An introduction to collecting car brochures – Part 3 – What to look for when buying

If you have read the previous articles in this series you should now have a clear idea of what brochures you are trying to obtain for your collection. Now for the fun bit! Starting, maintaining and increasing your collection. As you are collecting second-hand items, the condition of an item you are after can vary dramatically. Also, it does not help that sellers regularly either omit or misdescribe items. Therefore, it is paramount that you ask the right questions and look for what the seller hasn’t said as much as what he has in his advert description. Having been disappointed on more than a few occasions when a “pristine” item has arrived through my letterbox, I have a checklist that I consult before committing to buying. The list is as follows: 1) What is the size of the item in centimetres? Pictures can be deceptive and what looks like a 21cm x 29cm item, may be much smaller in size. 2) How many pages long is it? Beware that on smaller brochures, there can be confusion between seller and buyer with what represents a page. My firm only uses the term “pages” for items that are 6 pages long or more. Otherwise, we use the term number of “sides”. As a reputable seller, this avoids any confusion and disappointment. 3) What is the reference number of the brochure? Most manufacturers have a code system for their brochures that you will become familiar with very quickly. By keeping a note of the references, you will avoid duplicates in your collection. 4) What is the condition of the brochure? Amazingly, very few sellers have a condition scale attached to the advert (we do). One person’s “pristine” may be fit only for the bin in other collectors eyes! I therefore ignore vague words like the above and ask direct questions – Has it any creases or tears and if so how many and how bad? Any fading? Any foxing (A term used to describe stains, specks, spots and blotches in paper)? Any water or damp damage? 5) How will the item be delivered to you? On auction sites especially, it is natural to go for the cheapest posting method. However, if the item is being sent for the cost of the stamp, can you really expect anything more than for it to be delivered in a flimsy envelope? Probably not. The only way that a collectable paper item should be sent is in a card-backed envelope preferably marked “do not bend” with the item wrapped in plastic to prevent water damage and a return address inside, just in case the postal system loses it. I also insist on a proof of posting, again just in case the item goes missing. For any item over a preset limit, in my case £30/$60, I offer to pay extra for recorded delivery. Better safe than sorry. If you get a satisfactory answer to the questions above, you will be as certain as you can be that you will get the item and that it will be of a standard reflecting the price you have paid. The list sounds a bit daunting, but essentially it boils down to ensuring you know what you are getting and making sure it arrives in the same condition with which it left the seller. Many is the time that I have received a sodden envelope that contains a perfectly preserved item because I have insisted on it being wrapped in plastic. If the seller says, he does not normally do this, offer to pay extra for the service or if practical, collect the item. If your seller cannot or will not take this care, may I suggest that you walk away and wait for another to turn up. Please remember that for older brochures especially, a bit of fading and foxing and the odd crease or small tear is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I prefer an item with a patina to an “as new” item as it seems to have more character. Finally, unless it is extremely rare, I would avoid buying any incomplete, falling apart or badly damaged brochures. On the whole, they have little or no value and it is best to wait for a better one to be offered for sale. Next week, I will be discussing the correct way to store your collection. For more great car info and auto repair tips go to auto repair manual

Anti-Theft Devices For Vehicles

Cars are expensive. That is why people do try to go out of their way to keep their vehicle safe, secure, and free from thieves and robbers. It is a good thing that some people have been able to create and design anti-theft devices. For most people, these devices are considered as blessings to those protecting their vehicles. If you are interested in purchasing an anti-theft device for your vehicle, you should first take into consideration where you park your car. You see, if you are parking it somewhere far from where you are staying, even if the alarm goes off, you would not be able to hear it. Also, you would have to consider if people would be willing to rush towards your car or would they simply be ignoring it. You can try to give thieves the feeling that they could not take your car. You can discourage them with the use of indicator lights. You can also use window decals which costs around $2 to $5. Or, for $80 to $200, you can purchase and use large and heavy-gauge steel objects like steering wheel locks or tire locks. Through this, you are telling thieves to stay off for they would have to put up a hard and tiring fight before they can get their hands on your car. Look through various anti-theft devices. Remember that seasoned thieves can actually go through complication devices in around a minute or two only. Some anti-theft devices you can usually purchase in the market include audible alarms, a concierge system, cellular alarms that notify the police, locking steering wheel covers, locking steering wheel column covers, locking steering wheel bars, electronic immobilizers, engine system locks, fuel-system locks, tracking devices, and delay devices. Here's another great article for more great tips: An introduction to collecting car brochures – Part 3 – What to look for when buying

BMW Maintenance and Repair

By Ileana Limon


The Bavarian Motor Works a.k.a. BMW is one of the best performing and luxury cars in the world. Owning one is definitely a big thing! This is because these vehicles have contributed in offering anyone a high status in the society and added to anyone's personality and lifestyle.

However, a BMW car owner should be prepared to face with various instances wherein his or her car will require some heavy repairs and maintenance most especially when met with an accident or any other mechanical problem. As a responsible BMW car owner, you should take your car to a dependable car repair shop and get the best possible car repair service at a most reasonable rate.

