 Fuel injection technology has helped make cars fuel efficient and reliable for decades, but the technology still requires maintenance despite improved designs. Even when you carefully operate and maintain your car, the fuel injectors in your engine can clog and cause performance problems.
Fuel deposits
As a normal part of engine operation, gasoline leaves waxy compounds behind after combustion. Engine heat bakes these compounds onto the nozzles of fuel injectors, resulting in impaired fuel delivery to engine cylinders. Gasoline producers add detergents to their fuels to combat this problem by keeping injectors clean. For the most part, these detergents extend the maintenance interval by removing much of the residue left behind. However, the detergents cannot keep up with the rate at which deposits accumulate on fuel injectors.
Some gas suppliers exacerbate problems with fuel injectors by reducing the detergents added to their fuels to save money. Therefore, cheap gas can present real risks to the engine in your car. Factors other than gas also affect the condition of fuel injectors. For example, some locations inside the engine get hotter than others, causing some injectors to clog more quickly than others. Therefore, have your dealer service technicians inspect all the fuel injectors in your when you bring it for service. Despite the good condition of some fuel injectors in your engine, others may have serious blockage.
Problems with clogged injectors
Clogged fuel injectors can cause problems that range from diminished fuel economy to emissions failures. Oxygen sensors can indicate lean mixtures and point to clogged injectors. In lean conditions, engines will increase the fuel supply to compensate. This causes the injection of too much fuel into some cylinders, resulting in performance problems. Even small amounts of blockage inside fuel injector nozzles can cause misfires which trigger check engine light illumination in cars with OBD II emissions.
Other symptoms of clogged injectors include hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions, rough idling, power loss, and hesitation during light acceleration.
Clean or replace fuel injectors
Only qualified auto technicians can tell when to clean fuel injectors and when to replace them. Auto owners should have the fuel injectors in their cars periodically cleaned. Although most cars call for cleaning between 15,000 and 30,000 miles of operation, car owners should check the owner’s manuals for their cars or call their dealer to find out the recommended service interval for their cars.
Professional service technicians can tell when injectors require replacement. If one injector has worn out, the others will likely soon fail. Technicians usually replace injectors as a set to ensure the fuel system stays balanced.
At Richmond BMW’s service center, we use only OEM injectors designed to meet the performance requirements of your vehicle. That’s why when you take your car to us for fuel injector service, you will have the confidence that comes from knowing your car operates with peak performance!
 Take a pinch of sedan, a dash of SUV, and a large dollop of Gran Turismo. Mix together with BMW’s excellent pedigree for providing a fantastic driving experience, and you have the 2012 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. This Grand Touring vehicle has been souped up for 2012, with some seriously nifty features. Here are 10 of Richmond BMW’s favorites.
1) Passenger Paradise. There is much to say about the interior comfort of the 2012 Gran Turismo, but the rear passenger seat is so luxurious that it almost feels like sitting in a limousine. The seats are incredibly comfortable, and as an optional extra, they can come with heating, ventilation and massage.
2) Entertainment Extravaganza. Those lucky passengers can also be kept quiet by an optional rear seat DVD system – perfect for keeping younger passengers quiet on a long journey.
3) Intricate Interiors. Aside from the luxurious seats, the interior of the 2012 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is covered in lavish wood and leather, which gives the car extra style points, and also makes it feel warm and cozy in spite of the advanced technology under the hood.
4) Splendid Storage. You can transport passengers in perfect comfort in this car, but if you are looking to move luggage around, the rear seats can be folded down to provide a whopping 58 cubic feet of storage space.
5) Tremendous Trunk. The Gran Turismo’s trunk is a versatile thing, and can be opened like a regular trunk or like a hatchback depending on your requirements.
6) Acceleration Alacrity. This car is big, but it’s also quick. The 2012 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo 535i packs a turbocharged in-line six engine which can get the car from 0 to 60mph in just seven seconds.
7) Power Play. The 550i GT also packs some serious punch with its twin-turbo V8 engine. These are powerful luxury cars for serious motorists, with some serious strength under the hood.
 Stupendous Software. Modern cars are awash with clever electronics, and the Gran Turismo’s Driving Dynamics Control allows you to choose settings for everything from throttle to traction control, ensuring a smooth drive in all weather and road conditions.
