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How To Choose A Quality Mechanic Who Won’t Rip You Off

by Reed on March 30, 2010

Gregg Hall asked:




Everyone knows that proper and regular maintenance is necessary to keep your automobile in good working order. Even though you may have worked on your own cars as a teenager or still consider yourself to be an amateur car repair specialist I recommend that you leave the work to a qualified mechanic who has been trained to do the job properly. This is especially important on higher end vehicle makes such as Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus where the maintenance records play a large part in determining the value of a vehicle when you decide to sell it or trade it.

Deciding on a mechanic to entrust with caring for your vehicle is an important decision and should not be taken lightly. Finding the perfect mechanic isn’t rocket science but on the other hand there isn’t exactly a manual on how to find a good one either. Here are some things to keep in mind that will help you.

First off, ask the prospective mechanic for some references. Tell him what’s in it for him. If you own several vehicles let him know that you will bring all of them to him for regular maintenance and repairs. Tell him that you take the car of your vehicles seriously and that is why you want to be able to speak to some of his customers to see what they have to say. If he is a reputable mechanic he will have no problem with this because he will have a long list of happy and satisfied clients. Another thing you can do along these same lines is ask friends and relatives who they use to take care of their cars and trucks. If you ask enough people you are sure to find a name that comes up often.

The next thing you should be concerned with is his qualifications or certifications. I prefer using a mechanic who is ASE certified as this is the industry standard and insures that the mechanic is proficient in his craft. Don’t be afraid to ask the mechanic about this, a good mechanic will be proud of their achievements and will lost likely have them displayed where they can be seen. Don’t trust you automobile to a shade tree mechanic.

If you belong to a car club for your particular make of vehicle ask other owners who they use. Most likely you will find that the majority of them use the same person who specializes in your particular vehicle and may even offer a discount to members of your club.

Finding a quality mechanic is important to the life of your car, don’t underestimate this and take the time to find a good one.

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All In One Multifunction Printers, What Do BMW, Audi Have In Common with HP, Lexmark & Fuji-Xerox?

by Reed on March 30, 2010

Roger Bergin asked:




The correct answer is that Hewlett Packard – HP, Lexmark, Canon and Fuji Xerox are manufacturers of premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) as are Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus manufacturers of premium motor vehicles.

The manufacturers of these premium motor vehicles offer varying degrees of warranty and, more recently, extended warranty, to ensure that the owners of their premium motor vehicles have many years of trouble-free and pleasurable motoring experiences.

Similarly, the manufacturers of premium brand colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices offer warranty and extended warranty in order that organisations who have invested in these superior quality devices can enjoy many years of trouble-free and, even more importantly, many years use of their colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices delivering quality output, which goes to print and presentation results that match the image their organisation would like to portray.

Critical to the successful operation of that warranty and extended warranty period is the maintenance of these premium motor vehicles within those warranty periods. Part of that is the replacement of many components of the technically superior vehicles which are known to suffer from wear and tear after use over certain time periods or certain numbers of kilometres. These parts are replaced at regular intervals as determined by the manufacturer and based on predetermined intervals measured by the amount of use the motor vehicle has been subject to.

In the same way, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Fuji Xerox have determined that certain key components are critical to delivering an excellence of output rightfully expected by users of premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices. Years of experience, monitoring and measurement have shown that the same parts are subjected to deterioration due to usage and normal wear and tear and therefore need to be replaced to deliver the optimum print result and with this in mind these manufacturers offer replacement parts – normally known as maintenance kits – to keep their devices operating as they were designed to in combination with the use of the correct original and genuine consumables – toner, drums, photo conductors, belts and separation pads are some of those printer consumables.

The regular replacement of the components provided in maintenance kits is recommended in almost all premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices at certain intervals determined by the amount of printing, faxing or copying that has been done – normally measured and published as a certain number of pages.

Fuser units, rollers of all kinds, separation pads, and pick-up assemblies are the most common components of these maintenance kits. Regular replacement of these parts and some others – depending on the brand and model of the device – is required to deliver the desired quality output from print devices.

Many of these maintenance kits are user-installable but it may be better – for the sake of being sure of correct replacement – that the maintenance kit be installed by an experienced printer or multifunction device technician.

Do not underestimate the importance of the warning showing on the all in one Multifunction device screen indicating that you need to replace one or other of the components of a maintenance kit – the manufacturer does not deliver such warnings without good reason.

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Maintenance cost for Lexus RX350 Vs. BMW X3?

by Reed on January 22, 2010

I am looking to buy a new car and can’t decide between the RX 350 and BMW X3. I am interested to know the maintenance cost between the two. I know that BMW has the 4 yr/50,000 miles warantee, but how much do I expect to pay after that? My friend own a Mercedez SUV and she said she spent about $500 everytime she takes it in for maintenance. I thought that was a bit crazy.
So any owner of RX 350 and BMW X3 out there to help me decide which one is a better choice?

BMW has the best maintenance program around. It is initially 4 year / 50k miles. You can purchase and upgrade for around $1300 that extends the plan for an additional 2 years and an additional 50k mile to make the effective coverage 6 year / 100k miles. It doesn’t get better than that. It will cover oil services, brake fluid flushes, belts, brake pads and rotors, Inspection Services and wipers. Otherwise the average oil service costs about $220 while the Inspection I service runas about $550 and the Inspection II is around $1200. Brake pads and rotors are around $600 per axle. The other nice things is that service intervals are only every 15k miles and the inspections I and II are at 30k miles and 60k miles respectively.

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Maintenance cost of owning a Lexus?

by Reed on January 22, 2010

I am considering purchasing either the RX or GX Suv and wanted to know what the costs of maintaining one would be. I have an Infiniti and am not pleased with the routine maintenance costs. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

An auto repair company (or most that i know or have worked at) are NOT going too think you can afford more because of your car type and charge you more. That is absolutely absurd. I will tell you though that not all dealerships like Lexus or Mercedes or BMW charge an CRAZY amount of money for there parts. Even to independant auto repair companies like mine. And it really comes down to you get what you pay for. If you want OE parts then you have to pay the price. You could always go after market but for more expensive cars like that aftermarket parts can cause you more problems

they are good cars and they will run a LONG time. But just remember if you car is more expensive that means your oil filters are more expensive and you will most likely use synthetic oil which is more expensive and most recommend premium gas which we all know gas is just going up and up.

so i would be 100% sure that in the case that something needs to be replaced like shocks or waterpumps or radiators and such that you will be able to afford high prices in those areas.

And if you decide to go used… ALWAYS have the car checked out before you purchase its very important to do that before you buy because it can save you alot of heartbreak in the end. Just cuz a car SEEMS to be running right doesnt mean it is and if you take the car to an auto repair shop or dealership you can trust they may be able to tell you in the future what repairs will need to be made because sometimes you can tell if in the near future something will need to be replaced.

I hope ive been helpful to you. Good luck

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anyone know how to get rid of oil maintenance light E330 lexus?

by Reed on January 22, 2010

I live in the country and have the car since new and I have the oil changed with mobil 1 at a kwik lube but the maintenance light won’t go off. Is it like a BMW that you have to have that plug in tool? Thanks
thanks very much for the assistance, I did very poorly in googling while in school. But it is handy to have qualified googlers in the neighborhood. many thanks

Is the owner’s manual optional equipment with that make of car?

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