Blog

It can be a frightening experience when you are driving down the road and your tire goes flat. Many don't know how to change a flat tire. Because MINI of Charleston wants you to be safe when you are out on the road, here are some tips on changing a flat tire.

First of all, you need to drive your vehicle to a safe location. Pull into a parking lot away from traffic if at all possible. You will then want to get the tools that you will need to change the tire. You will need your vehicle's…

You step into your vehicle and notice that something just doesn't smell right. Maybe you can quickly track down an old piece of garbage that caused the smell. Maybe it takes a bit of investigative work to figure out the problem. Regardless, once you have cleaned up the mess, here are three tips that can help bring a fresh smell back to your vehicle.

First, use a stain remover or cleaning product on your seats and floors. Some products are a powder that can be vacuumed up. Other products may need to be sprayed on and then dried fully…

As a valued customer of MINI of Charleston, there are a number of things that we would like you to be aware of. We know that unexpected things happen, such as a rock causing chip damage to your windshield. In such a case we want you to be fully aware of your options.

If your windshield is ever damaged in this manner while driving around town, then it will come in one of four types. These chip damage types are Half Moon, Combination, Bulls Eye, and Star. You will want to check to see if it's beyond repair. 

At MINI of Charleston, it is important for us that we keep our consumers informed about how their vehicles function. Oversteer and understeer refer to the dynamics of a vehicle. Understeer is when a car turns less than what you want, and oversteer is when the car turns more than what you want.

Oversteer and understeer will primarily depend on if your vehicle has a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive system. In most circumstances, oversteer occurs when vehicles are equipped with rear-wheel drive, and understeer occurs with vehicles that have front-wheel drive.  

Many of us grew up hearing our parents talking about changing their oil every 3,000 miles, but did you know that this isn't necessarily true? There are many motor oil myths, and you should be aware of them so that you're making the best decisions for your vehicle.

While some vehicles on the road still need their oil changed every 3,000 miles, many can go much longer. Today, cars are designed to go 5,000 or 10,000 miles between oil changes. So while the 3,000-mile rule used to be standard, things have changed.  

Your brake pads provide the friction necessary to stop your vehicle slowly. When the brake pedal is pressed, the brake pad touches the rotor and slows your wheel down. If there is a problem with your brake pads, you may notice squealing or grinding noises.

If you press your brake pedal and you hear a grinding noise while driving, your brake pads need to be replaced immediately. Brake pads last roughly 50,000 miles, but this can be lower if you press on your brakes more often than normal. 

Snow has fallen from the sky in many places. The first snow almost always comes shortly after Labor Day in some states. Elevation, climate and many other factors determine whether or not a location gets snow and when it gets snow. The car owner who worries about snow should also make sure his car is ready for winter.

Making sure one’s car is ready for winter normally includes getting the oil changed. It may also include making sure that antifreeze is up to the proper level. If the car’s heater no longer works, it is also a good…