9) Staggering Suspension. BMW have included a clever double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension system that controls the car’s body motion and improves stability, improving the driving experience and helping to make sure the car handles like a dream.
10) Fine Fuel. Efficiency is good on the 2012 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, with the car apparently capable of getting an impressive 28 miles per gallon when driving in highway conditions!
 Panini are crisp, warm Italian sandwiches that are pressed for a compact delivery of flavor and texture. With this cheesy, mushroom- and pepper-stuffed recipe from Richmond BMW, you can recreate the effect on a stovetop—no sandwich press needed. Once you get the general idea, the sky is the limit in terms of toppings, from salami to gorgonzola.
Mushroom, Pepper, Onion and Cheese Panini
Total prep time: 10 minutes
Hands-on time: 20-30 minutes
Yield: 4 panini
Ingredients
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium green pepper, halved, seeded, and sliced
1/2 large red onion, sliced
1/2 pound button mushrooms, sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 thick pieces focaccia bread, sliced in half horizontally (substitute crusty sandwich bread)
8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the onion and cook and stir until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are soft. Remove the vegetables from the heat.
Butter the crusty side of each slice of focaccia. Heat a dry sauté pan, skillet, or griddle over medium-high heat. Place one piece of bread, butter-side down, on the pan and spoon 1/4 of the vegetable mixture over the bread. Top the vegetables with cheese and another slice of bread, butter-side up.
Using the back of a sturdy metal spatula, press down on the sandwich and hold it in place until the bottom of the panino is golden-brown. Flip the sandwich and repeat the process on the other side, pressing down with the spatula. Remove the sandwich from the pan when both slices of bread are golden-brown. Repeat with the remaining panini, slice in half, and serve warm.
 When BMW’s luxury crossover X6 was launched in 2008, journalists and drivers alike were turned on by the car’s stylish looks and impressive specification. A year later, the ActiveHybrid X6 was launched to the market, boasting the capability of being the world’s most powerful hybrid production car. Many have gone on to agree that the ActiveHybrid X6 is a very cool car (Richmond BMW included,) and here are some of the reasons why.
1. With the 2012 ActiveHybrid X6, drivers have three different driving options. Drivers can rely solely on the electric motor at lower speeds, safe in the knowledge that they are not emitting any CO2. The available combination of electric motor and gasoline engine improves fuel economy, but the driver always has the option of driving without using the electric motor.
2. Your passengers are unlikely to get bored on long journeys with the ActiveHybrid’s available entertainment package. An optional rear-seat entertainment system boasts a vibration-resistant display and also has optional wireless headphones to keep the seating area clutter-free. The built-in sound system delivers a powerful 205 watts through various speakers, including subwoofers that are hidden under the front seats.
3. An optional head-up display actually projects warning signals onto the windshield to keep the driver’s attention focused on the road ahead. This maintains the driver’s comfort and ensures the safety of his or her passengers.
4. The ActiveHybrid X6 is designed to be versatile for all your family’s different needs. The trunk alone boasts 25.6 cubic feet of space, but if you put the rear seats down, that more than doubles to a massive 59.7 cubic feet.
5. With the ActiveHybrid X6, BMW have made every effort to ensure that the cabin air quality is as high and comfortable as possible. The climate control allows you to set a different temperature around your feet compared to your upper body, and the active-charcoal micro-filters help prevent pollutants from entering the cabin.
6. The ActiveHybrid X6 may be kinder to the environment, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring to drive. The combustion engine boasts twin-turbo technology with a 32-valve V8 that can reach 480 brake horsepower with the help of the electric motor (400 horsepower solo). That’s pretty impressive!
7. The technology employed in the ActiveHybrid X6 (including regenerative brakes) means that the car consumes 20% less fuel for the same performance as a comparable gasoline-powered car.
8. The ActiveHybrid X6 isn’t scared of tougher driving conditions, either. BMW-approved cold weather tires have been designed specifically to keep the car moving in wintry conditions, maintaining grip when everybody else on the road is losing theirs.
9. Many cars now feature a rear parking sensor or camera, but the ActiveHybrid X6 has an option that makes life even easier. The rearview camera picks up the road behind you and displays the image on the dashboard, complete with interactive track lines to help guide the vehicle. A top view camera covers either side of the car, too, meaning that almost 270 degrees of access is displayed to the driver.
