Must-Have Tools and Gadgets For Winter Driven BMWs
You know we like to hit that winter prep hard since we’re up here above the snow belt. We’ve already given you a good checklist to follow for either storing your car or prepping your winter daily, which we highly suggest you read, but this week it’s less about work and more about essential items. We’ve all been there. Your car won’t start in a cold parking lot late at night after staying out a bit too long, you have a flat tire and all your BMW came with was a can of fix-a-flat, or you encounter a wild check engine light and want to know what it’s all about. These things happen, even in warm weather, but the cold just makes them that much more annoying. Especially if you don’t have everything you need to be prepared. This week, we’re laying out a list of tools and handy gadgets that will give you peace of mind whether you’re storing your BMW or driving it all winter. | |
In-Car Must-Haves
For those of you driving your BMW in the colder months, there are some essential items you should always have so being stranded, or worse, won’t be a concern. Whether it’s a road trip to the in-laws or just your daily commute, here are a few suggestions that will come in handy if you encounter any issues on the road. | | | | | Schwaben BMW Scan Tool
This is simply a must-have for any time of year. The Schwaben Scan Tool is more than just a code reader; it lets you perform several changes to your BMW and is an in-depth diagnostic tool for tracing any sort of problem you might have. Keep this handy and in your car, it could be the difference between driving to a parts store or calling a tow truck if your CEL lights up. I would much rather know that the code my BMW has thrown is something I can make it home with rather than pull over and call a tow truck, especially in the cold. | | | | | | | Spare Fluids
If you didn’t heed our maintenance guidelines, or if your BMW decides to do what it does best and spring a leak, it’s always a good idea to carry a spare liter of LIQUI MOLY oil with you in your trunk. We even have the Genuine BMW handy-dandy oil storage bag kits with Genuine BMW Oil so it doesn’t leak out all over your important business documents or luggage! | | | | | | | | | Schwaben Jump & Charge Kit
Whether you’re storing your BMW or driving it, you absolutely need this kit. If you plan to drive your BMW, this kit can certainly save you from waiting on a AAA truck to show up with a jump pack. Picture this: you’re out to dinner, it’s well below freezing outside, you and your significant other walk back to your car after a lovely meal, and your battery decides it doesn’t want to work anymore. If you have a Jump & Charge kit, all you need to do is plug it up to your battery, start your BMW, and you’re on your way. Without it, you may be stuck waiting in freezing temperatures for someone to come by and give you a jump.
Likewise, if you’re storing your BMW, the last thing you want is to come back to it in the spring and find the battery flat. All you want to do is drive your car after a long hibernation, but no. If you put that charge kit on the battery all winter, you wouldn’t have this problem. | | | | | OEM Spare Tire
Not all BMWs came with spare tires, which is a problem of its own, and those that did probably haven’t been replaced ever. A flat any time of year is annoying, but if you have a fresh, new, spare, you can at least get home, wherever you were going, or to the closest tire shop. The trick is, you have to have a spare. Fortunately, we have several OEM spare wheel and tire options here for you at Turner. We suggest grabbing one. | | | | | Protecta-Sockets/Torque Wrench
Speaking of replacing a wheel, you should also carry the tools to do it the right way. If you’re on the side of the road in below-freezing temperatures, it’s almost a guarantee you’re going to be shaking and contacting your lovely BMW or aftermarket wheels with your lug socket. Our Protecta-Sockets have a material coating that won’t scratch or damage your wheel faces, no matter how much you’re shaking in the cold, that we suggest you carry in your emergency spare tire kit. Naturally, a torque wrench like our Schwaben Torque Wrench should accompany those sockets to ensure your wheel won’t go anywhere after you’ve swapped it.
These are also handy if you’re swapping to your winter wheels, along with the Schwaben Wheel Hanger. You won’t have to worry about marking up your nice summer wheels when you swap them out, and won’t have to sit there balancing your wheels on your shin like a goober with the wheel hanger in place. | | | | | | | | | Genuine BMW Spare Tool Kits
Finally, if you are missing any of your spare tools or just don’t have any, we have plenty of Genuine BMW spare tool replacements, full kits, emergency tire repair kits, first-aid kits, and Schwaben Tool Kits that are always handy to carry with you, even on a regular commute. You never know what you might need to fix on the side of the road. It’s better to be prepared than stuck somewhere!
| | | | | | | For the Garage
While it may not save you on the side of the road, there are a few items we suggest for your garage that will save you tons of frustration and help keep things organized, clean, orderly, and well-preserved this winter. Here’s what we suggest: | | | | | Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Storage Rack
For the wheels you aren’t using this winter, or for that spare set you have for your fun car, it’s best to keep them up and out of the way, especially so they don’t form flat spots after sitting for too long. Our wall-mounted storage rack is the perfect solution. | | | | | | | Schwaben Wheel Storage Covers/Wheel Stand With Casters
If you MUST store your wheels on the ground, at least do it properly. Our storage stand with casters makes it easy to keep your stack of wheels together, prevent them from toppling over like a stack of dangerous bagels, and makes them easy to move around your shop space. Cover them up with our wheel storage cover so they don’t collect dust and dirt or accidentally get damaged. | | | | | | | Wrapping up
The last thing you want to happen is a flat tire, dead battery, CEL, or broken bit of something, especially in the middle of winter. Ensuring that you have everything to handle those inconveniences now is better than wishing you had them when you need them. Even if you absolutely know you have everything on this list, you should go through it and make sure it’s where you left it, works properly, and is ready to keep you out of trouble this winter. As I generally say, if you have everything to fix any problem you might encounter, you probably won’t encounter a problem. It’s only when you aren’t prepared that something goes wrong.
Naturally, we can’t think of everything. What do you carry with you in your winter daily driver? As always, you can reach us at [email protected] we love to hear from our readers. Who knows, you might end up in a future edition of Turner Motorsport Weekly. Be safe, folks, we’ll see you next Sunday. | | | | |
