Richmond Auto Repair

For many German luxury car drivers, the first time you might think about your vehicle's tire pressure is on that first cold day of Autumn. Why? That's usually the day when BMW and Mercedes-Benz Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) systems alert you to lower than average tire pressure. As the air temperatures drop in the Fall, cold air causes an unusually large drop in tire pressure and triggers your vehicle's diagnostic system.    Does this mean your tires' are actually under-inflated, or is this simply a system glitch?     Well, the simple answer is: check your tire pressure anyway. Driving on improperly inflated tires is unsafe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at any given time, about 1/3 of all passenger vehicles on the road are driving on under-inflated tires. In fact, in 2017, it  ... read more

Is it any wonder we all have an emotional attachment to our cars? After all, we spend a lot of time driving, maintaining, and being around our cars. Sometimes you notice a person’s car before you notice them. And what someone drives often says a lot about a person. The auto repair technicians at The Euro Shop have our favorite vehicles, and we’ll bet you have yours, too!  BMWs What’s not to love about BMWs? When you sit inside one, a BMW is almost like an extension of your own body. You can feel exactly where the car is whether you’re driving down the roads of Richmond or parking. BMWs designs are beyond beautiful, and it’s so easy to fall in love with their performance as well. That’s probably why BMW owners baby their cars so much, give them names, and buy all the newest high-tech gear for them. Another reason we love BMW is their endless variety. There are so many makes and models, and BMW is always coming up with something ... read more

September is a busy time around Richmond, with tons of events and festivals you can attend! Here are a few of our favorite festivals.  Flowers After 5: Flowers After 5 is a terrific way to relax at the end of the day. This event has been going on at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden all summer, but there are still two Thursday events left for you to attend. There’s live music, flowers of course, and more! Note that the September 13th event is also a Fidos event, which means that your dog is welcome, too! Stone’s Throw Down in RVA: This festival on September 8 includes independent craft beer with a full day of music! Proceeds benefit the James River Association, Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton, Virginia Trail Foundation, and Venture Richmond.  Mathews Market Days Festival: This free, two-day event is held the Friday after Labor Day. This yea ... read more

Engines need motor oil, but they need the correct motor oil — one that protects them while operating. Because anything less than that means you’re driving toward serious and expensive repairs.  Motor oil quality in North America has fallen behind engine development, notably with the introduction of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engines. If you own a BMW, MINI or Mercedes vehicles, chances are you have a GDI or TGDI engine. Here’s what The Euro Shop believes you need to know.   Smaller, More Powerful, Turbocharged Engines Are Now the Norm Fifteen years ago, most automakers began shifting engine production to GDI, and more recently, to TGDI powerplants. Both engine types are downsized, but more powerful, more fuel efficient, and exhaust fewer emissions. So why the shift? First, the engines greatly help automakers to meet the challenging 2025 regulatory fuel economy requirement for 54.5 mpg. I ... read more

Touch Your Roots and Free Your Soul Four Richmond-based road trips to dazzle your visitors   Richmond, Virginia  — located in the crux of American history and culture — is within the day trip to explore on your own, or with visitors and friends. From scenic parkways to historical landmarks and living museums, to sand and surf, to our nation’s capital, so many delightful sojourns await the curious. If I had company coming to Richmond for the first time, here’s are four very different day trips I’d plan to wow them: Mix and Mall It Trek — Make this road trip an overnighter. Head out of Richmond on I-95 to Fredericksburg — you know, the town where George Washington grew up and slept — and book a B&B for the night. Park at the train station and switch travel modes to ride the rails to Union Station in Washington, D.C., which is a short hop, skip or jaunt over to the National Mall — America’s most-visited national ... read more

Vehicles, like you, like to stretch their legs and breathe some clean air. In Virginia, that especially means mountain air. For BMW, Mini and Mercedes-Benz vehicle owners who leave our cityscapes behind, all year-round, mountain road tripping captures our senses. But like any drive, proper preparation and a partnership between you, the driver, and your automotive shop, as your pit crew, is paramount. Here are five ways you can optimize your enjoyment and vehicle’s hassle-free performance when you head for the hills: Be Weather Aware — Mountain weather and subsequent road conditions can change suddenly and often. The elements themselves present challenges, and they can also prompt road debris, flooding, mudslides and more. So be aware, alert and ready to adapt. Check weather reports on your radio or phone app often; be ready to adjust your speed and adjust your following distances; keep your lights on and gas tank half full or more; and store a “go” box in yo ... read more

Ah, Spring! With the change in temperatures come Spring Rains. Sometimes those rains are light, warm, and breezy. Other times, you could be stuck in a torrential downpour. Do you know how to drive safely during the rains of Spring? If you’re uncertain, here are a few helpful driving tips. Make sure your tires are in good condition. How do your tires look? Do they have plenty of tread?  Are they showing signs of even or uneven wear? Are your tires properly inflated? If you answer yes to all of these questions, chances are very good your tires are in good condition. If you aren’t sure, you can bring your vehicle into The Euro Shop in Richmond for a safety check. Know how to react when you hydroplane. Hydroplaning is when your vehicle’s tires lose contact with the road because they’re floating on water. This happens when water pools on the road or during a heavy rain. When you feel your vehicle start to hydroplane, immediately remove your foot off the gas p ... read more

The Euro Shop has a stellar reputation for having auto mechanics who are not only adept at auto repair, but they also go that extra mile when it comes to customer service. Richmond, North Chesterfield, and Midlothian car owners have come to learn that we truly are their friends. Often our customers with children come in for preventive maintenance before a road trip. The team at The Euro Shop knows that bored and antsy kids are challenging for parents. That's why we want to share a few things to bring that will keep the kids occupied! Instant Lap Desk: Bring a cookie sheet and fill a tote bag with things to keep your little ones occupied.play. The kids can hold the tray on their laps and use it for things like playing with magnets, coloring, and even use it as a tray for food. An instant lap desk is cheaper than a car-seat lap desk, and it’s easy to fit in the back pocket of the seat when it’s not in use. Mini White Board: As it tu ... read more

At The Euro Shop, our auto mechanics run like a well-oiled machine, no pun intended. We play on each other strengths to deliver honest, accurate, and thorough auto repair to BMW, MINI, and Mercedes-Benz owners throughout Richmond, North Chesterfield, and Midlothian. While we are servicing your car, we enjoy listening to a variety of music. Kelly Shelton, the owner of The Euro Shop, is an avid music lover, so we couldn’t help but dedicate this blog to the top regional music festivals near Richmond. We are fortunate to have many music festivals happening near Richmond, North Chesterfield, and Midlothian. Some of these festivals may require some driving time, but our auto mechanics would be more than happy to make sure your BMW, MINI, or Mercedes-Benz is ready for the road trip. Here are the top music festivals in Richmond: Richmond Jazz Festival: This festival brings over 10,000 jazz lovers together for the chance to listen to 20 local and national jazz bands fro ... read more