10. BMW led the industry with the launch of xenon adaptive headlights with corona rings, and the ActiveHybrid X6 boasts the most advanced version so far. Adaptive headlights shine a beam that moves as you steer, providing greater visibility. Plus, the xenon bulbs emit twice as much light but use half as much energy.
 This refreshing soup, which features the delicate sweetness of fresh green peas, is a springtime favorite, especially at Richmond BMW. Because it uses so few ingredients, the quality of each one really counts. Freshly shelled peas are recommended, particularly organic peas or those from your garden or farmers’ market, because they have a subtle sweetness that can’t be matched by the frozen variety. This pea soup recipe also calls for homemade chicken stock, but you can substitute store-bought stock if necessary. A vegetarian version can be made by using vegetable stock.
Served chilled and garnished with fresh mint, this soup makes a fabulous starter for a spring brunch or Easter dinner. It can also be served warm and topped with garlic croutons for added flavor.
Spring Pea Soup with Mint
Total prep time: 20 minutes
Active time: 10 minutes
Inactive time: 10 minutes
Yield or number served: 6
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, chopped (white and light green parts)
1 cup chopped yellow onion
4 cups homemade chicken stock (substitute store-bought)
5 cups peas, freshly shelled (substitute two 10-ounce packages frozen peas)
2/3 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup crème fraiche (substitute Greek yogurt)
½ cup fresh chives, chopped
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the leeks and onion. Cook 5-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until the onion is soft and translucent.
2. Add the chicken stock and increase the heat to high. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the peas. Cook 3-5 minutes, or until the peas are tender. Taste the peas for doneness; they should be cooked through, but not mushy. (Note: frozen peas typically take only 3 minutes to cook.)
3. Remove the peas from the heat and add the mint, salt, and pepper.
4. Let the soup cool slightly and then transfer 1 cup to a blender. Puree on low with the lid on and slowly add more soup through the lid’s venthole until the blender is ¾ full, blending continuously. Transfer the blended soup into a large bowl, and continue the process until all the soup is pureed.
5. Whisk in the crème fraiche and chives by hand and taste for seasoning. Place in refrigerator until chilled and served garnished with sprigs of fresh mint.
 Underneath your car’s hood you will find an internal combustion engine. As the name suggests, internal combustion engines produce heat. While car manufacturers are increasingly making this process more and more efficient, the fact remains that this process still wastes and loses a lot of heat. Modern car engines remain somewhere between 22 and 38 percent efficient.
While this heat is an essential by-product of powering your car, the reality is that the materials used to manufacturer the engine and parts can only cope up to a certain temperature. As such, the engine cooling system ensures that the temperature of these parts does not exceed a certain level, maintaining effective operation of the engine. Although modern engines are made from materials that are generally more resistant to heat, they are still vulnerable to damage if things get too hot.
Overheating can cause serious damage to the engine parts in your car. In the event of excessive temperatures, the gasoline engine will literally start to detonate. The car will lose power, as the combination of heat and pressure will start to exceed the octane rating of the fuel. This can damage the rings, pistons, or rod bearings. Hot spots can also develop inside the combustion chamber that will ignite the fuel. This can also cause the engine to detonate or can cause run-on in older models (that have carburetors).
Other damage caused by an overheating engine can include burst hoses or radiators, pistons can seize and fail to operate, or a blown head gasket. If the head gasket is damaged, coolant and combustion leaks can occur when the head cools and the cost of repair can be significant.
Most modern cars now alert drivers to any problems with a hot warning lamp on the driver’s display. In the event that the lamp is illuminated, you should seek help from the service department at our dealership as soon as possible. While moderate overheating may not cause immediate damage, if the problem worsens then you risk much more serious damage and even complete mechanical failure. The sooner that the problem is treated, the less any repairs are likely to cost.
Overheating can be caused by a number of different things. Anything that decreases the cooling system’s capability to operate effectively can cause problems with overheating. This could include a coolant leak or low coolant, deposits inside the water jackets in the cooling system, a problem of fault with the thermostat, a problem with the radiator, a broken cooling fan and other mechanical failure, or damage to parts of the engine. In the event that you car shows signs of overheating, the service department at our dealership should be able to diagnose the problem for you.
