Because brakes are such an essential part of a vehicle’s operation, every mechanic – be he/she a DIYer or a professional – should take servicing these life savers seriously. However, this does not mean that there aren’t some people who are willing to take shortcuts when it comes to replacing/serving this vital safety component. What we are referring to is the practice of “pad slapping’ which means replacing only the brake pads as opposed to replacing the pads and rotors when needed. At Autohaus we believe that a job worth doing is worth doing well. Here are some things you need to know about pad slapping and why we do not recommend this practice.

Reasons to Replace Rotors and Brake Pads

A car’s braking system is an intricate interplay of various machines parts that work in conjunction with one another. Neglecting one component of this system can compromise your vehicle’s ability to [...]

There are easy fixes that nearly anyone who owns any kind vehicle can do and probably should know. These repairs include fixing a flat tire, filling up the windshield wiper reservoirs, checking and/or changing oil, etc. However, modern cars are very sophisticated machines and the BMW is among the most complicated kinds of car there is on the market. In other words, there are some repairs to this precision machine that you should try to DIY. Here are five prime examples of when it’s best to back off in order to protect your BMW and yourself.

• Body work and paint: BMWs are known for their distinctive and elegant look for a reason – BMW makers use special finishes at the factory that requires careful color-matching. An ordinary, non-mechanic could end up not only taking away from the stately look of the BMW, he/she could actually end up damaging his/her vehicle at the same time.
[...]

Your safety is important to us.

We want to make sure your vehicle is prepared for your holiday travels, so we are offering the following discounts on repairs and maintenance!

$15 off vehicle service of $100 – $249
$25 off vehicle service of $250 – $499
$50 off vehicle service of $500 – $749
$75 off vehicle service of $750 or more  (expires 12/29/18, restrictions apply, not valid with any other coupons or offers)

A few tips to consider before traveling:  

Check Tire Pressure Tire pressures fluctuate as temperatures
change. Tires that are over- or under-inflated, worn in spots or not
aligned properly can be dangerous, especially at highway speeds.  

Check Fluid Levels [...]

*Expires October 31, 2018. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Restrictions apply. Print or present this web page on your cell phone at time of drop-off.

Have peace of mind with our limited time safety inspection special to check for suspension issues, as well as overall safety issues. We are also offering a coupon good for any service or repair.

When you drive through potholes, it does more than damage tires. The metal wheels can be bent or damaged, wheel alignment can be affected and suspension/steering parts may break or be worn to the point of needing to be replaced. When your wheels are out of alignment, this leads to uneven tire wear and is a safety concern. Broken or damaged steering and suspension components can affect your ability to steer the vehicle properly and even inhibit your ability to stop the vehicle. You may experience obvious signs that something is wrong with your car, but in some cases, the signs may be less [...]

sNOw IS HERE! Just kidding, we love the snow…

…but before Jack Frost settles in for the long haul, here are a few things you should do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the cold season.

1. Check your battery: Cold weather is very harsh on your battery. When those temperatures drop, starting an engine can take almost twice as much current as it would need on an average day. Have a technician run a load test to see if it’s time to replace your battery.

2. Have your cowl drains checked: Leaves may get stuck in the drains that run from the base of the windshield. This can cause water back-up and major damage to electrical [...]

Brake components for German cars have changed quite a bit over the past decade but the basic principals are still the same. Back when automobile manufacturers cared less about weight, fuel economy and performance, brake components were built to be heavy and strong. The excessive mass of the rotors allowed room for them to be machined or “cut” down, in order to smooth them out and reuse the rotors when the brake pads need to be replaced.

These days, rotors are designed to weigh less, increase performance and reduce fuel consumption. Automobile manufacturers have reduced not only the weight, but the overall thickness of the rotor. The reduction in unsprung mass is noticeable on modern cars and has achieved the goal the engineers intended. However, modern brake rotors cannot be machined as they are too thin to remove any high spots or groves [...]

Pothole season has arrived and that means many cars are on the road, right now, with one or more broken coil springs. Often, you will not even notice!

The coil springs allow the wheels and suspension to move vertically, while also holding up the body of the car. The length of the spring determines the car’s ride height, so if a spring brakes, the car will sit lower. The coil springs usually rust at the bottom where they attach to the suspension. They fit into a notch that tends to hold water, causing the bottom coil to rust and brake off. Since only a small portion brakes off, it’s not always obvious or noticeable.

A broken spring will affect the wheel alignment and can cause a rattling noise. It can be a safety issue because when a coil spring is broken, it is possible for it to become dislodged when going over a bump, and [...]

Carbon may be the building block of life, but it can wreak havoc on your engine.

Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Mini engines utilize direct injection of fuel into the cylinder. Direct injection is where the fuel is sprayed at a very high pressure, directly into the cylinder through fuel injectors. The engine control module, or ECU, precisely controls all aspects of fuel injection, including the amount of fuel injected, timing, air to fuel ratio, how long the valves stay open and more. This process achieves better fuel economy and power because the combustion of fuel is more complete and the fuel burns more efficiently.

Air intake valves in all engines are exposed to air mixed with oil residue which can build up on top of the valves. Older, port style [...]

About Autohaus…

Gerald Drouillard is the owner, manager and car salesman. He founded Birmingham Autohaus in 1970, which was a Gulf gas station and VW repair, located on Woodward next to Hunter House in Birmingham, Michigan.

Jerry began his career/passion for German cars while in college. He worked as a mechanic while obtaining a Bachelors Degree in business. Over the years, he became a Bosch Certified Master Technician.

The business thrived from the beginning, as the word of Jerry’s integrity and knowledge spread. Later, the business moved to Maple and Adams, as a Union 76 gas station with German car repair service (and Avis car rental). Then in the 80’s the business moved again to Clawson on 14 mile, right next to the Burger King, as a parts store and German car repair. In 1984, the business moved to its current location.

A great deal of our customers have been around since the beginning and [...]