If you have a luxury car, chances are you put a lot of care and thought into your purchase. Your car is a crucial investment, even if you mainly use it for special occasions and not for everyday commutes. Nevertheless, your investment does not end the day you drive it home from the dealership. Keeping your car in top condition helps maintain its value in case you ever decide to sell it. If it stays in pristine condition, you might even use it for 20 years or more. So, how do you maintain a luxury car?
Your luxury car’s basic maintenance needs are the same as any other automobile. Regular inspections by a professional are the best way to prevent any problems ranging from worn-out brake pads to radiator leaks. Experts recommend getting your car inspected at the same time you get your oil changed or every 3-6 months. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be required to get an inspection once a year.
Manual transmissions also need their fluid replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. To avoid even the slightest hiccup with your car’s performance, consider getting your manual transmission inspected and flushed at the lower end of this mileage range.
As with standard vehicles, luxury vehicles also require preventive maintenance. The difference between a standard and a luxury car is that the luxury vehicle will need to be on a strict and regular maintenance schedule to ensure that it is running at the level it is expected to perform. By keeping your luxury vehicle on a regular maintenance schedule, you will prolong its life span. Services you should plan to have performed on your vehicle include:
Oil is your engine’s lifeblood and, depending on the brand, is required to be changed at regular intervals such as every three to five thousand miles or more. Engine oil lubricates and protects the internal moving components of your engine, but it breaks down over time. Therefore, it’s imperative to keep fresh oil in your engine to protect it from excessive wear and tear. Oil filters are also changed when the oil is changed.
Your engine needs to breathe in fresh, clean air for it to run. Air is filtered by an air filter that will get dirty over time. To keep your luxury vehicle’s engine running smoothly and efficiently, you will need to ensure that your engine air filter is clean. This service is usually performed every three to five thousand miles.
Your luxury vehicle has other fluids such as coolant, windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid, and brake fluid that will need to be checked and periodically changed at suggested intervals that can be found in your car owner’s manual.
Without brakes, your vehicle won’t be able to stop, making them very important. Brakes will need to be checked periodically to ensure that they are working correctly. The thickness of your brake pads and your rotors are an indicator of the health of your brakes. When your brake pads have been depleted or are below the manufacturer’s recommended thickness, you will need to replace them. The same goes for the rotors, which can often be turned or refinished for continued use but will eventually become too thin to refinish and will need to be replaced.
Although you can use a range of different tire brands on your luxury vehicle, aim for high-end tires to better protect your investment. Ask your dealership about recommended tires, and don’t stray too far from their recommendations.
No matter what tires you end up with, inspect and put air in them periodically. The tread depth on your tires should never fall below 2/32” of an inch, and you can monitor the tread depth yourself with the penny test. Check your tires yourself at least once a month and more frequently if you’ve had any issues with low pressure or punctures in the past month. Rotate your tires every 3,000-5,000 miles, just like you would for any car. It’s best to take your car to a professional for this task, especially since they can inspect your hubcaps and wheels for other maintenance needs while they work.
Best practices for maintaining your seats vary depending on the material. Vinyl and faux leather are the easiest to clean with plain water, and tougher sticky spots usually come off with mild dish soap and water. Nylon and polyester may require special fabric cleaners if specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
Genuine leather is highly durable but requires extra care while cleaning. Look for a specialized leather seat cleaner and follow the instructions carefully. Most require you to apply it and wipe it off immediately to avoid damage or unwanted odors. Apply a leather conditioner after cleaning to ensure the upholstery remains supple and is less prone to cracks. If you notice any damage to the seams or the fabric, take it in for repair immediately. Ignoring it or covering it with a seat cover for too long will only allow it to get worse and could eventually result in more serious damage to the padding underneath.
If you drive the car at least once a week, try to vacuum it weekly. Small amounts of crumbs and dirt are still enough to attract bugs and rodents, which can cause serious problems later. Even if you drive the car infrequently, give the floor areas a good inspection once every few weeks to ensure nothing has invaded.
Remove the floor mats and clean them thoroughly at least once a month or more frequently if they’ve gotten dirty. Vacuum the floor under the mats as well. Get a specialized car cleaner to clean the interior trim, following the instructions carefully for a proper shine. Use a clean, new microfiber cloth to wipe down the interior afterward to eliminate any streaks. Check the cup holders, glove compartment, dashboard, and other small compartments as well.
The steering wheel is difficult to keep clean and free of wear and tear since it gets used every time you drive. If you’re not using a steering wheel cover, wipe it down and clean any grime out of the crevices at least twice a month or more frequently if you drive the car every day.
Although luxury cars are designed with sleek, high-quality exteriors, there are still minor details that require special attention. Failure to properly clean and protect problem areas could cause damage to paint or metal. Detailing starts with a thorough wash with car wash soap, water, and a soft car washing mitt. Wash and rinse the car gently, starting at the top and working your way down. Soak dirty areas a little longer instead of resorting to a brush to scrub them, as even soft brushes can create tiny scratches in the paint. After the car has been thoroughly rinsed, dry it using chamois or a microfiber towel.
Use a specialized wheel brush or cleaning mitt to get grime off the wheels, which are especially susceptible to dirt and debris because of their proximity to the road. You can clean the inside of the wheel wells with a long-handled brush and degreaser if the wells are made of metal. However, if the wheel wells are covered in plastic, get a degreaser that’s safe to use on plastic. Give your car a detailed visual inspection once you’ve finished washing and drying it to make sure you didn’t miss any spots. Remember that washing the car is essential to successfully detailing the exterior, and the more effort you put into doing it properly, the better your results will be.
Waxing and polishing should only be done after the exterior of the car has been thoroughly cleaned. Ideally, this should happen the same day as washing the exterior to prevent any fresh dust from building up. At the very latest, polish and wax your car the day after washing it and before driving it again to ensure you don’t accidentally scratch it by rubbing debris into the paint. Even if you’ve washed it the same day, you’ll want to go over it with a clay bar to pick up any bits of dust that may not have washed off.
Polish is only really necessary for obscuring and protecting scratched areas. The right polish partly depends on the size and depth of the scratch. For deep scratches or anything too large for regular polish to cover, you’ll want to schedule an appointment for repairs as soon as possible to prevent rust and further damage. Car polish does nothing to protect the paint job, so pick up a specialized wax in addition to polish. The best wax for your type of car may vary, depending on the exact type of paint and sealant used, but liquid wax is usually recommended because it lasts the longest and doesn’t lose its luster quickly.
Wax your car by working in small sections and rubbing with a back-and-forth motion instead of a circular motion. Let the wax haze or cloud over, unless it is a non-hazing wax, before buffing it to a high shine. Wax the rear of the mirrors, license plates, and headlights to make everything easier to clean the next time you wash your car. Also, remember that sealants and other long-term coatings are best left to the professionals. Your car’s needs for sealants will vary, depending on the type of car and even your local climate, so consult with your dealership to determine the best options for you.
Whether you’re experienced with luxury cars or are buying one for the first time, your maintenance skills and knowledge are essential to protecting it through the years. They are similar to standard entry-level vehicles on the inside, but maintaining their high value requires serious attention to detail on the outside. Create a maintenance routine and build it into your monthly and weekly schedule to ensure essential tasks get done. If you want to learn more about taking care of your luxury vehicle, please reach out to us here at Europe Services Auto!