Oh Tannenbaum…Put a New Car Under My Tree.

Tis’ the season and wouldn’t it be one of the most memorable ever if you treated yourself to a new German automobile this Christmas?  You bet it would!  Maybe you have been thinking about it for months and perhaps this is the year where a tax refund is in your future.  Who needs a reason…a German import is an idea whose time has come.

Visions of Mercedes, Mini Coopers, BMW’s, Porsches, Audis, and Volkswagens have been dancing in your head for quite some time.  Now is the time to take action!  Imagine, for example sitting behind the wheel of a Mercedes S550?  If you love German vehicles I know it has entered your brain before.  If your new car is being used for business that is even more of a reason to buy now for tax purposes.

The German Car Shoppe in Littleton, Colorado hopes that you and yours will have a memorable and glorious holiday.  If you take the plunge (and you should) remember to take good care of your new German car in 2017 and beyond.  Keep our number handy for repair and general maintenance (303) 798-2287.  At the German Car Shoppe we serve all of the Denver metro.

Who Produces the World’s Best Luxury Cars?

If you have unlimited speeds on your highways you had better produce the world’s best high performance cars.  That is exactly what Germany does!  Three of the top five best selling luxury brands in the United States are German.  You know their mottos: the best or nothing, the ultimate driving machine, there is no substitute, and…truth in engineering.

Look at the Audi A8 for example.  It has taken a step ahead of the crowd as a leader in automotive electronics.  It is a showcase of cutting edge technology with its all-aluminum construction.  Combine that with its beautifully finished interiors and its powerful engines and you have the nearly perfect driving machine - the Audi A8.

Maintaining your new or pre-owned German vehicle is essential, especially in the harsh winter of Denver.  The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton, Colorado ensures that.  We are your Denver area German car maintenance professionals.  For many years, owners of German vehicles have trusted us.  To make an appointment at our 5115 South Santa Fe Dr. location call (303) 798-2287.  

BMW Maintenance tips.

Now that you own the car of your dreams…your first BMW, you want to make sure that you get many years of top performance out of it.  We want you to be armed with the knowledge of proper care and maintenance of your new BMW.  With regularly scheduled maintenance and proper trouble shooting you will get a couple of hundred thousand miles out of your Bimmer (That is the proper spelling of the word, by the way).

Concerning the structure dashboards and door panels seem to be the most vulnerable.  The panels are prone to rust build-up, so watch for that.  The engine cooling system may become compromised.  Watch for overheating and an inordinate amount of water consumption.  And pay attention to your fuel pump.  If a pump is faulty it can cause major performance issues.

For all of the basics and the intricacies of repair and maintenance, you can count on The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton, CO.  We are your Denver area BMW maintenance professionals.  For many years, owners of German cars have trusted us to take care of their vehicles.  To make an appointment at our 5115 South Santa Fe Dr. location call (303) 798-2287.  

The New Porshe Panamera.

Are you considering or do you own the 2017 Porsche Panamera?  Lucky you!  It seems to be a huge improvement over the model that it is replacing.  Owners are touting this new model as the ultimate luxury experience.  The 2017 model is new from the ground up.  It is indisputably a Porsche.  Streamlined, athletic, and fast.

Even if you choose the smaller of the two engines you are looking at 0 to 60 in barely over four seconds.  Here is something that may surprise you…the car is also a “relaxed sort of cruiser”.  It is more than capable of taking you comfortably hundreds of miles in a day.  It seems to be the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and performance.

A luxury car such as this deserves plenty of TLC.  You need to maintain your 2017 Porsche Panamera properly from the very beginning.  The place to do that is your Denver area Porsche repair and maintenance specialist.  Count on The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton, Colorado.  Call them whenever you need anything for your new Porsche at (303) 798-2287.  

Make Your Halloween Weekend Plans!

Halloween events in Denver, from frightening to family friendly

(Follow the link above for more information)

"Here is a roundup of Halloween parties in the Denver area 

where you can monster mash the night away" - Denver Post

Considering a BMW e36?

Maybe you are considering the purchase of a late model BMW e36.  These are the third generation of BMW’s that were produced through the end of the last century.  Among them would be models 316, 318, 323, 325, 328, and M3.  BMW aficionados really like these models for their efficiency and long-term performance without many headaches.

