Once you have taken the leap from owing an ordinary car to owning your first BMW, chances are you will also want to step up the level of care you provide for your vehicle. Any cars that bear the British Motor Works (BMW) logo are already well known for their high level of comfort and dependability.

As a new BMW owner, you will want to do your part to promote these qualities with an excellent care regimen. One way to do this is to take a seasonal approach that will ensure your car is always ready for the temperature changes and road conditions that each season brings.

Spring

After a long winter, BMW owners will want to pay particular attention to the parts of their car that are most affected by winter driving, namely the suspension, steering and transmission system.

Snow-covered roads and long periods of cold temperatures can result in a buildup of ice and snow underneath your car that can damage sensitive suspension and steering parts, while the added strain of driving on slick surfaces can cause the transmission to operate at higher than optimum temperatures.

When spring arrives each year, ask your BMW repair professional to check your car's undercarriage for damaged or worn parts, as well as examining the condition of your transmission fluid. If necessary, they can service the transmission, replacing the fluid and filter to help extend the life of your transmission.

Summer

Summer heat is grueling for your car's cooling system, including the belts and hoses. As the cooling system heats up, the belts and hoses that have begun to show signs of wear can fail unexpectedly and cause serious damage to your car's engine. In addition, coolant levels may have become low, if even a small leak is present in a worn hose, causing the car's engine to operate at a higher temperature than it normally would.

To avoid this type of summer driving problem, BMW owners should ask their repair professional to test the car's coolant system and examine all the belts and hoses for wear at the beginning of each summer. In addition, drivers should always be on alert for any warning messages that the car displays and report them immediately to their BMW repair professional to prevent risking damage to their car.

Autumn

In many parts of the country, autumn driving means rainy weather and roadways that can become slick with frost or from layers of fallen leaves. These conditions can require sudden stops that can be dangerous if your tires or brakes are showing signs of wear or need adjusted.  Tires that need to be balanced or rotated after the rigors of summer driving can also make it difficult to control your car, even if they do not appear to be worn.

To make sure your BMW will be able to stop safely and quickly, even on wet, leaf covered streets, ask your repair professional to rotate your tires and re-balance them each fall. This is also a perfect opportunity to have your BMW's braking system examined for any worn pads, leaky hoses or problems that could keep the brakes from functioning properly.

Winter

Preparing your car for winter means making sure that the engine is in top-notch condition, and this includes the fuel system that feeds it. Temperature changes and the use of poorer quality fuels can cause condensation to build up in your car's engine, damaging intricate components. Left alone, this can cause the engine to operate less efficiently or even fail without warning.

BMW owners can prevent this type of damage and help ensure that their car runs smoothly even in extreme winter weather by keeping the tank as full as possible to limit condensation buildup and by choosing the quality of fuel recommended by their owner's manual and their professional BMW repair services.