Like every modern turbocharged engine, the EA113 in the Mk5 GTI uses a vacuum pump to assist various engine bay components. The pump mounts directly to the back of the cylinder head and is driven off the back of the intake camshaft. Thanks to Volkswagen's use of a transverse engine layout, the...

A low beam headlight bulb change on an BMW F30 is a relatively job that requires only a few tools. The importance of functioning headlight bulbs isn’t something I need to go on about. They’re a primary safety feature, and without them, our cars would be useless for half of the day. This DIY also...

The air filter in your BMW is the only line of defense the engine and turbocharger have against sucking in harmful debris. The air filter will get covered in debris over time as it pulls air from outside, reducing the engine's airflow and its capability to keep harmful particles out. Even the...

In recent years, an electric water pump has become the go-to for modern cooling systems. Using an electric water pump over a belt-driven pump has allowed BMW's engineers to simplify engine maintenance and cut costs. Less time spent in the shop means more money and more time on the road for the...

Modern BMWs are full of gadgets and features built to make your ownership experience as painless as possible. Several of these features revolve around the vehicle's maintenance. Knowing when things need replacing or changing in your BMW may be foreign to you, and that's OK as your modern BMW...

An engine should always be brought to its standard operating temperature before leaning on it in anything more than easy driving. That is especially the case with engines under boost pressure, such as Audi's 3.0t. Built with tighter tolerances to endure abuse, you should only thrash on them when...

Metal keys are somewhat of a dying breed these days. More and more, automakers are turning to make the plastic key fob into the actual key. Aesthetically, they get to ditch the ugly key while decluttering what ends up in a customer's pockets. Though you may use the fob as a key or only a tool to...

We all know that working in the engine bay can mean dropping a bolt and losing it to the great beyond that is somewhere underneath the intake manifold, around the alternator. Depending on the job, that bolt or nut is now gone forever, never to return. You cant see 104° around a corner, and the...

The early Mercedes AIRMATIC struts don’t have the best reputation. The comfort they bring when they are functioning is balanced by the prohibitively expensive repair costs when they go wrong. These days, aftermarket struts and springs from Arnott are the smart and cost-effective way to replace...

The early Mercedes AIRMATIC struts have a polarizing reputation. The comfort they bring when they are functioning is balanced by the prohibitively expensive repair costs when they go wrong. On chassis that aren't worth nearly what they were ten years ago, the cost of replacement may not be worth...