Thousand Oaks
Your Premier European Auto Repair Shop in Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks gives you all the perks of city living, but with 150 miles – about 1/3 of the city – designated as a place for hiking, horseback riding, and biking. When you consider that it also has a hopping nightlife and one of the largest auto malls in the United States, it’s easy to see why so many people have chosen to make Thousand Oaks their home.
Speaking of auto malls, if you’re one of the lucky folks who own a European-engineered vehicle and need a one-stop shop for full-service and preventative maintenance, then The German Auto Doctor is ready to provide it. At The German Auto Doctor, we specialize in European imports such as:
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Preventative Maintenance Keeps Your Vehicle Pristine
European engineering requires a different level of care from what you might be used to with American models. While some things are the same – oil changes, tire rotations, and brake checks – other aspects such as the frequency, type of oil and other components will be very different.
For instance, some models featuring superchargers have specific synthetic oils formulated for them. Some high-performance vehicles like BMW need service every 5000 miles, rather than every 10,000, to keep at their best.
Below are 3 examples of preventative maintenance recommendations for 3 of the vehicle brands that we service on a regular basis:
- Audi – While Audi maintenance will vary a bit based on model, the 5 general areas that need the most focus are your Audi’s transmission, brakes, cooling system, tires, and regular engine oil and filter replacement. With a heavy focus on these, your Audi will always be performing at its best.
- BMW – Every 5000 miles, there are a number of checks your BMW needs to ensure peak performance and handling. You’ll need a brake inspection, brake fluid check, cabin air filter inspection, engine inspection, oil check, coolant check, tire rotation, a wiper blade inspection, and general vehicle inspection. These are high-performance vehicles, so their recommended maintenance is robust and much more frequent than you see with other cars.
- Mercedes – Every 12 months or 10,000 miles, your Mercedes needs a synthetic motor oil replacement that includes filter replacement, all fluids need to be checked, tire rotation and inflation, and your brakes also need a good looking-over to determine their current wear and tear. Typically, there will be more checks than this, but these are the basics that will get the most focus on your first check.
Full-Service Repairs from Professionals Who Know Your Vehicle
Everyone hopes that a fender-bender is just going to be a scratch, but sadly, that’s not always the case. You may also run into model-specific issues from time to time that a general mechanic might not be aware of, but which The German Auto Doctor is well-aware of because we see these issues all of the time.
Below are some examples of the most common repairs with the 3 same brands from the previous section:
- Audi – The EGR or ‘Exhaust Gas Recirculation’ system helps to maintain granular control of combustion chamber temperatures, helping to keep them from getting too hot. Over time, carbon can build up and become an issue if your mechanic doesn’t know to look out for this. At The German Auto Doctor, we know that this sometimes happens with Audis, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that potential buildup.
- BMW – If your BMW is overheating a lot lately, then it may well be your cooling system. These high-performance vehicles run pretty hot to begin with and if the cooling system isn’t maintained regularly, then you could inadvertently end up with very expensive damage. This is one of the first things we’ll check if you are overheating to help ensure that everything is in order.
- Mercedes – Some Mercedes models suffer from an issue with the steering wheel components, where components like the sway bar links, ball joints, and rods can wear down and start having an effect. You’ll usually notice the wear and tear on your tires and some mechanics might think that it’s just an alignment issue. It’s not, and at The German Auto Doctor, we’ll know to check your steering if other telltale symptoms are showing up.