But, like any other vehicle no matter how well made there are problems with this decade and a half old car.  Some of those potential mechanical issues may be –

1.  A rough idle.  A dirty valve may just need to be cleaned.

2.  The smell of burning oil.  Look for excessive blue smoke. 

3.  Failure of the water pump.  This can result in much bigger issues if not properly repaired.

4.  Radiator leaks.  The plastic parts in stock units will wear out over time.

It’s a good thing that you live in the Denver area.  If you own or are about to buy a BMW e36 model, there is one place you need to remember to keep it humming along for years to come.  That is The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton, Colorado.  We are your Denver area BMW e36 repair pros.  Give us a call for an appointment at our shop located at 5115 South Santa Fe Drive at (303) 798-2287. 

Cayenne Drive Shaft Repair.

If you are fortunate enough to own a Porsche in the Denver area you probably are aware of a potential propshaft failure.  Here is an almost inescapable truth…in almost any Porsche that you buy, a cardan shaft failure is almost certain to happen at some point.  The issue with the Cayenne propshaft is the center bearing mount.

When and if the center bearing mount does fail the tendency for many is to keep driving for at least a short time.  The theory is that if you are easy on the throttle you may keep driving.  Obviously this could be a mistake.  The Cayenne propshaft does not have a specific shelf life.  It has been noted that some have traveled over 100,000 miles with the original.

Just be aware Porsche owners - this is a problem that you will likely face.  In the Denver area the right answer is always to have your Porsche checked and repaired by The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton Colorado.  We are your Denver area Cayenne drive shaft repair pros.  Give us a call for an appointment at our shop located at 5115 South Santa Fe Drive at (303) 798-2287. 

Maintaining Your Mercedes S550.

Now that you are surrounded by luxury it is time to learn what to look and listen for when your Mercedes S550 is talking to you.  We want you to be educated as to one of the things that may go wrong mechanically with this luxury car.  Knowing what to look and listen for is important - knowing how to troubleshoot and fix the problem is essential.

If you see the check engine light it may be a faulty camshaft adjuster solenoid.  This is directly related to the valve timing system.  Over time the balance and shift components may wear down.  The check engine light will remind you that there may be trouble ahead.  Correcting this problem in your Mercedes S550 requires a true professional.

Do not trust just any auto mechanic with this vehicle.  In the Denver area the right call is to have your Mercedes checked by The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton, Colorado.  We are your Denver area Mercedes S550 repair and maintenance professionals.  Give us a call for an appointment at our shop located at 5115 South Santa Fe Drive at (303) 798-2287. 

Winterizing Your Audi.

Your Audi is designed to give you maximum performance in all types of weather and road conditions.  Those of us who live in the Denver area know that winter is especially challenging for vehicles.  As cold weather approaches on any given day driving conditions will change literally overnight.  You should take precautionary steps to keep your Audi (or any German car) from experiencing winter problems.

Always remember to have your battery charged and have a professional check its strength before the harsh weather sets in.  If you have an Audi know your tire repair kit.  The days of the spare tire are over.  If you have an Audi convertible run it through its opening and closing paces once in a while.  Make sure that you have a different concentration of anti-freeze when you have your pre-winter service done.

The weather is changing rapidly and your Audi deserves the best mechanical care possible!   In the Denver area, with its unpredictable climate, the right call is to have your Audi checked and winterized by The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton Colorado.  We are your Denver area Audi repair and winterizing professionals.  Give us a call for an appointment at (303) 798-2287. 

Buying a Used BMW 3 Series.

When you are considering this exceptional pre-owned car there some things we would like you to be aware of going in.  If you love the BMW, as so many millions do, you will probably be looking at a used vehicle that has been treated exceptionally well.  They feature powerful engines and rear-wheel drive reliability.  Your heart is set on this champion of motor cars.

The 3 series started off as economy entry-level coupe.  The price tag has since risen quite a bit as this model has become increasingly valuable in the after-market.  Some have even abandoned their dreams and “settled” for an Audi, Lexus, Mercedes, or Cadillac.  Obviously, if your heart is set on the BMW 3 series then you should pursue your dream.