Looking for the best and affordable BMW car repair shop can be an involved process but it actually just takes a simple research to find out whether or not you are dealing with a dependable auto shop. Asking your friends, family members, and other people whom you trust to give you recommendations or calling up your local consumer protection agency to get the facts about any given auto repair business can be a few of your options to fulfill this undertaking.

However, you might have a better time looking at local car repair shops that specialize in repairing just about any car models. For example, if you're in Riverside, BMW car repair service shops like GT Imports Automotive and Repair is a good place to go.

Your BMW car may need one or two of these common car repair services that a dependable car repair shop can offer:

BMW Tune-ups. In tuning up your BMW car, checking and replacement of its ignition parts consisting of the spark plugs, distributor caps and rotors, spark plug wires, filters among others are to be carried out.

BMW Brake System Repair. A good brake repair job should cover every aspect of the system from the brake master cylinder to the calipers and wheel cylinders.

BMW Cooling System Service & Repair. Your BMWs cooling system is made up of several different parts, including the water pump, radiator and thermostat. There may come a time that your BMWs cooling system becomes problematic and may require a professional repair.

Suspension & Steering Repair. The power steering system fluid should be checked at every service interval. Fluid leaks are a common problem on power steering systems. On the other hand, the suspension system of your BMW car is an intricate network of cooperating components. Since the suspension is ground zero when it comes to road abuse, the parts wear out, eventually break and needs immediate replacement.

BMW Fuel System Repairs. The electric fuel pump is the heart of every electronic fuel injection system. A fuel pump that does not meet the OE minimum fuel flow or pressure requirements for your BMW may result to drivability and emission problems.

Now, in order to assist you in your car repair endeavor, look no further than the best and affordable BMW repair service in your area.

Ileana Limon has been writing online for almost two years. She is not only a specialist in the Business and Technology sector, but she also has many fun websites. See her latest website about BMW Repair in Riverside, CA where you can find insider deals and information. This site is located at Riverside BMW Repair.

Top Ten Stolen Cars For 2010

By Glenn Nutsey
It appears that car thieves have changed their habits. Gone are the days when only high-end prestige vehicles like Audi, BMW and Mercedes were stolen to order, now the thieves have their eyes on your average family car!

A recent survey by Tracker has revealed that car theft by keys has risen to a massive 80% for the first quarter of 2010, that's up by 6% compared to 2009. The study has also revealed that car thieves are now targeting lower value vehicles in order to meet the demands of the competitive car market. Stephen Doran, managing director of Tracker Vehicle Recovery Services explains.

"The recession is taking its toll on thieves too and we have seen them adjust their targets to suit buyers, making lower value vehicles just as valuable to them as the fancy sports cars."

Tracker's recent results show that the highest value stolen vehicle for 2010 was the Mercedes CL63 AMG worth a whopping £120,000, whilst the lower value vehicle recovered was a Ford Sierra worth just £1,000.

So, what are the top ten most commonly stolen and recovered cars? Well, it appears some things never change with the luxury BMW X5 crossover remaining in the top spot, followed closely by the Land Rover Range Rover and BMW M3. Its good news if you own an Audi TT though, the roadster has slipped down the popularity ladder to be overtaken by the Land Rover Defender.

Don't breathe a sign of relief too quickly though. Tracker warns that your standard average family car is now high on the list of desirable targets.

"While the top ten results features prestige brands, this doesn't tell the whole story, as thieves will target vehicles across a range of values, especially as today's market means car buyers are looking for bargains" comments Doran.

So how can you protect yourself and your beloved vehicle? Many car owners are now investing in a car security system such as a GPS vehicle tracking system. A car tracker works by using GPS technology to pinpoint your vehicles exact position and detects any unauthorised movements with its inbuilt movement sensor. Some car security systems even send out a security guard to wait with your stolen car until your vehicle is recovered. These car trackers can be quickly and easily installed by an approved fitter.

Has your car made it onto the top ten list? Check it out...

Top Ten Stolen & Recovered Cars for 2010:

1. BMW X5
2. Land Rover Range Rover
3. BMW M3
4. Land Rover Defender
5. Mercedes Benz MI
6. Audi RS4
7. Mercedes Benz SLK
8. Mercedes Benz CLK
9. Audi TT
10. Audi Q7 / Porsche 911 / Porsche Boxster / Subaru Impreza

Glenn Nutsey is a keen motorist and a regular writer for CarPress and Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Check out Nationwide's new Car Accessories shop to view the full range of Car Security Systems available at incredibly low prices. http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/car-security.htm

2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta - First Drive Review - CAR and DRIVER

Air Intake Systems allow for more engine power: quick tips for performance

Want to squeeze every bit of power out of your vehicle's engine? Grabbing a high-performance air intake is the quick and easy route to several benefits, including:

• An instant increase in horsepower

• A noticeable boost to your throttle response

• Improved fuel economy

• A long-life, washable performance air filter

• Specialized engineering that's fine-tuned to your specific vehicle

• Straightforward, simple installation virtually anyone can complete

Horsepower increase from a performance air intake

As your new performance intake draws in a higher volume of air which may be much cooler, your engine can breathe easier than with a limiting stock system. With your combustion chamber filled by cooler, oxygen-rich air, fuel burns at a more efficient mixture. You get more power out of every drop of fuel when it's combined with the right amount of air.

