How to Say ‘Happy 10th Birthday’ To Your Car
Let’s face it; it doesn’t look like the economy is going to be fixing itself anytime soon. That being said, Americans need to find ways to conserve money and forego unnecessary spending until things begin looking up. Holding on to your current car as long as you can is a great way to save you and your family a ton of money in the long run. Regardless of what type of car you have you can find ways to keep it running for years to come. Use the tips below, which includes buying BMW parts online, to keep money in your savings. Don’t fear. Even if you own a pre-owned car, there are ways you can get your baby running way past the 200,000-mile mark.
A recent survey completed by 100,000 car owners showed that they felt the average life span of a vehicle is 10 years or more years. Participants of the survey revealed that even if the current economy was better, they still felt that the life of a car should be 10+ years. Ok, so if people feel that a car should last you over 10 years, what do you do to keep it running without costing you?
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Follow the maintenance plan.
Regardless if you purchased your car new or used, it’s important to follow the maintenance plan of your car closely. Staying on top of your car’s maintenance will help you avoid further damage when something breaks. The best tip is to never forget about your car’s timing belt. This is something that needs to be changed approximately every 75,000 miles. If you skip this repair, which some feel is costly, the damage it will cause will leave you smacking yourself in the head.
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Start a repair fund.
Yes, new cars are great because they tend to have fewer problems and any repairs that need to be made are covered under warranty, but do you really want to make monthly car payments for the rest of your life? If you plan on keeping your car for a long time you need to come to terms with the fact that it will break. Once you no longer have a car payment, it is suggested to tuck about $150 away a month to go towards any future repairs that may need to be done on the car.
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Educate Yourself.
When repairs do need to be made on your car, talk with your mechanic and see what parts need to be ordered. There are many great sites out there that offer better prices on BMW parts or other manufacturer parts than your mechanic will offer you. Know how much the parts cost and don’t be afraid to purchase them on your own so you only get charged for the labor. This is a great way to avoid cleaning out your repair fund.
By following these tips you can have a car that will last you beyond 10 years.
Jesse Dugan is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow him @JesseDugan.