by rolfsimportcom on April 18, 2012
Don't Text and Drive
Phone Down, Eyes Up
Texting and driving is like playing Russian Roulette
You are 23x more likely to crash if you text while driving. According to the NHTSA, in 2009 an estimated 20 percent of 1,517,000 injury crashes were reported to have involved distracted driving.
Teen drivers are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported. In 2009, 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted.
Distracted Driving News (US Government site) >>
by rolfsimportcom on April 16, 2012
Yes - there is an app for this
Yes. And there is an app to stop it.
We’ve all done it. Tried to fit in a quick message while driving the car. The problem – we’re very distracted and we’re very dangerous.
Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. If you are traveling 55 mph, that is the same as driving the length of an entire football field, blind-folded.*
With new laws in place and reduced mobile phone usage on the road, it is now painfully easy to spot the offenders. They weave, they brake late (or early), and quite often are stuck at the light when it is as green as it is going to get. So even though there are fines for using your cell phone while driving, it still is causing accidents and deaths across the nation.
While we can’t remove the temptation, there are some apps that can control the calls.
There’s an app for that >>
One text or call could wreck it all.
You can safely end the practice of texting while driving with a number of different apps:
tXtBlocker blocks texting and speaking while a vehicle is in motion and sends an automatic “Driving” message to anyone who texts or calls.
tXtBlocker can also be customized to block text messages or calls at certain times of the day or near certain locations, such as a school or workplace. 911 calls are always allowed. tXtBlocker costs $6.99 for a single-user plan and $9.99 a month for a family plan. It works with most Android and BlackBerry devices.
Textecution™ kills texting functions while driving.
Textecution sits quietly in the background and allows you use your phone normally. Once it detects that the phone is travelling faster than 10 mph, Textecution disables the phone’s texting feature, so text messages can’t be sent or received. Once the phone is at rest or travelling slower than 10 mph, the texting feature is restored. There is a one-time fee of $29.99 to download the app, which is good for the life of a phone number. Android devices only.
iZUP - defers calls to voice mail and holds text messages while the vehicle is in motion.
iZUP is another app that monitors speed and other critical conditions to determine whether a phone is in a moving vehicle. Once a predetermined speed is reached, iZUP holds text messages, e-mails and calls while you’re driving, yet always allows unlimited access to 911 and a list of authorized phone numbers. iZUP is $2.95 per month for a single user and $5.95 per month for a family plan.
There are also corporate options.
Any of the above can help you control your texting. And that of your teen drivers. Let’s make the roads a little safer by reducing the distractions.
*From Distraction.gov
by rolfsimportcom on September 6, 2011
Winter, what does that mean to most people? That means…holiday shopping (not to mention wrapping and hiding all those gifts), fun festivities with friends and family, and of course staying warm! But, don’t forget the winter weather either, so why not get your car ready for it so you can enjoy what winter time is all about!
Bring your car to the ASA Light’s On event on October 1, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Walmart parking lot in Lakewood. For more information check out the event flyer below.
by rolfsimportcom on September 2, 2011
To all the E46 owners,
Have you heard, BMW just recalled 241,000 cars in the U.S. for tail light malfunction. Click the link below to read more.
BMW Tail Light Recall
by rolfsimportcom on December 9, 2010
Here is a letter hot off the press regarding brake vacuum pump safety recall notice on certain model BMW years 2002-2010 5,6, & 7 series. Please take the time to read this.
by rolfsimportcom on October 29, 2010
It’s that time of the year when children and the young-at-hearts dress up in costume and hit the streets for trick-or-treating and Halloween fun. Our crew at Rolf’s wants to make sure that your Halloween this year isn’t only fun, but also safe. So we’ve provided this list of Halloween safety tips for you.
Bright costumes – Make sure that your and/or your children’s costumes are bright enough to be visible to drivers on the road. If you need to, wear some reflective gear.
Safe costumes – Make sure that costumes are short enough so that you or your children won’t trip on them. If wearing masks, make sure that it is comfortable enough to allow breathing and that the eyeholes are big enough and fit correctly to allow the best vision.
Be visible – Carry flashlights, glowsticks, etc. to make yourself even more visible to motorists.
Safe driving – Pay extra attention while driving, especially in residential neighborhoods. Drive slower than the posted speed limit. Limit distractions while you’re driving, like talking on cell phones, eating, playing loud music, etc.
More information about Halloween Safety can be found at:
http://www.halloween-safety.com/index.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/hallow.html
Rolf’s would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween!!
by rolfsimportcom on October 18, 2010
Celebrate Fall Car Care Month in October by getting your vehicle in shape for the cold weather approaching and protecting your mobile investment. Rolf’s recommends taking care of simple maintenance now to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Making your vehicle last longer makes good financial sense-by simply budgeting the equivalent of just one car payment you could cover the entire years worth of basic maintenance.
Basic Fall Car Care maintenance includes checking the oil, filters and fluids, the belts and hoses, lights, brakes, tires and air conditioning,wheel alignment and checking the battery.
The mission is simple. When your vehicle is properly maintained it will last longer, run better and hold its value longer. But more importantly, it will keep you and your passengers safe and sane on the road.
Be Safe!
by rolfsimportcom on September 23, 2010
In support of “National Car Care Month” annual event promoting vehicle maintenance, the ASA of Pierce County will be conducting a FREE inspection and replacing FREE of charge faulty exterior vehicle bulbs and headlamps, with the exception of unusual or exotic installations. This will be happening at locations in Washington by ASA-WA members, their technicians, and automotive technology students from many state vocational/technical training facilities.
The ASA-WA “Lights-On” program is in its thirty-seventh year and was developed by ASA-WA to improve fall and winter vehicle driving safety. This event is endorsed by a signed proclamation from Governor Christine Gregiore.
Rolf’s will be attending this event and we hope to see you there!
October 2, 2010 – from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Walmart Parking Lot
7001 Bridegeport Way W.
Lakewood, WA
by rolfsimportcom on July 14, 2010
I’m sure at some point in your BMW’s life you have heard a mention that your thrust arm bushings, or control arm bushings are cracked, worn or loose. Check this video out and see why you should have them replaced when they do wear out!
Loose thrust arm bushing video