With more air in the chamber, you can also burn more fuel than before. That's how a performance intake puts power at the pedal for you: reducing air temperatures, balancing fuel mixtures and providing more air for combustion.

Performance air intakes and boosted throttle response

With more air and cooler air ready and waiting for combustion, your engine's response at stoplights and freeway onramps quickens. Stock intakes often deliver warmer, fuel-rich combustion mixtures that cause your engine to lose power and responsiveness while running hotter and more sluggishly.

The difference in responsiveness isn't just noticeable; you can literally feel it in the seat of your pants. With a free-breathing intake system attached to your throttle body, your engine is literally inviting you to punch it.

Fuel economy with a performance air intake

You're probably guessing that extra power, cooler temperatures and improved gas mileage can't all come from the same product. Guess again! Performance air intakes can help your fuel economy in this wallet-gouging, price-per-gallon era by helping your air to fuel ratio get in line. Because you're getting more power from every drop by burning more efficiently, your engine uses less fuel at all times - city or highway. On average, drivers will see a 1-2mpg improvement.

There's a catch, though. Many drivers trade their limiting air intake for a performance air intake and can't resist using every bit of the horsepower and throttle gains. They'll drive like mad to the grocery store. They might peel-out at stoplights. Or even race the cops. It's called hard driving, and it's the fastest way to burn-up the gas mileage improvements provided by a performance air intake. Your best bet is to keep your driving habits relatively unchanged, enjoy the extra power at the pedal, and collect on the gas mileage savings.

Expert engineering of an air intake system

This isn't a piece of drainage pipe with a filter on the end. Air intake systems employ specially-shaped intake tubes designed to straighten airflow as much as possible while looking great in your engine compartment. These pipes are typically mandrel-bent, a process that doesn't crimp the pipe diameter at the bend.

Special care is given to locating the intake tube, air box and filter in the position that best fosters maximum performance. The materials used are also selected with optimum engine conditions in mind.

The fundamentals of installing a performance air intake on your vehicle
Not only is a performance air intake one of the most essential upgrades to your vehicle, it happens to be one of the easiest additions to install. With little more than a common socket set, a couple of screwdrivers and half an hour's time, you can have your new air intake in place and ready to roar.

Detailed instructions are included with every intake kit. These instructions go through the simple process of removing your stock intake system (including the tube and air box), and installing the new air intake in just a few minutes to stock mounting positions. No cutting, drilling or other modifications are required. What you do with your limiting stock intake next is, well, up to you.

For more great car info and auto repair tips click here auto repair manuals

Air Deflectors: Practical and Pleasing

The addition of a particular car part to our vehicle is usually designed to improve its performance, but much as we might try to deny it, appearances matter, and we also want our car to look good. For this reason, many car parts are designed with attractiveness in mind as much as functionality, and sometimes, just sometimes, we can lose the run of ourselves entirely and opt for appearance-enhancing car parts just for the heck of it. Fortunately, car part manufacturers have cottoned on to our love of display, and designed a range of car parts and accessories than combine functionality with looking good. A great example of this trend is development of the air or wind deflector.

Originally designed with a practical purpose in mind, car air deflectors have stepped up a notch and now look as good – if not better – than they work practically. With a distinctive look, air deflectors are increasingly added to vehicles to alter their appearance, by adding a sense of flair and style. But with a genuinely practical raison d’etre, an air deflector is the fancy car accessory that does as good as it looks.

An air, or wind, deflector’s job is as simple as it sounds. Fitted at various points on your vehicle, including the hood or roof, this simple device redirects the flow of air so that it travels away from the vehicle itself. This prevents the wind that attacks you as you drive at high speeds from damaging your windshield, and helps stop road debris, including pieces of gravel and small insects, from hitting your screen as you drive, and perhaps obscuring your vision.

Air deflectors may also be used on side windows, preventing the same debris from landing inside the car when the window is open, and also protecting the driver and passengers from rain. Wind deflectors may also be used with a sunroof, helping to reduce the noise generated by the wind and the effects of turbulence upon people in the car. This type of deflector also helps protect passengers from annoying dust and debris entering the car through the sunroof and spoiling a perfectly good road trip!

Air deflectors are available in a range of colors and materials, allowing you to customize this car part’s impact on your vehicle. Choose from a wide range of styles including transparent plastic and matte black, or choose a deflector to match the color of your car. Whatever style you choose, you can be sure that this car part will enhance your driving experience, while also adding style and interest to your vehicle.

For more great car info and auto repair tips for auto repair