San Diego Auto Repair

Photo by Laura C on Unsplash   Sunny San Diego Spots for the Summer: Don't Forget Your Car Service! Summer is here, and there's no better place to soak up the sun than in San Diego. San Diego has something for everyone, from the beaches to the parks and everything in between. But before you hit the road, ensure your car is ready for the summer heat. Here are some tips to keep your car running smoothly and some suggestions for fun in the sun in San Diego. Auto Repair in San Diego: Keep Your Car in Tip-Top Shape Before you enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather, ensure your car is in good working order. Getting your car serviced regularly is essential so it can perform at its best. Some things to consider include getting an oil change, tire rotation, wheel alignment, and suspension check.   Oil Change: Getting an oil change is crucial to the longevity of your vehic ... read more

Photo by Monica Sauro on Unsplash 5 Reasons To Add Preventative Maintenance To Your Calendar Last month, many of us took to drafting complicated schedules and random errands into our brand-new 2023 planners. As the month of New Year's Resolutions ended, you may have felt sluggish regarding your goals and appointments. This is totally normal for this time of year. Research shows that by February, nearly 80% of people have given up on their New Year's Resolutions.   Today, I’m making the case to you to keep on keepin’ on, especially concerning car maintenance. In fact, scheduling your car maintenance directly in your planner, calendar, or phone can help you in many ways. Below, I will list the top five reasons to add preventative maintenance to your calendar.  1. Save Time & Money by Identifying Problems Early Have you ever gone into the shop just ... read more

Photo by Gabriel Sollmann on Unsplash   Car commercials can move us, educate us, make us laugh, and even make us angry. The annual Super Bowl tradition of car commercials has produced some very funny, lasting characters. And Mercedes-Benz has done many exciting commercials over the years. But the five commercials featured in this blog will likely never be beaten!   Take a look at some of our favorite commercials from Mercedes-Benz!   The 2012 CLS Commercial - This commercial is a pretty crafty way to combine technical knowledge with a sense of humor. Part of Mercedes-Benz's charm as a brand!     Appa ... read more

  Top Gifts for the Car Lover in Your Life    When someone loves their car, often the most thoughtful gift you can give is… car accessories or a spa day!   Car Detailing Gift Certificate to a nearby auto spa is a truly generous and thoughtful gift. There is nothing more satisfying than to climb into your ride and breathe deeply surrounded by a new car smell with gleaming leather and clean carpeting surrounding you. Your car lover will be so grateful when they are driving their sparkling clean vehicle.   A Portable Jump box is an excellent safety device to make your loved one feel protected and well cared for. You can pick one up for well under $100, and they often have an emergency light and have a USB port on them to charge your cell phone if needed in a pinch.   Car Covers are especially nice to use when preserving your paint from harsh weather and the suns penetrating UV rays. Showing your partner that you care deeply ab ... read more

We all hear it as car owners, don’t we? Come into the auto repair shop for minor service or major service. But what does it mean? For every car brand, there are unique nuances to what minor service and major service involves. For the most part, vehicles need check-ups and maintenance as their mileage increases. That is why you’ll hear numbers like 7500 miles, 15,000 miles, 30,000 miles, 45,000 miles, 60,000 miles, 75,000 miles, 90,000 miles, etc. But what do these numbers mean? Of course, you’ll want to consult the Owners Manual for your vehicle for specific information. But generally speaking, minor service is to be performed between every 10K - 15K miles. This minor service generally includes the following:   Oil change Tire rotation Tire inspection Brake inspection Lubrication and inspection of chassis Fluid inspection Belt and hose inspection The goal for the minor service is to check on the vehicle’s health and make sure nothing appears to be ... read more

We are so lucky to live, work, and play in San Diego. Not only is it a beautiful place to live, but we don’t have to deal with yucky weather (for the most part). Even though our climate and surroundings lack the snow scene on a Christmas card, there are still some amazing San Diego locations to see the holiday lights. At Import Auto Specialists, we love celebrating the holidays. One of our favorite holiday activities is to hop in the car with the family and go see the Christmas lights. Here are our top five places to visit around San Diego:   Starlight Circle is located in Santee, and it’s awesome! You’ll see a massive lights display coming from several homes located on East and West Glendon circles off Magnolia Avenue. The lights are usually on from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly. If you’re lucky and extra nice, the kind residents may share some of their Christmas treats with ... read more

Customers are often mislead as to when the transmission fluid should be changed on their Mercedes Benz. Rumour going around says that it is a “lifetime” fluid. As professionals, we know that nothing lasts a “lifetime”. Fluid in MOST Mercedes Benz should be changed by 100,000 miles. Newer models 2006 – Present have changed the maintenance interval for the transmission fluid. Mercedes is now scheduling to have the fluid changed around an average of 30,000 miles. We aren’t sure what prompted this change, but it could be due to the fact that consumers were mislead and felt that the transmission never needed service which leads to mechanical breakdowns and expensive transmission repairs. The transmission pan gasket was leaking on this 2005 Mercedes Benz S500 so we needed to remove it, scrape the old gasket off, replace the filter while we were in there, re seal and put it all back together. Low fluid causes the transmission to shift hard or may even cause it not to shift at a ... read more