San Francisco German Auto Repair

Have you ever reached for the brake pedal just for it to feel soft or spongy? When you catch signs of a soft brake pedal, you should never leave the issue ignored. Most of the time, your brakes are spongy because of air being trapped in the brake lines. What Does Air in the Brake Line Mean? Some cars, SUVs, or trucks have a hydraulic braking system. This system is air-tight and relies on brake fluid to do most of the heavy lifting. When you engage your brakes, the pressure of the fluid is moved to have your calipers clamp your brakes and stop your wheels. The fluid itself flows through the brake lines.   So how does air come into play? Driving on worn brake pads, running low on brake fluid, and overheating your brakes can lead to trapped air in your brake lines. When this happens, you may notice some red flags: Soft or spongy brake pedal Brake pedal goes to the floor Longer stopping distance or weak stopping power If you notice any of the signs above in your vehicle, please ... read more

We often get asked if we can work on an AMG tuned Mercedes. The answer is definitely. Although at times there are some complexities which some shops may not be able to handle, the wheels are still round and our techs are familiar with them. 

The car brand MINI is an internationally known brand that provides a cute, British charm unmatched by in other vehicles. Their small bodies, the classic stripes, and their rally history make them the ideal multipurpose car, as well as delightful throwback to earlier times, and a cheerful reminisce of living in the English countryside. Despite this, they still face the problems that other cars do, including a misfiring air filtration system or a clogged air pipe. What is the air intake in the MINI? It’s important to understand what the air intake system(s) are in any car before you try and diagnose any potential problems. Essentially, the air intake is responsible for pulling air into the internal combustion engine in order to add oxygen to the fuel; this is what makes the car work easier. Fireworks the same way: blowing on a flame helps it grow while ... read more

Car suspensions have become an incredibly complex, yet crucial, part of the modern car. They exist mostly to create a more comfortable ride for the passengers in the car, by limiting the amount of bouncing around that the car does, and by creating a smoother, more stable ride. Older cars would bounce around the road intensely, but in modern cars, you can easily put an open mug of coffee in the cupholder and still have it all in there when you arrive at your destination. What is the suspension of your car? Suspension as a concept is easy to visualize if you think of a mountain bike. Mountain bikes are intended to be taken up and down cross-country mountain trails, where there is no smooth pavement, but rather roots, dirt, rocks, and other objects to be maneuvered over. Therefore, they have a pretty advanced “suspension” system, in the form of the shocks. If you look at the front wheel of a mountain bike, the front and back ... read more

Main Reasons for Engine Oil Leaks in BMW If you drive a BMW, then chances are you’re aware of how privileged and fortunate you are to enjoy such a fantastically designed machine. However, the reality is, even the most well-designed machines run into problems occasionally. It’s unusual that BMWs encounter performance issues, but on the occasion that they do, it’s important to remain vigilant, informed, and proactive. One issue that BMWs encounter, like many other vehicles, is engine oil leaks. Engine oil is one of the most critical elements of your vehicle and its functioning, and if oil begins to leak it can cause serious performance deficits – even engine failure if the problem persists without remedy. If you’re uncertain of what causes engine oil leaks and you’re concerned about your BMW, this article can help put your mind at eas ... read more

Every car with four wheels has a mechanism called the differential. The differential plays an important role in vehicle stabilization and consistency, which is why it can be both disappointing and dangerous to experience differential failure. In a Mercedes, the differential is one component that is known to wear prematurely or experience malfunctioning well before the service interval. Therefore, if you’re a Mercedes driver, it’s helpful to know why these issues come up and how you can hopefully prevent them in the future. In this article, we’ll go over how to detect differential issues, what could be causing the differential to fail, and what you can do to address it. Differentials: all cars have them, but no two are alike Differentials are never the same across various vehicle designs, including even between different models of the same car brand. A car’s differential is the ... read more

The MINI brand is historically successful for their ingenuity in compact vehicles; they were the original brand to put fierce and tiny in the same description. Making cars since the 1950s, MINI is undoubtedly one of the most exciting brands on the market. However, even the most well designed and engineered vehicles experience common issues - one such issue is fuel gauge failure. A faulty fuel gauge in a MINI is a common occurrence for some models specifically, but if you drive any MINI then it’s best to anticipate fuel gauge issues as a precautionary measure. There are a number of reasons why fuel gauges fail or become faulty, and it’s important to be able to pinpoint these underlying issues instead of simply treating symptoms. In this article, we’ll go over the most common problems that cause fuel gauges to fail. Being aware of your fuel gauge and fuel consumption Your ... read more

BMW cars are well-made and designed with the driver’s experience in mind. Furthermore, BMW is a brand that continually listens to their customers by implementing designs that address the faults in their previous models, unlike many other vehicle manufacturers. Unfortunately, earlier BMW models are infamous for problems with variable valve timing, which caused serious performance issues for their drivers. This lead to the introduction of the VANOS system, which aimed to remedy variable valve timing hiccups, but ultimately leads to other performance issues instead. More specifically, parts of the VANOS system tend to fail or malfunction, which necessitates immediate repair. It’s important to be aware of the signs that indicate VANOS servicing; therefore, this article is dedicated to helping the reader have a basic understanding of the VANOS system and what BMW ... read more

In most road-going vehicles, ignition and combustion processes are what give your car the power it needs in order to move. However, the different parts that aid these processes vary between vehicle designs. In a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine, the parts that help generate enough power differ from most vehicles; rather than utilizing spark plugs, they use something called a glow plug. Glow plugs play a crucial role in your Mercedes performance, and therefore their wear and function must be monitored as time goes on. Unfortunately, certain models experience premature glow plug performance issues, specifically with the glow plug timer relay. If you’re unsure of what a glow plug timer relay is or what it does, don’t panic – in this blog, we’ll talk more about what a glow plug timer relay’s function is and what you can do to preserve the par ... read more

When You Should Go for Fuel Pump Replacement for Your Mini   What your fuel pump does for your MINI and why it’s important We all know the basics of how a car works: the engine needs gas in order to start. This is where the fuel system comes in. The fuel system in any car is complex and contains various parts and components, such as sensors,fuel injectors, and fuel lines, that must all perform their jobs optimally in order to provide the engine with the fuel it needs to ignite and combust. The fuel pump’s job is quite simple: to pump the fuel to the engine—of course, the fuel pump relies on the other parts of the fuel system in order to function well. For instance, if certain sensors aren’t working properly, then the fuel pump won’t get the necessary information from the engine to send the fuel. Therefore, performing a ... read more