Once you make that call, treat your BMW with utmost care and it will give you several more great years.  Of course, that goes hand in hand with regularly scheduled maintenance.  In the Denver area that choice is The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton Colorado.  We are your Denver area BMW series 3 (and all BMWs for that matter) repair and maintenance expert.  

Servicing Your Audi.

While every foreign car is unique in its repair needs your Audi has its own set of particular maintenance necessities.  The service schedule of your Audi may not be the same as say, your neighbor’s Porsche.  Even within the line, one Audi’s schedule may vary compared to that of another model.  Just starting with the A4, the A5, and the A6 and moving up you will find different sets of circumstances.

Here are some general maintenance tips for your Audi.

1.  If your Audi has a turbo engine make sure that your oil is changed more often.

2.  Always have your front suspension inspected when having regular service done.

3.  Listen for a sharp sound which may be caused by a drying axle joint.

4.  Leaky coolant is more prominent with an Audi.

5.  Many Audis have trouble getting sufficient power to their electrical systems.

Keep an eye on the idiosyncrasies of your Audi.  If you do, it is built to give you a quarter of a million miles or more.  Of course, that goes hand in hand with great regularly scheduled maintenance.  In the Denver area that choice is The German Car Shoppe located in Littleton Colorado.  We are the Denver area Audi repair and maintenance expert. 

Colorado’s Porsche Repair Center.

It does not get any better than #1.  Please take a moment and visit www.thegermancarshoppe.com.  You may not have realized it before, but Porsche IS a German company.  We don’t have to tell you that they are remarkable vehicles.  People stop in their tracks when they see them.  And to find the best place in the Denver area to have them maintained is essential.

When you bring your Porsche into the German Car Shoppe you know that it is in the best of hands.  They will, among other things, maintain and tune-up your car at regular factory scheduled intervals.  They will check and control the module coding and programming.  Of course, on this 4th of July weekend with the hottest part of summer just ahead they will make sure that the air conditioning is in top condition.

In short, no matter what the needs of your Porsche may be The German Car Shoppe, located in Littleton CO, is your choice for maintenance and repair.  Just between John, Ed, and Robert there is more than 70 years of experience in foreign auto repair.  Call your Denver area Porsche repair experts today for an appointment at (303) 798-2287.

Your BMW’s Air Conditioning System.

Feel that cool breeze throughout your car.  Without the A/C in your BMW summer driving would be difficult at best.  What happens when the system starts kicking out warm air instead?  You don’t even want to think about that.  The hottest days of summer are just around the corner and it is time to have the air conditioning system in your BMW checked for efficiency.

Go to a repair shop which tests the refrigerant for any contamination.  Your system needs to have “pure” refrigerant.  The equipment inside your BMW is expensive and the waste material needs to be disposed of lawfully and recycled properly.  Exposed hoses must be checked.  The compressor and clutch need to be examined and much more.

Your BMW is a major part of your life.  In the Denver area you know whom to trust with your BMW.  That place is appropriately named The German Car Shoppe, a BMW repair expert.  It is important to have someone you can trust with your car the way you trust your family doctor.  Make an appointment to take care of your BMW by calling (303) 798-2287.

The Pride of Owning a Volkswagen Jetta.

Did you know that there was a survey taken in the 10 wealthiest zip codes in America to find out their ownership preferences across the board?  In that survey the VW Jetta was the 5th most popular car in those wealthy neighborhoods!  So the person who has everything values their Jetta as much as any car made in the world.

The Jetta has inherent mechanical difficulties that you need to be aware of -

1.  You may detect an odor emanating from the HVAC vents.

2.  The radiator fan does not shut off properly…particularly in the 2009 model.

3.  The rear brakes tend to wear out quickly.

4.  There are issues with the glow plugs and the wiring harness.

5.  Shifting problems with the transmission in older models.

There are many other points that need to be troubleshot on a regular basis.  If you are one of those people who takes pride in the high-level consistent performance of your baby, you need to remember one name for preventative and emergency maintenance.  In the Denver area your best choice is The German Car Shoppe, your area expert in the repair of Volkswagen Jettas.  Make an appointment today by calling (303) 798-2287.