one or more pistons, hydraulically pushed outward by brake fluid pressure when you brake, forcing the pads against the disc. When you release the pedal, the pressure drops and the pistons retract slightly, allowing the pads to release. That retraction is small and deliberate. The p...