In the event that your car overheats, stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Turn the engine off and allow the car to cool down. If you are mechanically-minded, you may be able to find the cause of the problem yourself, but take care as the engine parts are likely to be very hot. Unless you are very confident, it is always advisable to call us and ask for professional help. Your car might be fine to drive for a short distance once it cools, but if the damage is serious enough, you might need to get it towed. Stay safe out there, and remember that the Richmond BMW service department can handle all your car maintenance needs!
 Magnificent panoramas of the lush Shenandoah Valley and brilliantly colored flower gardens are part of Virginia’s engaging springtime landscape.
Here are some of Richmond BMW’s favorite ways to enjoy spring in Virginia:
Kings Dominion
A 400-acre theme park in Richmond, Kings Dominion is a great way to spend a pleasant spring day in Virginia. Featuring 15 roller coasters as well as family rides and a water park, this attraction has special areas for children, live performances featuring talented singers and dancers, more than 30 restaurants and snack stands, and a host of gift and souvenir shops. Excellent food is a big draw at the park, which features Chick-fil-A, Cinnabon, Dippin Dots, and other chain food outlets. One of the specialties at Kings Dominion are the funnel cakes, which are served with fresh strawberries, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.
Monticello
Set on a mountaintop just outside Charlottesville, Monticello is beautiful anytime of the year. But it may be the most beautiful during the spring, when the 5,000-acre plantation comes alive with the vibrant colors of the season. Once the home of Thomas Jefferson, the estate is truly one of America’s great historic treasures. Make sure you save enough time to tour the grounds and gardens, which feature stunning landscaping and offer magnificent panoramas of the surroundings.
Virginia’s Historic Garden Week
A regular event for nearly 80 years, Virginia’s Historic Garden Week showcases beautiful gardens and elegant homes across the state. You’ll see everything from spectacular mansions to renovated farm homes and cottages at the many events throughout the state in the month of April. For instance, at the Newport News-Hampton Garden Tour, highlights include 100 year-old homes and impressive renovations accented by a lunch and afternoon tea and scones.
Scenic Drives
With brilliant flowers and lush forests, springtime in Virginia is very special. If you really want to immerse yourself in the state’s spring landscape, try driving on one of the four National Scenic Byways in Virginia. The 23-mile Colonial Parkway includes Historic Jamestown and Yorktown Battlefield; the 105-mile Skyline Drive weaves through Shenandoah National Park, which has 70 scenic overlooks; the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway offers stunning mountain panoramas; and the George Washington Memorial Parkway winds through rolling landscape in the northern part of the state.
Festival of Spring
Staged in Luray, a small town near Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Festival of Spring in mid-May takes over the town’s Main Street with booths featuring arts and crafts and food. There’s also live entertainment, a wine garden where you can sample Virginia wines, and a beer garden. One of the highlights of the festival is watching a duck race on Hawksbill Creek.
Posted in Travel
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Tagged Travel, Virginia
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 At Richmond BMW, our staff spotlight features are designed to highlight our employees who make coming to work feel like an opportunity to hang out with friends and family that are passionate about the automobile industry and the BMW brand. These employees always have a great attitude, no matter what obstacles come their way, and they are known for giving 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time.
Sales Manager Alex Utz fits that category perfectly. Alex is in both his third year in the auto industry and with Richmond BMW. However, his short time in the industry isn’t stopping him from making an impression with customers. One of the highlights of his career so far is a letter from a customer Alex helped, who wrote, “To call Alex a car salesman would be an insult. He’s a friend who helps you purchase a car, and that’s exactly what I consider Alex now – a friend.”
When Alex is not at work, you can find him lifting weights, going to sporting events, or eating the grilled chicken shish kebabs at Zorba’s. A native of Warrenton, Va., Alex has a hard time playing favorites with a particular BMW model, saying, “It’s really a toss-up! One day it’s an M3 and the next it’s an X6.”
Thanks, Alex, for all that you do!
 Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world. There are a whopping 5,500 wineries in Spain producing more than 870 million gallons of wine a year.
Spain’s major grape varieties include Tempranillo, Monastrell, Verdejo, and Albarino. When seeking Spain’s most prestigious wines, look for the DO distinction (“Denominacion de Origen”), which is found on wines meeting specific standards of quality.
There are 10 major wine regions in Spain with 39 officially recognized Denominacion de Origen areas across those regions. When evaluating a Spanish wine, you should look at the label for one of these three quality designations: Gran Reserva, for wines made in exceptional years and that undergo extensive aging with a minimum of two years in an a oak cask and three in the bottle; Reserva, for wines that are aged a minimum of one year in an oak cask and two years in the bottle or a combination with a minimum requirement of one year in the cask; and Crianza, for wines that spend six to twelve months in oak casks.
Spain’s best-known wines are the reds of Rioja, the sherries of Jerez, and the Cava of Catalonia. In recent years, reds from the Ribera del Duero region have won many awards at international wine fairs. Most of Spain’s great red wines come from Rioja, Ribero del Duero, and Navarra. The best whites come from Rueda and Penedes in Catalonia, which is home to the Spanish sparkling wine, Cava.
The Rioja region is generally considered to be the epicenter of Spain’s wine country, where the country’s most successful wineries are located. Among the top wineries are Herederos de Marques de Riscal, Bodegas Riojanas, and Bodegas Muga.
Arguably the most famous Spanish wine is Vega Sicillia, a bold, fruity selection from the Ribero del Duero regions. It’s made from mostly French grapes with a small amount of indigenous Tempranillo grapes.
If you’re looking for a wine that uses 100 percent Tempranillo grapes, the Valdepenas region, with its hot, humid summers and cold winters, produces several superb Reserva and Gran Resrerva wines.
If you prefer a Spanish sherry, the best ones come from vineyards surrounding the town of Jerez de la Frontera. Among the best are those from Emilio Lustau, Gonzalez Byass, and Pedro Domecq.
When it’s time for a celebration that requires a bit of the bubbly, we at Richmond BMW suggest choosing the best sparkling wines (Cava) from the Penedes region, where the climate and soil is similar the French region of Bordeaux. Among the wineries producing the best Cava are Freixenet, Miguel Torres, and Codorniu.
 The BMW X6 is certainly one of the most distinctive vehicles on the road. Introduced in 2008, it combines the look of a sports car with the size of an SUV. BMW has brought such a distinctive look to the styling of the X6 that it could be considered an entirely different class of vehicle, which BMW calls a “Sports Activity Coupe.” Here are 10 cool points from Richmond BMW about the 2012 BMW X6 which may further attract your interest.
1. Hybrid. Thought that would get your attention. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 model uses two electric motors as well as the conventionally-powered engine to produce an efficient driving mode, either on electric or combustion power alone or with a combination of electric power and gas power.
2. Power. At the other end of the spectrum is the mighty BMW X6 M, with a massive 555 horsepower. There are another two engine choices between those extremes.
3. Power adjustable front seats. How does standard 10-way power adjustment for driver and front seat passenger (14-way in X6 M) sound? Ok, let’s add standard 4-way power lumbar adjustment in front seats as well.
4. Power tailgate. Another handy feature, especially for those who are not tall or hefty enough to operate a manual lift-up tailgate easily.
5. xDrive. xDrive is one of BMW’s words to explain something that is very complicated, but essentially it means that power is delivered to whichever wheel(s) can handle the most power, increasing traction and aiding stability in all conditions.
6. Standard 8-speed transmission on xDrive models. With an 8-speed auto the engine can operate at more efficient speeds, resulting in reduced fuel consumption over similar vehicles with fewer speeds.
7. Xenon headlights. These are much more important than just looking cool at night. The light they put out is closer to the frequency of natural sunlight, so your eyes find it both more comfortable to see and easier to spot anything up ahead.
8. Cornering lights on xDrive and ActiveHybrid models. Another good night-time feature, the front fog lights have a function that allows them to turn into the corner and provide increased visibility.
9. Tire pressure monitor. You may think that this is only useful for when you get a flat, but underinflated tires can also decrease fuel efficiency. In fact, keeping your tires at the right pressure is one of the simplest things to do to make sure you get the best mileage for your money.
10. The look. Yes, we’ve commented on the X6’s design before, but this is really one of those cars that will continue to stand out for years as a big change in the way we see cars—especially as more people are moving from large SUVs into smaller, stylish vehicles. With this car you can still have an SUV, but look like you’re driving something from the future.
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